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NetBackup IT Analytics User Guide

Last Published: 2025-03-04

Product(s): NetBackup IT Analytics (11.4)

Introduction
1. Overview
2. Licensed modules
3. NetBackup IT Analytics components
Understand the Portal
1. Overview
2. Portal access
3. Portal overview
4. Navigating with search
5. Valid entries for search
6. Search results view: Narrowing the scope
7. Filtering data in management grids
8. Advanced filtering
9. Customizing advanced filter logic
10. Saving advanced filters (Inventory)
11. Advanced filtering examples
12. Advanced filter operators
13. Clear advanced filters
14. Delete saved advanced filters
15. Select columns on management pages
16. Detect alerts in the inventory
17. About the Inventory tab
18. About the Reports tab
19. Reports tab keyboard shortcuts
20. Reports tab basics
21. Templates, reports, and dashboards overview
22. About the Alerts tab
23. About the Admin tab
  1. Users
  2. Domains
  3. Chargeback
  4. Solutions
  5. Data Collection
  6. Reports
  7. Advanced
Explore your inventory
1. Exploring your inventory
2. Inventory privileges
3. Getting started with the Inventory navigator
4. Hierarchy toolbar to organize your data
  1. Attribute value limitations
  2. Selection combinations
  3. Inventory object limits
5. Show objects
  1. Backup Servers in the Inventory
  2. Count values
6. Reset inventory defaults
7. Host groups
8. Use attributes to organize your data
  1. System attributes
  2. Attribute value limitations
9. Use host groups to organize your data
10. Create custom object lists
11. Working with the inventory reports view
12. Accessing inventory reports
13. Choose reports to display
14. Filter within available reports by category
15. Pin reports - saving reports with inventory objects
  1. Rename pinned tabs
  2. Reset default report names on pinned tabs
16. Inventory reports and the action menu
17. Work with the inventory list view
18. Filter the inventory list view
19. Manage objects in the inventory list view
20. Assign attributes in the inventory list view
  1. About attributes
  2. Attribute limitations
21. Set attribute values in the inventory list view
22. Import host attribute values
23. Export objects from the inventory list view
24. Delete objects using the inventory list view
25. Customize columns in the inventory list view
Get acquainted with reports
1. Overview
2. Reports and templates
3. Cloud reports and templates
4. Report library
5. Report orientation
6. Shared reports and dashboards
7. About dashboards
8. Work in the Reports tab
9. New badge
10. About caching
11. Sections in the navigation panel
12. About badging
  1. Home section
  2. Cloud section
13. About the action bar
14. Reports tab keyboard shortcuts
15. Folder types
16. Report template icons
17. Navigate through reports
Generate and maintain reports
1. Report Scope
2. Select Report Scope
  1. Time Period Considerations
3. Configure report scope with attributes
4. Group hosts by attributes
  1. Host attributes examples
  2. Find hosts without an attribute value set
5. Search for hosts in the report Scope Selector
  1. Find hosts example
6. Alert scope selector settings
7. Amazon Web Services (AWS) scope selector settings
8. Backup Manager scope selector settings
9. Backup Manager advanced scope selector settings
  1. Examples of Advanced Options Job Types
10. Capacity Manager scope selector settings
11. Data Collection Status Details scope selector settings
12. Host scope selector settings
13. Ransomware Scorecard scope selector
14. Solution reports scope selector settings
  1. Cascade to Sub-Domains
  2. Storage Optimization Scope Selector
  3. Risk Mitigation Scope Selector
15. System health check scope selector
16. Generate reports
17. Generate reports from the Cloud
18. Units of Measure in Reports
  1. Detail Reports
19. Advanced Filtering for Tabular Reports
20. Customize report filter logic
  1. Report Filter Operators
  2. Filtering Indicators, Multiple Expressions, Dates, Percentages, Yes/No
21. Sort columns in reports
  1. To sort columns in a table report
22. Refresh and set refresh intervals
23. Modify Reports
24. Convert tabular report to chart
  1. Convert a chart into a tabular report
25. Add and remove custom header and footer to a report or dashboard
26. Set or edit the drill down preference
27. Access NetBackup web interface from the IT Analytics Portal
28. View report statistics
29. Interact with Reports
30. Work with Topology
31. Add a note to a Backup Job Details Report
32. Use new and updated User Report Templates
33. Use new and updated System Report Templates (Super User only)
34. Save Reports
35. Save Cloud Reports
36. Delete Reports
Distribute, share, schedule, and alert
1. Export reports and dashboards
2. Known Limitations for Donut Charts
3. Schedule export of reports and dashboards
  1. To schedule an export of report or dashboard
  2. Using the Expression Builder
4. Email reports and dashboards
5. Schedule email of reports and dashboards
6. Viewing and Managing Your Scheduled Reports
7. Schedule Types
8. Deleting Scheduled Reports and Dashboards
