Data backup

For a default Columbus installation the data is split between two locations: the pixel data and annotation files are found under the /OMERO directory, and the associated metadata is stored in the relational database under /var/lib/pgsql. The pixel data is of no use without the associated metadata, or vise-verse.

Each evening a scheduled task runs on the server which makes a compressed copy of the relational database and stores it under the /OMERO directory within /OMERO/OMERO4_*/db_backup. The database backups from the previous 3 days are retained.

Therefore, for data recovery purposes it is sufficient to back-up the /OMERO directory (including all sub-folders and files) as it contains all image data as well as a compressed copy of the the omero database*.

* Note: Please ensure the nightly database backups are in place - the last 3 are stored.

With this /OMERO backup in place it would be relatively straightforward to configure a fresh Columbus installation and restore the data in the event of a system failure.