Backup Data File

Backup with BZR Files and Light Sync

Table of Contents

Key Concepts

1. Clear explanation of:
   • What BZR backups are
   • What Light Sync does
   • Why Light Sync + BZR can lead to backups without attachments
2. A personal backup workflow that you can follow and refine:

Key Concepts

• BZR backup file: Archive of your brain used for backup/restore.
  • Contains brain structure, notes, and—only if fully present locally—attachments.
• Light Sync:
  • Stores your brain structure and notes locally.
  • Attachments are fetched from the cloud on demand and may not all be present locally.
  • Because of this, BZR archives created while Light Sync is active may exclude attachments.

Problem with Light Sync + BZR

• When Light Sync is enabled:
  • Not all attachments are guaranteed to be stored locally.
  • A BZR backup created in this state may be incomplete (missing some or all attachments).
• To get a full backup including attachments, you must:
  1. Disable Light Sync.
  2. Wait for all data/attachments to download.
  3. Then create the BZR archive.
• This effectively removes the benefit of Light Sync (small local footprint) after your first full archive, unless you switch back.

Recommended Personal Backup Workflow

1. Decide on a Backup Schedule

• Choose a regular interval for full BZR backups including attachments, for example:
  • Weekly (e.g., every Sunday), or
  • Before and after major projects or restructuring.

Document your choice here:

• Backup interval: e.g. Weekly on Sunday evening

2. Steps for a Full BZR Backup (Including Attachments)

Follow this process whenever you want a complete backup:

1. Switch from Light Sync to full/local sync
   • Turn off Light Sync for this brain so that all attachments will be downloaded locally.

2. Wait for the brain to fully download
   • Ensure sync has finished and all attachments are locally available.
   • Practically, this means allowing enough time for large files/folders to sync.

3. Create the BZR archive
   • Create a BZR backup of the brain once everything is fully synced locally.
   • Store this BZR file in at least one separate physical location (e.g., external drive or another machine, and/or cloud storage).

4. Optional: Return to Light Sync
   • If you want to keep the small local footprint and on‑demand attachments, you can re‑enable Light Sync after the backup is complete.

3. Complementary Backup Practices

• Multiple copies: Keep at least two recent BZR backups in different locations.
• Versioning: Include date/time in the filename, e.g. MyBrain-2026-06-01.bzr.
• Test restores occasionally: Periodically restore a BZR archive to a test environment/location to confirm it works as expected.

4. When to Run an Extra Full Backup

Run an additional full (attachments‑included) backup when:

• You’ve added many new attachments (e.g., large PDFs, images, or project archives).
• You’ve completed a major project or reorganization of your brain.
• Before upgrading hardware or making large system changes.

Note: This workflow is designed to work around the limitation that BZR archives created while Light Sync is active may not contain all attachments. The key is to temporarily disable Light Sync, let all data download, back up, and then optionally return to Light Sync if you still want its benefits.