Managing File and Folder Versions

As long as your versioning is enabled on your cloud storage bucket (see steps about enabling versioning in the bucket in Configuring Bucket Settings) you can restore on your source any specific version of a replicated file or delete a specific version from the bucket. When providing you with the list of available versions for a file from which to select, WCN gives you information about the modification time of each version.

To help you manage versions more efficiently, WCN allows you to analyze the contents of a whole folder on your source using a selected point in time as a starting point. The analysis gives you information not only about the total number of files with versions in the folder and the overall size of all versions on the bucket, but also about the number and size of versions submitted before the selected date and time, and the number and size of file versions, stored on the bucket after the selected date and time. With this information in mind, WCN then allows you to:

• Delete all older versions of all files from the bucket, discarding them as obsolete and thus freeing space.
• Restore the version of all files in the folder to the last submitted version before the selected date and time. This functionality can be useful when, for example, your on premises storage has suffered a ransomware attack, allowing you to revert all files to their unencrypted state.

Restoring a Specific Version of a File

1. In Windows Explorer, right-click the file and select Properties.
2. In the Properties dialog, select the Versions tab.

   WCN lists all available versions of the file in descending order, starting with the newest one. The version currently stored on the source is displayed with a checkmark.

   

3. Select a file version in the list and click Restore.

Deleting a Specific Version of a File

1. In Windows Explorer, right-click the file and select Properties.
2. In the Properties dialog, select the Versions tab.

   WCN lists all available versions of the file in descending order, starting with the newest one. The version currently stored on the source is displayed with a checkmark.

3. Select a file version in the list and click Delete to delete it from the bucket.

Analyze the Contents of a Folder

1. In Windows Explorer, right-click the folder and select Properties.
2. In the Properties dialog, select the Versions tab.
3. Select the desired date and time in the Timestamp boxes and then click Analyze Content.

WCN gives you the following information:

Total — The total number of files on the source and their size.

Versions — The number of overall file versions and their size on the bucket.

Newer — The number of file versions that were stored on the bucket after the selected date and time, and their size on the bucket.

Obsolete — The number of file versions that were stored on the bucket before the selected date and time, and their size on the bucket.

Different — The number of files and their size, which will be changed on the source, if you decide to restore the state of the folder to the state it had on the selected date and time.

Restoring Files in a Folder to Their State Before a Selected Date and Time

1. In Windows Explorer, right-click the folder and select Properties.
2. In the Properties dialog, select the Versions tab.
3. Select the desired date and time in the Timestamp boxes and then click Analyze Content.
   Depending on the number of files in the folder and their size, the analysis may take time. Monitor the progress bar to make sure WCN has gathered complete information.
4. Click Restore Timestamp.
5. You can select files to restore and then click Restore Selection.

WCN replaces all files (their exact number is listed in the Different field) with the latest version submitted to the bucket before the selected date and time with either nearline files on your source. You can trigger their retrieval manually, through WCN or on demand, by opening them on your source.

Deleting Obsolete Versions of Files in a Folder

1. In Windows Explorer, right-click the folder and select Properties.
2. In the Properties dialog, select the Versions tab.
3. Select the desired date and time in the Timestamp boxes and then click Analyze Content.
   Depending on the number of files in the folder and their size, the analysis may take time. Monitor the progress bar to make sure WCN has gathered complete information.

   

4. Click Obsolete.
5. You can select files to delete and then click Delete Selection.

WCN deletes from the bucket all versions of the files, which have been submitted to the bucket before the selected date and time.