Using a trigger file to indicate that backup is complete

Some backup software clears the archive bit on files after backing them up. This attribute is visible as the File is ready for archiving option in each file's properties.

However some backup software and other methods of securing data do not clear the archive bit. In this case you must use a special file to indicate that data on each partition is secure. This file is known as a "trigger file".

See Using the trigger file mechanism to determine whether a partition has been backed up.

A trigger file is needed in all the following circumstances:

You take snapshots of the partition to secure its data.
You use backup software that does not clear the archive bit, such as Tivoli Storage Manager (TSM).
You take differential backups, which clear the archive bit only when a full backup occurs.

Enterprise Vault checks the date and time of the trigger file and assumes that all files that have earlier modification dates are secure. If your backup procedures do not provide a trigger file that has the correct date and time, Enterprise Vault does not detect that the backup is complete.

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