NetVault 13.0.2 - Administration Guide

Backup retirement

A backup can be retained indefinitely or retired after a specified period. NetVault supports generation- and time-based retirement methods for backups. When a backup is retired, its index is deleted from the NetVault Database.

Backup retirement methods

You can specify generation- and time-based retirement methods for backups:

•

Generation-based backup retirement: This method specifies the maximum generation count for a Full Backup (that is, the maximum number of Full Backups that are retained for the same data set). Generation-based retirement can only be set for Full Backups. When the number of Full Backups exceeds the specified generation count, the oldest Full Backup is retired.

•

Time-based backup retirement: This method specifies the length of time a backup is retained. You can specify the retirement age for backups in number of days, weeks, or years. A backup is retired when the retirement age is reached. Time-based retirement can be set for all backup types (that is, Full, Incremental, and Differential).


	NOTE: When a backup stored on a disk-based storage device (such as NetVault SmartDisk, Quest DR Series system, or Data Domain system) is retired, that backup is deleted from the device. You cannot import the deleted backup by scanning the device.

Retirement rules for dependent backups

If a backup has any dependent backups, you can use the following rules to delete the backup series:

•

Retire all backups when the last backup is retired: By default, the retirement of a backup series is deferred until all backups from this series are ready for retirement. The backups from an Incremental series or a Differential series are retired when the last dependent backup from the series is retired.

•

Retire all backups when the first backup is retired: NetVault lets you modify the retirement behavior to retire a backup series when the first backup is retired. When this rule is applied, the backups from an Incremental series or a Differential Series are retired when the first backup from the series is retired.

You can choose to apply this rule in the following ways:

•

Use the Retirement Timing Control settings to change the default behavior for all backups

•

Use the saveset retirement settings to override the default behavior for selected backups

The following examples illustrate the retirement behavior for different backup series:

•

Example 1: Incremental Backup series

•

Example 2: Differential Backup series

•

Example 3: Mixed backups (Full, Incremental, and Differential Backups)

Example 1: Incremental Backup series

In this example, Full Backups are performed on Sunday and Incremental Backups are performed from Monday through Saturday. The retention period is set to seven days.


Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5	Day 6	Day 7
Full Backup	Incremental Backup 1	Incremental Backup 2	Incremental Backup 3	Incremental Backup 4	Incremental Backup 5	Incremental Backup 6

The Incremental Backups depend on the most recent backup of any type (Full, Incremental, or Differential). Therefore, these backups create a single backup series:

Full Backup <- Incremental Backup 1 <- Incremental Backup 2 <- Incremental Backup 3 <- Incremental Backup 4 <- Incremental Backup 5 <- Incremental Backup 6

Depending on the retirement rule that is applied, the backups are retired as follows:

•

Retire all backups when the last backup is retired: When you apply this rule, all backups from this series are retired on Day 15.

•

Retire all backups when the first backup is retired: When you apply this rule, all backups from this series are retired on Day 8.

Example 2: Differential Backup series

In this example, Full Backups are performed on Sunday and Differential Backups are performed from Monday through Saturday. The retention period is set to seven days.


Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5	Day 6	Day 7
Full Backup	Differential Backup	Differential Backup	Differential Backup	Differential Backup	Differential Backup	Differential Backup

Differential Backups depend on the recent Full Backup. Therefore, these backups create six separate backup series:

Full Backup <- Differential Backup 1

Full Backup <- Differential Backup 2

Full Backup <- Differential Backup 3

Full Backup <- Differential Backup 4

Full Backup <- Differential Backup 5

Full Backup <- Differential Backup 6

Depending on the retirement rule that is applied, the backups are retired as follows:

•

Retire all backups when the last backup is retired: When you apply this rule, the backups from this example are retired as follows:


Day 8	Day 9	Day 10	Day 11	Day 12	Day 13	Day 14	Day 15
None	None	Differential Backup 1	Differential Backup 2	Differential Backup 3	Differential Backup 4	Differential Backup 5	Full Backup and Differential Backup 6

•

Retire all backups when the first backup is retired: When you apply this rule, all backups from this example are retired on Day 8.

