Removing Backups

You can detach backups from backup copy jobs, permanently delete backups from the target backup repositories or remove records about backups from the Veeam Backup & Replication console and configuration database using the Remove from configuration operation.

Detaching from Job

When you detach backup copies from a backup job, the job stops processing these backup files. During the next run, the job will start a new backups chain, that is, will create active full backups.

Veeam Backup & Replication detaches the whole backup chain including GFS backups. The detached backup files remain in the backup repository and also in the Veeam Backup & Replication console. Veeam Backup & Replication shows the detached backups in the inventory pane in the node with the (Orphaned) postfix. If the detached backups belonged to the job with daily retention, the background retention process retains the backups according to the configured retention and deletes the backups from the repository after the retention period ends. If the retention period is set in restore points, the background retention process does not delete the backups. You need to delete them manually. For more information on how to delete backups manually, see Deleting from Disk.

To detach backups from a backup copy job:

1. Open the Home view.
2. In the inventory pane, select Backups.
3. In the working area, right-click the backup copy and select Detach from job. Alternatively, click Remove from > Job on the ribbon.

Deleting from Disk

When you use the Delete from disk option, you delete records about backup copies from the Veeam Backup & Replication console and configuration database, and delete backup files from the target backup repository. This option can be used for the whole backup copy or for some workloads in the backup copy.

To permanently remove backup copies from the target backup repository:

1. Open the Home view.
2. In the inventory pane, select Backups.
3. In the working area, right-click the backup copy or a workload in the backup copy and select Delete from disk.
4. To remove all weekly, monthly, quarterly and yearly backups from disk, select the Include archived full backups check box and click Yes.

Removing Backups from Configuration

When you remove a backup from the configuration, backup files remain in the backup repository. You can import the backup to Veeam Backup & Replication at any time later and restore data from it.

When you remove an encrypted backup from configuration, Veeam Backup & Replication removes encryption keys from the configuration database. If you import such backup on the same backup server or another backup server, you will have to specify the password or unlock the backup with Veeam Backup Enterprise Manager. For more information, see Importing Encrypted Backups.

To remove a backup from the configuration:

1. Open the Home view.
2. In the inventory pane, select the Backups node.
3. In the working area, press the [CTRL] key, right-click the backup that you want to remove and select Remove from configuration.