Chapter 3. Browsing Filesystems

The NetWorker graphical user interface allows you to browse your filesystems, including directories, subdirectories, and nested files. Since the filesystem is represented by icons on the screen, it is easy to select files and directories for backup. For recovering files, the index of saved files is displayed graphically like the filesystem, making it convenient to select files for recovery.

This chapter explains


Note: This chapter describes the features common to both the backup and recover windows that are used for viewing directories. The features specific to a window are described in Chapter 4, “Backing Up and Recovering Data.”


Viewing Your Directories

You can expand a directory to one level to view its subdirectories, or you can view all levels of a directory by expanding a branch. Thus it is easy to find files that are deeply embedded in your filesystem.

Use the Tree menu to select the level at which you wish to browse the directories in the filesystem.

Expanding to One Level

Choosing the “Expand One Level” command, as shown in Figure 3-1 , opens a directory to display the subdirectories one level below. The subdirectories are graphically displayed as a tree structure in the directory display. You can scroll in the directory display to find the subdirectory that contains the desired file. Large directories might take a few minutes to expand.

Figure 3-1. “Expand One Level” in the Tree Menu of the Backup Window


To expand a directory to one level, follow these steps:

  1. Highlight a directory folder in the directory display.

  2. Select “Expand One Level” from the Tree pulldown menu, or double-click the directory folder.

Expanding a Branch

The “Expand Branch” command lets you view all the levels of subdirectories in a directory. Large branches may take a while to expand.

To expand a directory to view the branch, follow these steps:

  1. Highlight a directory in the directory display.

  2. Select “Expand Branch” from the Tree pulldown menu.

Collapsing a Branch

The “Collapse Branch” command closes all subdirectories and returns you to the level of the highlighted directory.

To collapse a branch, follow these steps:

  1. Highlight an expanded directory in the directory display.

  2. Select “Collapse Branch” from the Tree pulldown menu, or double-click the directory folder.

Marking and Unmarking Files

You choose files and directories for backup and recovery by marking them. The icons have a checkbox beside them that displays a checkmark when the file is marked. You can mark or unmark files and directories by using either the File pulldown menu or the checkbox.

To mark a file or directory using the File menu, follow these steps:

  1. Highlight a file or directory icon by selecting it with the mouse.

  2. Click the Mark speedbar button, as shown in Figure 3-2.

    Figure 3-2. Mark Speedbar Button


    This action places a checkmark in the checkbox beside the highlighted icon (see Figure 3-3) to mark it for backup or recovery.

    Figure 3-3. Icon Marked for Backup or Recovery


  3. If you decide that a file should not be included in the backup or recovery, highlight the icon and select the Unmark speedbar button to remove the checkmark. Figure 3-4 shows this button.

    Figure 3-4. Unmark Speedbar Button


To mark a file using the checkbox, follow these steps:

  1. Use the mouse to select the checkbox next to the file. This action places a checkmark in the checkbox.

  2. Select the checkmark to unmark the file, as shown in Figure 3-5.

    Figure 3-5. Unmarking a File



Tip: When you mark a directory, all its subdirectories and nested files are also marked. The checkboxes of the parent directories turn gray to indicate that some or all of the directory contents are marked for backup or recovery.


Viewing File Details

The View pulldown menu contains the File Names and File Details command, where you can choose to view the file details or only the file names in the file display. This command toggles between the two choices.

Figure 3-6 shows the View menu.

Figure 3-6. “File Details” on the View Menu of the Recover Window


Use the “Versions” command to display a list of backup versions of your files that are available for recovery. Use the “Volumes” command to determine if the file you want to recover is immediately available for a recovery.

By default, NetWorker lists the files in alphabetical order, with only the filenames displayed. File Details displays the filename, number of blocks, permissions, number of links and where they point (symbolic links only), owner, group, size, and date each file was last modified.

In the NetWorker Recover window, the File Details command also displays the backup time for each file. You can use this data to identify different backup versions of a file.

To display filenames or file details, follow these steps:

  1. Select “File Details” (or “File Names”) from the View pulldown menu, as shown in Figure 3-6.

  2. If necessary, adjust the size of the window to display the full File Details.

    Figure 3-7 shows the File Details display in the NW Recover window. Notice the backup time listed beside each icon.

    Figure 3-7. File Details Display on the Recover Window


Searching for Files

If you know the name or partial name of a file or directory, you can use the Search window to locate it in the filesystem or index. Use the Search speedbar button to bring up the Search window, or choose Search from the View pulldown menu.

To search for files, you specify the filename or partial filename you are looking for and the directory name where you wish to begin the search. NetWorker begins searching in that directory and then searches through its subdirectories and nested files.

To search for files or directories by name, follow these steps:

  1. Click the Search speedbar button in the speedbar to open the Search window, or select the Search command from the View pulldown menu.

    The Search dialog box appears, as shown in Figure 3-8.

    Figure 3-8. Search Dialog Box


  2. Enter the name of the file or directory in the Search for field. You can use standard IRIX shell pattern characters when specifying partial filenames.

  3. Enter a valid pathname for the directory where you wish to begin the search in the “Begin search in” field. NetWorker searches through that directory and all nested subdirectories.

  4. Click the Ok button. The pathname of the first match appears in the Selection field and is also highlighted in the file display.

  5. Click the Continue button to highlight the next match. You can continue the search until the last match is found.

Changing a Selection

The NetWorker windows display the full pathname of the current directory in the Selection field. If you know the path of a directory or file, you can go directly to it by entering the full pathname in the Selection field, as shown in Figure 3-9.

Figure 3-9. Selection Field


To change the current selection, follow these steps:

  1. Enter the full pathname in the Selection field.

  2. Press the <Enter> key.

Both the directory and file displays change to show the new selection.

Exiting From a Window

The “Exit” command is in the File menu of the NW Backup and NW Recover windows. This command closes the current window without backing up or recovering files and exits the program.

Figure 3-10 shows this command.

Figure 3-10. “Exit” on the File Menu


The File menus of various windows in NW Backup and NW Recover also have a “Close” command. This command closes the window without exiting the program.