11. Backup support

Autodir supports backup program launching when a virtual directory is removed after a period of inactivity. Removal of the virtual directory is itself an assurance that no other application can access the content and modify it.

Just like there is wait time for expiring a virtual directory, for backup Autodir also waits during some time after the expiry of the virtual directory, prior to starting the backup. This time period can be configured through a command line option to Autodir.

By design, backup programs are expected to operate on real directories but not on virtual directory. If the backup program try to access a virtual directory, then Autodir assumes some regular application is in need of that directory and the backup program is killed, even if the virtual directory accessing process is the backup program itself.

A separate backup process for each real directory is used. The backup program can be given arguments of real directories on which to operate.

Backup support is independent of any particular module being used. It is applicable to all modules with Autodir.

	Backup = real!
	Backup programs should never access virtual directory or virtual base directory.

	Time off
	The backup feature is not much use if the virtual directories are being accessed by applications all the time.