Backup version retention

When you run the setup script, specify how many backup versions to be retained for each device class that is defined. Each device class can have a specific retention rate rather than one defined for all device classes. During configuration, you are asked for the MAX_VERSIONS for each DEVICE_CLASS.

For example, if two device classes are configured and the first has a MAX_VERSIONS set to 2 there are always two versions that are kept for that device class. The oldest version is deleted once a new backup is made. If you configure another device class with MAX_VERSIONS set to 3, it always retains three backup versions for that device class. If you do not specify a USE_FOR device class option, and you have two device classes in use with a MAX_VERSIONS set to 2, there are four versions that are kept in total.

Example of MAX_VERSIONS for different device classes profile

In the following example, there are four backup versions to be kept when backups are taken with DC_XIV1 and four backup versions to be kept when backups are taken with DC_XIV2. Three backup versions are kept for backups that are taken with device class STANDARD. All other device classes have a MAX_VERSIONS value of two, in this case SOME_OTHER_DC. That means that 13 backup versions are kept with this profile: two for SOME_OTHER_DC, three for STANDARD, and four each for DC_XIV1 and DC_XIV2. Thirteen backups are retained for this sample profile.

>>> CLIENT
MAX_VERSIONS 2
MAX_VERSIONS 3 USE_FOR STANDARD
MAX_VERSIONS 4 USE_FOR DC_XIV1 
MAX_VERSIONS 4 USE_FOR DC_XIV2
DEVICE_CLASS STANDARD DC_XIV1 DC_XIV2 SOME_OTHER_DC
APPLICATION_TYPE GENERIC
TSM_BACKUP NO
NEGATIVE_LIST NO_CHECK
<<<

>>> DEVICE_CLASS STANDARD
...
<<<

>>> DEVICE_CLASS SOME_OTHER_DC
...
<<<

>>> DEVICE_CLASS DC_XIV1
...
<<<

>>> DEVICE_CLASS DC_XIV2
...
<<< 

In the following example, MAX_VERSIONS is set to 2. There are four backup versions retained, two for each device class as there is no USE_FOR device class option specified.

MAX_VERSIONS 2

>>> DEVICE_CLASS STANDARD
...
<<<
>>> DEVICE_CLASS SOME_OTHER_DC
...
<<<

is the same like:

MAX_VERSIONS 2 USE_FOR STANDARD
MAX_VERSIONS 2 USE_FOR SOME_OTHER_DC

>>> DEVICE_CLASS STANDARD
...
<<<
>>> DEVICE_CLASS SOME_OTHER_DC
...
<<<