Enterprise Workloads Editions: ✅ Business | ✅ Enterprise | ✅ Elite

Overview

Content rules in NAS define the content to be backed up from NAS shares. A content rule can be saved for reuse by other NAS shares. After a backup set is created for a NAS share, data from the share is backed up according to the backup policy and content rule defined in the backup set. For new NAS configurations, Druva creates a default content rule. The default content rule is configured to backup all folders with some subfolders excluded by default. The default content rule also excludes image, audio, video, executable, database, backup, and disk image file types from backups. The default content rule can be assigned to one or more NAS shares. This rule can be updated or deleted. The default content rule is not available for existing NAS users.

Best practices for creating content rules

Create a content rule when you have backup sets on different NAS shares that backup the same content.
Ensure that content rules do not overlap in terms of backup content. This ensures that the same content is not backed up as part of different backup sets.

Add a Content Rule

Content rules can be added while creating a backup set for the NAS share or from the Content Rules page.

From the Content Rules page

Log in to the Management Console.
Select the workload from the Protect menu. Note that if the All Organizations menu is enabled, you have to first select an organization that has your NAS device and then select the workload.
In the generic navigation pane on the left, click Content Rules.
In the right pane, click Create Content Rule.
In the Create Content Rule dialog box, enter the following details:

Field	Description
Overview
Name	Enter a unique name for the content rule.
Backup Content
Backup All Folders	Select this option if you want to backup all files and folders, including hidden files and folders. The folders under Subfolder to exclude are excluded from backups.
Subfolder to exclude	Druva excludes a few folders from backup by default. For more information, see Folders excluded from NAS share backup. The subfolder exclusions apply whether you choose to backup all folders or specific folders. Enter the relative path (relative to the root share directory) of the subfolders that should be excluded from backups. Type the path of the subfolder, and then press Enter. The path gets added to the list below. To remove a subfolder from this list, click the cross icon next to the path. Consider the following example to understand subfolder exclusions: Suppose an NFS share `vol0` has the folders `security/users/groups/admins` To exclude the `groups` folder from the backup of the `vol0` share, enter the path as `security/users/groups` and not just `groups`. Moreover, if you have configured security for backup, Druva backs up security and its subfolders if any but excludes `groups`.
Backup Specific Folders	Select this option to backup specific folders on the NAS share. Type the relative path( relative to the root share directory) of the folder in the corresponding box and press Enter. You can also click Add <entered folder path> to add the folder. In folder paths, use backward slash (\) for SMB shares and forward-slash (/) for NFS shares. You can add multiple folder paths. Use the following formats while entering absolute paths: SMB shares: `Folder\folder1` NFS shares: `dir/subdir` Consider the following example to understand backup specific folder: SMB share Enter `Folder\Subfolder1\Subfolder2` to backup `Subfolder2`. Do not prefix the share name. To backup `Subfolder2`, enter the entire path and not just `Subfolder2`. To backup `Subfolder1`, enter `Folder\Subfolder1` NFS share Enter `Folder/Subfolder1/Subfolder2` to backup `Subfolder2` Enter `Folder/Subfolder1` to backup `Subfolder1`
Specify File Exclusions or Inclusions If this option isn’t selected all file types, file extensions, and file patterns in the folders selected under Backup Content are backed up.
Exclude the following files from backup	Exclude the specified file types or file patterns from the backups of the folders selected under Backup Content. 📝 Note By default, the default content rule excludes image, audio, video, executable, database, backup, and disk image file types from backups. As a result, these huge files are automatically ignored during backups and result in low credit consumption. If you remove any file type that is excluded from backup, a pop-up message is displayed on the screen.
Include only the following files in the backup	Include the specified file types or file patterns in the backups of the folders selected under Backup Content.
File Types	Select file types to exclude/include Select predefined file types that must be excluded from or included in the backup of folders specified under Backup Content.
Enter extensions to exclude/include This field displays the file extensions associated with the selected file types. You can enter custom extensions if you do not find your extensions under any predefined file types. Enter file extensions in format `extension`, and then press Enter. You can also click Add <entered extension> to add the extension. Enter extensions without using `` or `.`at the beginning of the extension. For example, to backup text files, enter `txt` and press Enter. Extensions in the format `ext1.ext2` are acceptable. Note: `extension` or `.extension` or `.extension` are unsupported formats. If the entered extension is associated with a predefined file type, that file type is populated automatically under the File Types* field. You can remove extensions from the list of extensions. If the removed extension is associated with a file type for which other extensions are still present, the file type is visible with an [-] icon next to it. You can view the removed file extension by hovering over this icon. If all extensions associated with a file type are removed, the file type is removed from the list of File Types as well.
File Name Patterns	Enter file patterns that must be excluded from or included in the backup of folders specified under Backup Content. File patterns start with an asterisk `` and can contain ` .string` or `.string` in the pattern string. Enter patterns like `.ext` in the format `ext` in the file extension field under File Types. Note: The filename patterns `File` and `File.extension` are unsupported. For example, do not use a filename pattern like `img` to include/exclude all files that start with `img`. Use `img` instead. Do not use a filename pattern like `img.jpg` to include/exclude all files that end with the extension `jpg`. Enter the file extension jpg under File Types* instead.
Ignore case sensitive file/folder name match for NFS shares	By default, this option is deselected. With this option deselected, the file and folder names entered in the Backup Specific Folders, Subfolder Exclusions, File extensions,and File Patterns fields are accepted as is, in whatever case you enter them. For NFS shares, this means that the entered text is case-sensitive. If this option is selected, Druva ignores the case of the files and folder names in these fields. For NFS shares, this means that the entered text becomes case-insensitive. 📝 Note This option applies to NFS shares since file and folder names are case-insensitive in SMB shares.

