A deduplication storage folder is a disk-based backup folder that you can use as a destination for backup jobs. When you use a deduplication storage folder, only unique data is stored.

Before you create a deduplication storage folder, you should review the requirements. Symantec recommends a dedicated volume and a large amount of RAM for a deduplication storage folder.

See Requirements for the Deduplication Option.

If you use Backup Exec Central Admin Server Option or SAN Shared Storage Option, a deduplication storage folder can be shared between multiple media servers. Sharing can be enabled when you add a deduplication storage folder. You can select new media servers to share a deduplication storage folder or remove the sharing ability for media servers at any time.

A deduplication storage folder can be created on a storage array. However, if a deduplication storage folder already exists on a media server, then another folder cannot be added to a storage array that is connected to that media server. To add a deduplication storage folder, you must use the Storage Array Configuration Wizard.

After you create a deduplication storage folder, it appears in the Devices view under the name of the Backup Exec media server. However, a deduplication storage folder does not appear in the All Devices device pool. A deduplication storage folder cannot belong to any device pools to prevent a deduplication job from being sent to a non-deduplication device in a device pool if the deduplication storage folder is busy.

You can pause, enable, disable, rename, refresh, and delete a deduplication storage folder. When you use Backup Exec's Delete option on a deduplication storage folder, the folder is removed from the Backup Exec Database. However, the folder and the files in it remain on the disk.

See Adding a deduplication storage folder

See About sharing storage

See About using the Storage Array Configuration Wizard