Managing Backup space

[sadeveloper]

We use all versions of Acronis True Image for various installations.
We use the incremental backup method.
Example:
DailyBackup.tib
DailyBackup1.tib
DailyBackup2.tib
etc.


The problem we have is that when a backup drive is full, what files should we delete?
We don't want to lose anything especially the most recent days backup.

Thanks
SADeveloper

[Xpilot]

Originally Posted by sadeveloper

We use all versions of Acronis True Image for various installations.
We use the incremental backup method.
Example:
DailyBackup.tib
DailyBackup1.tib
DailyBackup2.tib
etc.


The problem we have is that when a backup drive is full, what files should we delete?
We don't want to lose anything especially the most recent days backup.

Thanks
SADeveloper

For the incremental backup method to work you must have a full image, ie the first one, to which increments are added. If you delete the full image all the subsequent increments will be orphaned and cannot then be used for recoveries. You also cannot delete any of the earlier increments and expect the later ones to work as you will have broken the chain.
Deleting the latest increments is also not a viable option.

The solution is to plan your backups ahead of the time when your backups drive will run out of space. For example start with a full followed by "n" increments and then repeat this series till the drive is full. When this happens you could delete the earliest full image and all it's dependent increments to make way for the next series.

In Version 10 there is the ability to specify the number of increments before the next full image however I suggest a read of the TI manual would be a good idea in any event.

Xpilot