Data Selection

Everything related to data selection can be managed through strategies:

• Selection
• Filters
• Security (node-specific authentication)
• Data rotation

It is also possible to allow users to add elements to the selection in addition to those injected by strategy.

Data Selection

Key	Parameter	Control
Configuration.Node.Selection	include <path> | exclude <path> \[from set <set>] | include all \{documents|desktops\} \[in set <set>]	Adds/removes a node to/from the selection

Possible values for these keys are:

• include: include a node in the selection
• exclude: exclude a node from the selection
• <path>: node path. If the path refers to a directory, it may end with "". It may also contain:
  • all documents: select/deselect the Documents folder of all users
  • all desktops: select/deselect the Desktop folder of all users

Data Filtering

Key	Parameter	Control
Configuration.Node.Filters	\[at <path>] include <filter> | \[at <path>] exclude <filter>	Forces inclusion or exclusion of certain files, file types, or directories. Filters apply to the specified node, or to the entire selection if none is specified.

Possible values for these keys are:

• <path>: optional parameter. Node path.
• include: include data matching the filter
• exclude: exclude data matching the filter
• <filter>: data to filter. Can be an extension (*.extension), file name, or path (c:\users or c:\users\*\cookies\)

Security

Key	Parameter	Control
Configuration.Node.Security	\[at <path>] authenticate with login <login> and password <password>	Specifies authentication on a node or on the entire selection

Parameters:

• path: optional. Node path requiring specific authentication. Applies to the node if specified, otherwise to the entire selection.
• login: authentication username
• password: associated password

Data Rotation

Key	Parameter	Control
Configuration.Node.Rotation	\[at <path>] after <period> \{days|weeks\} keep \{every <value> \{hours|days|weeks\}|none\}	Defines a retention policy on a node or on the entire selection

Parameters:

• path: optional. Node path requiring specific retention. Applies to the node if specified, otherwise to the entire selection.
• period: numeric value with unit (days or weeks) defining when filtering starts
• value: numeric value with unit (hours, days, or weeks) defining how often versions are kept

Allowing User Additions

By default, when selections, filters, retention rules, or authentication are injected by strategy, users cannot modify the selection. The following keys allow users to add elements in addition to the strategy.

Key	Control
Configuration.Node.Selection.MergeUser	Allows users to add nodes to the selection
Configuration.Node.Filters.MergeUser	Allows users to add filters to the selection
Configuration.Node.Security.MergeUser	Allows users to add credentials to the selection
Configuration.Node.Rotation.MergeUser	Allows users to add rotation rules to the selection

Possible values:

• true: allow additions
• false: block additions (default)

Example

You want to back up user profiles on workstations. However, you do not want to include browser cookies and want to exclude the administrator profile.

Files of type "avi", "mkv", and "mp3" must not be backed up.

Backup history must be kept for one week.

Users should be able to add additional directories and filters.

You will need to:

• Select user profiles
• Exclude the administrator profile
• Exclude cookies directories
• Exclude avi, mkv, and mp3 files
• Keep history for 7 days
• Allow users to add selection items
• Allow users to add filters

Resulting strategy:

    Configuration.Node.Selection: include "C:\users\"
    Configuration.Node.Filters: exclude "C:\Users\Administrateur"
    Configuration.Node.Filters: exclude "C:\Users\*\Cookies"
    Configuration.Node.Filters: exclude "*.avi"
    Configuration.Node.Filters: exclude "*.mkv"
    Configuration.Node.Filters: exclude "*.mp3"
    Configuration.Node.Rotation: at "C:\users\" after 7 days keep none
    Configuration.Node.Selection.MergeUser: true
    Configuration.Node.Selection.Filters: true

Example

You want to back up the "Documents" and "Desktop" directories of all users on a Windows workstation.

You will need to:

• Select user profiles
• Include the Documents directory
• Include the Desktop directory

Resulting strategy:

    Configuration.Node.Selection: include "C:\users\"
    Configuration.Node.Filters: include "C:\Users\*\Documents\"
    Configuration.Node.Filters: include "C:\Users\*\Desktop\"