Avamar: How to check backup contents using avtar and MCCLI

Summary: How to check the file and directory contents of an Avamar backup by using avtar and MCCLI command-line queries.

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Instructions

To obtain a full list of files protected by a particular backup, use either the mccli backup show or the avtar --list command. 

These commands can both be run from the Avamar Utility Node.

The avtar command can be run from any Avamar client which has access to the Avamar server. 

Note: When run from a client, avtar requires additional parameters such as the IP of the Avamar Utility Node and the Avamar login credentials.
 
 

Identify the Backup Label Number:

As both commands require the backup label number, identify the LabelNum of the backup to query using one of the following methods:

1. Using the user interface:    
a. Open the Backup Management screen. 
b. Locate the client.
c. Find the required backup.
d. Note the value in the 'Number' column from the Backup History. 
 
2. Using the CLI: 
Run an MCCLI command from the Avamar Utility Node to list the backups with their LabelNum values:
 

Example:    

mccli backup show --name=/<full-domain-path>/<clientname.domain.com>
Created                 LabelNum Size        Retention
----------------------- -------- ----------- ---------
2012-04-20 11:31:43 IST 34       132686304   N
2012-03-03 08:34:38 GMT 28       93336576    N
2012-03-03 08:33:34 GMT 27       6600942     N
2011-12-27 12:00:44 GMT 24       20730800    N
 

Once the LabelNum of the required backup is identified, this can be used with either the avtar or the MCCLI command method.

 
 

How to query backup contents using MCCLI:

 

The following mccli command can be used to check the top-level directories in the backup:

mccli backup show --name=/<full-domain-path>/<clientname.domain.com> --labelNum=<LabelNum>

0,23000,CLI command completed successfully.
Type Date                Size    Owner   Group            Permissions Name
---- ------------------- ------- ------- ---------------- ----------- ----
Dir  2016-12-19 08:39:15 3.2 GB  unknown TrustedInstaller drwxrwxrwx  C:/
Dir  2016-12-26 10:51:28 0 bytes SYSTEM  unknown          drwxrwxrwx  E:/
 

Use of the --recursive flag lists the backup contents, including files and directories:

mccli backup show --name=/<full-domain-path>/<clientname.domain.com> --labelNum=<LabelNum> --recursive=true
 

Below is a small extract of the output:

