Continuous backups versus CDP

[sigdoc1]

When we first installed VBR, we utilized all of the storage for the backups on the backup server. We are currently using continuous backups which complete in 3-5 minutes and then start over. I would like to switch to CPD. We are currently using 45 of 80 TB for backup storage. I have been told that we cannot shrink the size of the storage allotted to the current VM on that server. Is there any solution to this? I really do not want to wipe out the VBR VM and start over. At the same time, we went with Veeam for CDP so I am a bit discouraged.

[Mildur]

Hi Marshall

Welcome to the forum.

Apologies, but I'm not quite sure I fully understand your environment from your description.
Just to clarify: do you have a backup server running as a virtual machine, with the backup repository disk being a virtual disk attached from the hypervisor to that VM?
If so, this deployment is not recommended. If you lose your hypervisor or if an attacker gains access, they could delete all virtual disks—meaning both your VMs and backups would be lost.

Or are you using an external storage appliance and connecting LUNs directly to the VM?

I have been told that we cannot shrink the size of the storage allotted to the current VM on that server.

Shrinking storage is generally not possible, whether you are using VM disks or directly attached storage (iSCSI, SAN) to the VM. You may be able to shrink the partition on your volume, but it won't shrink the volume itself.
A rebuild of the VM and migration of backup files with VeeaMover (Move Backup) may be the safest approach, and allows you to keep FastClone space savings.

Best,
Fabian

[sigdoc1]

Thank you. Yes the storage is on a virtual disk. We have another storage device, a Synology NAS connected via iSCSI. We copy backups daily to the Synology with pruning. We also backup daily to Azure. We backup the Veeam VBR Vm configuration file to the Synology on a daily basis.