Performing an assisted delete from online storage
Assisted Delete searches for and deletes obsolete online data from multiple backup sets according to your criteria and selections. This feature allows you to specify deletion criteria for data that has been removed from the backup source.
The granularity of this delete function depends on the type of DS-Client installation:
• In Windows DS-Client, Assisted Delete can delete directories from File system and DS-MLR backup sets. Assisted Delete automatically searches for and displays, according to your specified criteria, directories that have been removed from the backup source. You can then select individual directories for deletion. Assisted Delete will delete the directories that you select.
• In Linux / Mac DS-Client, Assisted Delete can delete both directories and files from NAS, UNIX-SSH, NFS, and Local File System backup sets. Assisted Delete automatically searches for and displays, according to your specified criteria, directories that have been removed from the backup source or directories containing file(s) that have been removed from the backup source. You can then make selections at the directory level. Assisted Delete will then delete obsolete directories that you select and obsolete files in the directories that you select.
NOTE: When you select directories containing files that are removed from source in Linux/Mac DS-Client, only obsolete files will be deleted from those directories.
NOTE: During each backup session, DS-Client identifies files that have been removed from the source. Therefore, files that have been removed from the source after the most recent backup session are not yet identified and will not be deleted through Assisted Delete.
To perform an assisted delete:
1. Click Sets > Delete > Assisted Delete.
The Assisted Delete Wizard appears. Options in this first screen allow you to narrow down the directories from which to select for deletion.
2. Proceed according to the DS-Client installation you are using:
• [Windows DS-Client] Select the method by which data will be selected for deletion.
• If you select Time based data selection, continue to Step 3.
• If you select Placeholder/stub selection, select one of the two criteria, and continue to Step 4. You can use this option if the data source is managed by a recognized HSM system.
For details on these options, see the online help for the screen.
• [Linux/Mac DS-Client] Only time-based data selection is available in Assisted Delete; continue in Step 4.
3. Specify the following criteria for time-based data selection:
• Delete Period: Period from which to delete backup data
• Leave last [ ] generations: Number of generations (if any) to retain online
• Filter: Cutoff date and time to qualify for deletion items that have been removed from the source computer
The next screen displays directories (or directories containing files) that have been backed up during the Delete Period and removed from the source before the cut-off date and time.
4. Select Move to BLM if you want to send to BLM a copy of all the files that are deleted.
5. Click Next.
The Select backup sets/directories screen appears.
6. Clear selections in this screen if required.
Directories that do not match the Delete Period or Filter selections are unavailable.
Windows DS-Client performs deletion at the directory level. The Assisted Delete Wizard can select and delete directories that have been removed from the source but cannot select or delete individual files removed from the source.
Linux / Mac DS-Client performs deletion at the file level. The Assisted Delete Wizard can select and delete directories that have been removed from the source and directories containing file(s) that have been removed from the source.
7. Click Finish to start the delete process.
8. (If two-factor authentication is enabled) In the Two-factor Authentication Validation dialog box, in the Authentication Code box, type the authentication code that you have received from the DS-System, and then click Validate.
NOTE: The authentication code is sent to the email address that is associated with your user account in the two-factor authentication settings for the DS-Client. The code is valid for two hours. To request an authentication code be resent to you, click Resend.