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Backup options
Configuration parameters of a backup operation (p. 398), such as pre/post backup commands,
maximum network bandwidth allotted for the backup stream or data compression level. Backup
options are a part of a backup plan (p. 399).
Backup plan (Plan)
A set of rules that specify how the given data will be protected on a given machine. A backup plan
specifies:
what data to back up
where to store the backup archive (p. 398) (the backup archive name and location)
the backup scheme (p. 400), that includes the backup schedule and [optionally] the retention
rules
[optionally] the archive validation rules (p. 410)
the backup options (p. 398).
For example, a backup plan can contain the following information:
back up volume C:
(this is the data the plan will protect)
name the archive MySystemVolume and place it to \\server\backups\
(this is the backup archive
name and location)
perform full backup monthly on the last day of the month at 10:00AM and incremental backup
on Sundays at 10:00PM. Delete backups that are older than 3 months
(this is a backup scheme)
validate the last backup immediately after its creation
(this is a validation rule)
protect the archive with a password
(this is an option)
.
Physically, a backup plan is a bundle of tasks (p. 409) configured for execution on a managed
machine (p. 406).
A backup plan can be created directly on the machine (local plan) or appears on the machine as a
result of a backup policy (p. 399) deployment (centralized plan (p. 401)).
Backup policy (Policy)
A backup plan template created by the management server (p. 407) administrator and stored on the
management server. A backup policy contains the same rules as a backup plan, but might not
explicitly specify what data items to back up. Instead, selection rules (p. 408), such as environment
variables, can be used. Because of this flexible selection, a backup policy can be centrally applied to
multiple machines. If a data item is specified explicitly (e.g. /dev/sda or C:\Windows), the policy will
back up this item on each machine where this exact path is found.
By applying a policy to a group of machines, the administrator deploys multiple backup plans with a
single action.
The workflow when using policies is as follows.
1.
The administrator creates a backup policy.
2.
The administrator applies the policy to a group of machines or a single machine (p. 406).
3.
The management server deploys the policy to the machines.
