Delete per VM backup file

[BostjanUNIJA]

Hi.
A customer has Veeam version V11 which we plan to upgrade to latest V12.1 version in next days.
Current backup job doesn't have per-machine backup files set, and there is a lack of space on backup repository.
Since all VM's are backed up into single Veeam files, will deleting a specific VM from backup over VBR console delete only that specific VM or will delete also all other backups since they are in the same file?

[david.domask]

Hi Bostjan,

For non-PerMachine backups (perVM), the following process is used: https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/backu ... ml?ver=120

"[If per-machine is disabled] Veeam Backup & Replication only marks data blocks that belong to the deleted VMs as empty — the size of backup files does not change. However, Veeam Backup & Replication will use these data blocks during such operations as merging backup files. To reduce the size of full backup files in forever forward incremental and reverse incremental backup chains, you can compact full backup files. In forward incremental backup chains, files with blocks marked as empty will be deleted by retention."

So the old deleted data is flagged for overwrite -- however, keep in mind if you do not remove the machines from the job source list, then on the next run an Active Full will be written for those machines into the backup file.

[BostjanUNIJA]

Thank you for your answer David.
If the backup repository has less then 100MB space do you believe that compact backup will even work?

[david.domask]

You're very welcome Bostjan, glad I could share some information here.

As for whether Compact Backup will work with 100 MiB left, unfortunately no it will not as it requires (temporary) space equal to the size of an Active Full: https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/backu ... le-compact

"The backup repository must have enough space to store a file of the full backup size. During the compact process, Veeam Backup & Replication creates auxiliary files that exist in the backup repository until the end of the compact operation."

So likely you will need to see if some temporary storage can be allocated to either move the backups off and start backups with some of the machines removed, or find a way to expand the storage.