On the Create Content Rule page, click Save. The Content Rules page displays the newly added content rule.

📝 Note
The Save button is disabled if:

You don't enter a content rule name.
You select Specify Custom Content and then Backup Specific Folders but don't enter any relative folder paths.
You enter an unsupported file extension or file pattern.

Correct the error and then click Save.

While creating a backup set for a NAS share

Log in to the Management Console.
Select the workload from the Protect menu. Note that if the All Organizations menu is enabled, you have to first select an organization that has your NAS device and then select the workload.
In the DEVICE drop-down, select the NAS device that has the NAS share that you want to backup.
On the NAS shares page, select the NAS share and click Create Backup Set.
In the Create Backup Set page, enter the details as described in the Configure backup set for NAS share article.
In the Backup Content section perform the following tasks:

Field	Description
Use Content Rule	Select the Use Content Rule option to use an existing, pre-created content rule to back up files and folders on your NAS share. When you select an existing content rule, the Content Rule Details section displays the folders included and subfolders excluded from backups. The Content Rule Details section also shows the included/excluded File Types, File extensions, and File Name Patterns. If you have selected the Ignore case sensitive file/folder name match for NFS shares option, the Content Rule Details section, displays it with a green tick. If this option is deselected, the Content Rule Details section displays it with a red cross. 📝 Note The Content Rule Details* cannot be edited from here. For more information see Edit Content Rule.*
Specify Custom Content	Select the Specify Custom Content option to select the folders, file types, and file name patterns to be included in or excluded from the NAS share backups. You can save the selected folders, excluded subfolders, and included/excluded file types, extensions, and file patterns as a new content rule.
Backup All Folders	Select this option if you want to backup all files and folders, including hidden files and folders. The folders under Subfolder to exclude are excluded from backups.
Subfolder to exclude	Druva excludes a few folders from backup by default. For more information, see Folders excluded from NAS share backup. The subfolder exclusions apply whether you choose to backup all folders or specific folders. Enter the relative path (relative to the root share directory) of the subfolders that should be excluded from backups. Type the path of the subfolder, and then press Enter. The path gets added to the list below. To remove a subfolder from this list, click the cross icon next to the path. Consider the following example to understand subfolder exclusions: Suppose an NFS share `vol0` has the folders `security/users/groups/admins` To exclude the `groups` folder from the backup of the `vol0` share, enter the path as `security/users/groups` and not just `groups`. Moreover, if you have configured security for backup, Druva backs up security and its subfolders if any but excludes groups.
Backup Specific Folders	Select this option to backup specific folders on the NAS share. Type the relative path( relative to the root share directory) of the folder in the corresponding box and press Enter. You can also click Add <entered folder path> to add the folder. In folder paths, use backward slash (\) for SMB shares and forward-slash (/) for NFS shares. You can add multiple folder paths. Use the following formats while entering absolute paths: SMB shares: `Folder\folder1` NFS shares: `dir/subdir` Consider the following example to understand backup specific folder: SMB share Enter `Folder\Subfolder1\Subfolder2` to backup `Subfolder2`. Do not prefix the share name. To back up `Subfolder2` enter the entire path and not just `Subfolder2`. To backup `Subfolder1`, enter `Folder\Subfolder1` NFS share Enter `Folder/Subfolder1/Subfolder2` to backup `Subfolder2` Enter `Folder/Subfolder1` to backup `Subfolder1`
Specify File Exclusions or Inclusions If this option isn’t selected all file types, file extensions, and file patterns in the folders selected under Backup Content are backed up.
Exclude the following files from backup	Exclude the specified file types, file extensions, and file patterns from the folders selected above.
Include only the following files in the backup	Include the specified file types, file extensions, and file patterns in the folders selected above.
File Types	Select file types to exclude/include Select predefined file types that must be excluded from or included in the backup of folders specified under Specify Custom Content.
	Add file extensions to exclude/include This field displays the file extensions associated with the selected file types. You can enter custom extensions if you do not find your extensions under any predefined file types. Enter file extensions in format extension, and then press Enter. You can also click Add <entered extension> to add the extension. Enter extensions without using * or . at the beginning of the extension. Extensions in the format ext1.ext2 are acceptable. For example, to backup text files, enter txt and press enter. Note: extension or .extension or .extension are unsupported formats. If the entered extension is associated with a predefined file type, that file type is populated automatically under the File Types field. You can remove extensions from the list of extensions. If the removed extension is associated with a file type for which other extensions are still present, the file type is visible with an [-] icon next to it. You can view the removed file extension by hovering over this icon. If all extensions associated with a file type are removed, the file type is removed from the list of File Types as well.
File Name Patterns	Enter file name patterns that must be excluded from or included in the backup of folders specified under Backup Content. File patterns start with a `` and can contain ` .string` or `.string` in the pattern string. Enter patterns like `.ext` in the format `ext` in the file extension field under File Types. Note: The filename patterns `File` and `File.extension` are unsupported. For example, do not use a filename pattern like `img` to include/exclude all files that start with `img`. Use `img` instead. Do not use a filename pattern like `img.jpg` to include/exclude all files that end with the extension `jpg`. Enter the file extension `jpg` under File Types* instead.
Ignore case sensitive file/folder name match for NFS shares	By default, this option is deselected. With this option deselected, the file and folder names entered in the Backup Specific Folders, Subfolder Exclusions, File extensions, and File Patterns fields are accepted as is, in whatever case you enter them. For NFS shares, this means that the entered text is case-sensitive. If this option is selected, Druva ignores the case of the files and folder names in these fields. For NFS shares, this means that the entered text becomes case-insensitive. Note: This option applies to NFS shares since file and folder names are case-insensitive in SMB shares.
Backup Proxy Pool	Select a backup proxy pool that includes Windows and/or Linux proxies. The backup set is mapped to the pool and uses a Windows proxy to back up SMB shares or a Linux proxy to backup NFS shares. Note: You can only attach a single proxy pool to a backup set.

