Specifying subrule exceptions to a replication storage rule

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Specify subrule exceptions to exercise greater control over which file spaces are replicated and over which types of data are replicated.

About this task

A replication storage rule can, by default, replicate all file spaces for the clients that are enabled for replication. Alternatively, a replication storage rule can specify that no data is replicated by default.

If the storage rule replicates all data by default, then you can specify subrule exceptions to identify the data that is not to be replicated.

If the storage rule does not replicate any data by default, then you must define at least one subrule exception to replicate data.

You can specify exceptions to the replication storage rule by selecting individual clients, virtual machines (VMs), and client file spaces. You can also specify exceptions to groups of clients by selecting a node group. When you identify the clients, node groups, VMs, and file spaces, you can also identify the data types to be replicated or excluded from replication. Data types include backup, archive, and space management data.

You do not explicitly create replication subrules by using the Operations Center. Instead, you identify the clients, node groups, VMs, and file spaces that are exempt from the default action of the replication storage rule, and the Operations Center creates subrules in the background.

Procedure

To specify subrule exceptions to a replication storage rule, complete the following steps:

  1. On the Storage Rules page, select the replication storage rule for which you want to specify an exception. Click + Create Subrule.
    The Details notebook for the replication storage rule opens at the Subrules page.
  2. On the Subrules page, click Modify. The page is now editable and you can specify exceptions to the replication storage rule.
  3. Use the table actions to identify the clients, node groups, VMs, and file spaces that are exempt from the default action of the replication storage rule. Node groups are groups of clients that are acted upon as if they were single entities.
    • To add individual clients, click + Add > Individual clients. On the Add Individual Clients to Rule page, select the clients and click Add Clients.
    • To add node groups, click + Add > Node groups. On the Add Node Groups to Rule page, select the node groups and click Add Node Groups.
  4. To add members by specifying VM patterns or file space name patterns, take the following actions:
    1. Click + Add > VM name pattern or + Add > Filespace name pattern.
    2. On the Add Name Pattern page, select a VM or filespace owner and specify a pattern. Before you add a pattern, you must test the pattern to confirm that it does not overlap existing patterns for this or other subrules of the parent rule.
    3. Test the pattern by clicking Test.
    4. After a pattern is successfully tested, add the pattern by clicking Add VM Pattern or Add Filespace Pattern.

Results

To implement the exceptions to the parent storage rule, the Operations Center defines subrules in the background. The exceptions that you specified are listed on the Subrules page. In the table on the Subrules page, the name of the subrule that is associated with each exception is shown in the Subrule Name column. This column is hidden by default. To display the column, right-click the column-headings row and select the Subrule Name checkbox.