Exclude files and folders

By default, all files and folders located on a protected machine are replicated. However, if you want to ignore specific files/folders during replication (backup), you can exclude them by following the instructions below.

For more information about file exclusions, see [About exclusions].

{info:title=Tip}File Exclude feature can be enabled/disabled for the Volume ("Limits" tab of Volume properties window). Read more in [ServerBackup:Create volumes].
{info}

{info:title=Note}The Excluded Files and Folders and Advanced Excluding Rules are communicated to the Backup Agent at the beginning of every replication.
Also note that in the "Policy Settings" tab, there is an option to exclude All Volume Shadow Copy Writers.
{info}
1. Access the _Create New Policy_ or _Edit Policy_ window. See [Create policies] and [Edit policies].

2. Select the _File Excludes_ tab, where you can browse the files and folders on the protected machine's hard disk. !Edit Policy - File Excludes.png|border=1!
The built-in file browser functions like Windows Explorer.
* To open a folder, double-click it. 
* To go to the parent folder, click the *Up* button.
* To go directly to a folder, enter the file path in the *Location* field and click the *Go* button.
* The current path of the selected folder displays in the *Location* field.

3. Select check boxes next to the files and folders you want to exclude from the replication and click the *Save* button. !Edit Policy - File Excludes selected.png|border=1!
The selected files and folders will be ignored by the policy. Files and folders that are not selected will be considered by the policy.

{info:title=Tip}
You can add rules to exclude files by pattern. For example, {{\*.logs}} or {{\*.mp3}}. See [Advanced Excludes|#advanced] below.{info}
{note:title=Notice}
If you want to exclude MS SQL Server related files (.{{{*}mdf or .ldf{*}}}) you won't see them in this tab because the SQL Server service locks them; use the Advanced Excludes instead and make sure you add the full path to the file as a pattern, e.g. {{C:}}{{{}*\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL\DATA\database.mdf{*}}}
{note}

h5.


h3. Advanced Excludes{anchor:advanced}

Follow the instructions below to define a pattern (mask) to exclude files from the replication. Using patterns, you can exclude files of a certain type, such as files that have a *.avi* extension.

1. In the _Create New Policy_ or _Edit Policy_ window, select the _Advanced Excludes_ tab.

2. Define a file mask in the *Pattern* field. Example:
{code}
/*.avi
{code}
!Edit Policy - Advanced Excludes example.png|border=1!
{note:title=Notice}
Advanced exclude patterns must reference a device in the Disk Safe, and begin with an absolute path, e.g. {{C:}}{{{}*.txt{*}}} *or* {{*/*{}}}{{.log}}.
{note}

5. Click the *Save* button to save the advanced excludes.
{excerpt:hidden=true}Instructions on how to exclude files and folders from the replication in Server Backup Manager.{excerpt}