Bucky Backup - How Bucky Backup Manages Backups

This document provides an overview of how Tivoli Storage Manager (TSM) manages backups.

Management Classes

When a file is backed up it is bound to a Management Class. The Management Class dictates how the Bucky Backup Client will handle that file and its versions.

Within a Management Class several settings can be specified:

  • Number of versions to keep
    • If client data exists
    • If client data is deleted
  • Length of time to retain extra backup version (number of days to keep inactive versions of files)
  • Length of time to retain only backup version (number of days to keep the last backup version of a file that has been deleted)

A commonly used Management Class is the default Management Class in the 3VER180DAYS Policy Domain.

  • Number of versions to keep
    • If client data exists: 3
    • If client data is deleted: 1
  • Length of time to retain extra backup version: 180
  • Length of time to retain only backup versions: 180

Backup Example

So, imagine a file is created and backed up on day 1. Then the file is edited each day for the next 4 days and backed up each night. No further changes are then made to the file. After 300 days the file is deleted. The following shows what is stored in Bucky Backup:

  • Day 1
    • File version 1
  • Day 2
    • File version 1
    • File version 2
  • Day 3
    • File version 1
    • File version 2
    • File version 3
  • Day 4
    • File version 1 is now deleted because it retains a max of 3 version
    • File version 2
    • File version 3
    • File version 4
  • Day 5
    • File version 2 is now deleted because it retains a max of 3 version
    • File version 3
    • File version 4
    • File version 5
  • Day 6
    • File version 3
    • File version 4
    • File version 5
  • ...
  • Day 184
    • File version 3 is now deleted because it is over 180 days old
    • File version 4
    • File version 5
  • Day 185
    • File version 4 is now deleted because it is over 180 days old
    • File version 5
  • Day 186
    • File version 5
  • Day 187
    • File version 5 is retained forever if the file exists on the node
  • ...
  • Day 300
    • File version 5 is now retained for 180 days because the file has been deleted from the node
  • ...
  • Day 480
    • File version 5 is now deleted because it does not exist on the node and is over 180 days old

Keywords:
tivoli storage manager management class schedule versions delete 
Doc ID:
9682
Owned by:
Kevin K. in Bucky Backup
Created:
2009-04-21
Updated:
2025-01-16
Sites:
Bucky Backup, DoIT Help Desk, DoIT Staff