Sponsored by Block Imaging
By Brad Lee, Field Service Engineer, Block Imaging
Preventative maintenance and backups can help ensure your Hologic Dimensions or 3D Dimensions system stays up and running. In this article, we will explore how you can create AWS backups, where to properly store them, and WHY you should store them.
AWS Backups
Backups are one of the most important things to have for your AWS system for a few reasons. First, backups ensure you have the latest information on your system. Second, you’re not waiting on the OEM to assist in gathering this information for you.
While Hologic backups are not automatic, there are options to save your own backups to keep handy. Below we will discover how to create backups, your backup options, how to gather important files, and how to save those files.
Step One: Create a Backup
There are a couple of ways to create a backup in system tools.
- Step One: Log in to the application as a service. Then we will click Admin → System Tools
- Step Two: Once in System Tools go to Troubleshooting → Troubleshooting Backups → Create a Backup
You will then be given five options before you create your backup. Click the corresponding box next to the backup option you would like.
Here is an explanation of what each option includes:
- Licenses – As is stated this will get all your licensing.
- UsersDB – The tech logins and any other user on the system login page
- MainDB – Patient database
- ConfigDB – All settings within System Tools. IE. Site name, DICOM, CPT codes
- RejectFiles – Reject repeat files
The system will default to Licenses, UsersDB, and ConfigDB. In PM cases, these options will be sufficient. A time when you would want to select all would be if you were replacing a computer that same day. As the patient database and reject repeat files change as the system is used.
Step Two: Gather Important Files
After you have created your System Tools backup, we can move on to gathering important files.
Note: You will need to know your detector serial number to achieve this.
How to Find Your Detector Serial Number
- Step one: Navigate to the About screen in the application.
- Step two: Login to your system →
- Step three: Locate the gantry icon on the bottom right of the screen → Click the icon → Then click About.
- Step four: In the About screen, you will find your detector serial number in the Detector section.
Once you have your detector serial number, you can start saving your files.
How to Save Files
Create a folder on the desktop. Pro tip: I normally name the folder Backups with the current date.
Next, copy and paste these files into your Backups folder on the desktop.
- C:\Licensing – Here you will find your license file. Depending on the software version this will be either a. HOLX or. XML file.
- C:\Gemini\Data\m35 – Here you will find your detector files. the files you are: (detector SN).map, (detector SN).dlc, (detector SN).llc, (detector SN).cfg. IE. YM837654.map, YM837654.dlc, ect.
- C:\Caltool_xfer – Here you will find your node calibration data. These will be .txt files. I recommend you pull all of them.
- C:\Backups\manual – Here you will find the System Tools backup we created earlier. These will be .zip files and you will pull all of them.
- C:\Gemini\data\HVL – Here you will find your HVL. You will only need to pull the Subsystem.tubeoutput.xml file.
- The last thing you will want to copy is your IP configuration info for the PC. I found that using a command prompt to make the ipconfig info into a text file is the best way. To do this open a command prompt and change the directory to the desktop. Then run the following command. “ipconfig /all >> IP.txt”
Once you have all the files to the desktop, be sure to load onto a new external USB drive to be easily found by yourself or the next engineer who will work on the system.
And there you have it! You now have everything you need to restore the system in case of a crash. Be sure you pull the backups folder off the system to access them later in case of a crash.
As with any mechanical device, computers are prone to wear and tear, which can lead to malfunctions, data loss, and system crashes. To avoid such situations, it is important to prioritize preventive maintenance and regular backups.
“By taking these steps, users can ensure that the system’s computers remain in good working condition and that their important files and documents are always safe and secure.”
If you are looking for more preventative maintenance tips for Mammography or additional modalities, visit the Block Imaging Learning Center: info.blockimaging.com.
Be sure to check out my most recent blog on Preventative Maintenance for Hologic Dimensions & 3D Dimensions!
Brad Lee is a field service engineer at Block Imaging. He co-manages their Texas team, while also performing maintenance on multiple modalities.