Subclient Properties (Backup Options)

Use Changed Block Tracking

This option is selected by default, enabling the use of Changed Block Tracking (CBT) for all backups of virtual machines (VMs) under the subclient. CBT optimizes backups by reading only the allocated and modified portions of virtual machine disks.

Clear this option to disable CBT for backups of virtual machines under the subclient.

Virtual Machine Backup Type

Select one of the following options:

• Application Aware

  Use an application plug-in on the guest VM to assist with quiescing applications and then providing granular level recoverability.

  Click Guest Credentials to enter credentials that can be used to access each guest VM.

• File System and Application Consistent (Production Checkpoint)

  When you back up a virtual machine under the subclient, the operating system and applications are quiesced on the virtual machine to enable the state of active applications on the VM to be captured. The backup process may be slower because of the time needed to quiesce applications, capture any transactions that occur while the VM is offline, and update applications with pending transactions.

  Application consistent backups are typically required for virtual machines hosting high transaction applications, such as applications that rely on frequent database updates. Application consistent backups require Hyper-V Integration Services and Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) on the virtual machine.

• Crash Consistent (Standard Checkpoint)

  Perform a backup without quiescing the operating system and applications. Select this option to capture only stored data for virtual machine backups under the subclient, without taking virtual machines offline during the backup. This option can be used for non-Windows virtual machines, legacy Windows virtual machines, and Windows virtual machines that do not require application consistent backups. A crash consistent backup can also be used when backups fail because of VSS errors; running a crash consistent backup ensures that virtual machines are backed up, even when VSS cannot be engaged successfully.

• Use VM Checkpoint Setting

  Use the Hyper-V checkpoint setting configured for virtual machines. This is applicable to virtual machines running Windows Server 2016 Hyper-V and more recent versions.

  Enabling this option honors the checkpoint settings configured at the VM level. This removes the need to choose between application consistent backups or crash consistent backups for this subclient.

Collect File Details

Select this option to collect file and folder information as part of streaming backups and IntelliSnap backup copies. Use this option when creating a copy for tape storage, because file and folder information is required when recovering files from tape.