left over small vbk/vbm file after offload

[ConradGoodman]

Hi

What is the purpose of the small (10mb) vbk file that is left behind in a folder on the performance tier, when offloading backups to the capacity tier? A .vbm file is also left behind.

I have a script to compare the backup files in the database for the performance tier, vs what is actually on the file system, due to Veeam leaving files behind in the past and consuming TBs of disk space.

These little files trigger that script and notify me that there are outstanding files.

I can code around it, but what is the point in these files?

[sfirmes]

@ConradGoodman these stub files contain the metadata for the backup data transferred to the capacity tier.
This does a great job explaining the process: https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/backu ... ver=110#dt

Hope this helps.

Steve

[ConradGoodman]

Steve,

That makes sense.

What happens if we have disk failures in the performance tier and lose those files? Are they also in the capacity tier?

[sfirmes]

Yes sir. The data can be restored from the capacity tier in the event the performance tier is unavailable.

[veremin]

You can even simulate this behavior by putting performance extents into maintenance mode and initiating restore. Thanks!

[veremin]

Update: starting with version 11a it's no longer required to put Performance Tier into maintenance made to restore directly from Capacity Tier. All you need is to select the backup you want to restore from under the Backups > Object Storage node. Thanks!