9. Setting Up Alerts for Tabular Reports
10. Configuring an alert
11. Deleting Report-Based Alerts
12. Share Reports, Dashboards, and Folders
13. Working with Shared Reports
Organize reports
1. Work with dashboards
2. Understand the dashboard Icons
3. About Cached Reports on Dashboards
4. Create new dashboards and add reports
5. Add reports to an existing dashboard
6. Save a dashboard with a different name
7. Customize a Dashboard
8. Edit the scope for a report on a dashboard
9. Edit the dashboard scope
10. Expand a report to full size on a dashboard
11. Set the dashboard layout
12. Delete a dashboard
13. Remove reports from dashboards
14. Create a custom report folder
15. Create shortcuts to reports and templates
16. Manage My Home Pages
17. User Home Pages and User Group Home Pages
Work with the dynamic template designer
1. Dynamic Template Designer Overview
2. Dynamic Template Designer Cheat Sheet
3. Modify an Out-of-the-Box Dynamic Template
4. Dynamic Template Designer Quick Start
  1. Quick Start Step 1: Create a Basic Table Dynamic Template
  2. Quick Start Step 2: Format Fields
  3. Quick Start Step 3: Create a Calculated Field
  4. Quick Start Step 4: Configure Table Column Totals
  5. Quick Start Step 5: Define the Scope Selector
  6. Quick Start Step 6: Generate a Report and View the Automatically Generated Help
5. Steps to Create Dynamic Templates
6. Working with Enterprise Objects and Fields
7. Select an Enterprise Object
8. Configure General Dynamic Template Designer Components
9. Converting to a Homogeneous, Product-Specific Template
  1. Copy from All
10. Add Fields and Methods to a Dynamic Template
11. Alias Names for Fields
12. Conditions When Hidden Fields are Included by Default
13. Dynamic Template Field Configuration
14. Valid Formatter Patterns
15. Examples of Dynamic Templates Containing Graphics Tool Tips
16. Dynamic Template Drilldown Configuration
17. Custom Drilldowns and Examples
18. Drilldown Parameters
19. Examples of Dynamic Templates Containing Drilldowns
20. Using Groups in Dynamic Templates
21. Add a Group to Create Separate Line Charts in a Report
22. Add a Group to Create a Double Header in a Tabular Report
23. Dynamic Template Function Configurations
  1. Aggregation Functions
  2. Comparison Functions
  3. Numeric Functions
  4. Character Functions
  5. Date Functions
  6. Character String Returning Numeric Values
  7. Null Function
  8. Decode Function
  9. Unique Function
24. Examples of Dynamic Templates Containing Functions
25. Create User-Defined Fields with the Field Builder
26. Create Fields with the Field Builder
  1. Convert Dates to Numbers in the Field Builder
  2. Syntax for Calculated Fields
  3. Examples of Calculated Fields in a Dynamic Template
27. Configure a Static Filter
28. Filter on Date Fields
29. Static Filter vs. Tabular Report Filter
30. Configure the Field Sort Order
31. Return Unique Results
32. Dynamic Template Scope Selector Components
33. Scope Selector Component - Custom Filter
  1. Define a Custom Filter at Run Time
  2. Custom Filter Operators for Numeric Fields
  3. Custom Filter Operators for String Fields
34. Data Domain Enterprise Object Scope Selector Components
35. Host Enterprise Object Scope Selector Components
36. Job Enterprise Object Scope Selector Components
37. Storage Array Enterprise Object Scope Selector Components
38. Customize and Export Dynamic Templates
39. Export/Import Dynamic Templates Containing Custom Attributes
40. Export a dynamic template that contains attributes
41. Import a dynamic template that contains attributes
42. Save a Dynamic Template After Edits
43. Format the Dynamic Template Output
44. Configure a Bar Chart Dynamic Template
  1. Best Practices
45. Steps to Create a Bar Chart Dynamic Template
  1. Bar Chart Dynamic Template: Use Case
  2. Bar Chart Dynamic Template Step 1: Create a Dynamic Template
  3. Bar Chart Dynamic Template Step 2: Configure Basic Field Functionality
  4. Bar Chart Dynamic Template Step 3: Configure Functions for a Field
  5. Bar Chart Dynamic Template Step 4: Configure Drilldowns for a Field
  6. Bar Chart Dynamic Template Step 5: Configure a Line Field
  7. Bar Chart Dynamic Template Step 6: Define the Scope Selector
  8. Bar Chart Dynamic Template Step 7: Save and Run the Report Template
46. Examples of Bar Chart Dynamic Templates
47. Configure an Area/Stacked Area Chart Dynamic Template
  1. Area/Stacked Area Chart Dynamic Template Step 1: Create a Dynamic Template
  2. Area/Stacked Area Chart Dynamic Template Step 2: Configure Basic Field Functionality
  3. Area/Stacked Area Chart Dynamic Template Step 3: Configure Functions for a Field
  4. Area/Stacked Area Chart Dynamic Template Step 4: Define the Scope Selector
  5. Area/Stacked Area Chart Dynamic Template Step 5: Save and Run the Report Template
48. Configure a Donut Chart Dynamic Template
49. Example of a Donut Chart Dynamic Template
50. Configure a Horizontal Bar Chart Dynamic Template
51. Example of a Horizontal Bar Chart Dynamic Template
52. Configure a Horizontal Stacked Bar Chart Dynamic Template
