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Asked: 2010-06-17 05:24:57 +0800 CST

Is there a Utility that will scan selected locations and return all files older than a certain date?

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Can anyone recommend a utility that can scan specified directory locations (network shares specifically) and return all files older than a certain date?

I am looking to implement a data retention policy at my workplace. As our amount of data grows it puts a large strain on our backup routines. I would like to move old data to some sort of archival system.

Extra points for the ability to move queried old files to another location for archival and the ability to create schedules for when this occurs.

Many thanks.

EDIT: Windows Shop. Mostly Windows 2003 Servers.

In this particular case, this isn't mission critical data. Just various user documents on network shares. The archival system would simply be to move old data to a removable device off site once a month. Most data will most likely never be accessed again but I would like at least one copy to disk as opposed to simply deleting it.

backup windows-server-2003 archive

3 Answers

  1. forfiles would work as well.

    forfiles -p *path to your files* /s /m *.* /d -30 /c "cmd /c xcopy @path *\destination\@file "
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  2. PowerShell can be used for that. here is a sample:

    $Cutoffdate = (Get-date).AddDays(-30)
Get-Childitem –recurse \\server\share\folder | where-object {$_.lastwritetime –gt $Cutoffdate}
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  3. Honestly, you'll probably spend more time hacking an archival system together than it's worth. New backup systems are not that expensive; and you need to evaluate what you're data is worth.

    Don't forget that you're time is money spent on the system, and that generally adds up very quickly (more so after you add employment tax to your normal hourly rate). Business that are "too cheap to buy new equipment" generally are not seeing the true costs.

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