Type Date                Size        Owner          Group            Permissions Name
File 2012-07-23 19:09:33 174 bytes   SYSTEM         unknown          -rwxrwxr-x  C:/Users/Default/AppData/Roaming/Microsoft/Windows/Start Menu/desktop.ini
Dir  2009-07-14 02:34:59 0 bytes     Administrators unknown          drwxrwxr-x  C:/Users/Default/AppData/Roaming/Microsoft/Windows/Templates/
Dir  2011-05-12 18:34:59 1.4 MB      SYSTEM         unknown          drwxrwxr-x  C:/Users/Default/AppData/Roaming/Microsoft/Windows/Themes/
File 2011-05-12 18:35:00 4.1 KB      SYSTEM         unknown          -rwxrwxr-x  C:/Users/Default/AppData/Roaming/Microsoft/Windows/Themes/slideshow.ini
File 2012-10-15 14:30:00 1.4 MB      SYSTEM         unknown          -rwxrwxr-x  C:/Users/Default/AppData/Roaming/Microsoft/Windows/Themes/TranscodedWallpaper.jpg
Dir  2009-07-14 05:08:56 0 bytes     SYSTEM         unknown          drwxrwx--x  C:/Users/Default/Application Data/
Dir  2012-07-23 19:09:33 67.2 KB     SYSTEM         unknown          dr-xr-xr-x  C:/Users/Default/Contacts/
File 2010-11-21 02:51:05 66.8 KB     SYSTEM         unknown          -rwxrwxr-x  C:/Users/Default/Contacts/Administrator.contact
File 2012-07-23 19:09:33 412 bytes   SYSTEM         unknown          -rwxrwxr-x  C:/Users/Default/Contacts/desktop.ini
Dir  2009-07-14 05:08:56 0 bytes     SYSTEM         unknown          drwxrwx--x  C:/Users/Default/Cookies/
Dir  2012-07-23 19:09:33 282 bytes   Administrators unknown          dr-xr-xr-x  C:/Users/Default/Desktop/
File 2012-07-23 19:09:33 282 bytes   SYSTEM         unknown          -rwxrwxr-x  C:/Users/Default/Desktop/desktop.ini
Dir  2012-07-23 19:09:33 402 bytes   Administrators unknown          dr-xr-xr-x  C:/Users/Default/Documents/
Dir  2009-07-14 05:08:56 0 bytes     SYSTEM         unknown          drwxrwx--x  C:/Users/Default/Documents/My Music/
Dir  2009-07-14 05:08:56 0 bytes     SYSTEM         unknown          drwxrwx--x  C:/Users/Default/Documents/My Pictures/
Dir  2009-07-14 05:08:56 0 bytes     SYSTEM         unknown          drwxrwx--x  C:/Users/Default/Documents/My Videos/
File 2012-07-23 19:09:33 402 bytes   SYSTEM         unknown          -rwxrwxr-x  C:/Users/Default/Documents/desktop.ini
Dir  2012-07-23 19:09:33 282 bytes   Administrators unknown          dr-xr-xr-x  C:/Users/Default/Downloads/
File 2012-07-23 19:09:33 282 bytes   SYSTEM         unknown          -rwxrwxr-x  C:/Users/Default/Downloads/desktop.ini
Dir  2012-07-23 19:09:33 2.6 KB      Administrators unknown          dr-xr-xr-x  C:/Users/Default/Favorites/
Dir  2011-11-07 19:04:30 306 bytes   SYSTEM         unknown          dr-xr-xr-x  C:/Users/Default/Favorites/Links/
File 2011-11-07 19:04:30 80 bytes    SYSTEM         unknown          -rwxrwxr-x  C:/Users/Default/Favorites/Links/desktop.ini
File 2012-07-23 17:33:42 226 bytes   SYSTEM         unknown          -rwxrwxr-x  C:/Users/Default/Favorites/Links/Web Slice Gallery.url
Dir  2010-11-21 02:51:27 666 bytes   SYSTEM         unknown          drwxrwxr-x  C:/Users/Default/Favorites/Microsoft Websites/
File 2012-07-23 17:33:42 133 bytes   SYSTEM         unknown          -rwxrwxr-x  C:/Users/Default/Favorites/Microsoft Websites/IE Add-on site.url
File 2012-07-23 17:33:42 133 bytes   SYSTEM         unknown          -rwxrwxr-x  C:/Users/Default/Favorites/Microsoft Websites/IE site on Microsoft.com.url
 
 

How to query backup contents using the avtar:

From the Avamar Utility Node:    

avtar --list --labelnum=<LabelNum> --path=/<full-domain-path>/<clientname.domain.com>
 

From an Avamar client (avs\bin directory):

avtar --list --labelnum=<backup label number> --path=/<full-domain-path>/<clientname.domain.com> --hfsaddr=<Avamar utility node IP>  --id=<Avamar user> --ap=<Avamar user's password>
 

Additional avtar parameters (for more information see the Avamar Technical Addendum):    

    • --id - Select an Avamar user which has access to the client's domain. One example would be MCUser, which has global access.
    • --list - Lists the contents of a backup. Either --list or -t can be used.
    • --labelnum - this can be obtained using the user interface or CLI.
    • --internal - Shows the contents of the .system_info hidden internal directory that is stored in the backup
    • --verbose - This is equivalent to -v (This command parameter increases the detail that is provided in the log). 
      • --verbose=2 (-vv) --verbose=3 (-vvv) and --verbose=4 (-vvvv) are also available, however these levels of verbosity do not provide any additional information when run with the avtar list command.
    • --format=xml - Displays results in xml
    • --no-recursion - Do not recursively traverse directories (the default is to use recursion).

 

    • --verbose=1 provides additional information with the file listing, including:   
      • Permissions
      • User and Group
      • File modified date
      -rwx------   xxxxxxxx/Domain Users     337081   0% 2011-03-18 22:54:00 C:/Documents and Settings/xxxxxxx/My Documents/AvaDocs/300-009-591-ADS_Rekick.pdf
 

