Immediate Operations Part 2

Restoring in Advanced Mode

Advanced Mode immediate restores include all of the options available in Wizard Mode, plus a few additional options not available in the wizard. In Advanced Mode you can:

• Save your restore settings as a script

• Restore using the “Retrieve Just Files” method

• Specify an execution unit to use for the restore operation (if your version of Retrospect supports multiple execution units)

• Set some additional options not available in Wizard Mode (e.g. update modify dates)

In general, you should restore using whichever mode is more comfortable for you, unless you need to use Advanced Mode options not available in Wizard Mode.

To restore in Advanced Mode, click Restore from the navigation bar, then click the Restore button. The Restore Wizard welcome screen displays.

Click Switch to Advanced Mode.

To restore in Wizard Mode, see Restoring In Wizard Mode

Choose the type of restore:

• Restore files and folders, allows you to select specific files and folders to restore to a new folder on the destination, leaving the rest of the destination unchanged.

• Restore an entire volume, selects and restores all files and folders from the source Snapshot to the destination, deleting all other contents. Restores registry and System State information from the Snapshot (if available).

• The descriptions above describe the default behavior for the restore types. This behavior can be modified later by changing the defaults.

The Immediate Restore summary window displays.

Click the buttons on the summary screen to specify the source, destination, and other restore options.

• Selecting the Source

• Selecting the Destination

• Choosing the Method to Restore Files

• Summarizing the Restore Operation

• Executing the Restore

• Monitoring the Restore

• Scripting the Restore

Selecting the Source

In the source selection window’s top list, select the Backup Set from which to restore. You can use the More button if your desired Backup Set is not listed.

In the window’s bottom list, select a volume Snapshot. The date and time of the Snapshot are listed to the right of the volume’s name. If the Snapshot you want to use is not listed, click the Add Snapshot button to display a list of all Snapshots in the Backup Set.

To restore files from a backup other than the most recent one you will most likely need to use Add Snapshot.

When you select a Snapshot and click Retrieve Retrospect obtains the older Snapshot from the Backup Set media (which may require you to insert media) and adds it to the list in the restore source window.

The Retrieve button is disabled when you select a Snapshot that is already available.

With your desired Snapshot selected in the source selection window, click OK.

Selecting the Destination

Select a volume on which you want Retrospect to place the restored files. This volume does not have to be the original volume from which the files were backed up; it can be a folder defined as a Subvolume (see Subvolumes) or any available volume, including one belonging to a client on the network. (Navigate through My Computer, My Network Places, and Backup Clients as detailed in Containers. )

Choosing the Method to Restore Files

Set the list box to determine how Retrospect restores the files to the destination.

Restore Entire Volume makes the destination volume exactly match the source Snapshot. It deletes all files and folders on the destination that do not match those marked for restore in the Snapshot, leaving files untouched if they are identical to files marked for restore. It then copies all remaining files and folders from the Snapshot to the destination, preserving the folder hierarchy. This is the default restore method if you chose “Restore an entire volume”. If you select this method, Retrospect restores registry and System State information from the Snapshot (if both the Snapshot and destination are system volumes) by default.

To prevent the operating system from crashing, the Restore Entire Volume method does not delete the active Windows system, nor does it delete the “blessed” system folder of a Mac OS client.

Replace Corresponding Files restores all selected files from the Snapshot that do not exist on the destination and overwrites files on the destination that also exist in the source Snapshot. These “corresponding” or “matching” files on the destination are always overwritten with files from the Snapshot regardless of whether the Snapshot file is newer or older than the destination file. Retrospect leaves files untouched if they are identical to files marked for restore, if the file names do not match those marked for restore, or if the path to those files is not identical. If you select this method and choose the Restore System State execution option, Retrospect restores registry and System State information from the Snapshot (if both the Snapshot and destination are system volumes).

Replace if Backup is Newer restores all selected files from the Snapshot that do not exist on the destination and overwrites matching files on the destination only if the Snapshot file is newer than the destination file. If you select this method and choose the Restore System State execution option, Retrospect restores registry and System State information from the Snapshot (if both the Snapshot and destination are system volumes).

Restore Missing Files Only restores all selected files from the Snapshot that do not exist on the destination, but does not overwrite any files on the destination. Matching files on the destination are left untouched. If you select this method and choose the Restore System State execution option, Retrospect restores registry and System State information from the Snapshot (if both the Snapshot and destination are system volumes).

• To restore just the registry and System State, choose “Restore Missing Files Only”, then click Files Chosen and make sure no files are selected, and finally click Options>More Choices and select the Restore System State check box.

Retrieve Files & Folders creates a new folder on the destination volume (giving the folder the name of the Backup Set), then copies all selected files from the Snapshot into this folder, preserving the Snapshot folder hierarchy. Nothing is replaced or overwritten. This is the default restore method if you chose “Restore files and folders”. This method never restores registry and System State information.

Retrieve Just Files creates a new folder on the destination volume (giving the folder the name of the Backup Set), then copies all selected files from the Snapshot into this folder. The Snapshot folder hierarchy is not preserved. Nothing is replaced or overwritten. This method never restores registry and System State information.

