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Robocopy /MT forcing /E even when you specify /S
Hi all. I'm using Robocopy in Win7 SP1. I'm migrating some PST files from one server to another. I do not want to create empty folders. It works perfectly via this command:
It behaves as it's supposed to by copying only the .pst files and not creating any empty folders where there are no PSTs. For example, let's say I have the following folder structure:
When issuing the command above, my destination ends up with Folder1 with the PST file and NOT Folder2, which had no pst files. Now, to speed things up, I'll throw in /MT:12 to run 12 threads:
It performs the file copies, but it creates all empty folders on the destination as if I had specified the /E switch instead of the /S switch. I am able to reproduce this on several machines and cannot figure out what's wrong. It's as if /MT forces /E. Is this by design or is there a way to get around this? Thanks!
robocopy w:\ v:\ "*.pst*" /b /s /copyall /r:5 /w:10 /v /log:e:\robolog.txt
It behaves as it's supposed to by copying only the .pst files and not creating any empty folders where there are no PSTs. For example, let's say I have the following folder structure:
W:\ (root)
W:\folder1 <- has a PST file
w:\folder2 <- does NOT have a PST file
When issuing the command above, my destination ends up with Folder1 with the PST file and NOT Folder2, which had no pst files. Now, to speed things up, I'll throw in /MT:12 to run 12 threads:
robocopy w:\ v:\ "*.pst*" /mt:12 /b /s /copyall /r:5 /w:10 /v /log:e:\robolog.txt
It performs the file copies, but it creates all empty folders on the destination as if I had specified the /E switch instead of the /S switch. I am able to reproduce this on several machines and cannot figure out what's wrong. It's as if /MT forces /E. Is this by design or is there a way to get around this? Thanks!
Last Comment
ASKER
The folders that get created on the destination are not empty on the source, but they do not contain pst files. Historically with the /S switch, robocopy has treated source folders with no content matching the pattern as empty directories and did not create them on the destination. The behavior is still true if I omit the /MT switch and do a single threaded copy. It's only when I add /MT that it creates all folders. If I run the same command omitting /MT, I see expected behavior with only the folders that contain psts as being created on the destination.
ASKER
Sorry, I forgot to address your question about the log. I checked the logs for both /MT and no /MT. They appear to be identical:
Without MT (did not create extra empty folders):
With MT (created the entire folder structure):
Without MT (did not create extra empty folders):
Source : w:\
Dest : v:\becks2\
Files : *.pst*
Options : /V /S /COPYALL /B /R:2 /W:1
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New Dir 0 w:\
New Dir 1 w:\akreci\
New File 976.5 m archive.pst 100%
New Dir 0 w:\akreci\!JPEGS (new)\
New Dir 5 w:\akreci\Archive_Old\
New File 145.8 m AKRECI.PST 100%
New File 1033216 AKRECI_Archive1.PST 100%
With MT (created the entire folder structure):
Source : w:\
Dest : v:\becks\
Files : *.pst*
Options : /V /S /COPYALL /B /MT:64 /R:2 /W:1
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0 w:\
New Dir 1 w:\akreci\
New File 976.5 m archive.pst 100%
New Dir 0 w:\akreci\!JPEGS (new)\
New Dir 5 w:\akreci\Archive_Old\
New File 145.8 m AKRECI.PST 100%
New File 1033216 AKRECI_Archive1.PST 100%
note both create a !JPEGS directory
I do not know whether the change is windows 7 robocopy version.
Just checked the use of the /S in the same way you have and all the directories in source are created.
I do not know whether the change is windows 7 robocopy version.
Just checked the use of the /S in the same way you have and all the directories in source are created.
ASKER
Yes, the log shows that it's creating the !JPEGS folder on both commands. The folder is not actually created on the singlethreaded run, though. I'll run another test and show the output.
I created a test folder structure. Four folders, two with text files, one folder empty, and one folder with a pst:
Singlethreaded robocopy:
Multithreaded:
The logs show the exact same output, yet the singlethreaded is performing as expected with /S and does not create empty folders based on the specified file pattern. The multithreaded is creating all folders on the destination, including the empty folder on the source. I just ran the same scenarios using the robocopy.exe packaged with 2008 R2 Datacenter, and I get the same results.
