5 1 0:Creating a Backup Task

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Docs latest icon.png Welcome to the latest SEP sesam documentation version 5.1.0 Apollon. For previous documentation version(s), check documentation archive.


Overview


A backup task defines which files are backed up and which data should be excluded from backup. Creating a task is the first step of the standard backup procedure. Once you created a task, create a schedule to specify when you want to back up your data. In the third step you will create a backup event by selecting where to back up your data to and how.

With v. 5.0.0 Jaglion, you can simplify the backup of multiple VMs by automatically creating tasks for VMs that are connected to the same host; you can also automatically create clients for VMs to which the created tasks and ACLs can be assigned. It is recommended to use these features when a new hypervisor is added and many new VMs need to be backed up. For details, see Automating Backup Process.

Steps

  1. From Main Selection -> Tasks -> By Clients, select your client and click New Backup Task. The New Backup Task window opens.
  2. Use the browse button to specify the Source and select what you want to back up. If you want to back up individual files, you can either browse for directories and files that you want to include in the backup or enter their names followed by a comma (C:/Program Files/SEPsesam/var/db,C:\Users\AA\Documents\references).
  3. Typically, if you select the source by browsing, the task type and task name are set automatically. (You can still edit the assigned task name.) A few special task types are rare exceptions and thus require a manual selection of the relevant type and specifying the task name.
    New backup task browse Apollon.jpg
    Information sign.png Note
    If the number of files or directories to be included for backup exceeds the allowed length of 1024 characters for the task source, it is recommended to create a separate file that contains a list of selected files and directories to be backed up.

    For more details on the -f option, see SBC CLI: option -f (files).

    Backup by list file.jpg

  4. Optionally, specify the filenames or patterns which you want to exclude from backup in the Exclude list. For details on various exclude options, see Creating Exclude List.
    SEP Tip.png Tip
    If the number of files or directories you want to exclude from the backup exceeds the allowed length of 1024 characters, you can create a separate file that contains a list of selected sources as described in FAQ:How do I exclude or include a large number of files/folders for backup?

    If you want to add a comment, enter it in the Notes field.

  5. Depending on your operating system (Windows, Linux or Unix), you might need to set the following options:
  6. All systems:
    • If the task needs to be excluded from the backup for technical or other reasons, you can deactivate it by checking the Execution off option. If this option is set, the backup of this task will not start until it is unlocked again even if it is scheduled for the backup. For details, see Disabling and Enabling Backup Task.
    On Windows:
    • When creating a regular Path backup, the option Backup with VSS is enabled by default. It is possible to exclude a specific VSS writer from backup or disable VSS; for details, see SEP sesam Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS).
    On Linux:
    • You can enable the Backup with LVM option, if you want to perform consistent backups of open files on Linux by using Logical Volume Manager (LVM). For details, see SEP sesam Logical Volume Manager (LVM) for Linux.
    • You can use the Save data mounted by NFS option to follow and save mount points, which reside on another host system by NFS.
    • As of SEP sesam v. 5.0.0 Jaglion, you can set that deleted or modified files are not reported as errors by selecting the last check box.
    On Unix:
    • You can enable the Descend directories on other file systems option to access onther partitions, which are mounted to the file system by symbolic links.
  7. Click the Options tab to define special backup or restore options and/or enable the pre/post backup or restore commands.
  8. Specify additional backup/restore options Under the Additional call arguments part, you can specify special backup options in the Backup options field:
    • If you have created a separate file to exceed the allowed length of 1024 characters for the task source, enter the <list_source> file with a -f switch in the Backup options field. For details, see Using - f (files) option.
    • Files option.jpg
    • If your backups on Linux encounter errors or warnings that are not relevant to the backup, use the following command to avoid such warnings:
    •  -o ignore_finderr=<regex>|ALL

      Before taking this action, make sure that you are aware of the consequences; for details, see: Linux Client backup.

      Bck task options Apollon.jpg

    Enable pre or post scripts

    You can enable the pre/post backup or restore commands. To use a configurable pre/post interface, you have to activate it first and create your own commands. For details, see Using Pre and Post Scripts.

  9. Switch to the Encryption & Compression tab if you want to set encryption or compress data.
  10. In v. ≥ 4.4.3 Beefalo V2, click the OS Access tab and specify the credentials to access the resources on the target client. If you have already specified the credentials when configuring the client or its location, select an existing credential set from the drop-down list. Otherwise, click New and enter the credentials for the target client.
  11. Use other corresponding tabs to consolidate individual tasks under a specific task group or assign a task to the schedule.
    Information sign.png Note
    As of v. 5.0.0 Jaglion, additional tabs may be displayed depending on the task type of the selected client. For example, for Micro Focus OES or NetWare server backup, you have to specify the login data for the eDirectory and select the appropriate data mover. For more information on specific task types, see the relevant wiki articles under Extensions.
  12. Click OK to create the task.
SEP Tip.png Tip
  • To prepare for a possible breakdown of the SEP sesam Server and disaster recovery, you have to perform a self-backup of the SEP sesam by configuring at least one backup task with the name SESAM_BACKUP. For more details, see Preparing for Disaster Recovery.
  • Optionally, you can assign individual tasks to a task group and then trigger the start of all tasks belonging to that group with a single event. For details, see Adding a Task to the Task Group.


See also

Tasks by ClientsCreating a ScheduleCreating a Backup EventAutomating Backup ProcessCreating Exclude ListBackupAdding a Task to the Task GroupDisabling and Enabling Backup TaskDisabling and Enabling Task Group

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