The following table summarizes the restore methods:

After setting the destination restore method with the list box, click OK to continue. Depending on the restore type and method, Retrospect may scan the destination volume and match files from the selected Snapshot. Then the restore summary window appears.

Summarizing the Restore Operation

Verify your choices for the Source, Destination, Files Chosen, and Options. To change information, click the appropriate button.

Source is the Backup Set and volume Snapshot from which you want to restore files. Click this button to use the source selection window to change the source.

Destination is the volume to which you want to restore files. Click to change the destination volume or restore method.

Files Chosen are the files you want to restore from the Backup Set. If you chose “Restore entire volume”, all files from the source Snapshot are selected by default. If you chose “Restore files and folders”, no files are selected by default. Click this button to use a browser to mark and unmark individual files and folders to be restored. Browsers are explained in detail in Browsing.

Options let you set various execution options, including restoring the System State and updating the modification dates of restored files. Click this button, then click More Choices to set these options. See Execution Options, for more information.

Executing the Restore

When Retrospect has the information it needs to do the restore, it says “Ready to Execute” at the top of the restore summary window. If the information is incomplete, it says “Not Ready to Execute” and you must change one or more parts of the information you gave it.

Restoring can destroy data on the destination. Make sure you chose the correct restore method.

Make sure the correct Backup Set media is in the backup device. If Retrospect cannot access the required media, it asks you for it.

If your edition of Retrospect is capable of running multiple simultaneous executions, you can specify which execution unit to use for this operation (or choose “Any Execution unit’). Make your selection in the summary window’s combo box. See Assigning Execution Units for more information.

When you are ready, click Restore. Retrospect displays the Activity Monitor window.

Monitoring the Restore

Retrospect performs the restore, displaying the progress of the operation in the Activity Monitor’s Executing tab and listing the names of files as they are copied from the Backup Set media to the destination. The Activity Monitor window also has Pause and Stop buttons for suspending or cancelling the restore.

When the execution is complete, click the History tab to see performance data for the restore operation. If any errors occurred you can get more information by clicking the Errors button. To view the Operations Log for this execution, click the Log button.

This log is described in Viewing the Operations Log.

When you leave Retrospect and go to the destination volume, you can see that it is changed to reflect the restored files. The level of change can be anywhere from a new folder on the volume or a completely restructured volume from an entire volume restore, depending on the destination restore method and options.

A Mac OS client’s Desktop needs to be updated after a large restore, such as an entire volume. Restart the Macintosh while holding down the Command and Option keys to rebuild the Desktop.

Scripting the Restore

When a restore summary window is active, you can click the Schedule button to save the immediate restore information and settings as a script. You can then use the script to accomplish restore operations.

See Automated Operations.

Restoring by Search

While restoring by Snapshot lets you restore files from a specific backup date and time, restoring by search lets you retrieve one or more files regardless of when they were backed up. Restoring by search lets you search multiple Backup Sets at once, which is useful if you’re not sure which Backup Set contains the files you want to restore. Searching works best when you know specific attributes of the files you want, for example it’s name or type. If you want to see all backed up versions of a particular file, search on its name, and then restore exactly the version you want.

Restore by searching does not restore NTFS permissions, AppleShare or Mac OS file sharing privileges, or registry and System State information. You must restore from a Snapshot to restore these.

To begin setting up a restore by search, click Restore, from the navigation bar, then click Find Files. The Backup Set Selection window displays.

• Selecting the Backup Set(s) to Search

• Selecting the Destination

• Choosing the Restore Method

• Specifying the Search Criteria

• Choosing Files to Restore

• Modifying Search Criteria

• Executing the Restore

• Monitoring the Restore

Selecting the Backup Set(s) to Search

Select one or more Backup Sets to search. Click the More button if your desired Backup Set is not listed. Click OK to continue. The Destination Selection window displays.

Selecting the Destination

Select a volume on which you want Retrospect to place the restored files. This volume does not have to be the original volume from which the files were backed up; it can be a folder defined as a Subvolume (see Subvolumes) or any available volume, including one belonging to a client on the network. (Navigate through My Computer, My Network Places, and Backup Clients as detailed in Containers. )

Choosing the Restore Method

Set the list box to determine how Retrospect restores the files to the destination. The default setting is “Retrieve Files & Folders”.

Restore Entire Volume replaces the destination volume with the selected files from the source Backup Set(s) that meet your search criteria. It deletes all files and folders on the destination that do not match those marked for restore in the Snapshot, leaving files untouched if they are identical to files marked for restore. It then copies all remaining files and folders from the Snapshot to the destination, preserving the folder hierarchy.

To prevent the operating system from crashing, the Restore Entire Volume method does not delete the active Windows system, nor does it delete the “blessed” system folder of a Mac OS client.

Replace Corresponding Files restores all selected files from the source Backup Set(s) that meet your search criteria and do not exist on the destination. Files that exist on the destination that are also in the source Backup Set(s) and meet your search criteria are always overwritten. Retrospect leaves files untouched if they are identical to files marked for restore, if the file names do not match those marked for restore, or if the path to those files is not identical.

