Automated Operations Part 1

21 Nov 2023
44 Minutes to read

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Automated Operations Part 1

Updated on 21 Nov 2023
44 Minutes to read

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Automated Operations

You learned how to set up and execute Retrospect’s immediate backup, duplicate, archive, restore, and transfer operations in Immediate Operations. This chapter shows you how to automate the process by using scripts, including Retrospect’s unique ProactiveAI Backup scripts.

Overview of Scripts

One of the advantages of Retrospect is its ability to automate repetitive tasks. By creating scripts, you can automate all of the operations described in Immediate Operations, namely:

Backing up
Duplicating/Replication
Archiving
Restoring
Transferring Backup Sets
Transferring Snapshots

In addition, ProactiveAI Backup allows you to create intelligent scripts that continually reprioritize which computers get backed up next based on criteria you specify. You can also create Groom scripts and Verification scripts to automate these Backup Set management tasks.

Scripts are an important part of developing a backup strategy. For more information on developing an effective backup strategy, see Backup Strategies.

Automated operations include all of the same information as immediate operations: a source, destination, file selection criteria, and other options. Scripts also include a scheduling component that controls when these automated operations are executed.

Retrospect allows you to schedule scripts to run automatically and unattended so you can choose operating times that are most convenient for you and for other users. Scheduling scripted backups ensures data is backed up consistently—all you have to do is make sure the backup computer is turned on and the proper media is in the backup device. When it is time for a script to execute, Retrospect automatically launches and executes the operation. If there are no other scripts scheduled to run in Retrospect’s look ahead time, and you selected “shut down when done” in the Startup Preferences, Retrospect shuts down when the operation is complete.

Automated Operations covers creating scripts, scheduling scripts, executing scripts, and working with ProactiveAI Backup Scripts. For information on managing and maintaining scripts, see Maintaining Scripts.

Creating Scripts

There are two ways to create scripts in Retrospect:

Using these methods you can create any type of script, including backup, duplicate, archive, restore, and transfer.

ProactiveAI Backup Scripts are discussed separately. See ProactiveAI Backup Scripts for more information.

Scheduling an Immediate Operation

All the immediate operation summary windows (Backup, Duplicate, Archive, Restore, and Transfer) include a Schedule button that allows you to create a script based on that operation.

For backup, duplicate, and restore operations, you must be in Advanced Mode to access the Schedule button.

To Schedule an Immediate Operation:

Click the Schedule button from an immediate operation summary window.
Enter a name for the script and click OK.
Verify or modify the information in the script summary window.
Click the Schedule button and schedule the script as described in Scheduling Scripts.
When all the information in the script summary window is correct, click the Save icon

You can also create backup scripts from the immediate Backup Wizard and duplicate scripts from the immediate Duplicate Wizard. See Backing Up in Wizard Mode and Duplicating in Wizard Mode for more information.

Using the Manage Scripts Command

You can use the Manage Scripts command to create a new script or to modify the settings of an existing script.

For more information on how to modify existing scripts, see Maintaining Scripts. For information on creating new scripts, see the following sections:

For information about Restore Database and Restore Mailbox scripts, see SQL Server Agent and Exchange Server Agent.

Scripted Backup

There are two ways to set up a scripted backup using the Manage Scripts command. You can use Retrospect’s Backup Wizard, which walks you through the process of setting up a scripted backup, or you can set up the backup on your own in Advanced Mode. Advanced Mode has options that are unavailable in the Wizard. For more information see:

Creating a Backup Script in Wizard Mode

The Backup Wizard provides an easy way to set up and edit scripted backup operations. To start the Backup Wizard, click Automate from the navigation bar, then click the Manage Scripts button. The script editing window displays.

Click the New button to create a new script. The script selection window displays.

Select Backup from the list and click OK. In the script naming window, enter a name and click OK. The Backup Wizard welcome screen displays.

If the Advanced Mode Backup Script summary screen displays, click Switch to Wizard Mode.

Welcome Screen

If this is the first time you are setting up a scripted backup, click Next to continue set up using the Backup Wizard. To set up the backup in Advanced Mode, click Switch to Advanced Mode. See Creating a Backup Script in Advanced Mode for more information.

If you have previously set up a scripted backup, the welcome screen displays your current settings. See Editing the Backup Script Settings for more information.

Choosing What to Back Up

Click the option button that describes what you want to back up.

