Objective   

This article offers a comprehensive, step-by-step guide on modifying the custom path for archived log storage and migrating existing archives to the newly designated location.

Prerequisites   

• Have access to the ADAudit Plus web console.

• Have access to the built-in admin account for ADAudit Plus. 

• Have access to the target archive path. 

• The service account configured in ADAudit Plus must have read, write, and modify permissions on the new archive storage location. 

Steps to follow 

Step 1: Move database archive files to a new location  

1. Log in to the ADAudit Plus web console using the default admin account.
   
2. Navigate to Admin, and under Configuration, choose Archive Events.

3. Click the Archive Folder option located in the top-right corner.
   

4. Enter the new archive folder path. Ensure the path is valid and accessible by the ADAudit Plus service account.

5. Click Save.

6. Click Run Now to immediately sync any existing archive files, or wait for the scheduled archive sync at 2am daily.

Step 2: Migrate existing archives to the new location 

1. Connect to the server where ManageEngine ADAudit Plus is installed using Remote Desktop Protocol. To do this, open the Remote Desktop Connection application on your system, enter the hostname or IP address of the ADAudit Plus server, and log in with valid administrator credentials. 
   
2. Open Services.msc.

3. Locate and Stop both ADAudit Plus services.

• ManageEngine ADAudit Plus

• ManageEngine ADAudit Plus - Data Engine XNode

4. Copy all archive files and folders from the current archive directory to the new archive path specified earlier.

5. Ensure that the folder structure (e.g., backup, DataEngine) is preserved during the transfer.

6. Once the files are copied, go back to Services.msc and Start both ADAudit Plus services. 
   

Step 3: Update the database with a new archive path

1. Log in to the ADAudit Plus web console as the default admin.
   
2. Navigate to Support > Support Info > More.
   

3. Identify the database type (PostgreSQL or Microsoft SQL) in the Machine Details section.

4. If using a PostgreSQL database, execute the query in the Query Window.

1. Expand the section Enable/Disable Configuration Settings.

2. Enable the option Run DML Queries.

3. In the Query 1 Box, execute the following query:

• update audbackupmetatable set base_DB_backup_directory='<new path>'

• Replace <new path> with the full, correctly formatted path.

• Use UNC format for network shares (e.g., \\Server\Share).

• Use the absolute local path (e.g., D:\ADAP_Archives) for local drives.

5. If using a Microsoft SQL database, execute the query in a database management tool connected to the ADAudit Plus database.

6. Go back to Services.msc and Restart both ADAudit Plus services.

Step 4: Move DataEngine archive files to a new location  

1. When moving all DataEngine archive files from {archive_location_1} to {archive_location_2}:

• Add an entry for {archive_location_2} in the following configuration file:
  

• {product_home}\apps\dataengine-xnode\conf\datarepository\archive-locations.conf
  

Example directory structure for DataEngine archives:

• C:\ADAuditPlus\archive\dataengine\audit-log\AdapDNSAuditLog\frozen\AdapDNSAuditLog_1652862766154.gz

• {archive_location} is C:\ADAuditPlus\archive\dataengine

• {container_name} is audit-log

• {repository_name} is AdapDNSAuditLog

 Validation and confirmation 

1. Check if new archived logs are being saved in the updated path.
   
2. If you've moved existing archives manually, confirm those files are accessible via the UI or back end and aren't flagged as missing or corrupted.
   

 Tips 

•  When using a shared network location, use the full UNC path (e.g., \\ServerName\ShareName) instead of mapped drive letters.

• Avoid configuring paths on removable drives or temporary network shares that may become unavailable.

• Ensure the new path has sufficient free space for future archives. Configure disk space alerts if needed.

• Before transferring archived logs, retain a secure backup copy to prevent accidental data loss.

 Related topics and articles 

• How to manage archive files in ADAudit Plus