- Use Writer Options: Select this option to direct the VSS backup process to use the options provided by the selected Writer and to enable the other options available on this dialog.
If this option is not selected, the options set in the Volume Shadow Copy Service tab of the Global Options dialog are used. For an explanation of the global options, refer to the section Set Global Options.
- Use Transportable snap-shot: Select this option to create a transportable VSS backup. When this option is selected, the only available Backup Method is Full Backup.
This option is available only when the Enterprise Option for VSS Hardware Snap-Shot is installed as part of the Enterprise Module.
- Retain Shadow Copy After Backup: This option is enabled when you select Use Transportable snap-shot. Select this option to specify that Arcserve Backup should not delete the shadow copy volume after the backup. Because the shadow copy volume is transportable, retaining it after the backup enables the volume to be imported onto another system for other uses.
- Backup Method: Select one of the following methods to indicate the backup method to use for the backup of the selected Writer:
- Use Method Selected for Job: Uses the backup method indicated in the Schedule tab of the Backup Manager.
- Use Full Backup: Backs up all the files associated with the selected Writer, regardless of when the data last changed. When the Use Transportable snap-shot option is selected, this is the only option available.
- Use Incremental Backup: Backs up only those files that have changed since the last full or incremental backup was performed. After each backup, backed up files are marked so that they are not backed up during the next incremental backup job unless they have changed. It takes less time to process backup jobs using this method. However, to restore files from an incremental backup, you must supply both the most recent full backup and all subsequent incremental backup jobs.
- Use Differential Backup: Backs up only those files that have changed since the last full backup was performed. Because differential backup jobs do not mark files as having been backed up, the files that were backed up in the last differential job are backed up again. It takes longer to process backup jobs using this method. However, to restore files from a differential backup, you must supply only the most recent full backup and the most recent differential backup.
- Use Log Backup: Backs up only the log files associated with the selected Writer.
- Use Copy Backup: Backs up all the files included by the Writer, but does not mark the files as having been backed up. Select this option to make a full backup of your data without disrupting any existing incremental or differential backups.
Note: Not all Writers support all types of backups. Depending on the Backup Method selected, the Arcserve Backup behavior is different. For example, if Incremental or Differential is selected at the job level and the Global Options dialog for VSS has the Use Full Backup option set at the Writer level, a full backup is performed. However, if the Global Options dialog for VSS has the Use Log Backup option set at the Writer level and the Writer does not support Log backup, the backup fails.
- Files Included in this Writer Will be Excluded from Any File System Backups: This option prevents files that belong to a Writer component from being backed up by a traditional file system backup. This option offers the following advantages:
- Avoids backing up files that have already been backed up by VSS.
- Ensures that fewer files are processed and that traditional backups take less time to complete by excluding files from traditional backups,.
- Helps achieve successful backups by eliminating problems associated with files processed as a group (for example, files associated with a database application). In a traditional backup, there is no mechanism to ensure that the files are processed together.
This option is not available if the Use Transportable snap-shot option is selected.
- Files that are Specifically Excluded by this Writer Will be Excluded from Any File System Backups: Select this option to exclude files associated with an application that should never be backed up (the Windows page file, for example) from any file system backups. Each Writer is aware of whether its associated application maintains any such files. This option enables Arcserve Backup to use this information when performing traditional backups.
This option is not available if the Use Transportable snap-shot option is selected.
- If One or More Files of a Component of this Writer Fail to Backup Successfully, the Entire Writer Backup Will be Terminated: Select this option to cancel the backup of the selected Writer if the backup of any of its Components fails. Component backups fail if one or more of the files that are part of the Component cannot be backed up successfully.
Select this option to ensure that all of the files associated with a Writer are backed up before the backup is considered successful, regardless of how many Components are associated with the Writer.
This option is not available if the Use Transportable snap-shot option is selected.