Disabling file collections to regain deduplication.

[Justin42]

I recently enabled File Collections to increase backup performance. It worked very well. My backup time went from 5 hours to 1 and a half hours. However this disabled deduplication. I want to get deduplication back and can't disable File Collections. I set the collect files older than option to 999 years and this stopped File Collection. Moving forward will any new files and emails created from here on out get deduplicated? Did I regain the deduplication functionality by changing this setting?

[TonySterling · Accepted solution]

What version of EV are you?  If you are version 8 or above you should be fine as Single-Instancing changed with that version.

Have a read of this: Article URL http://www.symantec.com/docs/HOWTO57156

[JesusWept3]

What is your storage?
If the device doesn't support deduplication, then Enterprise Vaults own OSIS will still work whether the item is collected or not, however if you have a device that does support deduplication then by increasing the age of the items to be collected to 999 years then you would in effect stop items going to cab files again and would allow to be properly deduplicated

[Justin42]

Using EV version 10.  Thanks for the info!

[Justin42]

My EVault storage is on a Dell EqualLogic SAN which does not itself support deduplication.  I just got off the phone with Symantec and was told what you just said which is a huge relief for me.  Single Instance Storage works with File Collection enabled.  Thankyou!