6 Replies Latest reply on Mar 19, 2018 2:19 AM by Mark McGhee

    Decreasing Tableau backup size and backup duration

    U B
    U B Jan 10, 2018 4:13 AM

      Hi all,

      Is there any solution for just backing up all Tableau server configurations (projects-workbooks) not all extracted data?

      Redundant data is on disk and we have no need to backing up this data.

      As the number of extracts used in workbooks increases, both backup time and backup size also is increasing.

      I did not find any tabadmin backup options for this issue.

      Now our backup duration is over 5 hours and continue to increase dramatically.

      Thanks.

        • 1. Re: Decreasing Tableau backup size and backup duration
          Ravi Mistry
          Ravi Mistry Jan 10, 2018 7:34 AM (in response to U B)

          Are you able to delete redundant, unused Data Extracts? I think the answer to this query is largely administrative.

           

          I'd also look at whether you have workbooks which are published with large extracts used across multiple workbooks - could you publish this once, and have all the workbooks connect to that?

           

          I hope this helps reduce the size of the workbook! 

          • 2. Re: Decreasing Tableau backup size and backup duration
            U B
            U B Mar 15, 2018 2:26 AM (in response to Ravi Mistry)

            Hi Ravi Mistry,

            As you mentioned, there are some extracts under different extract directories on server.

            File names and types of these files are the same. But size of them is different.  It may be versions of an extract.

            But how can I find unused Data Extracts on Tableau Server?

            Thanks for your help!

            • 3. Re: Decreasing Tableau backup size and backup duration
              U B
              U B Mar 16, 2018 1:28 AM (in response to U B)

              Hi again,

              Here is one of the extracts located on Tableau Server.  Why do we have these versions on disk? Same file has been created at different locations and have different size each other.

              There are many Tableau users have "publish workbook permission" to server.

              ExtractList.jpg

              I have searched and found "Revision History Settings" on Tableau.  "Settings" > "Revision History"

              I have set this to 5 instead of 25. And then also clear all revision history on Tableau.

              But nothing happened.

              Thanks.

              • 4. Re: Decreasing Tableau backup size and backup duration
                Ritesh Bisht
                Ritesh Bisht Mar 16, 2018 2:57 AM (in response to U B)

                Hi ,

                 

                Go to

                Screen Shot 2018-03-16 at 3.21.59 PM.png

                 

                 

                Then please select like below (date range, for ex I gave last 24 months ) , you can see the extracts and last usage date

                 

                Screen Shot 2018-03-16 at 3.24.29 PM.png

                 

                 

                 

                Thanks,

                Ritesh

                • 5. Re: Decreasing Tableau backup size and backup duration
                  U B
                  U B Mar 16, 2018 7:30 AM (in response to Ritesh Bisht)

                  Hi Ritesh and Ravi,

                  Thanks for your reply.

                   

                  I am new to Tableau.

                  I am trying to understand the structure of Tableau and also I want to decrease the backup size.

                   

                  I found the reason why extracts have too many versions.

                  The cause is that the data source is not published separately to the server but it is embedded in the workbook.

                   

                  In our company, one of the Tableau user uses embedded datasources in workbooks instead of publishing one datasource separately and using one datasource.

                  I think that this causes creating new extracts on Tableau server and keeps redundant data on disk.

                  I told him the issue and I wanted to redesign his workbooks.

                  Thanks.

                  • 6. Re: Decreasing Tableau backup size and backup duration
                    Mark McGhee
                    Mark McGhee Employee Mar 19, 2018 2:19 AM (in response to U B)

                    One recommendation is that if you haven't already it might help if you run the "tabadmin cleanup" command while Tableau Server is in a stopped state.   It might be the ase you already have this command running as part of a nightly backup for Production (which we strongly recommend) but that will mostly cleanup the postgres database:

                     

                    Remove Unneeded Files

                     

                    With Tableau Server you give users a lot of room to run but as you mention this can come back in ways in that if you had say 10 users and all created an extract for their datasource but in reality it's the same data source you now have 10 copies instead of just one.   Version 10.4 comes with "certified" data sources so that may be a route to try to steer users towards using that if one is already available.  Since one published data source could now cover all 10 users.

                     

                    There might be a misconception that wanted to help clear up.  Most extracts whether they are themselves a "published data source" or "embedded in a workbook" will be part of a "refresh schedule" where the backgrounder will then periodically refresh the extract.  In this case Tableau does not save multiple instances of the extract.  We only save the metadata changes of the workbook so we can revert to a prior version.   If you're seeing something different it would be a good idea to open a support case.   Below is a link for more information though I'd recommend looking over the "Potential Revision History Issues" section

                     

                    Work with Content Revisions

                    http://onlinehelp.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/help.htm#qs_revision_history.html