Trying to keep only 2 latest backups

[SpudMuffin]

Current config:
Mode: Entire Computer
Destination: Shared Folder
Shared Folder: (Working Fine)
Keep backups: for [2] days
Advanced: Create/Weekly/on Wednesdays
Schedule: Daily at [10:30am] on these days: Wednesdays

Summary:

Code: Select all

General ------------------------------------------
Backup job name: RussB-PC
Backup job description:
Created by RUSSB-PC\user at 1/10/2025 10:22 AM.

Source -------------------------------------------
Backup mode: entire computer
The entire computer will be backed up

Destination --------------------------------------
Shared folder: \\10.241.23.101\BACKUP
Keep restore points for the last 2 days
Compression level: Optimal (recommended)
Storage optimization: 1MB (recommended)
Storage encryption: disabled
GFS: disabled

Schedule -----------------------------------------
Schedule: workstation
On [Wednesday] at [10:30 AM]
If computer is shutdown at this time: [backup once powered on]
Once backup is taken, computer should: [keep running]
Create active full backups weekly on Wednesday

Command line to start the job:
"C:\Program Files\Veeam\Endpoint Backup\Veeam.EndPoint.Manager.exe" "backup" "1d86802f-c757-46cb-b9e8-200f42ce6463" 

I've let it run for a month and have 4 backups... How can I get it to only save the last 2 and delete the older ones?

[david.domask]

Hi SpudMuffin,

First, can I ask if you've checked the Retention for Veeam Agent for Windows User Guide page? Just so we're on the same page with the expected behavior.

Second, can you show what backups exist currently on the repository just to get an idea of the state of the chain? I'm mostly curious if there are multiple full backups or not.

Basically, reviewing the User Guide regarding retention, retention considers days on which backups were successfully created, not calendar days, so I'm curious if it's just a matter of when the job has run/didn't run.

[SpudMuffin]

http://trfcrypto.com/veeam.png

hmm... maybe I will always see 3? Looks like maybe it deleted the first one...

[SpudMuffin]

NOPE.. still keeping them... Now have 4

[SpudMuffin]

Any ideas?

[david.domask]

Hi SpudMuffin,

Regrettably we will not be able to troubleshoot the retention issue over the forums; with just 3, this was expected as noted in the User Guide above:

For retention policy settings, Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows takes into account not calendar days but days on which backup files were successfully created. Veeam Agent ignores restore points created on the day when the retention policy is applied. In fact, Veeam Agent keeps restore points for the <N> + 1 days, where <N> is the number of days that you specified in the backup job settings.

So at least 3 are expected here, and remember it's not calendar days, but days for which backup files were successfully created. So 3 is expected, but I would expect the 4th point to be cleared by retention. At this point, I would advise open a Support Case and provide logs for Support to review. They will be able to check the logs to understand the retention behavior.