Problem Statement
Users observe that the inSync Client does not back up empty folders, leading to concerns about incomplete folder structures in backups and during restore operations.
Overview
The inSync Client is designed as a file-based backup mechanism. This means its primary function is to back up actual data files. As a result, empty folders, by definition, contain no files or data.
Therefore, the behavior of the inSync Client not backing up empty folders is expected and by design. The client focuses on preserving the content within folders rather than the existence of empty directory structures.
Example
Let's illustrate this behavior with an example:
You have an empty folder on your "Desktop" named "Test Empty Folder".
"Desktop" is configured to be backed up in your inSync Profile.
When a backup for your user is initiated, the "Test Empty Folder" will be missing from the snapshot.
This is the expected behavior for the inSync Client.
Workaround
If maintaining the exact folder directory structure, including empty folders, is crucial for your needs, you can use the following workaround:
To ensure an empty folder is included in the backup, simply create any file (even a small, empty file like a text document) inside that empty folder.
Once the folder contains a file, the inSync Client will recognize it as non-empty and include it, along with its structure, in the backup snapshot.
Note
While the inSync Client backs up folders that contain files (even placeholder files), it's important to understand how these empty folders behave during a restore:
Empty folders that were originally backed up (because they contained a placeholder file) will be skipped during data restoration if they are empty at the time of restore.
However, if an empty parent folder contains a nested empty subfolder (e.g., C:\Test\Test1, where both Test and Test1 are empty), and you attempt to restore the parent (Test), only the Test folder will be restored. The nested empty subfolder (Test1) will be skipped during the restore process.
For example, if you have C:\Test\Test1 where both are empty:
Druva will not back up Test1.
When you restore Test, only the Test folder will be restored, and Test1 will be skipped.