Replace if Backup is Newer restores all selected files from the source Backup Set(s) that meet your search criteria and do not exist on the destination. Files that exist on the destination that are also in the source Backup Set(s) and meet your search criteria are overwritten only if the Backup Set files are newer.

Restore Missing Files Only restores all selected files from the source Backup Set(s) that meet your search criteria and do not exist on the destination. Files that exist on the destination that are also in the source Backup Set(s) and meet your search criteria are never overwritten only.

Retrieve Files & Folders creates a new folder on the destination volume (giving the folder the name of the Backup Set), then copies all selected files from the source Backup Set(s) that meet your search criteria into this folder, preserving the Snapshot folder hierarchy. Nothing is replaced or overwritten.

Retrieve Just Files creates a new folder on the destination volume (giving the folder the name of the Backup Set), then copies all selected files from the source Backup Set(s) that meet your search criteria into this folder. The Snapshot folder hierarchy is not preserved. Nothing is replaced or overwritten.

After setting the restore method with the combo box click OK. Retrospect displays the searching and retrieval window.

Specifying the Search Criteria

If you want to restore all files from all sources, click OK.

Otherwise, use the controls and enter text to define the search criteria on file or folder names, or click More Choices to make a custom selector with other search criteria. This window is described in detail in Finding Files, and selectors are described in Using Selectors.

When you have defined the search criteria, click OK. Retrospect searches each source Backup Set before displaying up the summary window.

Your file selection criteria are summarized next to Searching. Files Chosen displays the total number of files from each source Backup Set that meet the search criteria.

Choosing Files to Restore

Click Files Chosen to open a browser that lists files meeting the search criteria. You can manually unmark and mark these files for restore. See Marking Files and Folders for more information. Files with check marks will be restored when the operation is executed.

Depending on your search criteria, your browser may list more than one version of a particular file. For example, a given file may have been modified daily and backed up every day over a certain period of time. Use the backed up or modified dates to determine which version you want to restore.

Modifying Search Criteria

If the browser does not display the files you want, you can close it and return to the summary window to redefine the search criteria by clicking the Searching button. If you change the search criteria, Retrospect displays a dialog asking whether you want to do a new search, narrow the existing search, or widen the existing search.

New replaces the results of the previous search with the results of the new search.

Narrow uses the new criteria to further restrict the selection.

Widen uses the new criteria to add files to the current selection.

Select a search type, then click OK to return to the summary window and repeat the process until you are satisfied with the chosen files.

Executing the Restore

If Retrospect has the information it needs, it says “Ready to Execute” at the top of the searching and retrieval summary window. If the information is incomplete, it says “Not Ready to Execute” and you must change one or more parts of the information you gave it.

Restoring can destroy data on the destination. Make sure you chose the correct restore method.

Make sure the correct Backup Set media is in the backup device. If Retrospect does not see the media it asks you for it in a window.

If your edition of Retrospect is capable of running multiple simultaneous executions, you can specify which execution unit to use for this operation (or choose “Any Execution unit’). Make your selection in the summary window’s combo box. See Assigning Execution Units for more information.

When you are ready, click Retrieve.

Monitoring the Restore

Retrospect performs the restore, displaying the progress of the operation in the Activity Monitor window, which includes buttons to pause or stop its execution.

When the execution is complete, click the History tab to see performance data for the restore operation. If any errors occurred you get more information by clicking the Errors button. To view the Operations Log for this execution, click the Log button.

This log is described in Viewing the Operations Log.

When you leave Retrospect and go to the destination volume you can see it is changed to reflect the restored files.

A Mac OS client’s Desktop needs to be updated after a large restore. Restart the Macintosh while holding down the Command and Option keys to rebuild the Desktop.

Duplicate (Replication)

An immediate duplicate copies selected files in their native file format from one drive or folder to another. After a duplicate operation, the destination drive contains an exact copy of every file and folder that was duplicated. You can open, edit, and otherwise work with the files.

Files and folders are copied without compression and encrypted files remain encrypted.

Retrospect allows you to duplicate files from one drive to another, or duplicate files on the same drive from one folder to another. Retrospect optimizes the duplication process by copying only those files that do not already exist on the destination.

There are two ways to set up an immediate duplicate. You can use Retrospect’s Duplicate Wizard, which walks you through the process of setting up a duplicate, or you can set up the duplicate on your own in Advanced Mode. Advanced Mode has options that are unavailable in the Wizard. For more information see:

• Duplicating in Wizard Mode

• Switching from Wizard to Advanced Mode

• Duplicating in Advanced Mode

• Switching from Advanced to Wizard Mode

Duplicating in Wizard Mode

The Duplicate Wizard provides an easy way to set up and edit immediate duplicate operations. To start the Duplicate Wizard, click Backup from the navigation bar, then click the Duplicate button.

• If the Advanced Mode Duplicate Summary screen displays, click Switch to Wizard Mode.

• Welcome Screen

• Choosing What to Duplicate

• Choosing File Types to Duplicate

• Choosing the Destination

• Choosing When to Duplicate

• Reviewing the Duplicate Settings

• Monitoring the Duplicate

• Editing the Duplicate Settings

Welcome Screen

If this is the first time you are setting up a duplicate, click Next to continue using the Duplicate Wizard. To set up the duplicate in Advanced Mode, click Switch to Advanced Mode. See Duplicating in Advanced Mode for more information.