Note: To save the custom content as a new rule, click Save as New Rule.

In the Create Backup Set dialog box, click Save. This completes adding and configuring a NAS share on Management Console.

📝 Note
The Save button is disabled if:

You select Specify Custom Content and then Backup Specific Folders but don't enter any relative folder paths.
You enter an unsupported file extension or file pattern.

Correct the error and then click Save.

View a content rule

To view a content rule, perform the following tasks:

Log in to the Management Console.
Select the workload from the Protect menu. Note that if the All Organizations menu is enabled, you have to first select an organization that has your NAS device and then select the workload.
In the navigation pane on the left, click Content Rules. The right pane lists all content rules created for NAS.
Click a content rule to view content rule details. The Summary tab lists all the included and excluded folders. It also lists all the included and excluded File Types, File Extensions, and File Patterns. Hovering over a file type marked with the [-] icon reveals the extensions removed from the Content Rule. The Summary page also shows whether the Ignore case sensitive file/folder name match for linux servers is selected or not.

The Shares tab lists all the NAS shares that use the content rule.

Edit a content rule

To edit a content rule, perform the following tasks:

Log in to the Management Console.
Select the workload from the Protect menu. Note that if the All Organizations menu is enabled, you have to first select an organization that has your NAS device and then select the workload.
In the navigation pane on the left, click Content Rules.
Click the content rule that needs to be edited. In the content rule details page, in the top click Edit.
Change the name of the content rule, or the folders to be included or excluded. You can also change the file types, file extensions, and file patterns to be included in or excluded from the backup. For more detailed field descriptions, see the Add Content Rule section.

7. Click Save.

📝 Note
The Save button is disabled if:

You don't enter a content rule name.
You select Specify Custom Content and then Backup Specific Folders but don't enter any relative folder paths.
You enter an unsupported file extension or file pattern.

Correct the error and then click Save.

Delete a content rule

You can delete a content rule only after 7 days of the deletion of the last backup set mapped to the rule.

To delete a content rule, perform the following tasks:

Log in to the Management Console.
Select the workload from the Protect menu. Note that if the All Organizations menu is enabled, you have to first select an organization that has your NAS device and then select the workload.
In the navigation pane on the left, click Content Rules. You cannot delete a content rule associated with one or more backup sets. To delete the content rule, associate the backup sets with other content rules. Click the Shares tab to see if any shares use this content rule.

If there are shares that use this content rule, click the share name to view the NAS share details. From the NAS share details page, select all backup sets that use the content rule, click more options, and then click Change Content Rule. You can then delete the content rule.

For more information on editing a backup set, see Edit a backup set.

In the generic navigation pane on the left, click Content Rules. Click the content rule that needs to be deleted, and in the top right corner click Delete.

File server capabilities

Manage content rules

About data protection for NAS shares

Configure backup set for NAS share

User Guide - Preparing your environment for successful Druva NAS Shares Backup