Configuring Reclaim Space in WCN

Reclaim Space is a user-defined policy that enables WCN to free up space on the source by replacing a replicated file with a nearline file. Reclaiming space is commonly used to align data with storage costs.

When configuring a Reclaim Space policy, you will set two parameters.

• File size

• Time interval that the file must remain unaccessed

For example, if the file size threshold is set to 10MB and the time interval is two weeks, WCN will replace all replicated files over 10MB in size that are not accessed for a minimum of two weeks. All other files on the source (with size 10MB or less and the replicated files with 10MB or more) that are not accessed by a user in less than two weeks will not be reclaimed. By default, WCN replaces any file that has not been accessed for more than four weeks, regardless of the file size.

While a global Reclaim Space policy governs all source-target pairs, a Reclaim Space policy configured for a specific source-target pair overwrites the global policy. If both policies are configured, the global policy will govern all source-target pairs without a specific policy assigned.

Optionally, you can configure the processes that trigger file retrieval. For more information, review Configuring Process Filtering.

You can manually retrieve files and reclaim space using the WCN shell extension. When initiated, the manual operation takes precedence over any automatically scheduled tasks or policies.

When reclaiming space, WCN begins by queuing the files that are least recently accessed.

With a NAS source, nearline files are located in the shadow copy folder and not on the network share. However, file retrieval pulls the actual data directly from the NAS source.

Space cannot be reclaimed for certain file formats (such as EXE, DLL, SYS, COM, CPL, MSI, and OCX). This list can be configured using the reclaim_space_filter registry key on the source where the WCN software is installed.

Configuring a Global Reclaim Space Policy

1. Click Wasabi Cloud NAS.

2. Click Add policy.

3. In the Policy type window, select Reclaim space.

4. Click OK.

5. The right pane displays the following parameters.

   • Offload files not accessed for more than—(required) File time interval 

   • And if files are larger than—(optional) File size

   • When used space exceeds—(optional) Threshold for used space

   • Ignore above criteria if used space exceeds—(optional) Storage capacity (%)

     Used space thresholds reclaim space when the configured space threshold is reached. You can either increase the used space threshold or specify the maximum used space threshold on your source. The maximum used space threshold specifies when all files subject to replication are queued for replacement with nearline files, regardless of their size and last access time. By default, the maximum used space value is set to 90% for all source volumes.

   • Reclaim space based on—(required) Last modified date reclaims space based on the most recent date that the folder/file was edited on the source. The Last accessed date reclaims space based on the most recent date that the folder/file was opened on the source.

     

6. To specify the file access time, enter a number.

7. Click the drop-down to select a unit.

8. Optionally, configure file size. Enter a number and select a unit.

9. Optionally, configure used space thresholds. Enter a percentage into the type field.

10. Optionally, configure Ignore above criterias if used space exceeds. Enter a percentage in the type field.

11. You now have the option to reclaim space based on:

    • Last modified date

    • Last accessed date

12. Click Apply.

13. A message will confirm that the policy was successfully applied. Click OK.

Overwriting the Global Policy

When you assign a Reclaim Space policy to a specific source, that policy will overwrite the global policy. To configure a space reclaiming policy for a specific source, follow the steps below.

You can only add one Reclaim Space policy to a source. If the selected source already has a Reclaim Space policy assigned, you can only edit the policy.

1. Select a source.

   

2. Click Add Policy.

3. In the Policy Type window, select Reclaim space.

4. Click OK.

5. In the right pane, configure the following parameters.

   • Offload files not accessed for more than—(required)

   • And if files are larger than—(optional)

   • When used space exceeds—(optional)

   • Ignore above criterias if used space exceeds—(optional)

   • Reclaim space based on—(required)

6. Click Apply.

7. A message will confirm that the policy was successfully applied. Click OK.

Editing a Policy

1. To edit a policy for a specific source, select the source.

2. Select Reclaim space Policy.

   

3. Optionally, to edit a global Reclaim Space policy, click Reclaim space policy.

   

4. Modify the parameters, as needed.

5. Click Apply.

6. A message will confirm that the policy was successfully applied. Click OK.

Disabling a Reclaim Space Policy

You can disable a Reclaim Space policy assigned to a source. When disabled, WCN will not reclaim space for that source.

1. Under the selected source, click Reclaim space Policy. 

2. Click the checkbox to disable the Reclaim Space policy.

   

3. Click Apply.

4. A message will confirm that the policy was successfully applied. Click OK.

Deleting a Reclaim Space Policy

When you delete the Reclaim Space policy assigned to a source, the source will use the global Reclaim Space policy. Wasabi recommends that you do not delete the global policy. You can modify the policy parameters, as needed.

1. To delete a policy for a specific source, select the source.

2. Select Reclaim space Policy.

3. Optionally, to delete a global policy, click Reclaim space Policy.

4. Click Delete policy.

   

5. A message will request that you confirm the deletion. Click OK.

Configuring Process Filtering

Process filtering determines when to trigger file retrieval from the bucket. By default, any process that attempts to open a nearline file on the source volume triggers the file retrieval from the bucket. To prevent unnecessary retrieval of nearline files by your antivirus software, specify which processes are:

• Permitted to trigger retrieval

• Prohibited from triggering the retrieval of nearline files

1. Click Global Settings.

2. Click Process filtering.

   

   You will be presented with the Process Filtering dialog box, as shown below.

   

3. Define which processes are allowed to trigger automatic retrieval of nearline files from the target. To do so, enter a process in the type field.

   If you create a list of processes that can trigger nearline file retrieval from the bucket, any process not included in the list will not trigger the operation when the process attempts to open the file.

4. Optionally, define which processes are prohibited from automatically triggering the retrieval of nearline files from the target. To do so, enter a process in the type field.

   If you specify the processes that are not allowed to trigger file retrieval from the bucket, any process not included in the list will trigger the nearline file retrieval when the process attempts to open that file.

5. To add a line item, click +.

   

6. Optionally, to delete the last line item, click —.

7. Once complete, click OK.

8. Click Apply.

9. A message will notify you that WCN must restart to apply the changes. Click Yes.

10. A message will confirm that WCN was successfully restarted. Click OK.