Example 3: Mixed backups (Full, Incremental, and Differential Backups)

In this example, Full Backups are performed on Sunday, Incremental Backups are performed on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, and Differential Backups are performed on Wednesday and Saturday. The retention period is set to seven days.


Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5	Day 6	Day 7
Full Backup	Incremental Backup 1	Incremental Backup 2	Differential Backup 1	Incremental Backup 3	Incremental Backup 4	Differential Backup 2

The Differential Backups depend on the recent Full Backup, while the Incremental Backups depend on the most recent backup of any type (Full, Differential, or Incremental). Therefore, these backups create three separate backup series:

Full Backup <- Incremental Backup 1 <- Incremental Backup 2

Full Backup <- Differential Backup 1 <- Incremental Backup 3 <- Incremental Backup 4

Full Backup <- Differential Backup 2

Depending on the retirement rule that is applied, these backups are retired as follows:

•

Retire all backups when the last backup is retired: When you apply this rule, the backups from this example are retired as follows:


Day 8	Day 9	Day 10	Day 11	Day 12	Day 13	Day 14	Day 15
None	None	None	Incremental Backup 1 and Incremental Backup 2	None	None	Differential Backup 1, Incremental Backup 3, and Incremental Backup 4	Full Backup and Differential Backup 2

•

Retire all backups when the first backup is retired: When you apply this rule, all backups from this example are retired on Day 8.

About NetVault Sets

NetVault Sets are used to create backup and restore jobs.

You can use sets to store data selections, backup and restore options, scheduling options, device and media options, and other advanced backup and restore options. Sets eliminate the need to manually select the data items or configure backup and restore options for each job, and allow you to quickly and easily apply the same data selections and options to multiple jobs.

For example, you can save the data selections in a Backup Selection Set, and use this set to create Full, Incremental, and Differential Backup jobs to ensure that the same data set is used for all jobs. Similarly, you can change the day, date, or time in a Schedule Set to automatically change the job schedule for multiple jobs, or specify a new device for backups by changing the Target Set.

Set types

The following table describes the set types that are available in NetVault.

Table 33. Set types

Set type

Descriptions

Backup Selection Set

This set is used to specify data selections for backup jobs. The data items that are available for selection depend on the plug-in in use.

For more information about these sets, see the relevant plug-in user's guide.

Plugin Options Set

This set is used to specify the backup method, backup type, and other backup options.

The backup options that are available to a job depend on the plug-in in use. For more information about these sets, see the relevant plug-in user's guide.

Schedule Set

This set is used to specify scheduling options for backup and restore jobs. These options define when and at what intervals a job runs.

NetVault includes the following predefined Schedule Sets:

•

•

•

•

This set is used to specify source device options.

A Source Set is required for the following jobs:

•

Plug-in for Consolidation jobs

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Plug-in for Data Copy jobs

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Secondary Copy jobs

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Restore jobs

NetVault includes the following predefined Source Set:

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Any Device

Target Set

This set is used to specify target device and media options for backup jobs.

NetVault includes the following predefined Target Sets:

•

Default Backup Target Options

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Local Only

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Reuse Old Media

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Stand-alone

Backup Advanced Options Set

This set is used to specify backup retirement settings, Secondary Copy job definitions, user-defined events, and other advanced options.

NetVault includes the following predefined Backup Advanced Options Sets:

•

Default Advanced Backup Options

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Keep forever (Archive)

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Encrypt

Restore Selection Set

This set is used to specify data selections for restore jobs.

The data items that are available for selection depend on the plug-in in use. For more information, see the relevant plug-in user's guide.

Restore Advanced Options Set

This set is used to specify restore type, user-defined events, and other advanced restore options.