Documents and Settings, (only available for Retrospect Desktop) backs up the Documents and Settings folder, which contains every users’ folders, including My Documents, Pictures, Music, Favorites, and Desktop.
My Computer, backs up the local computer.
My Computer and computers on my network, backs up the local computer and all logged in Retrospect Client computers.
Only computers on my network, (not available for Retrospect Desktop) backs up all logged in Retrospect Client computers.
Let me choose, allows you to select the drives and folders you want to back up from the local computer, logged in Retrospect Client computers, and network volumes.

Adding Retrospect Clients

If you chose to back up “My Computer and computers on my network” or “Only computers on my network”, Retrospect will back up data from all Retrospect Client computers logged in at the time of the backup.

To log in Retrospect Clients now, click Add Clients. For more information on installing, configuring, and logging in clients, see Networked Clients.

Choosing Specific Drives or Folders

If you selected “Let me choose” in the “What do you want to back up?” screen, you can now select one or more specific drives or folders to back up.

Click a drive or folder to select it. This deselects any other selected drive or folder. Press and hold the Control key and click a drive or folder to select it without deselecting any current selections. Press and hold the Shift key and click a drive or folder to select all drives and folders listed from the current selection to the Shift-clicked selection.

You can select drives and folders from any of the containers listed in this screen: My Computer, My Network Places, Backup Clients, and Source Groups. You can also select one or more of the containers themselves to back up everything inside.

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 Back Up

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

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 backs up 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” backs up the “Profiles” folder.
Operating System and Applications backs up system files, including the Windows folder and the System State. Also backs up 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 back up “Operating System and Applications”, Retrospect modifies some of its default execution options. Retrospect turns off both the “Back Up System State” and “Back up folder security information for workstations” options. See Windows System Options and Windows Security Options for more information.
Pictures backs up all files in the My Documents\My Pictures folder for all users. It also backs up files with common picture file extensions (.jpg, for example) anywhere on the source, except the Windows and Program Files folders.
Music backs up all files in the My Documents\My Music folder for all users. It also backs up files with common music file extensions (.wma and .mp3, for example) anywhere on the source, except the Windows and Program Files folders.
Movies backs up all files in the My Documents\My Videos folder for all users. It also backs up files with common movie file extensions (.mov, for example) anywhere on the source, except the Windows and Program Files folders.
Office Documents backs up Microsoft Office Documents, Microsoft Outlook data, and Adobe PDF files anywhere on the source, except the Windows and Program Files folders.
All Other Files, backs up all files not selected by the other options.
The Documents and Settings and Operating System and Applications options are not available if you are backing up a folder.

Choosing the Backup Destination Device

You can store your backup on any device supported by Retrospect, including tape drives, CD/DVD drives, and hard drives. Select one of the following options:

Tape, CD, DVD
Hard drives on the local computer or on the network

For Tape/CD/DVD, Retrospect displays the available devices. Select the device to which you want to back up and click Next.

For hard drives, Retrospect displays local hard drives and any network volumes listed in the My Network Places container.

To add a network volume, double-click My Network Places, then navigate to the volume you want to add, select it, and click the Add button. If the volume requires it, enter a login and password and click OK.

If you set up Retrospect to log in as a user with privileges to the network volume, you will not be prompted to log in again. See Security Preferences for more information.

To specify a folder on a local drive or network volume, select it, then click the Browse button. Navigate to the folder you want to back up to and click OK.

Choosing Whether to Create a Schedule

You can either create a script with a schedule or without a schedule.

If you choose not to create a schedule, you can still run the script manually at any time. See Manual Script Execution for more information. You can also add a schedule to the script later.

Make a selection and click Next.

If you are editing a script that already has a schedule, an additional option, “Keep the existing schedule”, is also available.

Choosing When to Back Up

Select the check box for each day you want the backup script to run and specify a time for the script to start.

Although Retrospect can back up computers while they are in use, it is a good idea to run scripts after normal business hours when computers tend to be less busy.

Specifying One or Multiple Backup Sets

Choose whether you always want to back up to one Backup Set, or want to use multiple Backup Sets.

Backing up to multiple Backup Sets increases the level of protection. Since each set contains a complete backup of your data, you have a built-in safety net in case of media failure. In addition, with multiple Backup Sets, you can move the media for a Backup Set that is not currently in use to an offsite location for protection against theft, fire, or other disasters.

If you chose to back up on only one day of the week, this screens lets you choose to back up to one Backup Set or two Backup Sets (alternating between Backup Sets each week).

