This is an archive version of the document. To get the most up-to-date information, see the current version.

Retention Policy for Active Full Archive Backups

If you enable the Read the entire restore point from source instead of synthesizing it from increments option, Veeam Backup & Replication stops transforming the backup chain with every backup copy interval, and no longer uses the forever forward incremental backup method to maintain the desired number of restore points in the backup chain. Instead, it applies to the backup chain retention rules similar to the forward incremental backup method. For more information, see Forward Incremental Backup Retention Policy.

Veeam Backup & Replication waits until the number of restore points in the new backup chain equals the number of restore points specified in the retention policy settings, and then removes restore points from the previous backup chain. Archive full backups remain on disk because Veeam Backup & Replication applies a separate retention policy scheme to archive full backups.

Note

Veeam Backup & Replication ignores archive full backups when determining whether the number of restore points specified in the retention policy settings is reached.

For example, you have configured a backup copy job in the following way:

  • The backup copy job starts on Sunday; the backup copy interval is equal to 1 day and starts at 12:00 AM.
  • Simple retention policy is set to 4.
  • Weekly full backups are enabled, Thursday is selected in the full backup schedule settings.
  • The Read the entire restore point from source instead of synthesizing it from increments option is enabled.

Veeam Backup & Replication will run the backup copy job in the following way:

  1. During the first 4 backup copy intervals, Sunday through Wednesday, Veeam Backup & Replication will create a full backup and 3 incremental backups.
  2. On Thursday, Veeam Backup & Replication will add a weekly full backup to the backup chain.

Retention Policy for Active Full Archive BackupsImportant!

If the daily interval start time is different from 12:00 AM, Veeam Backup & Replication will create a weekly full backup 1 day prior to the day selected in the full backup schedule settings. For more information, see Active Weekly Full Backups.

  1. Friday through Monday, Veeam Backup & Replication will add incremental backups to the new backup chain. On Monday, Veeam Backup & Replication will remove the whole previous backup chain.

Retention Policy for Active Full Archive Backups 

  1. Veeam Backup & Replication will keep on adding incremental backups to the backup chain until the next Thursday. On Thursday, Veeam Backup & Replication will create a new weekly full backup.
  2. Friday through Sunday, Veeam Backup & Replication will add incremental backups to the new backup chain.
  3. On Monday, Veeam Backup & Replication will add a new incremental backup to the new backup chain, and remove incremental backups from the previous backup chain. The weekly full backup will remain on disk.

Retention Policy for Active Full Archive Backups