Setting template rules

Template rules enable you to set up relationships between templates in a policy. For example, you can use template rules to determine which job should be processed first if a start time conflict exists, or to determine which job should start when another job starts, ends, or fails.

When you set a template rule, you must select the rule you want to use and the templates to which the rule will be applied. Backup Exec displays different rules depending on the types of templates that exist in the policy. For example, if a policy contains a duplicate backup template, Backup Exec displays rules for duplicating backup sets. If Backup Exec automatically adds a template rule to a template, you should not delete that rule.

The following template rules are available:

Table: Template Rules

Rule

Description

If start times conflict, <Template A> supersedes <Template B>.

If two templates in the same policy have the same start time, <Template A> will run first, and <Template B> will run according to the schedule set for it, after the <Template A> job completes. For example, you set a weekly backup to run every Saturday at 5:00 p.m. and a daily backup to run every day at 5:00 p.m. On Saturday, both the weekly backup and the daily backup are scheduled to run at 5:00 p.m. If you set the weekly backup as <Template A> and the daily backup as <Template B>, the weekly backup will run at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday. The daily backup will not run on Saturday, but it will run on Sunday at 5:00 p.m., according to its schedule.

If start times conflict, <Template A> will start and upon completion, starts <Template B>.

If two templates in the same policy have the same start time, <Template A> will start first. After <Template A> completes, <Template B> will start automatically.

After <Template A> starts, also start <Template B>.

With this rule, you can run two jobs simultaneously.

After <Template A> completes, start <Template B>.

Use this rule if you want Backup Exec to start a job automatically after a selected job completes. The second job will start regardless of whether the first job completes successfully. For example, if the first job fails, the second job will run.

If <Template A> successfully completes, start <Template B>.

Use this rule if you want Backup Exec to automatically start a job after a selected job successfully completes. The second job will not start if the first job fails.

If <Template A> fails, start <Template B>.

Use this rule if you want Backup Exec to automatically start a new job if a selected job fails.

<Template A> must complete at least once before any other templates will be allowed to start.

This rule is used when baseline backups are needed, such as with synthetic backup templates. If you set up a baseline backup job, it must complete before any other synthetic backups can begin. If you set the baseline backup template as the <Template A> in this rule, you can ensure that no other synthetic backup jobs will run until the baseline backup completes.

Run <Template A> only once.

This rule applies to synthetic backups. If you set up a baseline backup, it needs to run only once.

Duplicate all backup sets that were created by <Template A> using <Template B> as scheduled.

This rule applies to a duplicate backup template. It displays only if the policy contains a duplicate backup template and the template has a schedule associated with it. Backup Exec automatically adds this rule to the policy if you set the schedule for the template to Run now and run according to rules for this template or Run according to schedule and run according to rules for this template. With this rule, you can set up the data duplication job to run outside of the backup window.

After <Template A> completes, start <Template B> to duplicate the backup set.

This rule applies to a duplicate backup template and displays only if the policy contains a duplicate backup template. After you create a duplicate backup template, Backup Exec automatically adds this rule to the policy if you set the schedule for the template to Run only according to rules for this template. Backup Exec replaces <Template A> with the template that you selected as the source for the duplicate backup template, and replaces <Template B> with the duplicate template you created. With this rule, it is likely that the duplication job will run during the backup window. If you do not want to run the duplication during the backup window, use the Duplicate all backup sets that were created by <Template A> using <Template B> as scheduled rule.

After <Template A> completes, start <Template B> to export media.

This rule applies to export media templates and displays only if the policy contains an export media template. After you create an export media template, Backup Exec automatically adds this rule to the policy. Backup Exec replaces <Template A> with the template that you selected as the source for the export media template, and replaces <Template B> with the export media template you created.

To set a template rule

  1. On the navigation bar, click Job Setup.

  2. If you want to set template rules for existing templates in an existing policy, in the Policies section, double-click the policy.

    If you want to create a new policy, in the task pane, under Policy Tasks, click New policy. Enter a policy name and description. Then create a new template.

  3. On the Policy Properties screen, click New Rule.

  4. Complete the fields that display as follows:

    Template rule

    Select the template rule that you want to apply.

    Template A

    Select the template that you want to insert into the <Template A> slot in the template rule you selected. Template A is usually the trigger for template B. For example, in the template rule After <Template A> completes, start <Template B>, template A must complete before Backup Exec will start template B.

    Template B

    Select the template that you want to insert into the <Template B> slot in the template rule you selected. Some rules do not require more than one template. If another template is not required for a template rule, you cannot select a template from this option.

  5. Click OK.