Choosing the Number of Backup Sets

If you chose to back up to multiple Backup Sets, you can now specify how many Backup Sets you want to use and how often you want to alternate between backing up to each of them.

The first option alternates between Backup Sets on each day you chose to back up. For example, if you chose to back up every day of the week, Retrospect gives you the option to back up to seven Backup Sets. In this case, Retrospect backs up to a different Backup Set each day of the week. If you choose to back up Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, Retrospect gives you the option to back up to three Backup Sets and uses a different one every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

The second option always uses two Backup Sets and alternates between them each week. For example, if you choose to back up every day of the week, Retrospect backs up to one Backup Set every day in the first week, then backs up to the other Backup Set every day in the next week. If you select this option, use the list box to specify the day of the week on which you want to switch between Backup Sets.

Naming the Backup Set(s)

This screen varies based on the number of Backup Sets you specified.

Enter as many Backup Set names as required, or use the default names provided by Retrospect. If you have already created any Backup Sets, you can select the “Use Existing” check box and choose a Backup Set from the list box.

If you are using multiple Backup Sets, it is especially important to give them meaningful names. You will not be able to rename the Backup Sets later.

The “Use Existing” check box only appears if you have existing Backup Sets.

Setting the Compression Option

Click the “Yes” option button to turn on software data compression for this backup script.

Data compression saves space in the Backup Set by compressing files before copying them into the Backup Set. Files are automatically decompressed back to their original state when restored.

The amount of compression savings you can expect depends on the types of files you are compressing. Text files compress substantially; application and system files do not.

Backups (and restores) from Backup Sets using data compression are slower than those that do not.

When copying to a tape device that has built-in hardware data compression, Retrospect automatically turns off software compression and always uses hardware compression for best performance.

Setting Backup Set Security Options

This screen allows you to specify a password to restrict access to the Backup Set(s). You can also choose to encrypt the Backup Set data to provide additional security.

Using encryption increases backup time.

Choose an option from the Backup Set Security list box.

None: provides no password protection for the Backup Set(s) and does not encrypt the Backup Set data.
Password only: provides password protection for the Backup Set(s). Stored data is not encrypted.
SimpleCrypt: provides password protection and encrypts Backup Set data using Retrospect’s proprietary encryption format.
DES: provides password protection and encrypts Backup Set data using the Data Encryption Standard.
AES-128: provides password protection and encrypts Backup Set data using the Advanced Encryption Standard (128 bit).
AES-256: provides password protection and encrypts Backup Set data using the Advanced Encryption Standard (256 bit). AES-256 provides the best combination of security and performance.
Once a Backup Set is password-protected or encrypted, you cannot change these settings. In addition, if you forget your password, you will not be able access the Backup Set.

If you set a password and want Retrospect to remember it under certain circumstances, select an option from the remember password list box.

Remember password for any access: saves the password for use with all immediate and automated operations.
Remember password for scripted access (default): saves the password for use with automated operations only. For example, if the Backup Set is the destination for an overnight backup script, Retrospect will not require the password to be entered manually.
Do not remember password for any access: requires you to enter the password to access the Backup Set in any way. For example, you cannot back up to it or view its properties without entering the password. After you enter the password once, you do not have to enter it again until you quit and restart Retrospect.
You can change the remember password setting at a later time by modifying the Backup Set’s properties. See Configuring Backup Sets for more information.

Recycling Options for Tape Drive Backups

If you are backing up to tape Backup Sets, you can tell Retrospect to “recycle” the destination Backup Sets before backing up to them. Recycling enables you to reuse the tapes in a Backup Set, however all data on those tapes is lost.

Before recycling tape Backup Sets make sure the data on its tapes exists elsewhere or that you can really afford to lose the data.

No, I want to keep my existing backup data: Choose this option to preserve all existing backup data in the tape Backup Sets. Retrospect backs up only new and changed files since the last backup to each Backup Set. If the a tape member fills up, Retrospect asks for a new tape.
Yes, OK to overwrite: Choose this option to recycle the tape Backup Sets before backing up. When Retrospect performs a recycle backup, it clears the Backup Sets’ Catalog File contents (if any), so it appears that no files are backed up. Then it looks for the first tape member in the Backup Set and erases it if it is available. If the first member is not available, Retrospect uses any available new or erased tape. All selected files are backed up.
In Advanced Mode, you can recycle tape Backup Sets by setting the backup action for each scheduler to Recycle. See Creating a Script Scheduler for more information.