If you have previously set up a duplicate, the welcome screen displays your current settings. See Editing the Duplicate Settings for more information.

Choosing What to Duplicate

You can now select a specific drive or folder to duplicate.

Click a drive or folder to select it. This deselects any other selected drive or folder.

You can select a drive or folder from any of the containers listed in this screen: My Computer, My Network Places, or Backup Clients.

• To add Retrospect Clients to the Backup Clients container, click Add Clients.

• To add network volumes to the My Network Places container, click Add Network Volumes.

• To display the folders on a drive, select the drive and click Show Folders.

See Containers for more information.

Choosing File Types to Duplicate

Select the check box for each type of file you want to duplicate. If you select all the check boxes, all files (except cache files) will be duplicated.

Some of these options function differently with Windows, Mac OS, and Linux computers. The descriptions below focus on how these options interact with Windows computers. To learn how these options work with other operating systems, see Built-in Selectors.

• Documents and Settings duplicates files in the Documents and Settings folder, which contains every user’s My Documents, Favorites, Application Data, and Desktop folders.

• For Windows 9x systems, the “Documents and Settings” duplicates the “Profiles” folder.

• Operating System and Applications duplicates system files, including the Windows folder and the System State. Also duplicates application files, including everything in the Program Files folder, as well as files with known application extensions (like .exe and .dll) anywhere on the source.

• If you choose not to duplicate “Operating System and Applications”, Retrospect modifies some of its default execution options. Retrospect turns off both the “Duplicate System State” and “Duplicate folder security information for workstations” options. See Windows System Options and Windows Security Options for more information.

• Pictures duplicates all files in the My Documents\My Pictures folder for all users. It also duplicates files with common picture file extensions (.jpg, for example) anywhere on the source, except the Windows and Program Files folders.

• Music duplicates all files in the My Documents\My Music folder for all users. It also duplicates files with common music file extensions (.wma and .mp3, for example) anywhere on the source, except the Windows and Program Files folders.

• Movies duplicates all files in the My Documents\My Videos folder for all users. It also duplicates files with common movie file extensions (.mov, for example) anywhere on the source, except the Windows and Program Files folders.

• Office Documents duplicates Microsoft Office Documents, Microsoft Outlook data, and Adobe PDF files anywhere on the source, except the Windows and Program Files folders.

• All Other Files, duplicates all files not selected by the other options.

• The Documents and Settings and Operating System and Applications options are not available if you are duplicating a folder.

Choosing the Destination

Select a drive or folder to which you want files duplicated.

• The destination cannot be the same drive or folder from which files are being duplicated. You can duplicate to different folders on the same drive or folders with the same names on different drives.

The Add Clients, Add Network Volumes, and Show Folders buttons on this screen function the same way as in the “What do you want to duplicate?” screen. See Choosing What to Duplicate.

When you click Next, Retrospect displays a dialog warning that the destination folder or drive will be completely replaced with the files you selected to duplicate.

Make sure that the destination does not contain any important files before duplicating. Any files already on the destination will be lost and replaced with the files you selected to duplicate. To be safe, create a new folder on the destination drive and duplicate to it.

Click Replace to dismiss the warning and continue setting up the duplicate.

Choosing When to Duplicate

For immediate duplicates, select Now.

If you want to set up a duplicate to run on a schedule, select Later.

The steps to set up a duplicate to run later are described in Creating a Duplicate Script in Wizard Mode, starting with Choosing When to Duplicate.

Reviewing the Duplicate Settings

The Duplicate Summary screen displays the duplicate settings you specified in the wizard.

• Source lists the drive or folder to duplicate

• Selecting lists the file types to duplicate

• Destination lists the name of the drive or folder to which data will be copied

To change any of the duplicate settings, click Back.

To start the duplicate, click Start Now

Monitoring the Duplicate

Once you click Start Now, Retrospect exits the Duplicate Wizard and displays the Activity Monitor, just as it would for an immediate duplicate executed from Advanced Mode. See Monitoring the Duplicate for more information.

Editing the Duplicate Settings

Retrospect automatically remembers the most recent settings you specified for an immediate duplicate. To view and edit those settings choose Backup>Duplicate from the navigation bar.

If the Advanced Mode Duplicate Summary screen displays, click Switch to Wizard Mode.

To duplicate again with the same settings, click Start Now.

To edit the settings, select “Let me change these settings” and click Next. Editing the settings in Wizard Mode is much the same as creating them the first time. See Duplicating in Wizard Mode for more information.

To edit the settings in Advanced Mode, click “Switch to Advanced Mode”. See Switching from Wizard to Advanced Mode for more information.

Switching from Wizard to Advanced Mode

To access advanced options that are not available in Wizard Mode, click “Switch to Advanced Mode” from the Welcome screen.

If you have not previously set up a duplicate, you can proceed as described in Duplicating in Advanced Mode.

If you have previously set up a duplicate, Retrospect remembers your settings and displays them in the Advanced Mode summary window.

• All of the Wizard Mode options are available in Advanced Mode. If you switch from Wizard to Advanced Mode, those options are mapped directly to equivalent options.

