NetWorker 19.2 introduces the ability to
reduce the disk space being used by NetWorker's Client File Index metadata by reducing the browse time of certain save sets and thus causing their index entries to be removed earlier than the retention time for that save set. Pay very close attention when using the NetWorker nsrmm command, as it can be used to change the retention behaviour of a save set and therefore cause that save set data to be removed.
NetWorker save sets have a 'browse time' and a 'retention time' value. Since NetWorker 9 (but not previously), these values are identical. NetWorker 19.2 allows for the changing of the 'browse time' of a save set in order to reduce the amount of disk space being used by the NetWorker Client File Index. This is done using the NetWorker nsrmm command as follows:
Be aware that making this change will cause the save set to no longer be browsable after the date specified. It will remain recoverable until its retention date.
nsrmm -S [save set id] -w [new browse time]
For Example:
After being backed up with a retention period of 1 year, the retention and browse period for the save set is one year:
date ssid clone id client name clretent retent lvl browse
02/17/2020 2050525695 1580764855 nw231 /julian 02/17/2021 02/17/2021 full 02/17/2021
In order to reduce the disk space used for the Client File Index, reduce the browse period to 2 weeks from now:
nsrmm -S 2050525695 -w "2 weeks"
date ssid clone id client name clretent retent lvl browse
02/17/2020 2050525695 1580764855 nw231 /julian 02/17/2021 02/17/2021 full 03/02/2020
This save set will now only be browsable for 2 weeks from the time when the nsrmm command was run. After two weeks, the save set will no longer be browsable, but will still be recoverable until its retention date.
- NetWorker does not allow for the possibility of changing the browse period at the time of the backup or clone. It will be the same as the retention period. The browse time must be changed using the nsrmm command after the backup or clone operation has taken place.
- For full details of the meaning of each date for NetWorker browse and retention, refer to the following article: How volume retention and saveset retention are calculated in NetWorker?
- You can calculate how much disk space is being used by the NetWorker Client File Index using this method: Calculating NetWorker client file index space
In order to change multiple save sets, a short script can be used to change the browse period for a list of save sets. Carefully create a list of ssid's of save sets to be changed and then run a loop of the nsrmm command against the list on the NetWorker server.
Scripted Example - Linux
nwbrowsechange.sh
#This script changes the browse period for all matching save sets to two days from now.
#!/bin/bash
change_retent() {
list_of_ssids=`mminfo -q "client=nw231,name=/julian" -r ssid`
for savesetid in $list_of_ssids ; do
nsrmm -y -S $savesetid -w "2 days"
done
}
change_retent
Scripted Example - Windows
c:\>mminfo -q "client=vm3129,savetime>4 days ago" -r ssid > C:\ssid.txt
for /f %t in (C:\ssid.txt) do nsrmm -y -w "3 days" -S %t