Grooming Options for Hard Drive Backups

These options are only available when backing up to hard drives. The selection you make tells Retrospect what to do when the hard drive to which you are backing up becomes full (or uses all the disk space you allotted).

Ask for a new disk: When the backup drive fills up, Retrospect asks for another hard drive on which to store additional backups. All of your backups on the original hard drive are preserved.
Keep only the last n backups: Specify the number of backups you want to preserve when the backup drive fills up. Retrospect then automatically “grooms” (i.e., deletes) all the other, older backups on the hard drive to make room for new data.
Keep according to Retrospect’s defined policy: When the backup drive fills up, Retrospect uses its own grooming policy to delete old backups. At a minimum, Retrospect’s policy retains two backups for each source. Retrospect keeps the last backup of the day for each source from the two most recent days on which each source was backed up. If the disk has enough space available, Retrospect keeps a backup of each source for every day in the last week, a backup for each week in the last month, and a backup for each previous month.

Reviewing the Backup Script Settings

The Backup Summary screen displays the backup script settings you specified in the wizard.

Source lists the drives/folders to back up
Selecting lists the file types to back up
Destination lists the names of the Backup Sets to which data will be copied
Schedule lists the days and time when the backup script will run
Some options specified in the wizard are not listed in the summary screen (e.g., compression), but they are implemented during backup.

To change any of the backup script settings, click Back.

To save the script settings, click Finish. If you want to save the script settings and run the script immediately, select the Backup now check box and click Finish.

If you select Backup now and the script includes multiple destination Backup Sets, use the drop-down menu to specify which one to use.

Editing the Backup Script Settings

To edit a backup script, choose Automate>Manage Scripts from the navigation bar. In the Scripts window, select the script you want to edit and click Edit.

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

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 Creating a Backup Script in Wizard Mode for more information.

To back up now using the script settings, select “Backup now with these settings”, then click Start Now.

If the script includes multiple destination Backup Sets, use the drop-down menu to specify which one to use.

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 to 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 backup script, you can proceed as described in Creating a Backup Script in Advanced Mode.

If you have previously set up a backup script, 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.

Creating a Backup Script in Advanced Mode

Creating a backup script in Advanced Mode provides access to 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
Create multiple custom schedules that include different backup actions
Set many additional options not available in Wizard Mode

This section takes you through the steps of defining a backup script:

The steps for scheduling and saving are the same for all scripts:

Creating a Backup Script

From the navigation bar, click Automate, then click the Manage Scripts button.

The script editing window displays.

Click the New button to create a new script.

The script selection window displays.

Select Backup from the list and click OK.

The script naming window displays.

Enter a name and click OK.

The script appears in its own window.

+ If the Retrospect Backup Wizard displays, click Switch to Advanced Mode.

+ This script window is very similar to the immediate backup summary window, with information for the source volumes, destination Backup Sets, file selection criteria, and options. Since this is a script, it also includes schedule information.

To change information, click the appropriate button.

Sources lets you add or remove source volumes.

Destinations lets you choose one or more destination Backup Sets.

Selecting lets you choose a selector—a kind of filter for selecting files and folders to be backed up.

Options displays the options window in which you can toggle verification and data compression.

Schedule lets you set the script to run at a specific time or at regular intervals.

Setting the Backup Source

The first step in defining a script is setting the source.

Click the Sources button.

The Source Selection window displays.

Select a source volume (or volumes), then click OK.
Click Add to select additional sources, or select a source and click Remove to remove it from the list. When the list of sources is complete, click OK.
If there are multiple sources, they are backed up in the order listed. Click and drag to rearrange the list order.

Setting the Backup Destination

After specifying the source(s) to back up, you must specify the destination Backup Set(s) for the data.

Click the Destinations button.

If there are no Backup Sets defined, the Backup Set Creation Wizard launches. Create a new Backup Set, as described in Creating Backup Sets. The new Backup Set appears in the Backup Set Selection window.

If there are Backup Sets defined, the Backup Set Selection window displays.

+ You can click More or Create New to access additional Backup Sets or create new ones.

Select one or more Backup Sets, then click OK.
Click Add to select additional destinations, or select a Backup Set and click Remove to remove it from the list. When the list of destinations is complete, click OK.

Selecting Files to Back Up

By default, Retrospect selects all files except cache files on the source(s). You can choose a different pre-defined selector or create a custom selector to select a subset of files.

Click the Selecting button.
Click a selector, then click OK.

You can also click More Choices to use Retrospect’s file selection criteria to create a custom selector. Selectors are explained in detail in Using Selectors.

Selectors are used to determine which files are considered for backup, not which files actually get copied. For example, if you choose All Files, Retrospect compares all the source files with the files already in the destination Backup Set, then copies only those files that are new or changed.

Setting Backup Execution Options

Click the Options button to display the options window in which you can toggle verification, data compression, and other options which are explained in detail in Execution Options.

Setting the Execution Unit

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 list box. See Assigning Execution Units for more information.

Editing the Backup Script Settings

To edit a backup script, choose Automate>Manage Scripts from the navigation bar. In the Scripts window, select the script you want to edit and click Edit.

If Retrospect displays the script settings in Wizard Mode, click Switch to Advanced Mode to display the settings in Advanced Mode.

To edit the settings, click the buttons to change the sources, destinations, file selection criteria, options, and schedule. Editing the settings in Advanced Mode is the same as creating them the first time. See Creating a Backup Script 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.

Switching from Advanced to Wizard Mode

In general, Retrospect recommends editing backup scripts 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 backup script 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 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:

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 the backup script runs.

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

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

The compression execution option is available in both Wizard and Advanced Mode. If you change the option in one mode, it will be reflected in the other.

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 the backup script runs.

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

Backup Sets

In Advanced Mode, you can choose a file Backup Set as a destination. File Backup Sets are not available from Wizard Mode.

File Backup Sets are most useful for backing up a single file, otherwise, disk Backup Sets offer many more benefits.

If you choose a file Backup Set as a destination, then click “Switch to Wizard Mode”, Retrospect discards the entire destination selection.

In these situations, the Wizard Mode Welcome screen displays (No destination selected) in the Destination field.

If you click Next, the wizard discards the destination and forces you to select a new one. Click “Switch to Advanced Mode” to continue using a file Backup Set as the destination.

Advanced Mode also allows you to select destination Backup Sets of different types. For example, the destination could be a tape Backup Set and a CD/DVD Backup Set. In Wizard Mode, all destination Backup Sets must be of the same type.

If you choose Backup Sets of different types as the destination, then click “Switch to Wizard Mode”, Retrospect discards all the destination backup Sets except the first one.

Schedules

Advanced mode includes scheduling options that are not available in Wizard mode. For example, you can create different types of schedules, create multiple schedules for a single script, and specify a backup action for a schedule. See Scheduling Scripts for more information.

If you specify scheduling options that are not available in Wizard Mode, then click “Switch to Wizard Mode”, Retrospect keeps the advanced schedule.

In these situations, the Wizard Mode Welcome screen displays (Created in Advanced Mode) in the Schedule field and includes a message saying the schedule cannot be edited in Wizard Mode.

In addition, if you edit your backup settings, a new option appears in the “When do you want to back up?” screen.

Choose “Keep the existing schedule” to keep your advanced schedule.
Choose “No schedule” to discard the advanced schedule set up an unscheduled script.
Choose “Change the current schedule” to discard the advanced schedule and set up a new one.

Execution Unit

If your edition of Retrospect is capable of running multiple simultaneous executions, you can specify which execution unit to use for a backup script 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 the backup script runs.

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

Scripted Duplicate (Replications)

Duplicate scripts are great for unattended copying of hard disks, folders, or files from one volume to another. For example, you could use a duplicate script to automatically copy a local folder to a shared file server at the end of every week.

There are two ways to set up a scripted duplicate using the Manage Scripts command. You can use Retrospect’s Duplicate Wizard, which walks you through the process of setting up a scripted 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:

Creating a Duplicate Script in Wizard Mode

The Duplicate Wizard provides an easy way to set up and edit scripted duplicate operations. To start the Duplicate Wizard, click Automate from the navigation bar, then click the Manage Scripts button. The script editing window displays.

Click the New button to create a new script. The script selection window displays.

Select Duplicate from the list and click OK. In the script naming window, enter a name and click OK. The Duplicate Wizard welcome screen displays.

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

Welcome Screen

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

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

Choosing What to Duplicate/Replicate

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.

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 script.

Choosing Whether to Create A Schedule

You can either create a script with a schedule or without a schedule.