Duplicating in Advanced Mode

Duplicating in Advanced Mode provides access some powerful Retrospect options that are not available in Wizard Mode. In Advanced Mode you can:

• Access more built-in selectors

• Create and apply custom selectors

• Preview and select specific files to duplicate

• Choose a duplicate method

• Set many additional options not available in Wizard Mode

To set up an Immediate Duplicate in Advanced Mode, click Backup from the navigation bar, then click the Duplicate button.

If the Duplicate Wizard welcome screen displays, click Switch to Advanced Mode. The Immediate Duplicate summary window displays.

Click the buttons on the summary screen to specify the source, destination, and other backup options.

• Choosing the Source Volume

• Choosing the Destination

• Setting Additional Options

• Executing the Duplicate

• Monitoring the Duplicate

• Editing the Duplicate Settings

• Scripting the Duplicate

Choosing the Source Volume

In the Immediate Duplicate summary window, click the Source button to display the Source Selection window.

Select the source volume from which files will be copied and click OK. For details on using the source selection window, see Working with Volumes.

Choosing the Destination

In the Immediate Duplicate summary window, click the Destination button to display the Source Selection window again.

Select a destination volume and choose a duplicate method from the list box.

Replace Entire Volume replaces the entire contents of the destination volume with the selected files and folders from the source volume. Identical files already present on the destination are not duplicated.

Replace Corresponding Files copies the selected files and folders to the destination volume. When Retrospect finds a file that exists on both the source and destination, the destination file is always overwritten. Retrospect leaves files untouched if they are identical to files marked for duplication or if the file names and locations do not match those marked.

Replace if Source is Newer copies the selected files and folders to the destination volume. When Retrospect finds a file that exists on both the source and destination, the destination file is overwritten only if the source file is newer. Retrospect leaves files untouched if they are identical to files marked for duplication or if the file names and locations do not match those marked.

Duplicate Missing Files Only, copies only the selected files and folders that don’t already exist on the destination volume. Other files and folders on the destination are left untouched.

When you have selected the volume and set the list box click OK.

Setting Additional Options

After you have specified the source volume to duplicate and the destination volume to which files will be copied, use the Immediate Duplicate summary window to verify your choices and set additional options.

To makes changes, click the appropriate button.

Source lets you change the source volume or folder.

Destination lets you choose a different volume or folder as the destination.

Selecting lets you choose a selector, a kind of filter for selecting files and folders to be duplicated. (Selectors are explained in detail in Using Selectors.) The default selector is “All Files Except Cache Files” which duplicates all files on the source.

Files Chosen scans the source volume and determines which files need to be duplicated by comparing the source files against the files that already exist on the destination. When the scan is complete, Retrospect opens a browser window to display a list of the files on the source volume marked for duplicate. You can use it to mark and unmark individual files and folders to be duplicated.

Browsers are explained in Browsing. When you close the browser, the summary window displays information about the selected files.

Options displays the basic options window in which you can turn verification on or off and choose whether or not to update the backup report. See Duplicate Execution Options for more information.

Click the More Choices button to access many more options. See Execution Options for more information.

Executing the Duplicate

If Retrospect has the information it needs, it says “Ready to Execute” at the top of the Immediate Duplicate summary window. If the information is incomplete, it says “Not Ready to Execute” and you must change one or more parts of the information you gave it.

If your edition of Retrospect is capable of running multiple simultaneous executions, you can specify which execution unit to use for this operation (or choose “Any Execution unit’). Make your selection in the summary window’s combo box. See Assigning Execution Units for more information.

When you are ready, click Duplicate.

Duplicating may destroy data on the destination. Be sure it is acceptable to erase or replace files on the destination volume.

Monitoring the Duplicate

The Activity Monitor window shows the progress of the duplicate operation and includes buttons to pause or stop its execution.

When the execution is complete, click the History tab to see performance data for the duplicate operation. If any errors occurred you get more information by clicking the Errors button. To view the Operations Log for this execution, click the Log button.

This log is described in Viewing the Operations Log.

Editing the Duplicate Settings

Retrospect automatically remembers the most recent settings you specified for an immediate duplicate. To view and edit those settings choose Backup>Duplicate from the navigation bar.

If the Wizard Mode duplicate summary screen displays, click Switch to Wizard Mode.

To duplicate again with the same settings, click Duplicate.

To edit the settings, click the buttons to change the source, destination, file selection criteria, and options. Editing the settings in Advanced Mode is the same as creating them the first time. See Duplicating in Advanced Mode for more information.

To edit the settings in Wizard Mode, click “Switch to Wizard Mode”. See Switching from Advanced to Wizard Mode for more information.

Scripting the Duplicate

If you want to automate your duplicates so they can be performed while your computer is unattended (e.g., when you go home at night), you can use Retrospect’s scripting feature to set up and schedule duplicates.

From the Immediate Duplicate summary window, click the Schedule button to save the immediate duplicate information and settings as a script. You can then add a schedule to the script to accomplish automatic, unattended duplicate operations.

See Scheduling Scripts.

