Backup Copy Job

The backup copy job is a separate task that needs to be set apart from the backup job.

The aim of the backup copy job is to copy a restore point from the source backup repository to the target backup repository. Every backup copy job creates its own folder on the target backup repository and stores to it all copied restore points. The folder has the same name as the backup copy job.

The backup copy job runs continuously and has several phases:

• Idle state
• Synchronization process
• Transform operations
• Post-job activities

Idle State

For the most time, the backup copy job remains in the idle state, waiting for a new restore point to appear on the source backup repository.

Synchronization Process

The synchronization process starts at backup copy intervals. You can define backup copy intervals needed in minutes, in hours or days.
At the beginning of a new interval, Veeam Backup & Replication checks if a new restore point is available on the source backup repository:

• If a new restore point is found, the backup copy job starts the synchronization process and copies the latest restore point from the source backup repository to the target backup repository.
• If a new restore point is not found or is locked by the source backup job, the backup copy job gets back to the idle state.

Transform Operations

Veeam Backup & Replication can perform a number of additional transform operations on the target backup repository after the backup copying task or at the end of the backup copy interval. Transform operations include 3 tasks:

• Backup chain transform. When a new restore point is copied to the target backup repository, Veeam Backup & Replication checks the retention policy settings for the backup copy job. If the limit in restore points is exceeded, Veeam Backup & Replication transforms the backup chain to make room for a new restore point. For more information, see Retention Policy for Backup Copy Jobs.
  After the transform process, Veeam Backup & Replication can perform additional operations: remove data for deleted machines from the backup chain and compact a full backup file.

• Removal of deleted items. In the backup copy job settings, you can select to maintain retention policy for deleted machines. In this case, Veeam Backup & Replication will check the list of machines included in the job and remove data for deleted machines from the backup chain on the target backup repository. For more information, see Specifying Advanced Settings.

• Full backup file compact. In the backup copy job settings, you can select to periodically compact a full backup file to reduce its size and increase the speed of read and write operations. For more information, see Compacting Full Backup File.

Post-Job Activities

In the backup copy job settings, you can instruct Veeam Backup & Replication to perform post-job activities, such as execution of custom scripts or sending job results by email. Post-job activities are performed after all transform operations are completed.

The synchronization process and transform operations make up a separate session of the backup copy job.

Related Topics

• Backup Copy Intervals
• Backup Copy Window
• Automatic Job Retries
• Handling Backup Copy Job Issues