Scan Policies

Creating a Scan Policy

A scan policy establishes the following parameters:

  • Type of scan (File System, Permissions, or Volume Free Space)

  • Scan target(s)

  • Scan retry settings

  • Scan schedule

IMPORTANT: The scan policy requires a unique name. If you attempt to use an existing name, File Reporter generates an error.

  1. Select Scan Policies in the File Systems menu.

  2. Click Add.

  3. Enter a name for the scan policy in the Policy Name field.

  4. Select the type of scan to conduct in the Policy Type field.

    • File System: Scans the files stored currently on the network share to identify the size of the files, when they were last accessed, the locations of duplicate versions, etc.

    • Permissions: Scans the permissions of the folders stored on the shares.

    • Volume Free Space: Scans the availability of free space on the shares.

  5. Click OK to open the Scan Policy Editor.

  6. Name: Displays the name of the scan policy you established.

  7. Description: Enter a description of the scan policy.

    • Retry Count: Specify the number of times File Reporter will attempt to scan the storage resource targets listed in the scan policy in response to a failure.

    • Retry Interval: Specify the length of time that passes after a failure before File Reporter retries a scan of the storage resource targets listed in the scan policy.

    • Directory Quotas: A scan does not include home folder quota information by default, because gathering this information on Windows shares can extend the scan time significantly. Leave this check box unselected unless you plan to generate a Directory Quota report. This option applies only to File System scans.

    • Previous Scans: Check this box to keep the Previous scan generated through this policy whenever a new scan is performed.

      When a new scan is complete, the results become the Current scan and the prior version becomes the Previous scan. If an earlier Previous scan exists, it is deleted. If you later uncheck the box in preparation for a new scan, the existing Previous scan will not be removed until a new scan is processed.

      You can use the Previous scan to generate an Historic Comparison report with either a Baseline scan or a Current scan — see Historic Comparison Reports for details.

    NOTE: To maintain a scan indefinitely, specify it as a Baseline scan — see Establishing a Baseline Scan for more information.

    • Content Hash: Check this box to enable File Reporter to create a content-based hash for each file in the specified target path. These hashes can then be compared through a Custom Query report to find duplicate files based on hash comparisons.

      File Reporter has a Duplicate File report option as part of its Built-in Reports, but those reports are based solely on metadata comparisons. Generating a Duplicate File report through content comparisons is more accurate — see Content Hash Duplicate File Reports in the File Reporter 24.4 Custom Query Guide for details on generating duplicate file reports through content-based hashes.

    • All Files: Check this box to create a new individual hash for each file in the specified target path.

    • Files updated since last scan: Check this box to create an individual hash for each file that does not already have a previously-created hash, or for files that were updated since the hash was created.

      NOTE: Generating a content hash for each file will cause AgentFS to take longer to perform a scan. Generating hashes only for new or updated files can save a significant amount of time for subsequent scans.

    • Add: Click this option to specify storage resource scan targets for the scan policy in the dialog box that opens.

      IMPORTANT: After adding a target to a scan policy, the same target cannot be added to another scan policy of the same type.

  8. Click OK to save the scan policy, which is now displayed on the Scan Policies page.

    The scan policy still needs to be scheduled —seeScan Scheduling for details and procedures.

Editing a Scan Policy

  1. Select Scan Policies in the File Systems menu.

  2. Check the box for the scan policy you want to edit.

  3. Click Edit.

  4. Change the desired settings.

  5. Click OK.

Deleting a Scan Policy

  1. Select Scan Policies in the File Systems menu.

  2. Check the box for the scan policy you want to delete.

  3. Read the warning and click Yes.