General options for backup jobs and templates

You can configure general options for backup jobs, including the name of the job and the backup method to be used.

See Creating a backup job by setting job properties.

This dialog box includes the following options:

Table: General settings options

Item

Description

Job name/Template name

Designates the name for this backup job or template. You can accept the default name that appears or enter a name. The name must be unique.

Backup set description

Describes the information in the backup set for future reference.

Backup method for files

Designates one of the following backup methods:

  • Full – Back up files

    - Using archive bit (reset archive bit). Includes all of the files selected for backup and resets the archive bit to indicate that the files have been backed up.

    - Using modified time. Includes all of the files selected for backup and allows the use of incrementals and differentials using the modified date and time stamp.

    -Copy the files. Includes all selected data but does not reset the archive bit. It does not affect your backup strategy or media rotation scheme.

    - Back up and delete the files (delete selected files and folders after successful copy backup). Backs up the selected data, verifies the media, and then deletes the data from the volume. The logon account credentials that you use to run the job must have the rights to delete a file. To use the method to back up and delete the files on computers on which the Remote Agent for Linux or UNIX Servers or the Remote Agent for Macintosh Systems is installed, the Backup Exec logon account must have superuser privileges. Otherwise, the data is backed up, but is not deleted.

    The Backup Exec Archive Option offers more features for data archiving.

    See About the Archiving Option.

  • Differential – Back up changed files since last full

    - Using archive bit (does not reset archive bit). Includes all files that changed (based on the archive bit) since the last full backup. It does not affect your backup strategy or media rotation scheme because the archive bit is not reset.

    - Using modified time. Includes all files changed since the last full backup, using the files’ last modified date and time stamp. Make sure that the same script or selection list is used for the differential backup that was used for the full backup.

    Note:

    A file’s last modified date and timestamp does not change when the file is copied or moved. If the file’s modified time is older than the previous backup’s modified time, that file is not backed up. To ensure that the files are protected, run a full backup after you copy or you move files. If you have the Advanced Disk-based Option, you can run synthetic backups to ensure that any copied or moved files are protected.

  • Incremental – Back up changed files since last full or incremental

    - Using archive bit (reset archive bit). Includes only the files that have changed (based on the archive bit) since the last full or incremental backup and resets the archive bit to indicate that the files have been backed up.

    - Using modified time. Includes all files that have changed since the last full or incremental backup, using the files’ last modified date and time stamp. Make sure that the same script or selection list is used for the incremental backup that was used for the full backup.

    Note:

    A file’s last modified date and timestamp does not change when the file is copied or moved. If the file’s modified time is older than the previous backup’s modified time, that file is not backed up. To ensure that the files are protected, run a full backup after you copy or you move files. If you have the Advanced Disk-based Option, you can run synthetic backups to ensure that any copied or moved files are protected.

  • Working Set – Back up files

    - Changed today. Backs up all files that were created or modified today.

    - Last accessed in (x) days. If you select this backup method, you can then indicate in the Files accessed in x days field that you want to include data that has been accessed in a specific number of days.

    See About backup methods.

Files accessed in x days

Specifies the number of days for which to include accessed files if you selected Last accessed in (x) days in the Backup method for files field.

Symantec recommends that you specify at least 30 days in order to include the data needed to make your system operational if you have to restore a working set backup.

Use the Microsoft Change Journal if available

Uses the Microsoft Change Journal to determine which files have been modified since the last full backup. This option can only be used with NTFS volumes.

This option is available when you select one of the following backup methods:

  • Full – Back Up Files – Using modified time. This method is not available when performing offhost backup.

  • Differential – Back up changed files since last full – Using modified time

  • Incremental – Back up changed files since last full or incremental – Using modified time.

In addition, this option becomes available if you select the Collect additional information for synthetic backup and for true image restore check box.

If you use the Change Journal with the option to collect additional information for synthetic backup and for true image restores, the archive bit is not reset, even if you selected a backup method that has “reset archive bit” in the name.

If you are backing up volumes with junction points that were created by linkd.exe, you should not use the Microsoft Change Journal. Junction points are not followed properly in this situation.

Preserve tree on back up and delete

Retains the directory structure on the hard drive of the files that are backed up in a full backup job. This option is availa
ble only when you select the full backup method that backs up and deletes the files.

Collect additional information for synthetic backup and for true image restore

Displays only for templates. It is used with synthetic backup jobs and true image restore jobs. It specifies that Backup Exec collects the information required to detect files and directories that have been moved, renamed, or newly installed since the last backup, and then includes those files and directories in the backup jobs. If this option is not selected, Backup Exec skips these files and directories if their archive bits are unchanged. With this option selected, Backup Exec compares path names, file names, modified times, and other attributes with those from the previous full and incremental backups. If any of these attributes are new or changed, then the file or directory is backed up.

Backups that have this option selected require more disk space, and take more time to run, than backups that do not.

You must select this option for the baseline and incremental backup template in a synthetic backup policy.

See About the synthetic backup feature.

Verify after backup completes

Performs a verify operation automatically to make sure the media can be read once the backup has been completed. Verifying all backups is recommended.

Compression type

Provides the following compression options:

  • None.

    This option copies the data to the media in its original form (uncompressed). Using some form of data compression can help expedite backups and preserve storage media space.

    Hardware data compression should not be used in environments where devices that support hardware compression are used interchangeably with devices that do not have that functionality.

    In this situation, hardware compression is automatically disabled. You can manually re-enable hardware compression on the drives that support it, but this results in media inconsistency. If the drive that supports hardware compression fails, the compressed media cannot be restored with the non-compression drive.

  • Software.

    This option uses STAC software data compression, which compresses the data before it is sent to the storage device.

  • Hardware [if available, otherwise none].

    This option uses hardware data compression (if the storage device supports it). If the drive does not feature data compression the data is backed up uncompressed.

  • Hardware [if available, otherwise software].

    This option uses hardware data compression (if the storage device supports it). If the drive does not feature hardware data compression, STAC software compression is used.

More Information

Creating a backup job by setting job properties

General options for backup jobs and templates