Glossary

ADAMM (Advanced Device and Media Management)

A Backup Exec database that automates the tracking of media and storage devices and ensures that backups are written to the appropriate media.

administration console

The user interface that allows you to run Backup Exec operations. The user interface can be run from the media server or a remote computer.

agent

A component that allows workstations or other computers, for example, Microsoft SQL Server, to interact with the Backup Exec media server.

alert

An event that usually requires some form of user interaction or acknowledgment.

alert category

A group of one or more events that occur in Backup Exec and that can generate an alert. Examples of alert categories include Job Success, Install Warning, and Database Maintenance Failure.

alert source

A source that can generate an alert. Alert sources include jobs, media, devices, and systems.

alert type

The classification of an alert that lets you determine the severity of the alert. Alert types include Error, Warning, Information, and Attention Required.

allocated media

The media that are associated with a media set and that have current append and overwrite protection periods.

append period

The length of time that data can be added to the media. The append period starts when the first backup job is written to the media.

audit log

A running history of all actions that are performed in Backup Exec. An entry into the log is created each time an action that is configured to display in the audit log occurs.

Backup Exec service account

A user account that is configured for the Backup Exec system services. It contains a user name and password and provides the rights to log on as a service and act as a Backup Exec administrator.

backup method

An option that you select when you run a backup job to specify how Backup Exec sets each file's backup status. For example, depending on the method that you select, Backup Exec may reset the archive bit or use modified time to determine if a file needs to be backed up.

backup set

The data that is selected from a single resource, such as a Microsoft Exchange dataset, and placed together on media when a backup job is run. Files selected from multiple resources create multiple backup sets.

backup strategy

The procedures that you implement for backing up your network. A good backup strategy requires minimal time to get a computer running in the event of a disaster.

backup-to-disk folder

A storage device that you create that enables you to back up data to a folder on a hard disk.

baseline

The first backup job to run in a synthetic backup policy. The baseline backup runs one time only and backs up all of the files on the selected resources. A full backup is assembled, or synthesized, from a baseline backup and the subsequent incremental backups that are also contained in a policy.

cascaded drive pool

The grouping of drives of the same drive type so that they appear logically as one drive. This grouping allows backups that exceed the capacity of media in one drive to automatically continue on the next drive that is defined in the pool.

catalog

A database that tracks the contents of media created during a backup or archive operation. You can only restore information from fully cataloged media.

central administration server

A Backup Exec media server on which the Central Admin Server Option (CASO) is installed. In a CASO environment, the central administration server provides centralized administration and delegated job processing and load balancing functionality for Backup Exec media servers in your storage environment.

centralized catalog

A catalog location in the Central Admin Server Option. All of the files in the catalog are kept on the central administration server.

centralized restore

A process in which you can run and manage all restore operations from a central administration server. Centralized restore is only available with the Central Admin Server Option.

common encryption key

A type of encryption key that anyone can use to back up data using encryption and to restore encrypted data.

custom error-handling rule

An error-handling rule that you can define for a specific error code in an error category. When a job fails with the error code that is associated with the custom error-handling rule, the retry options and the final job disposition are applied to the job.

custom filter

A filter that you can define to display only the information that you specify in the Job Monitor.

device

A robotic library drive, a stand-alone drive, a backup-to-disk folder, a backup-to-disk device, or a cascaded drive pool in Backup Exec.

device pool

A group of devices that can be used for Backup Exec operations. Jobs assigned to the device pool are run on the first available device.

Differential - Back up changed files since last full

A backup method that includes all files that have been changed (based on archive bit) since the last full or incremental backup. This method does not affect any media rotation scheme because the archive bit is not reset.

Differential - Using modified time

A backup method that includes all files since the last full backup using the files' last modified date and time stamp.

distributed catalog

A catalog location in the Central Admin Server Option. Image files in the catalog are distributed to the central administration server from every managed media server. These distributed files are small because they do not contain the entire catalog. They contain only information about the backup set. The history files, which contain detailed information about the backup set, remain on the managed media server.