53. Example of a Horizontal Stacked Bar Chart Dynamic Template
54. Configure a Line Chart Dynamic Template
55. Line Charts for Performance Metrics
  1. Identify Array Performance Data Fields for a Template
  2. Rules and Guidelines for Performance Line Charts
56. Steps to Create a Line Chart Dynamic Template
57. Line Chart Field Requirements
  1. Line Chart: Caption Field
  2. Line Chart: Line Field
  3. Line Chart: Group by Object Field
  4. Line Chart: Hidden Field
  5. Line Chart: Exclude Field
58. One Object Per Line Chart, One or More Metrics Per Chart
  1. Configure One Object Per Line Chart
  2. Field Configuration for One Object Per Line Chart
  3. Scope Selector Configuration for One Object Per Line Chart
59. Multiple Objects Per Line Chart, One Metric Per Chart
  1. Field Configuration for Multiple Objects Per Line Chart, One Metric Per Chart
60. Format Line Chart Fields
61. Line Chart Scope Selections
62. Examples of Line Chart Dynamic Templates
63. Configure a Pie Chart Dynamic Template
64. Examples of Pie Chart Dynamic Templates
65. Configure a Stacked Bar Chart in a Dynamic Template
66. Example of a Stacked Bar Chart Dynamic Template
  1. Configure a Line in a Bar Chart
67. Configure a Table Dynamic Template
68. Examples of Tabular Dynamic Templates
69. Create a Sparkline Chart in a Tabular Dynamic Template
  1. Example of a Client Backup Sparkline Chart in a Dynamic Template
  2. Example of Using a Method to Create a Sparkline Chart in a Dynamic Template
  3. Client Failure Sparkline Method
70. Configure Chart Axes
71. Using Methods in Dynamic Templates
72. Overview of Method Creation
73. System Methods
74. Stand-Alone Methods
75. Viewing Methods
76. Adding or Editing Methods
  1. User-Defined Methods
  2. System Methods
  3. Accessing Methods
77. Tokens for Methods
78. Exception Tables for a Method's Join Clause
79. Validate and Save a Method
  1. Method Validation
80. Delete a Method
81. Troubleshooting Dynamic Templates
Work with the SQL template designer
1. SQL template designer overview
2. Database Published Views
  1. Access the Database Published Views from the CLI
  2. Access the Database Published Views from the SQL Template Designer
3. Steps to Create SQL Templates
4. Create a SQL Template
  1. Configure SQL Template Scope Selector Components
  2. Construct the SQL Query
  3. Help for Database Views
  4. Accessing the Published Database Views from the CLI
  5. Special Characters in SQL Queries
  6. Sample SQL Queries
5. Use Functions in Queries
6. Format the SQL Template Output
  1. Number, Size, Date, and Time Formatting
  2. Alignment, Aggregation, Bar Type, and Bar Type Color
    1. Configuring a Header and Footer in a Custom Report Template
  3. Area, Line or Column Sparkline Format for a SQL Tabular Report Template
7. Configure a Bar Chart SQL Template
8. Example of a Bar Chart SQL Template: Host CPU Performance
9. Configure a Line Chart SQL Template
10. Configure a Donut Chart SQL Template
11. Example of a Donut Chart SQL Template: NetBackup Job Size by Job Type
12. Configure a Gauge Chart SQL Template
13. Configure a Horizontal Bar Chart SQL Template
14. Example of a Horizontal Bar Chart SQL Template: Host CPU Performance
15. Configure a Horizontal Stacked Bar Chart SQL Template
16. Example of a Horizontal Stacked Bar Chart SQL Template: Available/Allocated Capacity
17. Configure an Area Chart SQL Template
18. Example of Area Chart SQL Template: Allocated Available
19. Configure a Pie Chart SQL Template
20. Example of a Pie Chart SQL Template: Overall Job Status Summary
21. Configure a Pivot Table SQL Template
22. Example of a Pivot Table SQL Template: NetBackup Job Size
23. Configure a Stacked Bar Chart SQL Template
24. Example of a Stacked Bar Chart SQL Template: Host CPU Performance
25. Configure a Table in the SQL Template Designer
  1. Example of a Table SQL Template: Host Group Membership List
  2. Example of a Table SQL Template: Exposed Clients
26. Save and Share Report Templates
27. Advanced SQL Report Template Options
  1. Creating Drilldowns
  2. Using SQL Templates for Drilldowns
  3. Create mouse-over hovers
  4. Add an External Reference
  5. Inventory Report Configuration
  6. About the Reports in the Inventory
  7. Edit a Custom Report Template
28. Export/Import SQL Templates
  1. Export a SQL Template
  2. Import a SQL Template
Pipelined functions for report query building
1. About Pipelined Functions
2. General Functions
3. APTlistOfDates
  1. Example Query
4. aptStringConcat
  1. Example Query
5. collectString
6. getLicenseClientDetail
7. getServerAttributeValue
  1. Example Query
8. getObjectAttributeValue
  1. Example Query
9. getChildServerGroupContextById
  1. Example Query
10. getServerGroupContextById
  1. Example Query
11. secsToHoursMinSecs
  1. Example Query
12. Backup Manager Functions
13. APTgetJobTypeName
14. APTgetTapeDriveStatusName
  1. Example Query
15. getFullPathname
  1. Example Query
16. listJobSummaryAfterRestart
  1. Example Query
17. listJobSummaryAfterRestartNBW
  1. Example Query
18. listJobSummaryAfterRestart for NetWorker Backup Jobs
