Specify version settings
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Overview
Code42 for Enterprise keeps multiple versions of each file as the file changes are backed up over time. Version snapshots can be downloaded from an archive to revert to a file's previous state. This tutorial explains how to change your version retention settings.
Considerations
This article describes how to configure the version retention feature if your administrator has not defined these settings. However, your administrator may configure and lock the version retention settings.
If the version retention settings are locked, they are disabled in the administration console. See your administrator to configure these settings.
How it works
Code42 for Enterprise is designed to keep more of the recent versions of your backed up files and fewer of the older versions.
Specifying the versions to retain involves:
- Specifying versions to retain for each interval
- Pruning unnecessary files from the backup archive (optional)
- Specifying when Code42 for Enterprise compacts the backup archive
Backup frequency
The Code42 app backs up new changes to files as often as your backup frequency settings allow. The Code42 app watches the file system in real-time (unless that feature is turned off). When a file changes, the next backup is based on your frequency settings. For example, if the backup frequency is set to 15 minutes, then the changes will back up at the next 15 minute interval.
Code42 for Enterprise retains the newest version in several intervals:
- the last week
- the last 90 days
- the last year
- previous years
Version retention
Code42 for Enterprise selectively prunes out older file versions during the regular archive-maintenance process. This decreases the amount of data that Code42 for Enterprise tracks as the archive grows, and it decreases memory usage in the Code42 app. For example, two months from now, you might not need to download a file from 8:45 a.m. when an hourly snapshot would work.
Typically, we do not recommend increasing the frequency or versions settings beyond the default settings. Increasing these settings requires the Code42 app to use more system resources to maintain your backup. Even if you have a small file selection, increasing the version retention can cause a delay in backing up your files due to file monitoring.
You can tell the Code42 app to only retain a single version of older files. This may be useful if you have large files that change frequently, but for which older versions provide little value. For example:
- a database
- Photoshop project file
- iMovie project file
- ProTools project file
- Last week: every week
- Last 90 days: never
- Previous years: never
Deleted file retention
If you delete a file from your device that was previously backed up, Code42 for Enterprise keeps it in the archive for as long as indicated in the deleted files retention setting. Learn more about retaining and restoring deleted files.
Specify versions to retain from the Administration console
You can change your version retention settings from the administration console using the steps below.
Steps
- Sign in to the administration console.
- Choose Devices.
- From Device Overview, click on the name of the device.
- Select the action menu.
- Choose Edit.
- Select Backup.
- Navigate to Frequency and Versions, and move the slider to a new backup frequency.
- Click Save.
Remove unwanted versions immediately
Steps
- Sign in to the Code42 app.
- Click Details.
- Select the arrow next to your device name.
- Choose Device preferences.
- Click Destinations.
- Choose Run Maintenance.
The Code42 app sends a request to that destination to immediately remove unwanted versions from the backup archive.
Example
The following example displays one possible configuration of the version retention settings:
In this example, Code42 for Enterprise retains the most recent file backed up each day in the last week, plus the most recent file backed up each day for the last 90 days (that is, in addition to last weeks' files), plus one version per week for the last year, plus one version per month for the years prior to last year.
In another example, if you choose to retain two versions per week Code42 for Enterprise will retain the most recent version backed up at the end of the week, plus the most recent version backed up 3 and a half days earlier, in essence splitting the difference.