How to create a Catalog Archiving (catarc) policy

Problem

DOCUMENTATION: How to create a Catalog Archiving (catarc) policy

Solution

The following steps can be taken to create a catalog archiving policy. There are several features that are specific to a catalog archiving policy. 

For example:

• The policy must be named catarc.  
• The policy must also be inactive.  
• The catalog archiving commands must be run manually and the administrator must specify a list of images to archive using the bpcatlist command. As a result, there isn't a way to run scheduled catalog archiving backups.

To create the policy in the GUI, do the following:
1. Go to the Policies tab in the GUI and create a new policy
2. For the Policy name: enter catarc
3. For the Policy type: enter Standard or Windows
4. Select the storage unit and volume pool you want to use for catalog archiving.  It is often best to use a pool that is not used for other backups.
5. Clear the Active. Go into effect at: check box. The policy is not run by the scheduler. Rather thebpcatarc command activates this special policy to perform a catalog backup job, then deactivates the policy after the job is done.
6. Accept the defaults for all the other options in the Attributes tab of the policy

Next, create a schedule for the catarc policy.
7. Go to the Schedules tab of the policy
8. Create a new schedule. You can enter any name for the schedule. Only the policy name must becatarc,  but the schedule could also be named catarc.
9. Set the Type of backup: to be User Backup
10. Select a retention level for the catalog archive. This must be at least as long as the longest retention period being archived.
Note: Failure to set the retention level of the catalog archive for a time at least as long as the longest retention period of the backups being archived can result in the loss of catalog data.
11. Accept the defaults for all the other options in the Schedule tab of the policy
12. Go to the Start Window tab in the schedule. Enter a backup window for when the catalog archiving commands can be run by the administrator.

Finally, complete the Backup Selections and Clients tab entries.
13. Go to the Files/Backup Selections tab of the policy
14. Go to the Clients tab of the policy
15. Add the master server to the client list and select the correct hardware/OS type

Save the new policy and exit the GUI. The catarc policy is now available for catalog archiving.