  1. Example Query
19. listOfBackupWindowDates
  1. Explicitly Supply the Backup Windows
  2. Example Query
20. listOfBackupWindowDates (by Backup Window ID)
21. Policy Auditing Functions
22. listClientChanges
23. listPathnameChanges
24. listPolicyChanges
25. listScheduleChanges
26. Capacity Functions
27. listChargebackCatByVOLSDetail
  1. Example Query
28. listChargebackCatByNcVolDetail
  1. Example Query
29. listChargebackCatByFSDetail (for HNAS)
  1. Example Query
30. listChargebackCatByFSDetail (for EMC Isilon)
  1. Example Query
31. listChargebackByLUNSummary
  1. Example Query
32. listChargebackByLUNDetail
  1. Chargeback in Cluster and Virtualization Environments
  2. Example Query
33. listChargebackCatByLUNSummary
  1. Example Query
34. listChargebackCatByLUNDetail
  1. Example Query
Alert configuration
1. Overview
2. Alert rules
  1. Scheduled Rules vs. Run Time Rules
  2. Alert rules sample set
3. Managing alert policies
  1. Add/Edit an Alert Policy
  2. License Usage Alert Rule
4. ServiceNow: Job finalized alert rule
5. Managing alert notifications
  1. Adding an Alert Notification Delivery Method
  2. Deleting an Alert Notification Delivery Method
6. Report-Based alerts
7. Syslog configuration
8. Detect alerts in the inventory
9. Suppress alert notifications
  1. View suppressed alerts
Manage hosts, backup servers, and host groups
1. About hosts, backup servers, and host goups
2. Plan your host group hierarchy
3. Manage host groups
4. NetBackup Primary Servers
  1. Configure the Time Zone for a NetBackup Primary Server
  2. Default Host Group Hierarchy for Veritas NetBackup
5. About the Primary Servers Group
6. Identifying Inactive Clients (For Veritas NetBackup)
7. Managing hosts and backup servers
8. Manage host aliases
  1. Bulk import host aliases
  2. View and manage aliases for individual host
Manage attributes and objects
1. About attributes
2. Attribute example
3. Host groups vs attributes
4. Bulk load utilities and attributes
5. System attributes
6. Attribute inheritance
7. Manage attributes
8. Set attributes on hosts
9. Add attributes
10. Edit or rename attributes
11. Enable granular user access using authorization attributes
12. Delete attributes
13. Attribute naming rules
14. Examples of attributes and values
15. Understanding the attribute management view
16. Attribute management view (Top-Level domain)
17. Attribute management view (Sub-Domain)
18. Export/Import dynamic templates with custom attributes
19. About object maintenance
20. Product specific objects for reporting
21. Maintaining objects
22. Assign attributes using object maintenance
23. Search for objects by type in object maintenance
24. Customize library objects
25. Permanently remove devices, libraries, and drives
Provide Portal access and user privileges
1. Providing user access to the portal
2. Creating portal user accounts
3. About user types
4. Selecting user groups for users
5. Working with user groups
6. Creating user groups
7. Assigning users to user groups
8. About user privileges
9. Assigning user privileges
10. Setting user group privileges
11. Enabling new product report templates
12. Importing reports
13. Enabling cloud privileges
14. Granting access to template designers
15. Enabling all privileges in a category
16. Managing users and user groups
17. Searching for users and user groups
18. Editing user accounts
19. Impersonating user accounts
20. Setting / Resetting passwords
  1. Password notes
21. Account lockout
22. Managing user group home pages (Administrator)
  1. My Home pages and user group home pages (Administrator)
23. Removing portal users
24. Deactivating user accounts
Configure primary schedules and backup windows
1. About primary schedules
2. Configure primary schedules
3. About custom backup windows
4. Custom backup window requirements
5. Configure custom backup windows
Add, edit, and move policies
1. Add/Edit a Cloud Policy to share performance statistics
2. Configure community performance profiling
3. Add/Edit a threshold policy
  1. Threshold Example
4. Add/Edit a capacity billing and usage policy
5. Capacity Chargeback policy types
  1. Example of Capacity Billing and Usage Policy Logic
  2. Drive Types for Capacity Chargeback
6. Add/Edit a backup SLA policy
7. Add/Edit a SAN Fabric Chargeback policy
8. NetBackup IT Analytics Billing and Chargeback policies
9. Add/Edit a Billing and Chargeback policy
Solutions administration
1. Storage Optimization solution overview
2. Understand the value of Storage Optimization historical data
3. Configure Storage Optimization rules
  1. Edit Storage Optimization Rule Example
  2. Common storage optimization parameters
4. Enable Storage Optimization rules
5. Storage optimization rule prerequisites and logic
6. Risk Mitigation solution overview
7. Configure Risk Mitigation rules
Manage and monitor data collection
1. Data collection overview
2. Data collection component configuration
3. About data collection tasks
  1. Backup collection tasks
  2. Backup event data collector
4. Data collection installation summary
5. Update the Local Hosts file for data collection
