How to automatically backup SourceSafe?

For our source's security, an adminstrator of Microsoft Visual SourceSafe should do a backup daily or weekly at least. The backup process won't cost us a long time, but we prefer automatical backup for sure. Let's introduce how to implement a daily backup by making use of existing tools.

• Tools
  • ssarc.exe. ssarc.exe is a backup tool offered by SoureSafe. It's in "win32" directory which is under the installation path of SouceSafe.
  • schtasks. In Windows Server 2003, schtasks allows an administrator creating, deleting, querying, configurng, running and stopping local or remote scheduled tasks in system. It is designed to replace at.exe.
• Steps
  • Create a batch file names as "backup.bat" in "c:\backup\bin" directory;
  • Write the following commands into the file:
    1 @echo off
    2 @title Backing up SourceSafe databases
    3 set SsPath=C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\VSS\win32\
    4 set BakPath=C:\backup\content\
    5 "%SsPath%ssarc.exe" –d- -s"Path to a SourceSafe Database" –i- -yadmin,password 
    6 –o@"%BakPath%Backup-output(%DATE%).txt" "%BakPath%Backup-Database(%DATE%).ssa" $/
    7 echo Finished backups
    8 @echo on

    Note:

    • SsPath designates the path to the "win32" directory.
    • BakPath appoints the path where backup files are preserved.
    • You should replace "Path to a SourceSafe Database" as the path to the "SrcSafe.ini" of a SourceSafe database.
    • Please replace "Password" as the administrator's password.
    • After a backup process, there will be two generated files under "c:\backup\content":
      Backup-output(2004-11-01).txt: the output file
      Backup-Database(2004-11-01).ssa: the backup file generated by SourceSafe.

      2004-11-01 appoints the date when the backup operation is carrying out.

  • Use schtasks to create a scheduled task.
    1
    2schtasks /create /RU system /SC DAILY /ST 12:00 /TN "SourceSafe Backup" /TR "cmd /c C:\backup\bin\backup.bat"
    3

    Note:

    • /RU system, run the command under "NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM" account.
    • /SC DAILY, run the command one time a day. Valid values are MINUTE, HOURLY, DAILY, WEEKLY, MONTHLY, ONCE, ONSTART, ONLOGON, ONIDLE.
    • /ST 12:00 specifies the program will be started at 12:00.
    • /TN "SourceSafe Backup" specifies the name of the scheduled task.
    • /TR "cmd /c c:\backup\bin\backup.bat" specifies the program to be executed.

  • Congratulations, you have successfully created a scheduled task to implement the daily backup process. When type "schtasks" at command line, you can find "SourceSafe Backup" in the column called "Task Name".
• References
  • Microsoft Visual SourceSafe Reference Guide(SSUSEXP.CHM).
    The file is located in the SourceSafe's installation directory, or you can find it in msdn web site. http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/guides/html/vsoriReferenceGuide.asp
  • Microsoft Visual SourceSafe Best Practices.
    http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dnvss/html/vssbest.asp
  • HOW TO: Use Schtasks.exe to Schedule Tasks in Windows Server 2003
    http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;814596