Duplicate Backup Sets template

A template that allows you to use a multi-stage backup strategy for backing up data to disk and then copying it to tape.

error-handling rule

A default or custom rule that sets retry options and the final job disposition for failed or canceled jobs. Retry options let you specify how often to retry a job if it fails and the time to wait between retry attempts. The final job disposition lets you place the job on hold until you can fix the error.

event

An action that occurs during a Backup Exec operation; for example, job cancellation.

Full - Back Up Files - Archive the files (delete files after successful copy)

A backup method that backs up the selected data, verifies the media, and then deletes the data from the volume. For data to be deleted, rights to delete a file must be granted; otherwise data will be backed up, but not deleted.

Full - Back Up Files - Copy the files

A backup method that includes all selected data. It does not affect any media rotation scheme because the archive bit is not reset.

Full - Back Up Files - Using archive bit (reset archive bit)

A backup method that backs up all of the files selected for backup and resets the archive bit to indicate that the files have been backed up.

Full - Back Up Files - Using modified time

A backup method that includes all of the files selected for backup and allows the use of incrementals and differentials using the modified date and time stamp.

GRT (Granular Recovery Technology)

A backup option that is available with some Backup Exec Agents. Granular Recovery Technology lets you restore individual items from database backups. A separate backup of the individual items is not required for you to recover one item.

imported media

The media that are created by a product other than this installation of Backup Exec, but are in storage devices in the Backup Exec environment.

Incremental - Back up changed files since last full or incremental - Using archive bit (reset archive bit)

A backup method that backs up only the files that have changed (based on the archive bit) since the last full or incremental backup. It resets the archive bit to indicate that the files have been backed up

Incremental - Back up changed files since last full or incremental - Using modified time

A backup method that backs up all files that have changed since the last full or incremental backup using the files' last modified date and time stamp.

job

An operation that has been scheduled for processing by the media server. For example, if you make selections and submit a backup based on those selections, you have created a backup job. Jobs contain source or destination information, settings, and a schedule. Types of jobs include backup, restore, media rotation, resource discovery, report, test run, and utility jobs.

job delegation

A process by which jobs are distributed by a central administration server to available storage devices on managed media server. Job delegation is only available with the Central Admin Server Option.

job history

A report of what happened during the processing of the job (statistics, errors, and so on).

job log

A log that contains the results of a job. It is created when the job runs. You can review the job log for job errors and job details.

load balancing

A feature in Backup Exec that automatically distributes jobs among any available storage devices.

Also a feature of the Backup Exec Central Admin Server Option in which jobs are automatically distributed from a central administration server to multiple managed media servers for processing among the various storage devices.

logon account

An account that stores the credentials of a Windows user account and that enables Backup Exec to manage user names and passwords. It can be used to browse resources or process jobs.

managed media server

A media server that is managed by a central administration server. Managed media servers are responsible for the actual processing of backup and restore jobs in a Central Admin Server Option environment. Managed media servers are only available with the Backup Exec Central Admin Server Option.

media ID

A unique internal label that Backup Exec assigns to each media used in Backup Exec. The ID keeps statistics for each media. The media ID cannot be erased or changed.

media label

A label used to identify media. Backup Exec can assign the label automatically or you can specify a label prefix and number to be assigned for a type of media. If the media was first used in a library with a bar code reader, the media label will already have a bar code label.

media overwrite protection level

A global setting in Backup Exec that lets you specify whether to overwrite scratch, imported, or allocated media regardless of the media's overwrite protection period.

media rotation

A strategy that determines when media can be reused, or rotated back into use, by Backup Exec. Common examples of a media rotation strategy are Son, Father/Son, and Grandfather/Father/Son.

media server

The computer on which Backup Exec is installed and where the Backup Exec services are running.

media server pool

A feature of the Backup Exec Central Admin Server Option that lets you group managed media servers in a pool to which you can restrict backup jobs.

media set

A set of rules that apply to media that are associated with a media set. These rules specify append periods, overwrite protection periods, and vaulting periods.

