Explain retention times

[andreas2012]

Hi,

Wondering about backup schedule / retention times, hope someone can explain.

See the following images below. I have create a backup job, and also a backup copy job. I am wondering why the backup copy job does not contain only 1 full backup, now it has several. I thought since I had configured "Keep monthly full backups for 1 month" it should only keep 1 copy, and not several. What am i missing here ?

https://ibb.co/BjCMjdt
https://ibb.co/SJK4rTd
https://ibb.co/GtRh7tJ

Thanks for reply

/R
Andy

[HannesK]

Hello,

I am wondering why the backup copy job does not contain only 1 full backup, now it has several

what do you mean with "several"? It should have two.

The first one, as start of the backup chain. And the second one that is the monthly full backup.

With your backup schedule (only once every few months), there might be a "corner case" scenario. For "short term" retention, there is a minimum of 3 restore points.

The retention policy is explained in the user guide

Best regards,
Hannes

[andreas2012]

Hi,

Thanks for quick reply.

This is restore possibilities from the backup job
https://ibb.co/5MnB0dZ

This is restore possibilities from the backup copy job
https://ibb.co/bQrvG33

Thanks for the links, I have read it, but how would I go ahead if I only wanted 1 backup copy job restore ?

/R
Andy

[HannesK]

Hello,
okay, you see three fulls... that looks like the corner case I mentioned above.

Thanks for the links, I have read it, but how would I go ahead if I only wanted 1 backup copy job restore ?

There is no direct option for that. In V12 (planned to be available in Q1 2023), there is a relatively close workaround available by using "export backup" to a different repository and select "delete backup automatically after...". That needs to be scripted then.

I would simplify this whole thing and just remove GFS from the backup copy job. What's the reason for having GFS in your scenario? I mean, the machine seems to be more or less irrelevant with backups only every few months. I would just configure a backup copy job with 2 restore points / days and the result will be 1 full plus 2 increments.

Best regards,
Hannes

[andreas2012]

Hi,

Ok, thanks I will do that

/R
Andy