6. Data Collector security and data encryption
7. Manage Data Collectors and collection policies
8. About validation and status
9. Add/Edit Data Collectors
  1. Generate key file to configure Data Collector v11.2.xx or lower
  2. Data Collector encryption
10. Enable/Disable data collectors
11. Enable and disable data collection policy schedules
12. Review collectors and collection status
  1. Known Limitations for Policy States in Collector Administration
13. Deleting a data collector
14. Upgrade Data Collectors
  1. Upgrade aptare.jar
  2. Update Upgrade Manager
15. Monitoring data collection status
16. Organize the collection status view
17. Quick Filters
18. View data collection status
19. Troubleshoot data collection status
20. Use reports to monitor data collection status
Work with Capacity Manager host data collection
1. Understand the host data collection process
2. Host resources prerequisites and configurations
3. Host Access Privileges, Sudo Commands, Ports, and WMI Proxy Requirements
  1. Access Requirements by OS
4. Host access requirements
  1. For Linux Hosts Only
  2. For Windows Hosts Only
5. Command path verification
6. Host discovery and collection configuration steps
7. Host discovery and collection setup overview
8. Host discovery and collection maintenance overview
9. Before discovering hosts
10. Configure/Search
11. Manage credentials
  1. Example of credentials for Windows hosts
12. Manage WMI Proxy
13. Manage paths
14. Manage access control
15. Host management
16. Configure host discovery policies to populate the host discovery and collection view
  1. Discovery policy considerations
  2. Configure a Discovery policy
17. Execute and monitor host discovery
18. Discovery processes
  1. Method 1
  2. Method 2
19. Validate host connectivity
  1. Validate hosts
  2. Validation history
20. Show errors
21. Filter the host discovery and collection window - Hide/Unhide, remove
22. Search and export in host discovery and collection
  1. Basic Search
  2. Pre-Defined Search
  3. Advanced Parameters
23. Export in host discovery and collection
24. Configure and edit host probes
25. Propagate probe settings: Copy probes, paste probes
  1. Example of Probe Copy/Paste
  2. Probe Settings
Discovery policies for Veritas NetBackup
1. Task overview: Configure and monitor discovery policies
2. Discovery policies overview
3. About Discovery types
4. Activate a discovery license
5. Exclude devices from discovery policies
6. Activate discovery probes in the NetBackup Data Collector policy
7. Monitor discovery processes
8. View client protection status
View and manage system notifications
1. Overview
2. Viewing system alerts
3. Defer or suppressing notifications
Customize with advanced parameters
1. Overview of advanced parameters
2. Use cases for advanced parameters
3. Adding an advanced parameter
4. Access control advanced parameters
5. General Data Collection advanced parameters
6. Cloud data collection advanced parameters
  1. Amazon Web Services (AWS)
  2. Microsoft Azure
7. Host discovery and collection advanced parameters
8. Backup Manager advanced parameters
9. Capacity Manager advanced parameters
10. File Analytics advanced parameters
11. Virtualization Manager advanced parameters
  1. VMWARE_COLLECT_UNUSED_PROPERTIES
  2. VMWARE_DATASTORE_TIMEOUT_SECONDS
Manage your Portal environment
1. Root folder and domains
2. Add/Configure a domain
3. Configure alerting for a domain
4. Community performance statistics for a domain
5. Configure the domain password policy
6. Manage your profile and set a language preference
7. Change your login password
Manage ransomware scorecard
1. Ransomware Scorecard overview
2. Ransomware administration
3. Answer a ransomware query
4. Override a data query
5. Add a ransomware question
6. Utility to add Ransomware Scorecard questions and answers in bulk
  1. Add Ransomware Scorecard questions in bulk
  2. Add answers in bulk to Ransomware Scorecard questions
7. Edit a ransomware question
8. Add ransomware data query
9. Edit ransomware data query
Analyze files
1. Overview
2. File categories
3. Adding/Editing file categories
4. File list export
5. File list export output in CSV format
Troubleshoot the Portal
1. Support tools
2. Requesting a support package
3. File selector wildcards
4. Retrieving log files
  1. On a Windows platform
  2. On a Linux platform
5. Archiving script
6. Debug
  1. Debugging Level Scope
7. Login errors
8. Add notes to failed jobs
9. Host name processing - Filters and aliases
10. Change the Portal server's IP address
11. Changing the port for Portal server communication
12. Determine report rendering statistics
13. Clearing the inventory and report cache
14. Troubleshoot Oracle performance issues in NetBackup IT Analytics
15. Troubleshoot test connection locale issue
Attribute inheritance overrides
1. Overview
2. Override inherited attribute values
  1. Use case 1
  2. Use case 2
Understanding report data caching
1. Understand report data caching
2. How reports and caching work together?
3. Store and purge data
4. Disable optimistic caching with portal.properties

