For a synthetic backup to include directory and the file attribute changes, the change must first be picked up by a component incremental backup. (For example, changes like Access Control Lists (ACLs).)

On UNIX, changing an object's ACL changes the ctime (inode change time) for the object but not the mtime (data modification time). Since mtime triggers incremental backups, the ACL change is not reflected in an incremental backup, and therefore not in a synthetic full backup.

To include ACL changes in backups, enter USE_CTIME_FOR_INCREMENTALS in the bp.conf file on each UNIX client.

For each Windows client, enable Incrementals: Based on Archive Bit. The property is found under NetBackup Management > Host Properties > Clients > selected client(s) > Windows Client.

See Incrementals based on archive bit.