Avamar: How to supply specialized flags to Avamar backups

Avtar flags are useful for a wide range of applications, from increasing the logging verbosity to assist with troubleshooting. Also to modifying the default behavior of a backup to suit a particular environment. Included below are the two most common ways to apply these modifications. Consult Dell Avamar support before applying avtar flags to avoid any undesired effects.  

Method #1 Apply flags to a Dataset.

1. Log in to the Avamar Administrator UI
2. Select the Tools menu and then click Manage Datasets.
3. Select the wanted dataset and then click the edit button.
4. Select the Options tab from the open window.
5. Select the correct plug-in from the Select Plug-In Type: drop-down
6. Click the More button.
7. Enter the wanted avtar flag and click the + sign to add it to the Dataset.

Method #2 Apply flags directly to a particular client.

1. Log in to the wanted client
2. Locate the var directory.
3. Create an avtar.cmd file.
4. Open this file and place the wanted flag into the file.
5. Save the file. If working on a Windows or Mac platform, ensure that avtar.cmd did not get saved as a text file.

Avtar flags can be added to individual clients by creating an avtar.cmd file in the var directory of the client. This location varies by OS.

Use the [avtar] prefix when adding flags to a dataset. For an avtar.cmd file, discard that prefix and use -- instead.

For example, applying the debug flag on a dataset vs. an individual client would look like this: