Volume Level Backup Control

Topic

This article describes how to use the volume level backup control option in the Datto SIRIS and Datto ALTO user interface.

Environment

  • Datto SIRIS
  • Datto ALTO

Overview

Volume level backup control lets you choose which volumes on the protected machine to back up to the Datto device. This option applies to all future backups.

Definitions

  • Volume - Datto uses the term "volume" to indicate a drive on your system to be backed up. This can be a physical or virtual drive.

  • Mountpoint - When the OS of the protected machine designates a drive letter such as "C", "D", etc, that is referred to as the "mountpoint".

  • Volume Level Backup - Datto devices backup an entire volume at once, including the folders and files that are contained on that volume. The device uses the UUID if the volumes (instead of the mountpoint) to identify and backup the volume.

  • UUID - A filesystem level property that is unique to the particular filesystem and does not change. NTFS stores the UUID in the first sector or "boot sector" of the filesystem.

Volume Management

Volumes added after the initial backup are excluded by default, but can be added in the Volume Level Backup. To include or exclude a volume from future backups, follow the steps outlined;

  1. Open the web interface for the device.

  2. Click the Protect tab.

  3. Click Configure Agent Settings for the agent you want to configure.

  4. Scroll down to the Advanced section, and find Volume level backup control.

    NOTE  You will see a System Reserved volume on Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Server 2008r2, as these operating systems contain the 100 MB System Reserved Partition (SRP). By default, the Datto appliance excludes them because they are unnecessary for virtualization and restoration.

  1. Use the check boxes next to the volumes you wish to manage to include or exclude them from future backups.

Considerations When Excluding a Volume

If a volume is excluded after a backup has been taken place of it, the volume data will continue to take space in new backups. This is because it is present in the live dataset. In order to prevent this, remove the volume from the live dataset by clicking Delete under the Delete Dataset column. This does not remove the data stored in previous backup points.

Removing Volumes

If a volume is removed from the protected machine that was included in a prior backup, the volume level backup control option will display a warning next to the affected one. The Protect tab of the Datto appliance GUI will show the same warning next to the entry for the affected protected machine. Examples of this warning are shown below:


How changes in a volume effect the backup

If a volume changes drive letters

  • If the UUID does not change, the backups will continue as normal under the new drive letter.

  • No manual action needs to be taken.

If a volume changes UUIDs

  • The Datto device will recognize this as a new volume.

  • It will not be included in backups going forward until it is re-included in the Volume Level Backup Control.

  • The "Previous" volume would be listed as missing.

Re-add a volume

  • If you re-add a volume with the same UUID as a previously backed up volume, backups of that volume would resume going forward.

  • If you add a volume with the same mountpoint, but a different UUID than a previously backed up volume, it will be the same as when the volume changes UUIDs.

Excluded Volumes

Volumes with no mountpoints

  • These are filtered out and not available to include in backups.

  • They will not be visible in the Volume Level Backup Control.

Removable drives

  • Examples include USB drives and other external storage.

  • They are identified and treated the same as normal drives within most systems.

  • Backup of removable drives is not supported.