media vault

A user-defined logical representation of the actual physical location of media, such as a special media room, a scratch bin, or an offsite location.

offhost backup

A feature of the Backup Exec Advanced Disk-based Backup Option that enables the backup operation to be processed on a Backup Exec media server instead of on the remote computer, or host computer. Moving the backup from the remote computer to a media server enables better backup performance and frees the remote computer as well.

offline media location

A node on the Media view that lists media that are onsite but are not in drives, slots, or media vaults. Media are automatically moved to the offline media location if you use Backup Exec to remove media from a device or slot.

online media location

A node on the Media view that lists media that reside in a storage device, robotic library slot, or backup-to-disk folder.

overwrite protection period

The length of time that data is retained on a specific media before being overwritten (unless the media is erased, formatted, moved to scratch media, or if the media overwrite protection level is set to None). The overwrite protection period is measured from the last time data was appended to the media.

policy

A method for managing backup jobs and strategies. Policies contain templates, which provide settings for jobs.

primary database server

The server on which the shared Advanced Device and Media Management (ADAMM) database and the shared catalog database reside when the Backup Exec SAN Shared Storage Option is installed.

recyclable media

Media that is assigned to a media set but has expired data overwrite protection periods.

remote administrator

The Backup Exec user interface (Administration Console) that is run on remote computers.

remote agent

A Backup Exec system service that runs on Microsoft Windows computers or NetWare remote servers and workstations and allows remote backup and restore of those computers and provides increased backup throughput.

replicated catalog

A catalog location in the Central Admin Server Option. All of the files in the catalog are replicated from the managed media server to the central administration server.

resource

Data files and databases, such as Windows shares and Microsoft SQL databases, that can be selected for backup.

resource discovery

A Backup Exec operation that allows detection of new backup resources within a Windows domain.

restricted encryption key

A type of encryption key that anyone can use to back up data using encryption. Only the key owner or a user with knowledge of the pass phrase can restore data that was encrypted with a restricted encryption key.

retired media

Media that has been taken out of service, usually because of an excessive number of errors. Media that is retired is available for restore jobs but not for backup jobs. Media must be retired before it can be deleted. If you want to use media that has been deleted, Backup Exec will recognize it as imported media. It must be cataloged before you can restore from it.

scratch media

Media that are not associated with a media set and that can be overwritten. Scratch media includes new or blank media, erased media, and media moved from another group.

selection list

The data selected to be backed up or restored. Selection lists can be save and used for multiple jobs.

simulated tape library

A tape library that emulates an Advanced Intelligent Tape (AIT) media type and has the AIT media type label. A simulated tape library is created by the Tape Library Simulator.

synthetic backup

A feature of the Advanced Disk-based Backup Option that enables a full backup to be assembled, or synthesized, from a baseline and subsequent incremental backups.

template

A required element of a policy that defines how and when Backup Exec processes a job. Templates specify the device, settings, and schedule options to be used for the job. Each policy must contain at least one template.

template rule

A method of setting up relationships between templates in a policy.

true image restore

A feature of the Advanced Disk-based Backup Option that enables Backup Exec to restore the contents of directories to what they were at the time of any full or incremental backup. Restore selections are made from a view of the directories as they existed at the time of the particular backup. Files that were deleted before the time of the backup are not restored. In true image restore, only the correct versions of files are restored from the appropriate full or incremental backups that contain them. Previous versions are not unnecessarily restored and then overwritten.

UMI (Unique Message Identifier)

A unique code that is associated with an error reported in the job log, or on some alerts. These codes contain hyperlinks that you can click to go to the Symantec Technical Support Web site. You can access technical notes and troubleshooting tips that are related to a specific error.

Working Set - Back up files - Changed today

A backup method that backs up all files that were created or modified today.

Working Set - Back up files - Last accessed in (x) days

A backup methods that backs up data that has been accessed in a specified number of days. If you select this backup method, you can then indicate the number of days in the Files accessed in x days field.