If you choose not to create a schedule, you can still run the script manually at any time. See Manual Script Execution for more information. You can also add a schedule to the script later.

Make a selection and click Next.

If you are editing a script that already has a schedule, an additional option, “Keep the existing schedule”, is also available.

Choosing When to Duplicate

Select the check box for each day you want the duplicate script to run and specify a time for the script to start.

Although Retrospect can duplicate computers while they are in use, it is a good idea to run scripts after normal business hours when computers tend to be less busy.

Reviewing the Duplicate Settings

The Duplicate Summary screen displays the duplicate script 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
Schedule lists the days and time when the duplicate script will run

To change any of the duplicate script settings, click Back.

To save the script settings, click Finish. If you want to save the script settings and run the script immediately, select the Duplicate now check box and click Finish.

Duplicating can delete files on the destination. Any files already on the destination will be lost and replaced with the files you selected to duplicate. Make sure the destination does not contain important files before duplicating.

Editing the Duplicate Script Settings

To edit a duplicate script, choose Automate>Manage Scripts from the navigation bar. In the Scripts window, select the script you want to edit and click Edit.

If Retrospect displays the script settings in Advanced Mode, click Switch to Wizard Mode to display the settings in Wizard Mode.

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 Creating a Duplicate Script in Wizard Mode for more information.

To duplicate now using the script settings, select “Duplicate now with these settings”, then click Start Now.

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 script, you can proceed as described in Creating a Duplicate Script in Advanced Mode.

If you have previously set up a duplicate script, 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.

Creating a Duplicate Script in Advanced Mode

Creating a duplicate script in Advanced Mode provides access to 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
Choose a duplicate method
Create multiple custom schedules
Set many additional options not available in Wizard Mode

This section takes you through the steps of defining a duplicate script:

The steps for scheduling and saving are the same for all scripts:

Creating a Duplicate Script

From the navigation bar, click Automate then click the Manage Scripts button.

The script editing window displays.

Click the New button to create a new script.

The script selection window displays.

Select Duplicate from the list and click OK.

The script naming window displays.

Enter a name and click New.

The script appears in its own window.

+ If the Retrospect Duplicate Wizard displays, click Switch to Advanced Mode.

+ This script window is very similar to the immediate duplicate summary window, with information for the source volume, destination volume, file selection criteria, and options. Since this is a script, it also includes schedule information.

To change information, click the appropriate button.

Source lets you select a source volume.

Destination lets you select a destination volume.

Selecting lets you choose a selector, a kind of filter for selecting files and folders to be backed up.

Options displays the options window in which you can toggle verification, data compression, and other options.

Schedule lets you set the script to run at a specific time or at regular intervals.

Setting the Duplicate Source

Because this is a new script, Retrospect says “No volume selected” for the source.

Click the Source button.

The Source Selection window displays.

Select the source volume and click OK.

For details on using the volume selection window, see Working with Volumes.

Setting the Duplicate Destination

For duplicate operations, the destination is not a Backup Set, but a volume (other than the source volume).

Click the Destination button.

The volume selection window displays.

Select the destination volume to which you want the files copied.
Make a selection from the list box to specify a duplicate method (i.e., what happens to the existing contents of the destination drive).

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. This is the default option.

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.

Duplicate operations can replace or delete files on the destination volume Make sure you are not overwriting or deleting important files before continuing.
Click OK to accept your destination choices.

Selecting Files to Duplicate

By default, Retrospect selects all files except cache files on the source. You can choose a different pre-defined selector or create a custom selector to select a subset of files.

Click the Selecting button.
Click a selector, then click OK.

You can also click More Choices to use Retrospect’s file selection criteria to create a custom selector. Selectors are explained in detail in Using Selectors.

Selectors are used to determine which files are considered for duplication, not which files actually get copied. For example, if you choose All Files, Retrospect compares all the files on the source volume with the files already on the destination volume. Matching files are not copied from the source volume to the destination volume.

Setting Duplicate Execution Options

Click the Options button to display the options window in which you can set the verification, update backup report, and other options which are explained in detail in Execution Options. One such option is to move—rather than just copy—files from the source to the destination.

Setting the Execution Unit

Editing the Duplicate Script Settings

To edit a duplicate script, choose Automate>Manage Scripts from the navigation bar. In the Scripts window, select the script you want to edit and click Edit.

If Retrospect displays the script settings in Wizard Mode, click Switch to Advanced Mode to display the settings in Advanced Mode.

