Indexing Data

Veeam Backup & Replication stores indexing data in the Veeam Backup Catalog folder. By default, the Veeam Backup Catalog is located in the C:\VBRCatalog folder on the Veeam backup server and on Veeam Backup Enterprise Manager.

Veeam Backup Catalog comprises the following data:

Machine index
Session index

Machine Index

Machine index reproduces the structure of files and folders on the machine guest OS. Veeam Backup & Replication uses the file index to search for guest OS files within machine backups.

For every machine whose file system has been indexed, there is a dedicated folder that contains indexing data for all restore points available for the machine.

Session Index

Veeam Backup Catalog keeps information for every backup job session. Session indexing data describes which machine restore points correspond with a specific backup job session and what sets of files are required to restore a machine to a specific point in time.

Session indexing files vary for incremental and reverse incremental backup chains:

For incremental backup chains, a session indexing file contains information about only one restore point — the restore point that is created with this backup job session. Additionally, it contains information about a set of files that is required to restore a machine to this point in time. For example, if a backup chain contains 5 restore points, the 5th session indexing file will contain information about the 5th restore point and a group of 5 files that are required to restore the machine to this point in time.

BackupServer=BACKUP01

JobName=srv04

SessionDateUtc=05/13/2014 08:05:57.081

####################################################

# OIBS

oib0.VmName=srv04

oib0.BackupTimeUtc=05/13/2014 08:02:04.988

oib0.OibUID=f81f790c-103e-4351-81a4-e4ec8a8c290c

oib0.Platform=EVmware

oib0.Group=grp0

####################################################

# BACKUP FILE GROUPS

grp0.file0.Server=BACKUP01

grp0.file0.Path=c:\backup\srv04\srv042014-05-13T010101.vib

grp0.file0.ModifyDateUtc=05/13/2014 08:04:10.293

grp0.file1.Server=BACKUP01

grp0.file1.Path=c:\backup\srv04\srv042014-05-13T004536.vib

grp0.file1.ModifyDateUtc=05/13/2014 07:47:52.077

grp0.file2.Server=BACKUP01

grp0.file2.Path=c:\backup\srv04\srv042014-05-13T000053.vib

grp0.file2.ModifyDateUtc=05/13/2014 07:04:24.38

grp0.file3.Server=BACKUP01

grp0.file3.Path=c:\backup\srv04\srv042014-05-12T230102.vib

grp0.file3.ModifyDateUtc=05/13/2014 06:04:25.003

grp0.file4.Server=BACKUP01

grp0.file4.Path=c:\backup\srv04\srv042014-05-12T220051.vib

grp0.file4.ModifyDateUtc=05/13/2014 05:03:53.817

grp0.file5.Server=BACKUP01

grp0.file5.Path=c:\backup\srv04\srv042014-05-12T210105.vbk

grp0.file5.ModifyDateUtc=05/13/2014 04:07:55.047

For reverse incremental backup chains, a session indexing file contains information about all restore points engaged in the backup job session. In a reverse incremental chain, the last restore point is always a full backup. To produce a full backup and calculate incremental changes, Veeam Backup & Replication needs to address all points in the job. For this reason, the session indexing file refers not only to the restore point created with the backup job session, but also to all restore points preceding it. Additionally, a session indexing file describes groups of files that are required to restore a machine to all possible restore points. For every restore point, there is a separate group of files.

For example, if you have a reverse incremental chain of 3 restore points, the session indexing file for the last backup job session will contain information about 3 restore points and will describe three groups of files:

Group 0 will list restore points that are required to restore the machine to the 1st, the earliest restore point.
Group 1 will list restore points that are required to restore the machine to the 2nd restore point.
Group 2 will list restore points that are required to restore the machine to the 3rd, the latest restore point.

BackupServer=SRV02

JobName=srv01_reversed

SessionDateUtc=05/14/2014 11:20:18.952

####################################################

# OIBS

oib0.VmName=srv01

oib0.BackupTimeUtc=05/14/2014 10:56:55.993

oib0.OibUID=47c62e82-3066-478c-8272-1fb65a47d601

oib0.Platform=EVmware

oib0.Group=grp1

oib1.VmName=srv01

oib1.BackupTimeUtc=05/14/2014 11:02:20.15

oib1.OibUID=d39f4a3c-2b5b-415a-ae0d-e9acc49f63a0

oib1.Platform=EVmware

oib1.Group=grp2

oib2.VmName=srv01

oib2.BackupTimeUtc=05/14/2014 11:16:52.779

oib2.OibUID=1f3c31bf-9541-46ac-9826-62ecfd76a291

oib2.Platform=EVmware

oib2.Group=grp3

####################################################

# BACKUP FILE GROUPS

grp0.file0.Server=BACKUP

grp0.file0.Path=c:\backup\srv01_reversed\srv01_reversed2014-05-14T035606.vrb

grp0.file0.ModifyDateUtc=05/14/2014 10:56:55.993

grp0.file1.Server=BACKUP

grp0.file1.Path=c:\backup\srv01_reversed\srv01_reversed2014-05-14T040137.vrb

grp0.file1.ModifyDateUtc=05/14/2014 11:18:14.43

grp0.file2.Server=BACKUP

grp0.file2.Path=c:\backup\srv01_reversed\srv01_reversed2014-05-14T041612.vbk

grp0.file2.ModifyDateUtc=05/14/2014 11:18:45.973

grp1.file0.Server=BACKUP

grp1.file0.Path=c:\backup\srv01_reversed\srv01_reversed2014-05-14T040137.vrb

grp1.file0.ModifyDateUtc=05/14/2014 11:18:14.43

grp1.file1.Server=BACKUP

grp1.file1.Path=c:\backup\srv01_reversed\srv01_reversed2014-05-14T041612.vbk

grp1.file1.ModifyDateUtc=05/14/2014 11:18:45.973

grp2.file0.Server=BACKUP

grp2.file0.Path=c:\backup\srv01_reversed\srv01_reversed2014-05-14T041612.vbk

grp2.file0.ModifyDateUtc=05/14/2014 11:18:45.973

BSessionVersion=5

A full backup file “moves forward” with every new backup job run, and Veeam Backup & Replication updates groups of files. This helps maintain valid groups of files required to restore a machine to a necessary point in time.

The session indexing files maintain groups of files for all restore points that have ever existed in the backup chain. This behavior lets you search and restore machine guest OS files in archived backups.

When a backup is archived to tape or to a secondary backup repository, you can still browse the machine file system to this point in time using historical indexing data. Once you find a necessary file, Veeam Backup Enterprise Manager uses the session indexing file to inform you what group of files is required to restore the machine to the selected point in time.