Backup Retention

[samuk]

Hi,

Maybe a simple answer to this..

I have a reversed incremental backup job configured to run daily @ 20:00.

I have selected the option to take a full backup every Friday.

I have noticed - that i now have 2 vbk files, will i have a new vbk every Friday? can i configure it to delete the old vbk automatically? as i only want 1 maybe 2 left on disk?

Thanks

[foggy]

Sam, each active full creates completely new VBK file, starting backup chain anew. You can handle the overall number of restore points stored with the job retention setting ("Keep ... restore points").

[dellock6]

The second VBK is only one day older than the one created by the active full, so if for example you configured retention to 7 days, you will have 2 full VBK files for 6 days, and the first VBK will be deleted the next thursday. And the next day you will have again two full files.

From a design perspective, I don't see the need to create a full active backup every week if you are running reversed incremental. Once every 2-3 month is more then enough, just to refresh a backup chain and start it again fresh.

Luca.

[foggy]

Right, and here're more detailed recommendations on the full backup frequency: How often do I need a full backup?