Can incremental backup include files only read/accessed ?

[cb831]

Hi

I have a setup where a Linux box will sometimes scan files on a Windows Server running Veam.
The box only have read access on the server and yet it seems as the reading provokes Veam to include the accessed files in the incremental backup ?!?
The box accesses the Windows Server using a read only share and does samba commands like "smbclient get" to read the files.

Is there any way that this setup could trigger Veam to backup the read files ?
I'm not aware how Veam is doing its housekeeping, but it seems that it is not using the Archive Attribute as those do not seem to be reset after a backup ?

Any clues are appreciated

Thanks
Claus

[Mildur]

Hi Claus

Is this about Veeam Backup for Azure or Veeam Agent for Windows/Linux? If Windows/Linux, I will move this topic to the correct Forum.
Where does the file get backed up? On the Linux Server or on the Backup Server?
If the file was only opened to read, then it will not be backed up again. If you changed something in the file (data, metadata), then it could be backed up again, especially with File Level Backup Jobs. They backup the entire file if only one bit was changed.
We don't leverage the Archive Bit for the backups.

Thanks
Fabian

[cb831]

Hi Fabian

Sorry if my question was not clear - let me elaborate

Linuxbox is reading files and metadata only and of course scan the directory tree. It is using samba smbclient utility to do so and the login user to access the windows server has read only access to both the share and the files on it.

The only bits that the Linuxbox could alter indirectly is the “accessed” timestamp of the file…

The server is using Veam/Azure.

If you are not using the archive bit how do then keep track of files already backed up ? Do you compare file modified attribute against your database, use checksums or something else.

[Mildur]

Hi Claus

I still don't understand, what product you are using for the backup itself.
- Veeam Backup for Azure
- Veeam Agent for Windows
If you use Veeam Backup for Azure, then it's a block level backup. We know which blocks have changed and we are only transfer changed blocks to the backup repository.

If you use Veeam Agent for Windows, for Volume Level Backup we can also track the changed blocks.
For File Level Backup, we compare last modification time attribute. We have the process documented in our help center:

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

[cb831]

I'm not completely sure as didn't set it up.
I was told that it was running Veeam Backup Exec
However in the schedule they backup both Full and Incremental to sometimes Azure and sometimes to local Synology share and the backup-when-read happens on both destinations.

Claus

[Mildur]

I moved your post to Veeam Backup & Replication. I don't believe you are using Veeam Backup for Azure.
Veeam Backup Exec sounds like a mix between a competitor product and Veeam

Could you please open Case with our support?
They can check the logs and tell you exactly, if everything works as expected or not.
https://www.veeam.com/kb1771

Don't forget to upload the logs.
https://www.veeam.com/kb1832

Thanks
Fabian