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  1. Home
  2. NetBackup™ for VMware Administrator's Guide
  3. Configure a VMware Intelligent Policy
  4. The IsSet operator in queries
NetBackup™ for VMware Administrator's Guide

The IsSet operator in queries

In a query, you can use the IsSet operator to ensure that certain virtual machines are included or excluded from the backup.

For example: if the Primary VM identifier parameter is set to VM hostname, NetBackup is unable to identify virtual machines for backup that do not have a host name. You can use IsSet to exclude such virtual machines from the backup list.

Table: Examples of queries with the IsSet operator

Query rules with IsSet operator

OData query rules with IsSet operator *

Effect of the query on virtual machine selection

Cluster Contains "dev"

AND VMDNSName IsSet

contains(cluster, 'dev') and dnsName ne null

INCLUDED: Any virtual machine in a cluster that has a name that contains the string "dev" if the virtual machine also has a VMware DNS name.

EXCLUDED: Any virtual machines that do not have a VMware DNS Name.

Without VMDNSName IsSet in this query, virtual machines without a DNS name cannot be excluded. They would be listed as FAILED.

Displayname Contains "prod"

AND VMHostName IsSet

contains(displayName, 'prod') and hostName ne null

INCLUDED: Any virtual machine with a display name that contains the string "prod" if the virtual machine also has a host name.

EXCLUDED: Any virtual machines that do not have host names.

Without VMHostName IsSet in this query, virtual machines without a host name cannot be excluded. They would be listed as FAILED.

* Use OData operators only when you build queries with the NetBackup web UI.

The policy's Primary VM identifier parameter has an important effect on which virtual machines NetBackup can back up. This parameter affects the test query results.

See Effect of Primary VM identifier parameter on Selection column in Test Query results.

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