SUMMARY
Unitrends offers many ways to protect an asset. For example, a Windows server running in a virtualized environment can be protected through VM-level backups, image-level backups or file-level backups. While some may choose to utilize multiple protection features, however, this may also be configured unintentionally. This article will discuss how to determine whether redundant backups exist and how to remove them, if desired.
ISSUE
Redundant backups can be good, when the protected asset and Unitrends backup have the available resources to support them. However, in the course of ever-changing IT landscape, backup strategies or recovery needs may change. When changes are made, proper clean up remediation of legacy data must occur or redundant backups may occur unintentionally.
RESOLUTION
Identify redundant backups
1 Select Recover > Backup Catalog and click Backup Browser.
2) Select the Appliance and Date Range of backups to search. For the date range, view at least 30 day prior to obtain a full view of recent backups. Backups that ran during the date range display:
3) Sort using the Protected Asset column, or search for a specific protected asset by typing in the Protected Asset search field.
4) Review the Application column. If you find a protected asset using multiple applications, these are potential redundant backups.
5) Review the full backups to ensure a full understanding of what is protected during each backup type.
Review backup jobs
Review backup jobs to understand what selections have been made for each job. For example, are there any folders or volumes excluded in the backup job. Be careful to ensure all required data is protected.
To view all scheduled jobs
1) Select Jobs > Job Manager.
2) The Job Manager tab lists all scheduled jobs.
Once you determine that redundant backups exist, you will need to determine which backup type to keep and which to remove. Do you need assist determining which backup types to keep and which to discard? See Should I protect an Asset using VM, File Agent, or Image Agent backups?
To remove all backups for a protected asset, the protected asset itself should be removed.
WARNING: When a protected asset is removed, all of its associated backups are also removed. These backups are no longer recoverable once a protected asset is removed.
Preparing to remove an asset
Before removing an asset, you must remove the asset from all job schedules.
Notes:
| Unitrends asset configuration settings are saved in the master.ini file. Note that deleting the asset from the Unitrends appliance also removes this file from the asset itself, and any customized settings you have added are lost. Be sure to save the asset’s master.ini file before deleting if you think you may want to add the asset to this or another Unitrends appliance and want to use these settings. After adding the asset back to an appliance, replace the standard master.ini file with the one you have saved. |
| If you are using Windows replicas, and you remove the Windows asset while a virtual recovery is in progress, the deletion may not be instantaneous. The cleanup takes time because the recovery is shut down and the virtual replica asset is removed. |
To remove an agent-based asset
1) Select Configure > Protected Assets.
2) Select the asset you want to remove.
3) Click Remove.
4) Check the I understand... box and click Remove Asset and Delete Backups.
5) Click OK to close the Information message. The asset is removed: 