Features of the Windows agent are listed in the following tables.
Feature |
OS version |
During backup |
During restore |
---|---|---|---|
Sparse files |
Windows 2000 and above |
A sparse file is a large file which is not made up of a great deal of data. When the sparse file facilities are used, the system does not allocate hard drive space to a file except in regions where it contains something other than zeros. Sparse files are backed up in a way that only valid data blocks of the files are stored on the backup media, thus saving space that would otherwise be taken up by zero filled blocks |
The data blocks are reconstructed to restore the sparse file in its original form. |
Encrypted files |
Windows 2000 systems and above (NTFS volumes only). |
Windows 2000 and above support encryption of files and folders. Encrypted folders are backed up and restored encrypted. |
For encrypted files the raw encrypted data that was stored to the backup media is restored back into a file. |
Hard links |
Windows 2000 systems and above (NTFS volumes only). |
A hard link is a file system-level shortcut for a given file. When a hard link is created to an existing file, information is added to its directory entry at the NTFS level. The original file now has two or more names that can be used to access the same content. |
Since the backup engine saves the information about the links between files, hard links are restored seamlessly, so that the same file contents can be accessed using many names. Restore of a hard link succeeds only if the original file containing the contents already exists on the system. In case that the file referenced by the hard link is not already present in the system, the user is notified that he/she needs to restore the original file first. |
Offline files |
Windows 2000 systems and above (NTFS volumes only). |
Offline files are files whose data is not immediately available. The file data may have been physically moved to offline storage. Remote storage and the hierarchical storage management software support these types of files. |
Offline files are restored like normal files. |
Junctions and volume mount points |
Windows 2000 systems and above (NTFS volumes only). |
Volume mount points are based on reparse points; they allow administrators to graft access to the root of one local volume. Similarly, junctions are used to graft a target folder onto another NTFS folder or “mount” a volume onto an NTFS junction point. The engine follows the reparse point to backup the files/folders of the Volume Mount point. |
The engine restores the reparse data that was backed up for a junction or volume mount point. For the restore process to be valid the target directory/volume should also exist in the system. |
Compressed files |
Windows NT4 systems and above (NTFS volumes only). |
On the NTFS volume each file and directory has a compression bit. If this bit is set, all data in the file is compressed. The backup engine backs up uncompressed data on a file. |
During restore, the engine marks a file/folder as compressed before data is written to the file. Therefore, when data is restored, the system automatically compresses it and the file/folders are restored in their original compressed state. |
Registry aliases |
Windows NT4 systems and above. |
Registry aliases are links in the registry from one key to another. When a registry link is traversed, the path searching continues at the target of the link. |
The registry aliases are restored as links. The target of the link has to present in order for the link to work correctly. |
Registry security information |
Windows 2000 systems and above. |
The engine provides a mechanism to save the security information related to a registry key. The user can turn this mechanism on or off using the BackupRegSec flag in the master.ini file. |
If the security information of the registry keys was backed up then it is reapplied to the keys during a restore process. |
Unmounted volumes |
Windows XP and above |
The unmounted volumes like Microsoft System Reserved partitions are backed up by the engine |
The unmounted and reserved volumes are recovered on the restore operation |
Additional features of the Windows agent are listed below:
Feature |
OS version |
During backup |
---|---|---|
Temporary files |
Windows NT4 systems and above (NTFS volumes only) |
The engine provides a mechanism to allow the user to exclude temporary files during a backup process. This option can be chosen from the client GUI by selecting the Exclude Temporary Files option in the backup menus. Once selected, this option will exclude the following: All files in the Internet cache and the temporary folder of all users in the system. All files marked with the flag FILE_ATTRIBUTE_TEMPORARY. All files of the form ~xxx.tmp. |
Wild card exclusion |
All systems |
It is possible for the client side GUI user to specify a path containing wildcards to be excluded. The following steps describe the process: Specify the wildcard path in the Filter edit box. No other file in the list box can be selected. Click ADD. |
Exclusion of files |
Windows 2000 systems and above. |
The engine maintains a list of files and folders that are excluded from a backup or a restore process. This list contains files such as the page file, temporary files, etc. |
Controlling automatic shutdown for reboot |
All systems. |
A flag in the windows local master.ini file called EnableAutomaticRestart can be specified to control automatic restart behavior. This flag can be set to either Yes or No. |