Configure Storage Optimization rules

A set of storage optimization rules are provided to assess areas within your enterprise that offer candidates for optimization. These rules include parameters that can be configured to isolate specific conditions relevant for your environment. You can also associate costs with rules. Cost sources may related to Chargeback values or you can set your own custom value. For example, the Unallocated LUNs rule can be configured to exclude LUNs less than a certain size. While various use cases drive how you configure a rule, the goal is to have analytics that help you identify storage optimization candidates and trends that require attention. This on-going process should periodically assess trends and codify business practices.

See Storage Optimization solution overview.

See Enable Storage Optimization rules.

See Report Reference Guide for details on Storage Optimization Solution Reports.

Once configured, a scheduled process gathers historical data for these categories so that you can identify areas that require further scrutiny. Accompanying reports present data that can be monitored over time, enabling an actionable process to maintain an optimized storage environment.

Best Practice

When configuring values for parameters, be as liberal as possible, initially. Then, over time, change parameters to produce a narrower actionable list. For optimal data comparisons, avoid frequent parameter modifications.

To edit a storage optimization rule

If optimization rules are not modified, the historical data process uses an active rule's default settings to collect the historical data.

Select Admin > Solutions > Storage Optimization.

Rule	Rules are listed within relevant categories, such as Cloud and Storage.
Availability	If a particular type of collection is not licensed or collected, storage optimization data will not be available, regardless of how a rule is configured. In some cases, a Portal may have the necessary license, but collection may not have been enabled and/or completed. Cloud does not require a specific license in order to deploy a data collector. Data Protection requires Protection or Complete Suite license. File Analytics requires a Complete Suite license. Storage requires Storage or Complete Suite license. Virtualization requires Protection or Complete Suite license.
Description	The full description of the Storage Optimization rule can be viewed by placing your mouse over the description.
Notes	Enter operational notes for future reference.
Status	Green check mark indicates successful collection of storage optimization historical data for enabled rules. Red X indicates failed historical data collection. It could be that collection is attempting to access data for a product module that is not in your Portal environment. Click the red icon to view the Database Error Aggregation report. A non-colored circle indicates that the storage optimization process did not run, typically because the rule is not enabled.
State	Indicates if the rule is Enabled or Disabled.
Last Run	The date and time that the Storage Optimization process ran and evaluated the collected data against the rule's configured parameters.

Select a rule in the Storage Optimization grid and click Edit. Or, simply double-click the rule to access the edit dialog.

See Storage optimization rule prerequisites and logic.

