Is it possible to defer the Full Backup File Merge?

[stevehughes]

I have a set of VMs in my environment for which I want to achieve the shortest possible RPO during working hours. I'm currently running 15 minutes but I see I have the option of continuous which would be even better.

I'm running forward incremental to an REFS repository. The merge operation at the end of the backup takes several minutes, so I am wondering if there is a way that the merging of outdated restore points can be deferred to the wee hours of the morning, or if there is some other way of rolling up old restore points without impacting the time required for the actual VM backup?

Thanks,
Steve

[nmdange]

You can switch from forever forward incremental to normal incremental with synthetic fulls either daily or weekly. In that case, the merge will only take place on the scheduled time for the synthetic full.