Feature Request - Add Template Exclusion option to "Backup C

[Oka Soh]

Hi All,

I have the feature request.
I want template exclusion option in Backup Copy Job.
This is needed under the below situation.

1. Backup Job specified the object which has multiple child VMs and templates (eg. ESXi host).
2. Enable template exclusion option in Backup Job.
3. Backup Copy Job specified its Backup Job.

Then, Backup Copy Job tries to process the template.
This is unavoidable behavior by design.
(I've heard so from Terry. Support Case 00555614)

This is not expected behavior that Backup Copy Job ignores exclusion option in Backup Job.
Of cource, we have the option to exclude template by choosing one by one manually.

But under some circumstances, this option is NOT effective.
For example, VMs and templates are created, moved and deleted frequently
In this circumstances, choosing one by one is very difficult and troublesome.

So, if there is template exclusion option in Backup Copy Job,
Backup Copy Job will follow actual backup data more.

By above reason, I want template exclusion option in Backup Copy Job.
This will make Veeam better, I think.
(I have already requested from Customer Portal. Case # 00578719)

Best Regards,
Sohei Okamoto

[veremin]

Then, Backup Copy Job tries to process the template.

Can you elaborate on this? It tries to copy incremental point for VM template, even though none is present in source backup job, and, thus, generates error? Thanks.

[Vitaliy S.]

1. Backup Job specified the object which has multiple child VMs and templates (eg. ESXi host).
2. Enable template exclusion option in Backup Job.
3. Backup Copy Job specified its Backup Job.

This is not expected behavior that Backup Copy Job ignores exclusion option in Backup Job.

I'm a bit confused with these statements. Backup job has some exclusions for templates, but backup copy job still tries to copy VM data for them? What have you specified as a source for your backup copy job? The entire backup job?

[foggy]

Sohei, how do you exclude templates from the original backup job? Am I understanding right that you use the 'Exclude templates from incremental backup' check box under Exclusions? As it can be seen from its name, this setting does not exclude templates from backup completely (as would explicit VM exclusion do), so since backup copy job does not analyze restore points for whether they are full or incremental, this setting is currently ignored. If you add templates to exclusions explicitly, they will not be processed by the backup copy job.

I've passed this to R&D so it could be addressed somehow in future versions. Thanks for the heads up.

[Oka Soh]

Thank you for replies and sorry for my poor English.

Vlad, in this case, Backup Copy Job makes the warning, "Initial copy did not complete, and will resume on the next copy interval".
But, this is annoying thing because I intended to exclude template.
And this warning prevent us from realizing other warning.

Vitaly, yes, I specified the entire Backup Job as the target of Backup Copy Job.
And its Backup Job has scope to object like ESXi as the target.
Even though Backup Job doesn't process the template, Backup Copy Job is trying to process the template.
That's not along actual backup file (or intended backup).

Alex, yes, I've checked built-in option's checkbox in Backup Job.
All templates in object seem to be processed regardless of the result of Backup Job.
As you see, it's successful by adding templates to exclude explicity in Backup Copy Job.
But, in the circumstances like I said, it's not all-around solution...

Thank you for addressing.

[dimitar.stoyanov]

Hi guys,

I am hitting the same issue and I am looking for solution. There is no change in v.8 and still Backup copy job tries to process the templates (they are excluded from incremental backup job).
Is there some workaround?

Regards,
Dimitar

[veremin]

Hi, Dimitar, the workaround might be to add templates to the list of exclusions, instead of using the said option. Thanks.

[dimitar.stoyanov]

Hi, Vladimir, if I do so that mean the templates will not be backed up at all. Isn't it?
Thanks.

[veremin]

Yes, they will be excluded from the source backup job. But, may be you can create additional backup job to backup just templates? This job will have a less frequent schedule (I assume it's not necessary to backup templates regularly) and will not be included in backup copy job. Thanks.

[dimitar.stoyanov]

It is no so bad idea and it sounds like a workaround! Although I have to reconfigure the existing jobs, and to create new one (some extra work).
It will be useful to add this feature as checkbox somehow in future versions.

Thank you for your quick responses!

Regards,
Dimitar

[veremin]

You're welcome. We'll keep an eye on the requested functionality. So, thank you for the feedback provided.

[jaseruk]

Wow, 3 and a half years later and I've just been caught out by this bug!!

Any chance of getting this added in and documented?

[siska]

so it happens that even after 3 years they find errors in the templates. Although, if it are used by as many people as possible, then this will not happen. I used templates for my site from templatemonster and fortunately nothing like this happened to them.