Switching from Advanced to Wizard Mode

In general, Retrospect recommends editing immediate duplicates in the same mode you created them. Of course, you can switch between the modes and if you do, it’s important to know how Retrospect handles advanced options that are not available in Wizard Mode.

To return to Wizard Mode at any time, click “Switch to Wizard Mode” from the Advanced Mode summary window.

If you have made any changes to your duplicate settings, Retrospect asks if you want to save those changes before switching modes.

If you have not made any changes, Retrospect displays the Wizard Mode Welcome screen with a summary of the current duplicate settings.

Since Advanced Mode includes options not available in Wizard Mode, Retrospect must either keep those settings, or discard them. There are a few important options to consider:

• Duplicate Method

• Selectors

• Execution Options

• Manual File Selection

• Execution Unit

Duplicate Method

When choosing the destination in Advanced Mode, Retrospect lets you specify the method by which files are copied. You can choose:

• Replace Entire Volume

• Replace Corresponding Files

• Replace if Source is Newer

• Duplicate Missing Files Only

You cannot specify a duplicate method in Wizard Mode; it always uses the Replace Entire Volume method.

For more information on the difference between the duplicate methods, see Choosing the Destination.

Selectors

Advanced Mode includes a number of built-in selectors that are not available in Wizard Mode. In addition, you can create and use custom selectors in Advanced Mode.

If you choose a selector that is not available in Wizard Mode, then click “Switch to Wizard Mode”, Retrospect keeps the advanced selector and applies it when you run the duplicate.

In these situations, the Wizard Mode Welcome screen displays (Created in Advanced Mode) in the Selecting field.

In addition, if you edit your duplicate settings, a new option appears in the “What type of files do you want to duplicate?” screen.

• Choose “Keep my advanced mode selection” to keep your advanced selector.

• Choose “Select the following” and select a new option to discard the advanced selector and use a new one.

Execution Options

Advanced Mode includes many execution options that are not available in Wizard Mode, such as verification.

If you choose an execution option that is not available in Wizard Mode, then click “Switch to Wizard Mode”, Retrospect keeps the advanced execution option and applies it when you run the duplicate.

The Wizard Mode Welcome screen does not indicate whether the duplicate includes advanced execution options or not. The only way to check is to switch to Advanced Mode and review the Options settings.

Manual File Selection

In Advanced mode, you can click the Files Chosen button and select specific files and folders to duplicate. If you do this, the Advanced Mode summary window displays (Manual selection) in the Selecting field.

If you apply a manual selection, then click “Switch to Wizard Mode”, Retrospect discards the selection. There is no way to perform manual selection in Wizard Mode.

Execution Unit

If your edition of Retrospect is capable of running multiple simultaneous executions, you can specify which execution unit to use for a duplicate operation in Advanced Mode only.

If you choose a specific execution unit (not “Any Execution unit”), then click “Switch to Wizard Mode”, Retrospect keeps the execution unit information and uses the specific execution unit when you run the duplicate.

The Wizard Mode Welcome screen does not indicate whether the duplicate specifies an execution unit or not. The only way to check is to switch to Advanced Mode and review the settings.

Transfer Backup Sets

Retrospect’s Transfer Backup Sets function copies all files and Snapshots from one or more Backup Sets to a single new or existing Backup Set. It can be used to:

• Clone a Backup Set

• Protect against media failure

• Provide for offsite storage

• Start a new cycle of backups

• Consolidate multiple Backup Sets to a single Backup Set

As with backup operations, transferring Backup Sets by default matches files in the source to files already in the destination and only copies the necessary files. Existing Snapshots and files on the destination remain untouched.

The Transfer Backup Sets function does not have a preview feature. You must rely on selectors instead of picking and choosing files by hand.

To transfer files between Backup Sets, you must have a separate tape or CD/DVD drive for each Backup Set, even if both Backup Sets are on the same type of media. In the case of disk and file Backup Sets the need for separate backup devices does not apply.

If you do not have separate drives for each Backup Set, you can first transfer files temporarily to a disk Backup Set and then transfer the disk Backup Set to the final destination Backup Set.

To transfer files between Backup Sets, click Tools>Transfer Backup Sets. The Backup Set Transfer summary window displays.

The basic steps in transferring Backup Sets are:

• Selecting the Source Backup Sets

• Selecting the Destination Backup Set

• Selecting Files to Transfer

• Setting Additional Options

• Executing the Backup Set Transfer

• Scripting the Backup Set Transfer

Selecting the Source Backup Sets

In the Backup Set Transfer summary window, click Sources to display the Backup Set Selection window.

Select one or more source Backup Sets, and click OK.

• Backup Set Transfer copies all Snapshots and associated files in the source Backup Set(s) to the destination Backup Set. This is different from Snapshot Transfer, which copies only active Snapshots and associated files. See Transfer Snapshots for more information.

Selecting the Destination Backup Set

In the Backup Set Transfer summary window, click Destination.

Select the destination Backup Set and click OK. If the only Backup Sets listed in the window are already specified as the source, or if you do not want to use any of the Backup Sets in the list as the destination, click Create New to create a new Backup Set. See Creating Backup Sets for more information.

Selecting Files to Transfer

By default, Retrospect transfers all files from the source Backup Sets to the destination Backup Set. To transfer a subset of all files, click Selecting in the Backup Set Transfer summary window.

