Performing an assisted delete
You can delete obsolete directories and files that have been removed from the backup source. The backup set will continue to exist and scheduled backups will continue to run.
NOTE: During each backup session, DS-Client identifies files that have been removed from the source. Files that have been removed from the source after the most recent backup session are not yet identified and will not be deleted.
The granularity of the assisted delete operation depends on the type of DS-Client installation:
• For Windows DS-Clients, you can delete obsolete directories from File system and DS-MLR backup sets. Based on your search criteria, directories that have been removed from the backup source are automatically displayed.
• For Linux / Mac DS-Clients, you can delete obsolete directories and files from NAS, UNIX-SSH, NFS, and Local File System backup sets. Based on your search criteria, directories that have been removed from the backup source or directories containing file(s) that have been removed from the backup source are automatically displayed.
NOTE: When you select directories containing files that are removed from the source in Linux/Mac DS-Clients, only obsolete files will be deleted from those directories.
To perform an assisted delete:
1. On the Sets menu, click Delete and then Assisted Delete.
The Assisted Delete Wizard appears. Options in this first page allow you to narrow down the directories from which to select for deletion.
2. Proceed according to the DS-Client installation you are using:
• For 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 page.
• For Linux / Mac DS-Client, only time-based data selection is available in Assisted Delete, therefore continue in step 4.
3. Specify the following criteria for time-based data selection:
• Delete Period — Time range 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 page 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.
6. The Select backup sets/directories page, clear selections in this dialog box if required.
Directories that do not match the delete period or filter selections are unavailable for selection.
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 a new authentication code, click Resend.