This procedure describes the general steps for performing block-level backups. For more information about block-level backups, see Block-Level Backups.
By default, block-level synthetic full backups use a single data stream. You can configure multiple streams for block-level synthetic full backups.
About This Task
Note that the next block-level backup is automatically converted to a full backup even when you selected a block-level incremental backup if you do any of the following:
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Select a different snapshot engine for taking snapshots (if you use hardware snap engines for taking snapshots).
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Change the device configuration between jobs, such as changing the volume size.
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Enable or disable the Create File level Index during backup option between jobs.
Performance Comparison
The following table compares performance metrics between traditional backups and block-level backups on Windows, using the Recursive Scan method with cataloging disabled.
|
Backups |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Backup Type |
Scan Time |
Backup Time |
Throughput GB/hr |
Application Size |
Number of Files |
|
Block-level backup (full) |
00:00:23 |
13:39:41 |
79.77 GB/hr |
1.05 TB |
4,064,572 |
|
Traditional backup (full) |
00:06:50 |
22:27:58 |
47.66 GB/hr |
1.05 TB |
4,064,572 |
|
Block-level backup (incremental) |
00:00:33 |
02:14:29 |
79.4 GB/hr |
177.2 GB |
19,111 files sized 8 MB each added, 14,051 files sized 8 MB each removed |
|
Traditional backup (incremental) |
00:08:16 |
01:48:47 |
73 GB/hr |
132.08 GB |
19,111 files sized 8 MB each added, 14,051 files sized 8 MB each removed |
|
Restores |
|||||
|
Restore Type |
Volume Size |
Restore Time |
Number of Files |
||
|
Volume-level restore from a full block-level backup |
1.1 TB |
13:49:51 |
|||
|
File-level restore from a full block-level backup |
1.1 TB |
46:00:00 |
4,068, 651 |
||
|
File-level restore from a full traditional backup |
1.1 TB |
39:03:04 |
4,068, 649 |
||
Before You Begin
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Decide which type of backup is appropriate. You cannot perform Differential backups.
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Plan your advanced backup options. The options are described for the following advanced settings.
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Plan whether you will run the backup immediately or on a schedule.
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Determine whether you want to save your backup options as a script to run from a command line interface.
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When you run the backup job from the subclient level, for a native block-level subclient, the backup copy job runs immediately after the snapshot backup job. However, for non-native snapshot engines, backup copy job must be scheduled separately.
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If you back up all subclients from the backup set level, backup copy job will not run immediately for block-level subclients. Configure the backup copy job to run immediately. For more information, see Configuring a Backup Copy for IntelliSnap Backup.
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To perform 1-Touch recovery from block-level backups, you must run block-level backup operations in a different MediaAgent (unlike the source computer).
Procedure
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From the CommCell Browser, expand Client Computers > client.
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Right-click the appropriate subclient, and then click Backup.
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In the Select Backup Type area, choose your backup type:
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To perform a full backup, select Full.
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To perform either an incremental or synthetic full backup, select Incremental or Synthetic Full.
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In the Job initiation area, define whether the backup job runs immediately or if it will be scheduled.
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Optional: To set advanced backup options, click Advanced.
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Optional: To run your backup options from a command line interface, click Save As Script.
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Click OK.
Notes:
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If you choose to run your backup job immediately, you can track the progress of the job from the Job Controller. When the backup has completed, the Job Controller displays Completed.
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If you choose to run your backup job based on the defined schedule, the backup job does not start until the time indicated in the Schedule.
What to Do Next
After your backup job is complete, view the detailed information about the job. For more information, see Viewing Details of a Block-Level Backup Job.
To restore block-level backed up data, perform a restore operation. For more information, see Block-Level Restores.