The Allow multiple data streams attribute specifies that NetBackup can divide automatic backups for each client into multiple jobs. The directives, scripts, or templates in the backup selection list specify whether each job can back up only a part of the backup selection list. Since the jobs are in separate data streams, they can occur concurrently.

The directives, scripts, or templates in the backup selection list determine the number of streams (backup jobs) that start for each client. The list also determines how the backup selection list is divided into separate streams.

Multistreamed jobs consist of a parent job to perform stream discovery and children jobs for each stream. In the Activity Monitor, the children jobs display the Job ID of the parent job. Parent jobs display a dash (-) in the Schedule column.