Synthetic Backups and Directory and File Attributes

In order for a synthetic backup to include changes made to directory and file attributes (for example, access control lists (ACLs)), the change must first be picked up by a component incremental backup.

• UNIX: Changing an object's ACL changes the ctime (inode change time) for the object but not the mtime (data modification time). Since mtime triggers incremental backups, the ACL change will not be reflected in an incremental backup, and therefore not in a synthetic full backup.

To include ACL changes in backups, for each UNIX client, enter USE_CTIME_FOR_INCREMENTALS in the bp.conf file on the client.

• Windows: For each Windows client, select Perform Incrementals Based on Archive Bit. (NetBackup Management > Host Properties > Clients > Selected client(s) > Windows Client.)