Example avtar generated file listing (without verbose logging):   

avtar --list --labelnum=34 --path=/domain1/Client1.customer.com
avtar Info <5551>: Command Line: /usr/local/avamar/bin/avtar.bin --flagfile=/usr/local/avamar/etc/usersettings.cfg --server=avamar-server.company.com --vardir=/usr/local/avamar/var --bindir=/usr/local/avamar/bin --id=root --password=********* --vardir=/usr/local/avamar/var --bindir=/usr/local/avamar/bin --sysdir=/usr/local/avamar/etc --list --sequencenumber=34 --account=/domain1/Client1.customer.com
avtar Info <6555>: Initializing connection (Avamar Deduplication Engine v2.0.0)
avtar Info <5552>: Connecting to Avamar Server (avamar-server.company.com)
avtar Info <5554>: Connecting to one node in each datacenter
avtar Info <5583>: Login User: "root", Domain: "default", Account: "//domain1/Client1.customer.com"
avtar Info <5580>: Logging in on connection 0 (server 0)
avtar Info <5582>: Avamar Server login successful
avtar Info <5550>: Successfully logged into Avamar Server
avtar Info <8745>: Backup from Windows XP Professional SP 3.0 host "/domain1/Client1.customer.com" (SomeAvamarClient) with plugin 3001 - Windows Filesystem
avtar Info <5538>: Backup #34 label "MOD-xxxxxxx" timestamp 2012-04-20 11:31:43 IST, 56 files, 126.5 MB
C:/
C:/Documents and Settings/
C:/Documents and Settings/user/
C:/Documents and Settings/user/My Documents/
C:/Documents and Settings/user/My Documents/AvaDocs/
C:/Documents and Settings/user/My Documents/AvaDocs/300-009-591-ADS_Rekick.pdf
C:/Documents and Settings/user/My Documents/AvaDocs/ADS/
C:/Documents and Settings/user/My Documents/AvaDocs/ADS/ADS Gen1-4 rekickstart -300-009-591-ADS_Rekick.pdf
C:/Documents and Settings/user/My Documents/AvaDocs/ADT 1 - Installation - 300-008-863.pdf
C:/Documents and Settings/user/My Documents/AvaDocs/ADT 1 - Security 300-008-865.pdf
C:/Documents and Settings/user/My Documents/AvaDocs/ADT logs.TXT
C:/Documents and Settings/user/My Documents/AvaDocs/Avamar 6.0 for VMware - 300-011-626.pdf
C:/Documents and Settings/user/My Documents/AvaDocs/Avamar PSB07A_Draft_0.2.docx
C:/Documents and Settings/user/My Documents/AvaDocs/Configuration of High-Availability ADS Network Avamar Data Store Gen3 Technical Note - 300-011-174.pdf
C:/Documents and Settings/user/My Documents/AvaDocs/DataDomain/
C:/Documents and Settings/user/My Documents/AvaDocs/DataDomain/MR-1CN-DDSADMIN.50G3.lb.gd.pdf
C:/Documents and Settings/user/My Documents/AvaDocs/Tech Addendum - 300-008-817.pdf
C:/Documents and Settings/user/My Documents/AvaDocs/v5 Backup Clients 300-008-819.pdf
C:/Documents and Settings/user/My Documents/AvaDocs/v5 Software server installation - 300-008-827.pdf
C:/Documents and Settings/user/My Documents/AvaDocs/v6/Utility Node Replacement Tech Note300-007-551.pdf
C:/Documents and Settings/user/My Documents/AvaDocs/v6/v6 Avamar for VMware - 300-011-626.pdf
C:/Documents and Settings/user/My Documents/AvaDocs/v6/v6 Avamar for Windows Servers 300-011-627.pdf
...
avtar Info <5314>: Command completed (exit code 0: Success)
 

Example avtar generated file listing (with verbose=1 logging):

