Backup Catalog is a central index describing available backups, their contents, restore points, and locations.
Simple definition
Backup Catalog is a central index describing available backups, their contents, restore points, and locations. It belongs to the Backup / PRA vocabulary and is useful when reading architecture diagrams, product documentation, logs, or administration procedures.
What is it used for?
Its main purpose is to quickly search for a machine, file, or restore point and drive restore operations. The practical value depends on the surrounding architecture, security model, and operational requirements.
How does it work?
The catalog is populated by backup jobs and references metadata without necessarily containing the backup payload itself.
Key points
- Scope: A central index describing available backups, their contents, restore points, and locations.
- Operational goal: Quickly search for a machine, file, or restore point and drive restore operations.
- Implementation: The catalog is populated by backup jobs and references metadata without necessarily containing the backup payload itself.
Points to watch
A backup is reliable only if restore is tested; document RPO/RTO, retention, immutability, and chain dependencies.
In short
Backup Catalog = a central index describing available backups, their contents, restore points, and locations. Use it when you need to quickly search for a machine, file, or restore point and drive restore operations.