To edit the settings, click the buttons to change the source, destination, file selection criteria, options, and schedule. Editing the settings in Advanced Mode is the same as creating them the first time. See Creating a Duplicate Script 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.

Switching from Advanced to Wizard Mode

In general, Retrospect recommends editing duplicate scripts 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 script, 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 script 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

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 Setting the Duplicate 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 types 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.

Schedules

Advanced mode includes scheduling options that are not available in Wizard mode. For example, you can create different types of schedules and create multiple schedules for a single script. See Scheduling Scripts for more information.

If you specify scheduling options that are not available in Wizard Mode, then click “Switch to Wizard Mode”, Retrospect keeps the advanced schedule.

In these situations, the Wizard Mode Welcome screen displays (Created in Advanced Mode) in the Schedule field and includes a message saying the schedule cannot be edited in Wizard Mode.

In addition, if you edit your duplicate script settings, a new option appears in the “When do you want to run the duplicate?” screen.

Choose “Keep the existing schedule” to keep your advanced schedule.
Choose “No schedule” to discard the advanced schedule set up an unscheduled script.
Choose “Change the current schedule” to discard the advanced schedule and set up a new one.

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 script in Advanced Mode only.

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

Scripted Archive

Archiving allows you to remove seldom-used files from a hard disk while maintaining a copy of those files on your storage media.

The process of creating and using an archive script is almost identical to that of a backup script.

See Creating a Backup Script in Advanced Mode, for more information.

This section explains the differences between an archive script and a backup script.

An archive script is just like a backup script, with three main differences:

Backup scripts support multiple destination Backup Sets, while archive scripts support a single destination Backup Set.
Archive scripts have an additional option not available for backup scripts. For archive scripts, you can choose to move—rather than just copy—files from the source to the destination. See Archiving Execution Options for details on the Move Files option.
Archive scripts, by default, copy (or move) all selected files from the source to the destination. Backup scripts, by default, copy only those files which are not already present on the destination or have been modified since the last time they were copied.
In both cases, the default can be modified by changing the matching options. See Matching Execution Options for more information.

Be sure to read Archiving Tips for other important information about archiving.

Scripted Restore

Usually, you don’t know in advance when you’re going to need to restore files, but there are some situations in which restore scripts are useful. You might want to create a restore script for use in a student computer lab environment, for example, in which the hard disks are restored from a common source every night.

The steps to define a restore script are:

The steps for scheduling and saving are the same for all scripts:

Creating a Restore Script

From the navigation bar, click Automate then click the Manage Scripts button.

The script editing window displays.

Click the New button to create a new script.

The script selection window displays.

Select Restore from the list and click OK.

The script naming window displays.

Enter a name and click New.

The script appears in its own window.

+ This script window is very similar to the immediate restore summary window, with information for the source Backup Set, destination volume, file selection criteria, and options. Since this is a script, it also includes schedule information

To change information, click the appropriate button.

Source lets you specify a Backup Set and associated Snapshot from which to restore.

Destination lets you choose the destination volume.

Selecting lets you choose a selector—a kind of filter for selecting files and folders to be restored.

Options Lets you specify various options. For example, you can have Retrospect update the Date Modified information for all restored files to the current date and time.

Schedule lets you set the script to run at a specific time or at regular intervals.

Setting the Restore Source

Because this is a new script, Retrospect says “No Backup Set selected” in the script summary window.

Click the Source button to display a window listing Backup Sets and their Snapshots.
In the top-half of the window, select the Backup Set containing the Snapshot from which you want to restore.
If the Backup Set you are looking for is not listed, click the More button to access additional Backup Sets by opening or recreating their Catalog Files.
In the bottom-half of the window, select the Snapshot.

The date and time of each Snapshot is listed.

If the Snapshot you are looking for is not listed, click the Add Snapshot button to retrieve additional Snapshots from the storage media.
Click OK to continue.

The Backup Set and Snapshot date, time, and volume name are listed in the script window.

Setting the Restore Destination

Because this is a new script, Retrospect says “No volume selected” in the script window.

Click the Destination button.

The volume selection window displays.

Select the destination volume to which you want the files restored.
Make a selection from the list box to specify the restore method.

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 Restore Entire Volume, Replace Corresponding Files, and Replace if Backup is Newer methods may destroy data on the destination. If you choose one of these methods, be sure it is acceptable to erase or replace files on the destination volume.
Click OK.

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Automated Operations
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