Replicas folder in Backup repository

[richard.l]

We have a customer still on 6.5. In the backup repository there a folder called 'Replicas'. Inside this folder are numerous other number folders from 50 - 195. Inside the numbered folders are various .vbk files.

I'm I correct in thinking these files are metadata relating to the replica jobs? Is it possible to purge these files as I need to clear some space on the drive where the repository is located.

Thanks,

Richard

[Shestakov]

Hello Richard,
.vbk actually stands for Veeam BacKup file which are used for replication as well. While .vbm is Veeam Backup Metadata and .vbm files are relatively small.
Thanks.

[richard.l]

There aren't any backup jobs running, only replicas. Is it possible to purge/delete any of these files?

[Shestakov]

As I wrote above .vbk files are used for replication jobs as well, so they can not be deleted.
[UPD]
Could you provide screenshots of the folders and its content for us? Thanks!

[foggy]

Actually, you can safely delete replica metadata files (VBK), they will be re-created during the next job run. However, they should not occupy much space, anyway.

[richard.l]

Okay so the files can be deleted? They are taking up 82GB at the moment.

I've got some screenshots. Can I attached them to a post?

[veremin]

Can I attached them to a post?

Sure, upload them to some public available image hosting server and provide link to them, using [img]. Thanks.

[foggy]

Okay so the files can be deleted? They are taking up 82GB at the moment.

Yes, you can remove them. However expect longer replication jobs run after that.

[Shestakov]

And keep in mind that after the first run of replication jobs, metadata will be created.
Thanks.

[richard.l]

And keep in mind that after the first run of replication jobs, metadata will be created.
Thanks.

Okay, will the same amount of data be recreated again on the next run?

[foggy]

You can estimate the space required for metadata based on the typical metadata size, which can be calculated as 128MB for each 1TB of source VM data (per each replica restore point).

[richard.l]

Okay I've deleted some of the files. Thanks for your help with this.

Richard

[Alan_ORiordan]

My Replicas folder seems to increase by approx 8GB a day, and it has done so for at least the last 10 days or so. Are these .vbk files not pruned automatically when the retention period is past on the jobs? I know I can delete these file and folders directly from the Replicas folder in File Explorer but is it normal to have these grow continuously and at such a rate?

[Shestakov]

Hello Alan, "8GB a day" doesn`t tell much if we don`t see the whole picture. What is the retention policy of the replication job? When did you start running the job? What is the size of replicatied objects (VMs)?
Thanks!

[Alan_ORiordan]

Veeam B&R V8
Retention policy is five copies four each of the five replication jobs
There are ten VM's totaling 1360MB across all VM's
There is one continuous job covering a SQL and an Oracle VM.
I modified some jobs during a project on 20/11/15 to change the frequency of replication it didn't seem to be a problem before that and the previous jobs ran from February 2015 with no issues with disk space on the folder

Thanks for your advice

[foggy]

What is the total size of SQL and Oracle VMs and how many restore points do you have for both jobs during the day?

[Shestakov]

Thanks Alan,

There are ten VM's totaling 1360MB across all VM's

Is it a misprint? Does size of 10VMs equal 1360 MB = 1.3 GB?

I modified some jobs during a project on 20/11/15 to change the frequency of replication it didn't seem to be a problem before that and the previous jobs ran from February 2015 with no issues with disk space on the folder

The reason why I asked is to check if number of restore points is growing after every replication job or not.

[Alan_ORiordan]

Yes apologies, 1360GB

I have checked the number of replicas for each job and they are holding the five restore points they are told too.

[Alan_ORiordan]

What is the total size of SQL and Oracle VMs and how many restore points do you have for both jobs during the day?

750GB and five restore point history

[Shestakov]

Thanks, Alan.
Going back to your question:

My Replicas folder seems to increase by approx 8GB a day, and it has done so for at least the last 10 days or so. Are these .vbk files not pruned automatically when the retention period is past on the jobs?

If your files size increased by 8GB in 10 days that seems normal, taking into account 1.3 TB size of VMs with 750GB of SQL and Oracle VMs. Since Veeam B&R is an image-based backup solution, it works with blocks, so a change of a file`s timestamp causes copying of the whole block. So if you activity of SQL and Oracle VMs increased for the past period, incremental files size would also do.

[Alan_ORiordan]

Nikita

It's 8GB increase per day not 8GB total increase. That means that in ten days it will increase 80GB! in 20 days 160GB. With 220GB free space the drive would be full in less than a month. Given that this increase wasn't an issue before between Jan - the recent job modification why are the replica folders increasing and not self pruning for instance?

If you think it is out of the scope of the forum I will open a support case

[foggy]

That metadata growth is not expected, I'd suggest opening a case.

[Shestakov]

Alan, I would check the number of .vbk files in the "Replicas" folder on the target. You should have 5 for each VM. Once a new snapshot created, the oldest one should be deleted automatically.
In any case contacting technical support is a good idea. Thanks!