Specifying rules for backing up and archiving client data

Policies affect how much data is stored over time, and how long data is retained and available for clients to restore. To meet objectives for data protection, you can update the default policy and create your own policies. A policy includes the following rules:

• How and when files are backed up and archived to server storage
• The number of copies of a file and the length of time copies are kept in server storage

During the client registration process, you assign a client to a policy domain. The policy for a specific client is determined by the rules in the policy domain to which the client is assigned. In the policy domain, the rules that are in effect are in the active policy set.

When a client backs up or archives a file, the file is bound to a management class in the active policy set of the policy domain. A management class is the key set of rules for managing client data. The backup and archive operations on the client use the settings in the default management class of the policy domain unless you further customize policy. A policy can be customized by defining more management classes and assigning their use through client options.

Client options can be specified in a local, editable file on the client system and in a client option set on the server. The options in the client option set on the server can override or add to the options in the local client option file.