Storage Optimization Rule	Description
Cloud Rules
AWS Orphan Snapshots	Amazon Web Services orphaned snapshots that are consuming storage may be impacting costs. This rule identifies snapshots for EC2 instances that no longer exist. When an EC2 instance is deleted, its snapshots need to be reviewed and its volumes brought back into the pool of usable storage. This rule also allows you to set a custom value for Cost per GiB for the purpose of displaying costs in the generated reports. For actionable information, see the Storage Optimization detail reports.
AWS Orphan Volumes	Amazon Web Services orphaned volumes that are consuming storage may be impacting costs. This rule identifies volumes for EC2 instances that no longer exist. When an EC2 instance is deleted, its snapshots need to be reviewed and its volumes brought back into the pool of usable storage. This rule allows you to set a custom value for Cost per GiB for the purpose of displaying costs in the generated reports. For actionable information, see the Storage Optimization reports.
Data Protection Rules
Sources Backed Up by Multiple Servers	Sources backed up by multiple servers may be wasting storage and increasing maintenance costs. This rule identifies sources backed up by more than one server within a specific number of days (default is 7 days). If a source is moved from one backup system to another backup system, this rule would identify those changes too. This rule allows you to set a custom value for Cost per GiB for the purpose of displaying costs in the generated reports. The cost is calculated based on the number of different servers minus 1, times the average job size in GiB. For example, if a source is backed up by 3 different servers, the average size of these jobs is 200 GiB, and $0.25 for each GiB, then the saving might be: (3-1) * 200 GiB * $0.25 = $100
Data Domain File Compression	Compression metrics for the last 30 days are evaluated for inefficient storage usage and compression ratios for Data Domain clients. A low compression ratio may indicate a storage optimization opportunity or it may warrant a move of low compression clients to less expensive storage. This rule also allows you to set a custom value for Cost per GiB for the purpose of displaying costs in the generated reports. For additional details, see the Data Domain NetBackup File Compression Summary report.
High Backup Retention Jobs	Backups retained for too many days may be wasting storage and increasing maintenance costs. This rule identifies backups with a high number of retention days. This rule allows you to set a custom value for Cost per GiB for the purpose of displaying costs in the generated reports.
File Analytics Rules
File Type Usage	File types that are consuming storage can be reviewed. The filename extension identifies a file type, such as iso, log, and cab. This rule allows you to set a custom value for Cost per GiB for the purpose of displaying costs in the generated reports. This File Type rule is relevant only if File Analytics data collection is enabled. For a list of file types that are relevant for your environment, see the File Types report.
Inactive Large Files	Large files consuming storage can be considered when making tiered storage migration decisions. This rule also allows you to set a custom value for Cost per GiB for the purpose of displaying costs in the generated reports. This rule is relevant only if File Analytics data collection is enabled. For additional details, see the Largest Files report.
Storage Rules
Inactive LUNs	LUNs that have no I/O activity collected in the last 30 days, or the collected value during that time period is zero, are candidates for storage reclamation. This rule explicitly examines 30 days of collected LUN performance data. This rule can filter the data by RAID type. The format for RAID type specification is specific to storage vendors. For a list of RAID types in your environment, run the LUN Utilization Summary report. This rule also allows you to set a Cost Source for displaying associated costs in the generated reports. Choose from Chargeback values or add a custom value. If you have set up Chargeback rules, those are more granular and can provide greater cost accuracy. See Storage optimization rule prerequisites and logic.
Overprovisioned Hosts	File system usage can help identify overprovisioned file systems and hosts. For additional information, run the Host Utilization Summary report and the Host Filesystem Reclamation Candidates cloud report. This rule also allows you to set a Cost Source for displaying associated costs in the generated reports. Choose from Chargeback values or add a custom value. If you have set up Chargeback rules, those are more granular and can provide greater cost accuracy. See Storage optimization rule prerequisites and logic.
