diff --git a/Workflows/Veeam Backup & Replication/Manually Pruning Backups.md b/Workflows/Veeam Backup & Replication/Manually Pruning Backups.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3e25f94 --- /dev/null +++ b/Workflows/Veeam Backup & Replication/Manually Pruning Backups.md @@ -0,0 +1,26 @@ +**Purpose**: +There may come a time that you need to free up space in a Veeam Backup & Replication backup repository because you are running out of space. In these cases, you need to manually trim the older backups in a specific way to ensure this is non-destructive. + +## Manual Removal of Backup Data +You need to perform these steps to carefully delete the oldest full backup chain w/ incrementals. + +- Log into the Veeam Backup & Replication server and locate the local folder hosting the backup repository that is running out of space +- Locate the oldest "**Full**" backup and delete it along with all of the "**incremental**" backups after it leading to the second-most-recent full backup. + +!!! warning "Incremental Backups Affecting the Chain" + Be mindful that if you delete the incremental backups but not the full backup associated with those incrementals you will break the backup chain. In the event this happens, either un-delete the incrementals and try again, or go one-level-deeper and delete the second-oldest full backup and all incrementals to correct the chain's structure. + +## Rescan Backup Repository +At this point, you can just re-scan the backup repository within Veeam so the Veeam database gets updated to notice the missing backup files that you just deleted. [Rescanning Backup Repositories](https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/backup/vsphere/rescanning_backup_repositories.html?ver=120) + +- Launch Veeam Backup & Replication Console +- Navigate to "**Backup Infrastructure > Backup Repositories**" +- Locate the backup repository you deleted backup files from, then "**Right-click > Rescan**" + +## Removing Restore Points from Database +At this point, you have deleted the backup files and re-scanned the backup repository(s) to ensure that Veeam updated its database to notice the now-missing backup files. Now you need to tell Veeam to "forget" about the older backups you deleted so they are no longer displayed within Veeam itself. [Removing Missing Restore Points](https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/backup/vsphere/remove_missing_point.html?ver=120) + +- Navigate to "**Home > Backups > Disk**" +- Locate the backup job associated with the device's backup files you deleted +- Right-click the associated backup job > "**Properties...**" +- In the Backup Properties window, right-click the missing restore point(s) and click "**Forget**" > "**All Unavailable Backups**" \ No newline at end of file