Dynamic Storage Technology volume policies control how data flows between the primary storage area and the secondary storage area.
You can create a DST volume policy that moves files to the secondary volume that have not been modified or accessed for a period of time, such as 6 months or 1 year. This allows you to keep active files on the primary volume, and seldom-used files on the secondary volume.
You can create an individual volume policy that runs daily, weekly, or monthly to move a file from the secondary storage area to the primary storage area if it has recently been modified. For example, if a backup is performed more frequently on the primary volume, this allows all modified files to be returned to the primary area by running the policy before the primary volume’s scheduled backup window. Typically, the policy run and backup window occur during non-peak hours.
You can also use a DST global policy called Shift Modified Shadow Files to ensure that modified files are returned to the primary storage area. This NCP Server parameter is enabled by default. When the parameter is enabled, if a user modifies a file, the file is automatically moved to the primary storage area when the file is closed. This setting applies to all DST shadow volume pairs on the server. The policy does not move files that were modified prior to the setting being enabled.
Another DST global policy called Shift Accessed Shadow Files can be used to move files when they are accessed as read-only a second time within a specified time period. This NCP Server parameter is disabled by default. When this parameter is enabled, the accessed file is moved back to the primary area when the file is closed. By default, the period of time is 1 day. Use the Shift Days Since Last Access parameter to specify the period of time. Both settings apply to all DST shadow volume pairs on the server.
You can create a DST policy that moves files to the secondary volume that have are greater than or less than a specified file size.
To keep this separation of files by size, regardless of whether they are modified, you can disable the DST global policy called Shift Modified Shadow Files. This NCP Server parameter is enabled by default. When the parameter is disabled, if a user modifies a file on the secondary volume, the file remains on that volume when it is closed. This setting applies to all DST shadow volume pairs on the server.
To keep this separation of files by size, you should also disable the DST global policy called Shift Accessed Shadow Files. This NCP Server parameter is disabled by default.
You can create a DST policy that moves non-essential types of files based on file extensions, such as *.jpg, *.mp3, *.wma, *.mpeg, *.iso, *.zip, *.cab, and so on.
To keep this separation of files by file extension, regardless of whether they are modified, you can disable the DST global policy called Shift Modified Shadow Files. This NCP Server parameter is enabled by default. When the parameter is disabled, if a user modifies a file on the secondary volume, the file remains on that volume when it is closed. This setting applies to all DST shadow volume pairs on the server.
To keep this separation of files by file extension, you should also disable the DST global policy called Shift Accessed Shadow Files. This NCP Server parameter is disabled by default.
You can use the Shadow Volume Inventory page in Novell Remote Manager for Linux to view statistics on files and usage for the DST shadow volume. At the bottom of the page, use the form to move selected files from the primary volume to the secondary volume. This one-time move is not policy based.