> Source: [sk100327](https://support.checkpoint.com/results/sk/sk100327)

# sk100327 - How to exclude CMAs from mds_backup script

| Property | Value |
|----------|-------|
| Solution ID | sk100327 |
| Date Created | 2014-04-29 |
| Last Modified | 2019-09-02 |
| Technical Level | General |
| Products | Multi-Domain Security Management Server |
| Versions | R82.10, R81.20, R82, R82.20 |

## Solution

**This article is not relevant for R80.x**

Proceed as follows in order to generate an mds_backup (Multi-Domain Management Server backup) with specific CMAs to be collected:

1. Add the CMA directories to the 'mds_exclude.dat' file:  

   # cd $MDSDIR/conf/  
   #cp mds_exclude.dat mds_exclude.dat_original  
   # echo "CPmds-R7X.X/customers/\<CMA_Name\>/\*" \>\> mds_exclude.dat   

   Note: the \`R7X.X\` section needs to be replaced with the actual version used in the actual path. Writing R7X.X in the path will result in lines not being written to the mds_exclude.dat file.  

   <br />

2. Verify that mds_exclude.dat now has the additional line: # cat $MDSDIR/conf/mds_exclude.dat  

   Note: CMAs that are mentioned in this file WILL NOT BE TAKEN in the mds_backup script   

   <br />

3. Go to a folder that has a lot of available free disk space and run the 'mds_backup' script from there (usually it's the /var/log directory):  

   # cd /var/log/  
   # mds_backup -l (-l means no log files)  

   Now the mds_backup file should contain the MDS database and the CMA which isn't mentioned in the file mds_exclude.dat   

   To verify which files are included in the mds_backup file, it is possible to perform a dry-run:  

   # mds_backup -b -v \> filename.txt  

   The output file will contain a list of all files that are included in the mds_backup file, and you will be able to verify that the CMA you wish to exclude is not in the list.

Important Notes:

* If you are prompted to stop the MDS processes, the mds_backup script will not automatically start them after the backups is finished.
* Make sure to revert mds_exclude.dat file back to original after running the backup with the excluded CMA's with this command  
  #cp mds_exclude.dat_original mds_exclude.dat
* Make sure to label and store mdsbackups with excluded CMA's accordingly. Restoring an excluded backup will not restore CMA's that have been excluded.

**Related Solutions:**

* [sk86880: Files that are listed in '$MDSDIR/conf/mds_exclude.dat' file, are not excluded in 'mds_backup' on R75.40VS / R75.45](https://supportcenter.checkpoint.com/supportcenter/portal?eventSubmit_doGoviewsolutiondetails=&solutionid=sk86880&js_peid=P-114a7bc3b09-10006&partition=Advanced&product=Multi-Domain)
* [sk64182: Backup file collected in SecurePlatform WebUI / Gaia Portal on Multi-Domain Management Server is larger than normal](https://supportcenter.checkpoint.com/supportcenter/portal?eventSubmit_doGoviewsolutiondetails=&solutionid=sk64182&js_peid=P-114a7bc3b09-10006&partition=Advanced&product=Multi-Domain)

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