Choose a selector from the list or click More Choices to create a custom selector. Selectors are a kind of filter for selecting files and folders to be transferred. Selectors are explained in detail in Using Selectors.

Click OK when done.

Setting Additional Options

Retrospect includes a number of execution options that are specific to Backup Set Transfers.

Click Options in the Backup Set Transfer summary window to change the default settings for the Copy Snapshots, Media verification, Data compression, Recycle source Backup Set, and other options.

See Transfer Execution Options for more information about these options.

Click the More Choices button to access additional execution options. See Execution Options for more information.

Executing the Backup Set Transfer

If Retrospect has the information it needs, it says “Ready to Execute” at the top of the Backup Set Transfer summary window. If the information is incomplete, it says “Not Ready to Execute” and you must change one or more parts of the information you gave it.

If your edition of Retrospect is capable of running multiple simultaneous executions, you can specify which execution unit to use for this operation (or choose “Any Execution unit’). Make your selection in the summary window’s combo box. See Assigning Execution Units for more information.

When you are ready, click Transfer. Retrospect performs the transfer operation, displaying its progress in the Activity Monitor window.

Retrospect may ask you to insert media.

When the execution is complete, click the History tab to see performance data for the transfer operation. If any errors occurred you get more information by clicking the Errors button. To view the Operations Log for this execution, click the Log button.

This log is described in Viewing the Operations Log.

Scripting the Backup Set Transfer

When a Backup Set Transfer summary window is active, you can click the Schedule button to save the transfer information and settings as a script. You can then use the script to accomplish Backup Set Transfer operations.

See Automated Operations.

Transfer Snapshots

Retrospect’s Transfer Snapshots function copies Snapshots and their associated files from one Backup Set to a new or existing Backup Set. It can be used to:

• Start a new Backup Set with a synthetic full backup

• Create an offsite disaster recovery Backup Set

• Start a new cycle of backups with a full backup

Transfer Snapshots is different from Transfer Backup Sets in a number of ways. Transfer Snapshots:

• Can only have a single Backup Set as the source; Transfer Backup Sets can have multiple sources.

• Transfer only active Snapshots; Transfer Backup Sets transfers all Snapshots.

• Provides different methods for selecting which Snapshots get transferred; Transfer Backup Sets always transfers all Snapshots.

By default, transferring Snapshots matches files in the source to files already in the destination and only copies the necessary files. Existing Snapshots and files on the destination remain untouched.

The Transfer Snapshots function does not have a preview feature. You must rely on selectors instead of picking and choosing files by hand.

To transfer Snapshots between Backup Sets, you must have a separate tape or CD/DVD drive for each Backup Set, even if both Backup Sets are on the same type of media. In the case of disk and file Backup Sets the need for separate backup devices does not apply.

If you do not have separate drives for each Backup Set, you can first transfer Snapshots temporarily to a disk Backup Set and then transfer the disk Backup Set Snapshots to the final destination Backup Set.

Snapshot Transfer and Synthetic Fulls

The Snapshot transfer feature allows you to create what Retrospect calls a “synthetic full” backup. Retrospect creates synthetic fulls when transferring Snapshots to:

• A new Backup Set

• An existing Backup Set when the “Match source Catalog File to destination Catalog File” option is turned off

Synthetic fulls allow you to quickly seed a new Backup Set with only the most recent Snapshots (for example) from an existing Backup Set. This allows you to start a fresh cycle of backups without losing the time-saving benefits of Progressive Backup. Subsequent backups to the new Backup Set will copy only new and changed files.

After the transfer, the destination Backup Set contains the same data it would after a full backup. You get a full backup without having to perform the more time-consuming process of executing a actual full backup.

• A synthetic full backup is the equivalent of a full backup done at the time of the most recent Snapshots. It does not include files that are new or changed since the date and time of those Snapshots, nor does it include older versions of files contained in non-current Snapshots.

Synthetic fulls are also useful for creating a Backup Set that contains all its files in one contiguous session. This allows Retrospect to restore entire volumes more quickly, since it does not have to search through multiple sessions to find all the required files.

To transfer Snapshots between Backup Sets, click Tools>Transfer Snapshots. The Backup Set Snapshot Transfer summary window displays.

The basic steps in transferring Snapshots are:

• Selecting the Source Backup Set

• Selecting Snapshots

• Selecting the Destination Backup Set

• Selecting the Files to Transfer

• Setting Additional Options

• Executing the Snapshot Transfer

• Scripting the Snapshot Transfer

Selecting the Source Backup Set

In the Backup Set Snapshot Transfer summary window, click Sources to display the Transfer Snapshots source selection.

In the source selection window’s top list, select the Backup Set containing the Snapshot(s) you want to transfer. Click the More button if your desired Backup Set is not listed.

If you want to transfer Snapshots from more than one Backup Set at one time, use Transfer Backup Sets instead, or create a Transfer Snapshots script. See Transfer Backup Sets and Scripted Snapshot Transfer.

Retrospect displays a list of the selected Backup Set’s active Snapshots in the window’s bottom list, along with the date and time of the Snapshot and the name of the backed up volume.

