Issue
Questions arise about whether External Log Storage supports partial backups, partial restores, or the reimport of external log data into EcoStruxure Building Operation, and how backup and restore operations should be managed when using supported third-party databases.
Product Line
EcoStruxure Building Operation
Environment
- EcoStruxure Building Operation
- External Log Storage
- PostgreSQL with TimescaleDB extension
- Microsoft SQL Server
- AVEVA PI System
Warning
Potential for Data Loss: External Log Storage databases are independent of EcoStruxure Building Operation backups. Restoring, modifying, or relocating an external database without following the documented External Log Storage procedures can result in data loss or data inconsistency.
Cause
External Log Storage databases are third-party systems. EcoStruxure Building Operation supports only integration, configuration, and data write/query behavior. Backup, restore, retention, recovery, reconciliation, and database maintenance are not managed or validated by EBO and remain the responsibility of the customer’s IT or database administration team.
Resolution
EcoStruxure Building Operation (EBO) does not support backup, restore, or re-import of External Log Storage data, either partially or in full, for any supported database platform (including PostgreSQL with TimescaleDB, Microsoft SQL Server, and AVEVA PI).
Key Behaviour
- The EBO backup file (.xbk) and the external log database are completely independent
- There is no automatic synchronization between EBO backups and the external database
- External log data cannot be restored or re-ingested into EBO
Backup and Restore Responsibility
- All backup and restore operations must be performed using the native tools and procedures of the external database platform
- Database lifecycle activities, including:
- backup
- restore
- retention
- recovery
are owned by the customer’s IT or database administration team
Coordinated Backup Requirement
- If consistent recovery across EBO and External Log Storage is required, backups must be coordinated at infrastructure level
- EBO does not provide any mechanism to align or enforce this coordination
Relocation or Restore of External Log Storage
When restoring or relocating an External Log Storage database: the documented External Log Storage Backup and Restore procedure must be followed:
- Disable external logging in EBO
- Perform all required database-specific restore procedures
- Complete any pre- and post-restore steps defined for the platform
- Re-enable external logging in EBO
Failure to follow the documented procedure may result in:
- Data inconsistency
- Loss of historical log data
