Old Version Cleanup Rules are not deleting old versions. Disk fills up
I have ATI 2016 set to a custom scheme using Incremental. The rules are set to create a full version followed by 5 incrementals. Specifically, following the layout of the Options page in ATI,
Backup Method: Incremental
Create a full version after: 5 incremental versions
Old version cleanup rules: Delete version chains after 5 days
The problem is that ATI creates the full version, creates five incremental versions, then tries to create another full version without deleting the existing full version. When it discovers the disk is too full for another full version is cancels.
I have changed the settings to various settings hoping I would stumble upon wording (a setting) that would work. But over many months and many setting combinations I always get the same results. "Old version cleanup rules" NEVER delete the original full version. I know there is a check box for "Do not delete the first version of the backup" but I have NEVER checked that box.
Your custom scheme settings have told the program you want to keep 1 full plus 5 incrementals and when those 6 files are older than 5 days, then delete the old and start with a new set.
And as user FtrPilot has correctly indciated, the replacment full must be successful before the delete will occur so storage space must be alloted for the extra backup files.
So if your backups are daily & creating a backup every day, then you will be creating the initial 6 to complete the chain 1 and then create 1 more each wait day or 6 more while the 6 day wait period occurs. Storage space needs are essentially 2 chains of 6 each plus the replacement full before the planned automatic deletion occurs.
To get the program to delete the first chain as soon as it is made, you need to set the wiit period to 1 day or use option "store no more than 1 recent version chain". Either option will create the next full before the delete of chain 1 (full plus 5 inc) occurs. Either new setting will require storage space needs for chain 1 plus one more replacment full.
Note the time period kept is actually 6 days because the time period is not reached until the day number is more than 5 days.
A new task with the revised settings will be needed as changing an existing task is not predictable and rarely ever produces the expected result. Creating a new task will be quicker than wasting your time attempting to change the old task just to later find the chane did not work
The new task should have a different name as compared to the old task name plus I prefer to recommend that the storage folder name also be different.
TrueImage provides no method to delete the old chains before a new chain is created so the extra storage space need must be included in your storage space calculations.
FtrPilot,
Thanks. That really makes sense. My drive is almost, but not quite, big enough for two full backups. I just ordered a 5TB!! external drive. That should end this problem.
GH-Storage,
Thank you. FtrPilot's answer made sense and yours really filled it out. This had been getting really frustrating, but now I see I had not thought it out. Thanks for taking the time to give a complete answer.
Gene...5 TB will do nicely.
https://forum.acronis.com/forum/100416
Above is a link to Grover's backup schemes....lots of good info. Grover is a proponent of letting ATI do the housekeeping of the backup (.TIB) files.
Personally, I do my own housekeeping of the backup files. This causes ATI some problems, but I have work-arounds that work for me. The link below discusses what happens if the user deletes .tib files.
https://forum.acronis.com/forum/109488
Whichever way you decide to go, I would recommend a minimum of 30 days worth of backups. If you decide to do your own housekeeping, send me a PM & start a new thread and I will share my workarounds.
Regards,
FtrPilot
FtrPilot,
Thanks very much. I will digest the two links. I have always been forced to do my own ATI housekeeping because I never got ATI to delete the first version. :-)
Thank you for being so thorough. If I decide to do my own housekeeping I will contact you.
Gene