The list of Snapshots is only displayed if you select one of the following options: “Selected Snapshots” or “The most recent Snapshot for each source selected”. Only Backup Sets with a date next to them contain Snapshots.

By default, Retrospect saves the most recent Snapshot for each volume (or subvolume) that was backed up in its Catalog File. These Snapshots are considered active. All Snapshots, including older ones, are saved on the backup media (tape, disk, or CD/DVD). Following each successful backup or archive operation, the old Snapshot is replaced in the Catalog File with the new one. The old Snapshot remains untouched on the backup media and can be retrieved when needed.

A disk Backup Set with grooming enabled saves all the Snapshots required by its grooming policy in the Catalog File. For example, if you told Retrospect to save the last 10 backups, then up to ten Snapshots for each volume will be active. In addition, any Snapshots that have been manually locked are also active.

If the Snapshot you want to transfer is not listed, click the Add Snapshot button to display a list of all Snapshots in the Backup Set.

When you select a Snapshot and click Retrieve Retrospect obtains the older Snapshot from the Backup Set media (which may require you to insert media) and adds it to the list in the Transfer Snapshots source window. That Snapshot is now active.

The Retrieve button is disabled when you select a Snapshot that is already available.

Selecting Snapshots

Once you select a source Backup Set, there are a number of ways to select which Snapshots to transfer.

• The most recent Snapshot for each source transfers the most recent Snapshot for each volume (or subvolume) in the active Snapshots list.

• The most recent Snapshot for each source selected transfers the most recent Snapshot for each volume (or subvolume) you select in the active Snapshots list. You could manually select the most current Snapshot for each volume to achieve the same effect.

• All active Snapshots for each source transfers all active Snapshots and associated files. To see the list of active Snapshots and their sources, temporarily choose the “Selected Snapshots” option. Make sure to choose “All active Snapshots for each source” again before clicking OK. To make an older Snapshot active, click Add Snapshot.

• Selected Snapshots transfers only those Snapshots (and associated files) that you select from the active Snapshots list. Control-click or Shift-click to select multiple Snapshots. To make an older Snapshot active, click Add Snapshot.

“The most recent Snapshot…” options are most useful for Transfer Snapshots scripts (since the list of active Snapshots changes each time you back up), but also have some application for immediate operations.

• Transfer Snapshots only copies active Snapshots. To copy all Snapshots, use Transfer Backup Sets. See Transfer Backup Sets for more information.

When you have made your selections, click OK.

Selecting the Destination Backup Set

In the Backup Set Snapshot Transfer summary window, click Destination.

Select the destination Backup Set and click OK. If you do not want to use any of the Backup Sets in the list as the destination, click Create New to create a new Backup Set. See Creating Backup Sets for more information.

Selecting the Files to Transfer

By default, Retrospect transfers all files from the selected Snapshots to the destination Backup Set. To transfer a subset of all files, click Selecting in the Backup Set Snapshot Transfer summary window.

Choose a selector from the list or click More Choices to create a custom selector. Selectors are a kind of filter for selecting files and folders to be transferred. Selectors are explained in detail in Using Selectors.

Click OK when done.

Setting Additional Options

Retrospect includes a number of execution options that are specific to Snapshot transfers.

Click Options in the Backup Set Snapshot Transfer summary window to change the default settings for the Media Verification, Data compression, Recycle source Backup Set, and other options.

See Transfer Execution Options for more information about these options.

Click the More Choices button to access additional execution options. See Execution Options for more information.

Executing the Snapshot Transfer

If Retrospect has the information it needs, it says “Ready to Execute” at the top of the Backup Set Snapshot Transfer summary window. If the information is incomplete, it says “Not Ready to Execute” and you must change one or more parts of the information you gave it.

If your edition of Retrospect is capable of running multiple simultaneous executions, you can specify which execution unit to use for this operation (or choose “Any Execution unit’). Make your selection in the summary window’s combo box. See Assigning Execution Units for more information.

When you are ready, click Transfer. Retrospect performs the transfer operation, displaying its progress in the Activity Monitor window.

Retrospect may ask you to insert media.

When the execution is complete, click the History tab to see performance data for the transfer operation. If any errors occurred you get more information by clicking the Errors button. To view the Operations Log for this execution, click the Log button.

This log is described in Viewing the Operations Log.

Scripting the Snapshot Transfer

When a Backup Set Snapshot Transfer summary window is active, you can click the Schedule button to save the transfer information and settings as a script. You can then use the script to accomplish Snapshot Transfer operations.

See Automated Operations.

Controlling Immediate Operations

Retrospect gives you a number of ways to control an immediate operation while it’s in progress. See Controlling Operations for more information.

You can use the “Stay in Retrospect” combo box in Retrospect’s toolbar to determine what Retrospect does when it is finished executing an immediate operation. By default, Retrospect does nothing, but if you want to start an immediate operation and then go home, you can choose to have Retrospect quit when the execution is complete. Unless ProactiveAI Backup is running, or another script is scheduled to run in the application’s look ahead time, Retrospect will quit (or shut down) when done. See Schedule Preferences for more information on specifying the look ahead time.

See more information in Part 1