# Accessing Backup Files on the CloudBox The **CloudBox** offers multiple methods for users to access and manage backup files, ensuring data integrity during race events. Backup files are essential for storing passings data, especially in cases where network connections might be lost or when post-event analysis is required. You can retrieve backup data through methods like **USB Pen Drive**, **browser download link**, or by using the **Rewind feature**. Additionally, each backup file is saved in **.txt format** and named using a **timestamp** to help identify when the backup was created. This article will cover the different ways to access backup files and provide a code example for analyzing the **.txt backup files**. ## Backup File Format All backup files on the CloudBox are saved in **.txt format**, with the file name consisting of a **timestamp** that reflects the creation time. The format of the file name is: ``` YYYYMMDD-HHMMSS.txt ``` For example, a backup file created on **September 18, 2024, at 09:36:34** would be named: ``` 20240918-093634.txt ``` ### **Backup File Content** Each file contains JSON-formatted entries, similar to the data transmitted during a TCP socket connection. These entries represent individual **passings**, with information such as the RFID tag read, timestamp, antenna used, RSSI value, and more. Example JSON entry from a backup file: ```json { "epc": "3D2E372D39293A313C313734", "timestamp": "2024-09-18;09:36:34.098", "seenCount": 1, "antenna": 1, "rssi": -58, "passingNumber": 1, "tagStr": "MC00169", "latitude": null, "longitude": null, "chksum": "6a0f5" } ``` Each passing is stored sequentially, with all relevant timing data captured. ## 1. **Accessing Backups via USB Pen Drive** One of the easiest ways to retrieve your CloudBox backups is by connecting a **USB Pen Drive** to the device. The CloudBox automatically detects the USB drive and transfers backup files to it. The system will notify you of the connection status and whether the download was successful or encountered an error. ### **How It Works:** * When a **USB drive** is connected to the CloudBox, the system detects the device and begins the backup download process. * The user is notified of the drive detection, download progress, and any errors that may occur. * During this process, the CloudBox will emit a **light sequence**—flashing every 500ms for 2 seconds—to indicate that the USB drive has been detected. ### **Important Considerations:** * **USB Drive Format**: The USB drive must be formatted in **MS-DOS (FAT32)**. Drives with other formats may not be detected by the CloudBox. * **Drive Name**: The drive's name should use **standard characters** (e.g., `PEN_BACKUPS`) to ensure compatibility. * **Notifications**: If you're connected to the CloudBox interface, you will receive notifications indicating whether the connection and download were successful or if any errors occurred. ## 2. **Downloading Backups via Browser Link** Another convenient way to access backups is by using a **direct download link** in a web browser. You can download all backup files in a **zipped format** by accessing the following link: ``` http://{clbx_ip_address}:2999/download ``` For example, if the CloudBox's IP address is `192.168.1.11`, the link to download backups would be: ``` http://192.168.1.11:2999/download ``` ### **How It Works:** * Open a browser and navigate to the download link using the CloudBox's **Ethernet IP address**. * You can download all backup files stored on the CloudBox in a **zipped format**, making it easy to transfer and archive the data. ### **Important Considerations:** * The CloudBox must be connected to the same network as your computer (either via **Ethernet**, **WiFi on the same subnet**, or **WiFi Access Point**). * Make sure to keep the backup storage clean by periodically downloading and deleting old files to avoid storage issues. ## 3. **Rewind Feature for Retrieving Passings** The **Rewind feature** allows you to retrieve specific passings data between a given time range. This feature is especially useful for analyzing race data after the event, as it provides a stream of past passings to connected TCP clients. ### **How It Works:** * The **Rewind** feature returns a stream of **passings** data to connected TCP clients. * You can specify a **startTimestamp** and **endTimestamp** to limit the data to a specific time range. If both are set to `null`, the CloudBox will return all passings available in the backup files. ### **Command Format:** * **Rewind Command**: ``` REWIND;startTimestamp;endTimestamp ``` Example format for timestamps: ``` REWIND;2024-09-18 09:30:00;2024-09-18 10:30:00 ``` * **startTimestamp** and **endTimestamp** must be in the format `YYYY-MM-DD HH:mm:ss`. If no timestamp is provided, the system will return all available data from the backup. ### **Important Considerations:** * The **Rewind feature** can be used during an active timing session (`START_MODE`). This allows you to access past data while still recording new passings in real time. * Keep in mind that if no specific time range is provided, retrieving a large amount of data could take time, especially if the backup storage is not regularly cleaned. ## Notifications and LED Indications The CloudBox provides various feedback mechanisms when interacting with backups: * **USB Detection**: The CloudBox will flash its LED every **500 ms for 2 seconds** when a USB drive is detected, indicating that the backup download process is starting. * **User Notifications**: If you are connected to the CloudBox via the web interface, you will receive **notifications** when: * The USB drive is connected. * The backup download completes successfully. * Any errors occur during the download process. These notifications ensure that users are aware of the backup status and can respond if needed. ## Analyzing Backup Files Here’s an example of how you can read and analyze the backup files using **Python**, **C#**, and **Node.js**. **Python Example:** ```python import json # Path to the backup file backup_file = "20240918-093634.txt" # Open the backup file and parse each line as a JSON object with open(backup_file, "r") as file: for line in file: passing_data = json.loads(line) print(f"Tag: {passing_data['epc']}, Timestamp: {passing_data['timestamp']}, Antenna: {passing_data['antenna']}") ``` **C# Example:** ```csharp using System; using System.IO; using Newtonsoft.Json.Linq; class BackupAnalysis { static void Main() { string backupFilePath = "20240918-093634.txt"; foreach (string line in File.ReadLines(backupFilePath)) { JObject passingData = JObject.Parse(line); Console.WriteLine($"Tag: {passingData["epc"]}, Timestamp: {passingData["timestamp"]}, Antenna: {passingData["antenna"]}"); } } } ``` **Node.js Example:** ```javascript const fs = require('fs'); // Path to the backup file const backupFile = '20240918-093634.txt'; // Read and parse each line of the backup file fs.readFile(backupFile, 'utf8', (err, data) => { if (err) throw err; data.split('\n').forEach(line => { if (line) { const passingData = JSON.parse(line); console.log(`Tag: ${passingData.epc}, Timestamp: ${passingData.timestamp}, Antenna: ${passingData.antenna}`); } }); }); ``` These examples show how you can parse the JSON entries in the backup files and extract key information like **epc** (RFID tag), **timestamp**, and **antenna**. ## Summary The CloudBox provides multiple ways to access and manage backup files, including using a **USB Pen Drive**, downloading via a **browser link**, or using the **Rewind feature** for targeted passings retrieval. Each backup file is saved in a **.txt format** with a **timestamped name**, and the entries inside the file are stored in **JSON format**, representing each passing. Regularly downloading and analyzing these backups ensures that race data is securely stored and easily accessible for post-event analysis.