Understanding backup job schedules

Applies to: VisualSVN Server 3.6 and later

VisualSVN Server provides an easy and straightforward approach to scheduling daily backup jobs. You can select the day of the week and the time when the job will run.

Full backup schedule

Full backup jobs start running according to the selected schedule and always take full snapshots of the selected repositories. When you add a new full backup job, you should select the days of the week and time when the full backup job will start.

Full backup job schedule must be selected when adding the job and it is possible to change the schedule in the job's properties anytime after it has been created.

Incremental backup schedule

Incremental backup jobs start running according to the selected schedule. When you add a new incremental backup job, you must select the schedule for daily incremental backups and also for the full backup that runs once a week.

By default, the incremental job makes a full backup on Saturday at 01:00. When you add a new incremental backup job, you can adjust the schedule for full backup. In order to change the full backup start date and time, click Weekly backup jobs will be created every Saturday at 01:00 in the Create Backup Repository Job wizard. You can also change full backup schedule anytime after in the incremental backup job's properties.

Tip
If the server computer was powered off at the time when the full backup was scheduled to run, the incremental backup job will make a full backup next time when it will run on a schedule. For example, if the full backup was not made on Saturday at 01:00, full backup will start the next time the incremental job runs on its daily schedule.

How does job scheduling work?

Scheduled jobs start and run only when the VisualSVN Background Job Service is up and running. By default, the VisualSVN Background Job Service starts automatically at system startup. In case the scheduled start time was missed because the service was stopped, the job will start at the next scheduled time when the service is up and running.

If the backup job is still in progress when it is time to perform a new scheduled backup, the next backup will be queued to run as soon as the current one finishes.

Running backup jobs on demand

You can run a backup job on demand and the job will make a supplemental backup in addition to the backups made on schedule. Follow these steps to run a backup job on demand:

  1. In VisualSVN Server Manager console, select Jobs.
  2. Right-click the job you want to start on demand.
  3. Click Run.

Alternatively, you can use Start-SvnJob PowerShell cmdlet to start the job on demand. For further information, please read KB88: VisualSVN Server PowerShell Cmdlet Reference

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