Backup restore on a Vera

Plugins & Plugin Development Reactor
1

Hi Rigpapa,

I would like to know of a backup of the Veraedge also contains everything from Reactor? So if I make a backup, give a factory reset and restore, is Reactor also restored? I see a backup option too wihtin Reactor, so should I make backup for Vera AND Reactor and restore them both?

Thanks.

2

Vera’s backup will back up everything, including your Reactor logic.

I recommend using Reactor’s backup in addition, though, because it’s fast and easy (painless, low-resistance to some peace of mind), and more granular–you can restore a single ReactorSensor (to the same device or a new device/clone).

If you use only the Vera full system backup, you will eventually find yourself in the uncomfortable position of needing to restore just one part of it. The older that backup is at that point, the more changes you will have lost and need to redo (assuming you even remember what they were).

My practice:

  1. I do a full system backup (with Z-Wave dongle) using Vera’s backup before upgrading firmware, including or excluding Z-Wave devices, installing or removing plugins, etc.–any major operations where a failure of some kind would cause me pain. After work is done, I take another backup.
  2. Likewise, in Reactor, if I’m going to do major surgery to one or more ReactorSensors, I back up using Reactor’s backup before I start, and then again when I’ve completed my work to my satisfaction. That way, if I need to roll something back, it’s easy to do.
  3. If I’m only creating a new ReactorSensor and logic, I don’t do a “pre-backup”, I just do the after-completion backup.
  4. I archive all backups from whatever source for several months.
3

Thanks for your advise!