NetVault provides the following predefined Restore Advanced Options Set:

•

Restore from selected backup

Backup and recovery strategy

The primary objective of backing up data is to recover from the damages caused by a data loss event and resume normal operations quickly. This objective requires a good backup strategy, which maximizes data availability and minimizes data loss and downtime, while balancing your business requirements with costs, resources, and other factors.

To create a good backup plan, consider the possible failure modes, like hardware failure, data corruption, human error, or loss of a data center, and select the suitable backup methods and features to recover from these scenarios.

Typically, your backup plan should define what backup methods are used, when and at what intervals the backups are performed, how the backups are stored, how long the backups are retained, and how the backup media are re-used.

Creating backup jobs

You can use the backup job wizard to create and submit backup jobs. The wizard can be accessed from the Guided Configuration or Create Backup Job link in the Navigation pane.

To create a backup job:

In the Navigation pane, click Create Backup Job.

— or —

In the Navigation pane, click Guided Configuration, and then on the NetVault Configuration Wizard page, click Create Backup Jobs.

Figure 13. Create Backup Job page

In Job Name, type a name for the job. Assign a descriptive name that allows you to easily identify the job for monitoring its progress or restoring data.

The job name can contain alphanumeric and non-alphanumeric characters, but it cannot contain non‑Latin characters. There is no length restriction. However, a maximum of 40 characters is recommended on all platforms.

On the Create Backup Job page, the actions described in the following table are available for the details listed below Job Name.


Icon	Description
	Hover to view information about the corresponding detail.
	To create a new set for the corresponding detail, click this icon. The corresponding drawer opens. Enter the required information, and then click Save. Optionally, click Clone Existing Set, select a set and click Load, and then enter a name for the cloned set at the bottom of the page.
	To edit the information for the selected set, click this icon. The corresponding drawer opens. Update the required information, and then click Save. Optionally, click Clone Existing Set, select a set and click Load, and then enter a name for the cloned set at the bottom of the page.
	Click to delete the selected set. Click OK to confirm.

The details described in the following table are available for viewing, creating, editing, and deleting.


Detail	Description
Selections	Select an existing Backup Selection Set, or create a new set and select the items that you want to back up. NOTE: The data items that are available for selection depend on the plug-in in use. For more information about selecting data for backups, see the relevant plug-in user’s guide.
Plugin Options	Select an existing Backup Options Set, or create a new set and configure the options that you want to use. NOTE: The backup options that are available to a job depend on the plug-in in use. For more information about these options, see the relevant plug-in user's guide.
Schedule	Select an existing Schedule Set, or create a new set and configure the schedule type and method. For more information, see Creating Schedule Sets. NOTE: The predefined set “Immediate” is selected by default. To run the job as soon as it is submitted, use this set.
Source Storage	This option appears only when creating a Plug-in for Consolidation and Plug-in for Data Copy job. Select an existing Source Set, or create a new set and configure the source device options for the job. For more information, see Creating Source Sets for backup jobs. NOTE: The predefined set “Any Device” is selected by default.
Target Storage	Select an existing target set, or create a new set and configure the target device and media options for the job. For more information, see Creating Target Sets. NOTE: The predefined set “Default Backup Target Options” is selected by default.
Advanced Options	Select an existing Backup Advanced Options set, or create a new set and configure the options that you want to use. For more information, see Creating Backup Advanced Options Sets. NOTE: The predefined set “Default Advanced Backup Options” is selected by default.

Select one of the following methods to save or schedule the job:

•

To save the definition without scheduling the job, click Save.

You can view, edit, or run this job from the Manage Job Definitions page. For more information, see Managing job definitions. This job is not displayed on the Job Status page until you submit it.

•

To submit the job for scheduling, click Save & Submit.

You can monitor the job progress from the Job Status page and view the logs from the View Logs page. For more information, see Viewing job activity and Viewing log messages.


	NOTE: A job that uses the Schedule Type “Triggered” is only scheduled when you run the script.

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NetVault 13.0.2 - Administration Guide

Backup retirement

About NetVault Sets

Backup and recovery strategy

Creating backup jobs