Restore points - free up space on disk

[DadoTC]

Hi,
I'm trying to understand how restore point retention policy works and how to cleanup space on disk.
I created a backup job with a single VM inside, configured it to do forward incremental backup with synthetic full on one day (today).
I run the job and it created the full backup (.vbk)
I run the job twice and it created 2 .vib files (incremental)... ok

I set the retention policy to 1 single restore point, I run the job, was expecting to see on disk jus the last .vib file... I see 3 .vib instead, why ? what happened ? why it is not cleaning out the old restore points ?

I notice also that it is not doing the synthetic full backup, why ? because I'm testing everything the same day ? because it see that today I already have the full backup in place?

To go to the point... how can I now clean up the disk so I have just one full backup and one incremental backup ?

thanks

[DGrinev]

Hi Dado and welcome to the community!

as expecting to see on disk jus the last .vib file... I see 3 .vib instead, why ?

Incremental files .vib contain only changes of VMs images and can't be used for restore without the rest data from the full backup file .vbk and all earlier .vibs.
Veeam B&R cannot delete previous files because .vib itself would be unusable, so when the next full .vbk will be created according to your settings, the old backup chain will be erased by the retention rule.
Please, review existing thread about backup chains in details.

because it see that today I already have the full backup in place?

That's correct.

To go to the point... how can I now clean up the disk so I have just one full backup and one incremental backup ?

You can use Forever Forward Incremental backup method and set up retention to keep 2 restore points.

Thanks!

[atakacs]

Hello

I have just "inherited" a Veeam deployment which was left unattended for a few months (!) and my first issue is that the whole storage space (a NAS) has been depleted.

I will need to purge the oldest backups but (sorry - very new to Veeam) not sure what would be my best approach / best practice. I have tired to research here and online but to be honest I ma none the wiser...

Any pointer / suggestion most welcome !

[foggy]

Hi Alexandre, basically you can delete any old parts of the chain consisting of a full backup and subsequent increments - this will not affect your backup jobs. What backup method do your jobs use - forward/forever forward/reverse incremental? Depending on the method, our ability to delete some old restore points varies. Thanks!

[atakacs]

thanks for merging my request on this thread.



Seem to be a reverse incremental job...

[foggy]

In this case you're able to remove the older increments only.

[atakacs]

ok - where in the GUI (assuming it is there ) will I find this ?

[foggy]

This would be the right place.

[atakacs]

Thanks - is there a way to "automatically" trim say 1 restore point form each backup of do I have to click on each object and remove one by one ?

[foggy]

You would need to do this manually.