I created a test folder structure. Four folders, two with text files, one folder empty, and one folder with a pst:
E:\1.source>dir /s /b
E:\1.source\1.miscfiles
E:\1.source\2.empty
E:\1.source\3.pst
E:\1.source\4.miscfiles
E:\1.source\1.miscfiles\blah.txt
E:\1.source\1.miscfiles\lkjasdfl.txt
E:\1.source\1.miscfiles\stuff.txt
E:\1.source\3.pst\dummy.pst
E:\1.source\4.miscfiles\blah.txt
E:\1.source\4.miscfiles\lkjasdfl.txt
E:\1.source\4.miscfiles\stuff.txt
Singlethreaded robocopy:
Source : E:\1.source\
Dest : E:\2.dest.st\
Files : *.pst
Options : /V /TEE /S /COPYALL /B /R:1000000 /W:30
----------------------------------------------------------------------
0 E:\1.source\
New Dir 0 E:\1.source\1.miscfiles\
New Dir 0 E:\1.source\2.empty\
New Dir 1 E:\1.source\3.pst\
100% New File 12.1 m dummy.pst
New Dir 0 E:\1.source\4.miscfiles\
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Copied Skipped Mismatch FAILED Extras
Dirs : 5 4 1 0 0 0
Files : 1 1 0 0 0 0
Bytes : 12.15 m 12.15 m 0 0 0 0
Times : 0:00:00 0:00:00 0:00:00 0:00:00
E:\>dir 2.dest.st /s/b
E:\2.dest.st\3.pst
E:\2.dest.st\3.pst\dummy.pst
Multithreaded:
Source : E:\1.source\
Dest : E:\2.dest.mt\
Files : *.pst
Options : /V /TEE /S /COPYALL /B /MT:2 /R:1000000 /W:30
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0 E:\1.source\
New Dir 0 E:\1.source\1.miscfiles\
New Dir 0 E:\1.source\2.empty\
New Dir 1 E:\1.source\3.pst\
100% New File 12.1 m dummy.pst
New Dir 0 E:\1.source\4.miscfiles\
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Copied Skipped Mismatch FAILED Extras
Dirs : 5 4 1 0 0 0
Files : 1 1 0 0 0 0
Bytes : 12.15 m 12.15 m 0 0 0 0
Times : 0:00:00 0:00:00 0:00:00 0:00:00
E:\>dir 2.dest.mt /s/b
E:\2.dest.mt\1.miscfiles
E:\2.dest.mt\2.empty
E:\2.dest.mt\3.pst
E:\2.dest.mt\4.miscfiles
E:\2.dest.mt\3.pst\dummy.pst
The logs show the exact same output, yet the singlethreaded is performing as expected with /S and does not create empty folders based on the specified file pattern. The multithreaded is creating all folders on the destination, including the empty folder on the source. I just ran the same scenarios using the robocopy.exe packaged with 2008 R2 Datacenter, and I get the same results.
I do not understand what you are saying both options have these entries:
New Dir 0 E:\1.source\1.miscfiles\
New Dir 0 E:\1.source\2.empty\
New Dir 0 E:\1.source\4.miscfiles\
New Dir 0 E:\1.source\1.miscfiles\
New Dir 0 E:\1.source\2.empty\
New Dir 0 E:\1.source\4.miscfiles\
ASKER
Right, that's what the log shows. The end result is that they are not actually copied, contrary to what the log says. After the single threaded robocopy finished, the destination folder contained the following:
E:\>dir 2.dest.st /s/b
E:\2.dest.st\3.pst
E:\2.dest.st\3.pst\dummy.p
One folder and one pst file, as expected from the /S command. The multithreaded destination folder contained the following:
E:\>dir 2.dest.mt /s/b
E:\2.dest.mt\1.miscfiles
E:\2.dest.mt\2.empty
E:\2.dest.mt\3.pst
E:\2.dest.mt\4.miscfiles
E:\2.dest.mt\3.pst\dummy.p
A full copy of the source folder structure.
E:\>dir 2.dest.st /s/b
E:\2.dest.st\3.pst
E:\2.dest.st\3.pst\dummy.p
One folder and one pst file, as expected from the /S command. The multithreaded destination folder contained the following:
E:\>dir 2.dest.mt /s/b
E:\2.dest.mt\1.miscfiles
E:\2.dest.mt\2.empty
E:\2.dest.mt\3.pst
E:\2.dest.mt\4.miscfiles
E:\2.dest.mt\3.pst\dummy.p
A full copy of the source folder structure.
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That is what your experience and my attempt confirms.
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The Microsoft Legacy Operating System topic includes legacy versions of Microsoft operating systems prior to Windows 2000: All versions of MS-DOS and other versions developed for specific manufacturers and Windows 3/3.1, Windows 95 and Windows 98, plus any other Windows-related versions, and Windows Mobile.
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Use the /L and see what it actually would do without doing it.