No Object Storage possible when snapshot based retention ?

[kristofpoppe]

Hi all, just a quick question to verify a setting.

When we create a job on a local datastore we can either select item based or snapshot based retention. As soon as we extend it with blob-storage, we don't have any choice anymore between item level and snapshot. By default it's now always item level. This makes it hard to storage quarterly backups with job natively in S3 compatible storage...

[Mike Resseler]

Kristof,

It is possible. First, you create an object storage repository (bucket). (like here: https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/vbo36 ... tml?ver=50)

Then you create a normal repository like here: https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/vbo36 ... tml?ver=50 where you extend it to object storage. Then you will be able to choose the retention

[kristofpoppe]

Hi Mike,

Thanks for your answer, this is indeed the way we used to work. First create the blob storage, afterward create the locate repo and extend it. Altough, in the wizard, as soon as we're entering blob storage, in the next screen in the wizard, retention selection between item-level and snapshot is disabled. Item-level is selected and we can modify the retention period, but we would like to have the repo snapshot based with retention, not item-level. Thanks for any insights on this !

Kristof

[Mildur]

You can not change from a existing vbo365 backup repo the type from item-level to snapshot based. You have to create a new repo and new backup Job for that.

[kristofpoppe]

Thanks mildur, we're aware that once a repo is created, can't change the type. The problem we're describing is on the creation of new repo's. Creating repo's without extension to blob works perfect (both item-level and snapshot are possible), but creating repo's with extension to blob only allows us to set retention for item-level.

[Mildur]

Ok, I understand now
I don‘t have a object storage.

I‘l try to help you with the guide:

It looks like, object storage Retention is inherited from the object storage Setup screen.
https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/vbo36 ... tml?ver=50

The retention type of a backup repository cannot be modified when extending a repository with object storage that contains offloaded backup data. In such a scenario, the retention type will be inherited from that of object storage that you have selected in the previous step.

If I read the guide from the Object Storage Retention page, it tells me, that retention policy is configured from the backup repo configuration wizard.
This is very strange from the guide. The pages in the guide sending me around in a circle.

https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/vbo36 ... tml?ver=50

Obsolete restore points are removed from object storage automatically by Veeam Backup for Microsoft Office 365. Data removal is based on the retention policy settings that you configure when extending a backup repository with object storage.

Can you see a retention setting on the Add object Storage Wizard?


@Mike
Can you clear that up for us?
One guide tells us, retention policy menu is disabled if extending by object storage, because its inheritated from the object storage settings.
The object storage retention guide tells us, retention policy is configured in the Backup Repo Setting, which is impossible because it‘s disabled if extending the backup repo with a object storage.

Where can we configure object Storage Retention Policy?

[kristofpoppe]

Hello Mildur, Thanks again for you quick answer. When adding Object storage using the wizard, there is no option to set retention settings. Only a Limit of Object consumption can be set.

[Mildur]

No problem Kristoff.
Hopefully Mike can clear this up.

Two possibilities:
- I am stupid and cannot find the solution in the guides
- The guides are wrong and object storage retention is fixed in the code (item level most likely)

If it‘s fixed in the code, then it would be nice to put that on the limitation page!
https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/vbo36 ... tml?ver=50

[kristofpoppe]

Hi Mildur,

Fully agree. If we know this is fixed right now, we're please to start a feature request for a future release.

[Mike Resseler]

Hey Guys,

I'm confused for the moment. Sorry. Let me check a few things to make sure that I am telling it correctly. But as far as I know, object storage should support both item-level as snapshot-level retention.

Let me check.

[Mildur]

Hey Mike

Do you have an answer here? I'm planning a new VBO365 environment and I need to know if Snapshot based Retention is possible with Object Storage.

[nielsengelen]

Both are supported; result: https://www.dropbox.com/s/5t85z29otk920 ... c.png?dl=0

[Mildur]

Hi Niels
Thank you for the screenshot.

Please explain us, where to set the retention type. They guides doesn't have the answer. There are misleading

On this Page:
https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/vbo36 ... tml?ver=50

Data removal is based on the retention policy settings that you configure when extending a backup repository with object storage.

On this Page:
https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/vbo36 ... tml?ver=50

The retention type of a backup repository cannot be modified when extending a repository with object storage that contains offloaded backup data.

[nielsengelen]

As Mike pointed out before, first you add Object Storage to VBO and afterward you create a 'regular' backup repository which you extend with the Object Storage in which you get the retention type step (the last link you shared).

It's also stated in https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/vbo36 ... tml?ver=50:

Obsolete restore points are removed from object storage automatically by Veeam Backup for Microsoft Office 365. Data removal is based on the retention policy settings that you configure when extending a backup repository with object storage.

[Mildur]

Ok, I think I understand now. It was a misunderstanding from the guide from my side

It is possible to change the retention type, if the S3 bucket is empty.
If it contains already data from a previous installation, then the retention type will be greyed out.

The retention type of a backup repository cannot be modified when extending a repository with object storage that contains offloaded backup data.
In such a scenario, the retention type will be inherited from that of object storage that you have selected in the previous step.

[nielsengelen]

Once you have configured a repository, yes it can't be changed and a new one has to be created. This is due to the architecture difference between snapshot and item-level based and the logic required to store on Object Storage

[Mildur]

Yes I know. Same procedure like for the old school backup repos I have misread the guide.

For me, it was like "You have to define it in the object storage Wizard, and retention will be inherited from there to the backup repo wizard". Now, everything is clear.

Thanks again