Creating a retention set

When you define a retention rule, you can specify how often a retention set is created. The data in the retention set represents a point-in-time snapshot of all the data in one or more file spaces that was active at the time of the snapshot.

About this task

After a retention rule is defined, retention set creation jobs run regularly according to the frequency that is defined in the rule. You can also create a retention set manually based on a retention rule.

Table 1. Creating a retention set manually
Task Steps
Start a retention set creation job manually from a retention rule. You can start a retention set creation job manually from a retention rule, for example, if the last scheduled job did not complete. To start a retention set manually, complete the following steps:
  1. On the Operations Center menu bar, click Services > Retention Rules.
  2. On the Retention Rules page, right-click the retention rule and select Create Retention Set Now.
A retention set creation job is started. The active backup data objects for the clients that are specified in the rule are marked for inclusion in a new retention set. The data is collected into a new retention set by updating the server inventory. The server inventory tracks the data objects in the retention set to ensure that they are not deleted until the retention period ends.
Create a one-time retention set. You can create a one-time retention set to meet requirements to collect active data from specified clients on a non-recurring basis. To create a one-time retention set, complete the following steps:
  1. On the Operations Center menu bar, click Clients.
  2. In the Clients table, select one or more clients whose active backup data is to retained.
  3. Click More > Create Retention Set.
  4. On the Create Retention Set page, complete the fields and click Create.
A retention set creation job is started. The active backup data objects for the selected clients are marked as members of a new retention set. The new retention set is registered in the server inventory.

What to do next

Optionally, you can take one or more of the following actions on retention sets:
Table 2. Actions on a retention set
Task Procedure

View the status of the retention set creation job.

 To view the status of a retention set creation job, complete the following steps:
  1. Right-click the retention rule and select Details.
  2. Click the Retention Sets tab.
Update the expiration date of a retention set. If data retention requirements change, you can update the retention set's expiration date. To do so, complete the following steps:
  1. On the Operations Center menu bar, click Services > Retention Sets.
  2. On the Retention Sets page, right-click the retention rule and select More > Update Expiration Date.
  3. On the Update Expiration Date dialog box, specify the new expiration date and click Save.

Alternatively, update retention set attributes by issuing the UPDATE RETSET command. For more information, see UPDATE RETSET (Update a retention set).
Delete the retention set. You can delete a retention set if you are no longer required to keep its data. When you delete a retention set, the backup data objects that it contains are no longer protected from expiration.
Important: It is not possible to recover a deleted retention set. Before you start a delete operation, verify that you selected the correct retention set for deletion.
To delete a retention set, complete the following steps:
  1. On the Operations Center menu bar, click Services > Retention Sets.
  2. On the Retention Sets page, right-click the retention rule and select More > Delete.

Alternatively, delete a retention set by issuing the DELETE RETSET command. For more information, see DELETE RETSET (Delete a retention set).
Add the retention set to a retention hold. You can create a retention hold to prevent data in one or more retention sets from being deleted, regardless of the retention sets' expiration dates. To create a retention hold, complete the following steps:
  1. On the Operations Center menu bar, click Services > Retention Holds.
  2. On the Retention Holds page, click + Create Hold.
  3. Complete the steps in the Create Holds wizard.
To add one or more retention sets to the hold, complete the following steps:
  1. On the Operations Center menu bar, click Services > Retention Holds.
  2. On the Retention Holds page, select the retention hold that you want to modify.
  3. Select Details and then click the Retention Sets tab.
  4. On the Retention Sets tab, click Add To Hold.
  5. Complete the steps in the Add To Hold wizard.

Alternatively, define a retention hold by issuing the DEFINE HOLD command and add one or more retentions sets to the hold by issuing the HOLD RETSET command.

For more information, see DEFINE HOLD (Define a hold for retention set data and HOLD RETSET (Place a hold on a retention set).