avtar --list --labelnum=34 --verbose=1 --path=/domain1/Client1.customer.com
avtar Info <5551>: Command Line: /usr/local/avamar/bin/avtar.bin --flagfile=/usr/local/avamar/etc/usersettings.cfg --server=avamar-server.company.com --vardir=/usr/local/avamar/var --bindir=/usr/local/avamar/bin --id=root -password=********* --vardir=/usr/local/avamar/var --bindir=/usr/local/avamar/bin --sysdir=/usr/local/avamar/etc --list --sequencenumber=34 --verbose=1 --account=/domain1/Client1.customer.com
avtar Info <6555>: Initializing connection (Avamar Deduplication Engine v2.0.0)
avtar Info <5552>: Connecting to Avamar Server (avamar-server.company.com)
avtar Info <5554>: Connecting to one node in each datacenter
avtar Info <5583>: Login User: "root", Domain: "default", Account: "/domain1/Client1.customer.com"
avtar Info <5580>: Logging in on connection 0 (server 0)
avtar Info <5582>: Avamar Server login successful
avtar Info <5550>: Successfully logged into Avamar Server
avtar Info <8745>: Backup from Windows XP Professional SP 3.0 host "/domain1/Client1.customer.com" (SomeAvamarClient) with plugin 3001 - Windows Filesystem
avtar Info <5538>: Backup #34 label "MOD-xxxxxxxxx" timestamp 2012-04-20 11:31:43 IST, 56 files, 126.5 MB
drwxrwxrwx Administrators/SYSTEM    132686301   0% 2012-04-19 09:13:11 C:/
drwxrwxr-x Administrators/SYSTEM    132686301   0% 2010-10-06 13:09:09 C:/Documents and Settings/
drwxrwx--- Administrators/SYSTEM    132686301   0% 2012-04-20 08:18:23 C:/Documents and Settings/user/
dr-x------   user/Domain Users  132686301   0% 2012-04-06 19:32:50 C:/Documents and Settings/user/My Documents/
drwx------   user/Domain Users  132686301   0% 2012-03-27 10:15:01 C:/Documents and Settings/user/My Documents/AvaDocs/
-rwx------   user/Domain Users     337081   0% 2011-03-18 22:54:00 C:/Documents and Settings/user/My Documents/AvaDocs/300-009-591-ADS_Rekick.pdf
drwx------   user/Domain Users    7109132   0% 2011-12-20 15:40:16 C:/Documents and Settings/user/My Documents/AvaDocs/ADS/
-rwx------   user/Domain Users     740667   0% 2011-11-23 11:59:22 C:/Documents and Settings/user/My Documents/AvaDocs/ADS/ADS Gen1-4 rekickstart -300-009-591-ADS_Rekick.pdf
-rwx------   user/Domain Users    3831369   0% 2011-12-20 15:40:16 C:/Documents and Settings/user/My Documents/AvaDocs/ADS/ADS Gen4 - single node install - 300-011-545.pdf
-rwx------   user/Domain Users    2537096   0% 2011-07-11 08:39:07 C:/Documents and Settings/user/My 
-rwx------   user/Domain Users       2717   0% 2011-03-03 11:56:19 C:/Documents and Settings/user/My Documents/AvaDocs/ADT logs.TXT
-rwx------   user/Domain Users    3950628   0% 2011-07-20 13:34:51 C:/Documents and Settings/user/My Documents/AvaDocs/Avamar 6.0 for VMware - 300-011-626.pdf
-rwx------   user/Domain Users    2783560   0% 2011-05-13 14:33:45 C:/Documents and Settings/user/My Documents/AvaDocs/Avamar PSB07A_Draft_0.2.docx
-rwx------   user/Domain Users     818759   0% 2011-05-11 11:37:42 C:/Documents and Settings/user/My Documents/AvaDocs/Configuration of High-Availability ADS Network Avamar Data Store Gen3 Technical Note - 300-011-174.pdf
drwx------   user/Domain Users    7241382   0% 2011-12-19 17:26:51 C:/Documents and Settings/user/My Documents/AvaDocs/DataDomain/
avtar Info <5314>: Command completed (exit code 0: Success)
 
 

XML formatting

If --format=xml is specified, a file listing can be obtained displayed in xml format.

For Example:

<file date="2011-04-21 09:00:28" internal="0" group="Domain Users" protection="-rwx------" name="Windows Guide v5 300-010-672.pdf" size="3476325" links="0" user="tabitha" />
 
 

File listings for a specific directory:    

A list of files or directories of interest can be included with the avtar command. Where no list is provided, avtar starts at the top of the backup. 

By default, avtar recursively works through all directories to list files but if required, this can be prevented by using the --no-recursion flag.

