On-Demand Files Backup

This chapter covers the following topics:

• Key Characteristics of On-Demand files
• On-Demand Files Support
• On-Demand Files in OneDrive
• On-Demand File Backup
• Enable or Disable Backup of On-Demand Files

Key Characteristics of On-Demand Files:

On-Demand Files are files that appear in your file manager (such as Windows Explorer) but are not stored locally on your device. Instead, they reside in cloud storage, like OneDrive or Dropbox, and are only downloaded to your computer when you actually access or open them. This feature helps save local storage space while still giving you the ability to see and interact with all your files as if they were stored locally.

• Cloud-Resident: Files remain in the cloud until accessed.
• File Placeholder: The file is represented in your file manager with a small placeholder icon, but the file's actual content is downloaded only when needed.
• Offline Access: If a file is marked for offline access, it will be available locally and can be used without an internet connection.

In OneDrive, for example, you can manage on-demand files by selecting which files or folders you want to keep available locally, and the rest will remain in the cloud until accessed.

On-Demand Files Support

• OneDrive files: Fully supported. Files will be backed up or skipped depending on the Do not back up On-Demand files option
• Files with offline attribute: Supported partially. We upload them when they are available locally. If the file is not available on the local machine, a warning is displayed (unless the Do not backup on-demand files option is enabled) and the file is skipped during backup.
• Other types of on-demand files: Not supported.

On-Demand Files in OneDrive

OneDrive Files On-Demand helps you access all your cloud storage in OneDrive without having to download all of them and use file storage space on your Windows device.

Once the Files On-Demand option is enabled, you see all such on-demand files in a file manager. Once your computer is connected to the Internet, you can use the files like every other file on your device.

OneDrive File Backup

Managed Backup supports OneDrive file backup in Management Console and Backup Agent. Consider, all OneDrive files intended to be backed up will be downloaded to your computer and then will be backed up to the selected backup storage.

How It Works

By default, the backup of OneDrive files is disabled (the "Do not back up On-Demand files" option is enabled), meaning these files are excluded from backups. To back up OneDrive files, clear the "Do not back up On-Demand files" checkbox in the backup plan wizard. All OneDrive files will be downloaded locally before being backed up to the selected storage.

Enable/Disable On-Demand File Backup

In Management Console

To configure the On-Demand file backup settings in files backup plans using Management Console, proceed as follows:

1. Open the Management Console.
2. On Computers select Remote Management if you use the legacy main menu, or open Backup > Computers page in the new main menu.
3. Find the required computer, then click on the computer name.
4. Select the Backup Plans tab.
5. Find the required plan on the side pane, expand it and click Edit.
6. Click the Advanced Filter step.
7. Disable or enable the Do Not Back Up On-Demand Files checkbox.
8. Once you are done, click Save.

In Backup Agent

To configure the On-Demand file backup settings in files backup plans in the Backup Agent, proceed as follows:

1. Access the required computer and open The Backup Agent instance.
2. On the Backup Plans tab, edit the required file backup plan.
3. Follow the backup wizard to the Advanced Filter step.
4. Select or clear the Do not back up On-Demand files checkbox.
5. Finish the backup wizard to save the configuration.