Performing an assisted delete
You can delete obsolete data that has been removed from the backup source. The backup 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:
• Windows DS-Client – Performs deletion at the directory level for File system and DS-MLR backups. You can delete directories that have been removed from the source but cannot delete individual files removed from the source. Based on your search criteria, directories that have been removed from the backup source are automatically displayed.
• Linux or Mac DS-Client – Performs deletion at the file level for File system (Local, NAS, NFS, UNIX-SSH) backups. You can delete directories that have been removed from the source and directories containing file(s) that have been removed from the source. Based on your search criteria, files that have been removed from the backup source or directories containing files 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 or Mac DS-Clients, only obsolete files will be deleted from those directories.
To perform an assisted delete:
1. On the Sets menu, point to Delete, and then click Assisted Delete.
2. If you are using a 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.
NOTE: For Linux or Mac DS-Clients, only time-based data selection is available. Continue in step 3.
3. Do the following:
a) In the From box, specify a start date and time. No data before this date and time will be deleted.
b) In the To box, specify an end date and time. No data after this date and time will be deleted.
c) In the Leave last box, enter the number of generations you want to retain online. If you specify a number, you will only be able to select directories that have more generations available for delete than this number.
d) Under Filter, specify the date and time from which you want to display deleted items that have been removed from the source computer. This allows you to remove backed up directories or files that were intentionally deleted from your source.
NOTE: Windows DS-Clients compare directories in its logs with the directories backed up on the DS-System. Linux or Mac DS-Clients compares files in its logs with the files backed up on the DS-System.
e) If required, select one of the following options:
• Move to BLM – Copies the backed up data in the DS-System online storage to the BLM Archiver prior to deleting the data. If this option is unavailable but the check box is selected, it means the data must be moved to the BLM Archiver. This occurs if the backup has the BLM (Infinite Generations) option selected.
• Use new archive package – If you selected Move to BLM, you can select this option to create a new archive package on the BLM Archiver. Otherwise, the archive request is added to the current archive package on the BLM Archiver. Archive packages are specific to a particular backup.
• Session Label – If you selected Move to BLM, you can type a label for the archive package. Each archive package is automatically time-stamped, but a label can make it easier to find.
NOTE: These options are only available if BLM has been enabled as a DS-Tool for DS-Client. For DS-Client to complete the above BLM requests, BLM must also be registered with the DS-System.
f) Click Next.
4. Select the directories or files you want to delete, and then click Finish.