For example, the following command lists the files and folders within the "AvaDocs" directory only. It does not descend into the 'v6' or the 'ADS' directories:

avtar --list  --labelnum=34 --no-recursion --path=/domain1/Client1.customer.com "C:/Documents and Settings/xxxxxxx/My Documents/AvaDocs"
C:/Documents and Settings/xxxxxxx/My Documents/AvaDocs/300-009-591-ADS_Rekick.pdf
C:/Documents and Settings/xxxxxxx/My Documents/AvaDocs/ADS/
C:/Documents and Settings/xxxxxxx/My Documents/AvaDocs/ADS Gen3 customer service guide - 300-008-858.pdf
C:/Documents and Settings/xxxxxxx/My Documents/AvaDocs/ADS Gen3 System Installation Manual - 300-008-856.pdf
C:/Documents and Settings/xxxxxxx/My Documents/AvaDocs/ADT 1 - Installation - 300-008-863.pdf
C:/Documents and Settings/xxxxxxx/My Documents/AvaDocs/ADT 1 - Security 300-008-865.pdf
C:/Documents and Settings/xxxxxxx/My Documents/AvaDocs/ADT logs.TXT
C:/Documents and Settings/xxxxxxx/My Documents/AvaDocs/Avamar 6.0 for VMware - 300-011-626.pdf
C:/Documents and Settings/xxxxxxx/My Documents/AvaDocs/Avamar PSB07A_Draft_0.2.docx
C:/Documents and Settings/xxxxxxx/My Documents/AvaDocs/Configuration of High-Availability ADS Network Avamar Data Store Gen3 Technical Note - 300-011-174.pdf
C:/Documents and Settings/xxxxxxx/My Documents/AvaDocs/DataDomain/
C:/Documents and Settings/xxxxxxx/My Documents/AvaDocs/EMC_Software_Customer_Guide.pdf
C:/Documents and Settings/xxxxxxx/My Documents/AvaDocs/Error Codes -v5 - 300-008-813.pdf
C:/Documents and Settings/xxxxxxx/My Documents/AvaDocs/EscTemplate.txt
C:/Documents and Settings/xxxxxxx/My Documents/AvaDocs/Exch Guide v5 300-008-821.pdf
C:/Documents and Settings/xxxxxxx/My Documents/AvaDocs/hotkeys.txt
C:/Documents and Settings/xxxxxxx/My Documents/AvaDocs/Installation Guide v5 - 300-008-827.pdf
C:/Documents and Settings/xxxxxxx/My Documents/AvaDocs/IP Hostname change tech note - 300-007-539.pdf
C:/Documents and Settings/xxxxxxx/My Documents/AvaDocs/May 2011 - avamar-replication-wp.pdf
C:/Documents and Settings/xxxxxxx/My Documents/AvaDocs/MCCLI Guide v5 - 300-008-818.pdf
C:/Documents and Settings/xxxxxxx/My Documents/AvaDocs/Operational Best Pract - 300-008-815.pdf
C:/Documents and Settings/xxxxxxx/My Documents/AvaDocs/Oracle Guide v5 300-008-824.pdf
C:/Documents and Settings/xxxxxxx/My Documents/AvaDocs/Tech Addendum - 300-008-817.pdf
C:/Documents and Settings/xxxxxxx/My Documents/AvaDocs/v5 Backup Clients 300-008-819.pdf
C:/Documents and Settings/xxxxxxx/My Documents/AvaDocs/v5 NDMP 300-008-823.pdf
C:/Documents and Settings/xxxxxxx/My Documents/AvaDocs/v5 Product Security Guide - 300-008-816.pdf
C:/Documents and Settings/xxxxxxx/My Documents/AvaDocs/v5 Release Notes 300-008-811.pdf
C:/Documents and Settings/xxxxxxx/My Documents/AvaDocs/v5 Software server installation - 300-008-827.pdf
C:/Documents and Settings/xxxxxxx/My Documents/AvaDocs/v5 SysAdmin 300-008-814.pdf
C:/Documents and Settings/xxxxxxx/My Documents/AvaDocs/v6/
C:/Documents and Settings/xxxxxxx/My Documents/AvaDocs/Vmware Guide v5 - 300-010-712.pdf
C:/Documents and Settings/xxxxxxx/My Documents/AvaDocs/Windows Guide v5 300-010-672.pdf
avtar Info <5314>: Command completed (exit code 0: Success)

Additional Information

Caveats:    
  • The avtar --list command has been tested on the Avamar Utility Node with a Windows client backup. 
  • The --list flag should work elsewhere, but may display differently or be less effective with some client types or plugins.

Affected Products

Avamar, Avamar Server
Article Properties
Article Number: 000060516
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 25 Jul 2025
Version:  10
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