Unallocated LUNs	Storage associated with LUNs that have not been allocated to hosts can be considered for storage optimization. This rule also allows you to set a Cost Source for displaying associated costs in the generated reports. Choose from Chargeback values or add a custom value. If you have set up Chargeback rules, those are more granular and can provide greater cost accuracy. This rule can filter the data by RAID type. The format for RAID type specification is specific to storage vendors. For a list of RAID types in your environment, run the LUN Utilization Summary or the Unallocated LUNs report. In addition, the Reclamation Summary report can reveal potential reclamation categories. See Storage optimization rule prerequisites and logic.
Undiscovered LUNs	LUNs that have been assigned to a host, but have not been discovered and therefore are not seen on the host side, indicate a reclamation opportunity. The storage in these orphaned LUNs is not available for mounting file systems. This rule also allows you to set a Cost Source for displaying associated costs in the generated reports. Choose from Chargeback values or add a custom value. If you have set up Chargeback rules, those are more granular and can provide greater cost accuracy. This rule can filter the data by RAID type. The format for RAID type specification is specific to storage vendors. For a list of RAID types in your environment, run the LUN Utilization Summary report. In addition, the Reclamation Summary report illustrates potential reclamation categories. See Storage optimization rule prerequisites and logic.
Unused LUNs	Unused LUNs could be considered for reclamation. These are LUNs that have been assigned to a host, but the host has not been placed into a volume group, or a partition has not been created. This rule also allows you to set a Cost Source for displaying associated costs in the generated reports. Choose from Chargeback values or add a custom value. If you have set up Chargeback rules, those are more granular and can provide greater cost accuracy. This rule can filter the data by RAID type. The format for RAID type specification is specific to storage vendors. For a list of RAID types in your environment, run the LUN Utilization Summary report. In addition, the Reclamation Summary report illustrates potential reclamation categories. See Storage optimization rule prerequisites and logic.
Virtualization Rules
Non-VM Files	VM storage that is being consumed by files that are unknown VM file types can be considered for storage optimization. This rule allows you to set a custom value for Cost per GiB for the purpose of displaying costs in the generated reports. For additional details, see the Datastore Usage Breakdown and the VM Files Summary reports. See Storage optimization rule prerequisites and logic.
VMs Aged Snapshots	VM snapshots have storage associated with them, but these snapshots have been forgotten for some time. Aged snapshots present a reclamation opportunity. This rule allows you to set a custom value for Cost per GiB for the purpose of displaying costs in the generated reports. For additional details, see the VM Snapshot Summary. See Storage optimization rule prerequisites and logic.
VMs Low CPU	VMs where the average CPU utilization is low for last 24 hours and CPU usage is less than 5%, may provide a storage optimization opportunity. Filter your actionable list by guest size and guest state, for example, including only running large guests. This rule allows you to set a custom value for Cost per GiB for the purpose of displaying costs in the generated reports. For additional details, see the VM Summary report. See Storage optimization rule prerequisites and logic.
VMs Not in VM Inventory	VMs that are not in the VM inventory may be consuming storage. When a VM is removed from the inventory, it doesn't necessarily mean that the associated storage is returned to the storage pool. This rule also allows you to set a custom value for Cost per GiB for the purpose of displaying costs in the generated reports. For additional details, see the Datastore Usage Breakdown and the VM Files Summary reports. See Storage optimization rule prerequisites and logic.
VMs Powered Off	VMs that have been powered off may have storage associated with them. For additional details, see the VM Summary report. This rule also allows you to set a custom value for Cost per GiB for the purpose of displaying costs in the generated reports. See Storage optimization rule prerequisites and logic.
VMs Undiscovered Disks	VMs that have been provisioned storage, but that storage is not being used by the VMs, may indicate a storage optimization opportunity. This rule also allows you to set a custom value for Cost per GiB for the purpose of displaying costs in the generated reports. For additional details, see the Physical Disk Utilization report. See Storage optimization rule prerequisites and logic.

Click in a parameter field to view the green help text at the bottom of the dialog and then use those details to configure parameters. Each rule includes parameters unique to the data that is being evaluated.
See Edit Storage Optimization Rule Example.
See Common storage optimization parameters.