Heatmap

Heatmap Overview

The Heatmap report compares two selected indices and highlights where data has grown or shrunk. These are typically two scans of the same environment taken at different points in time.

• Red → Data growth

• Green → Data shrinkage

• No change → Data inertia—this is often useful when verifying that two systems match, for example, checking whether a cloud backup mirrors an on-premise server.

🔆 The Heatmap is especially helpful for:

• Monitoring new project onboarding.

• Tracking backup activity.

• Validating data replication or synchronization.

• Identifying unexpected changes that may require cleanup or investigation.

How to Select Indices for the Heatmap Report

Before opening the Heatmap, you must select two indices—otherwise, the report cannot run.

→ To compare the same environment over time (recommended):

• Select the same volume/index name in both columns (D and E below), choosing two different dates.

→ To compare different locations (e.g., on-prem vs. cloud backup):

• Select two different indices if that comparison makes sense for your workflow.

Diskover treats Index as the current or primary index and Index 2 as the previous or comparison index. When comparing the same environment over time, select the newer index under Index and the older index under Index 2.

⚠️ IMPORTANT! Your index selections stay active until changed. If you want Diskover to always use the most recent index automatically, return to the Indices page and re-enable Always use latest indices.

How to Access the Heatmap Report

Once two indices are selected, access the Heatmap using either method below.

From the Analytics menu	From the results pane → path column

How to Use the Heatmap

✏️ Hover over any rectangle in the Heatmap to see detailed information about the changes between the two selected indices.

CALLOUT	DESCRIPTION
A	Heatmap controls: Adjust how the Heatmap is generated and displayed: Size Filter: Show only items above a specified size. Min Mtime Filter: Show only items modified after a specified time. Max Mtime Filter: Show only items modified before a specified time. Hide Thresh: Hide very small percentages to reduce visual clutter. Depth: Choose how many directory levels appear in the Heatmap. Size / Count: Choose whether the rectangles represent total storage used or the number of items. Show new: Include items that exist only in the newer index. These items appear in red because they were not present in the older index. Show files: Include individual files instead of showing only directories.
B	Filters summary: Displays the filters currently applied to the Heatmap. ⚠️ Filters remain active across analytics pages until changed or cleared.
C	Reload: Refreshes the cached data used to generate the Heatmap.
D	Change columns: Show the difference between the two selected indices as an absolute size and a percentage. Positive values indicate growth, while negative values indicate shrinkage. Click a column heading to sort the results.
E	Launch the Heatmap for a specific path.
F	Open that path in the search page. Example of the delta you would see in the search page when 2 indices from 2 different points in time are selected: