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Disk Space Management

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I've been battling with managing the amount of space my backups require. In my latest attempt to get disk space under control, I've used a "custom backup scheme". (screenshot one) Although, I do not believe this is working as I intended.

Using the above scheme, I should get an entirely new backup on every third week (with 2 chains of the original created each week). After the highest compression of the backup, I make this assumption: 1GB disk space used should be well under 1GB back up size.

Now let's look at the file system. When I look at the location where my backups are being saved, there are 8 files taking up 786 GB! (screenshot two). The original disk it is backing up is only ~200 GB. This means to back up 1 bit, it takes 4 bits?!

I am using the "Automatic Cleanup" feature. Why are are many versions/chains being persisted?

Thanks in advance for any help! I'm using version 11.

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Based on your settings, here is what you can expect.

Recent version chain = 4 files (1 full plus 3 inc)

store no more than 2 version chains indicates you will be keeping 8 fies (2 chains of 4 each)

Acronis will create the next full before any deletion of old occurs, so
the program will create the next full (backup run #9) before it deletes the oldest single chain of 4 files.

In summary,
Add up the space consumed by the 2 chains (8 files)
Also include the temporary space for the next full (run #9) and that is the space requirements.
Currently, your storage disk shows 213GB of free space available for storing a new backup. The next backup needs at least >404GB of temporary space to create the replacement full before the chain can be deleted.

Normally, space permiting using your backup scheme settings, the program will attempt to create the first 9 backup runs. It will either succeed or error out on not enough space. If the "MyBackup" is your full backup, you would need at least 400-500GB (temporary space) of more free space before another full could be completed and oldest chain deleted.

If you are running out of space, you may have to change the "store no more than 2 recent version chain" to a lessor number--such as "1". Such a change would enable you to increase the number of incrementals (slightly) to compensate for the fewer chains being retained.

It appears you may be storing several tasks inside the single storage folder (if drive B is a single disk). This can be confusing both to the user and the program. My recommendation is to use a diferent sub-folder for storing the backup of each task.

Editing or changing the task parameters can also confuse the program which can cause unexpected results.
You may need to create all new tasks and start over in order get an orderly work flow.

The verison of backup you appear to be using is 2011 rather than the much older version 11.

If you are storing several tasks on the same disk, you will need to coordinate your total needs in order to keep from having a space issue error.

The numbering of your backup files would seem to imply(not sure) that one of your backups has been restored which would cause the program to add more number to the file name and to start its retention number over again. After a restoration of a backup, my recommendation is to immediat ely start over with all new tasks.

The size of your "My Backup" is 404GB if that is your full backup. You indicate source is only 200 used space, then something is not matching. Your drive C seems to show 200GB of free space on a 2TB disk. Your backup type is a partition type. My suggestion is that you click the disk mode option and have the program include all partitions on the disk. Many of us prefer the disk mode backup as compared to the partition mode backup.

Edited several times.

GroverH - amazing response! Your explanation of how the backup schemes work is clear and succinct.

I have taken your advice and done the following:

(1) Deleted all existing backups.
Might as well start from scratch as you suggested, because something is clearly wrong with my current backup(s)

(2) Created all new custom backup tasks.
Decreased the chain size to 1. I have no need for multiple chains. Best I can tell from your explanation: a chain is like a separate 'fork' (in the world of software development)

(3) Re-ran all tasks.
Everything seems in order so far...

(4) Wait
I'll keep running the new custom tasks and hopefully my backup drive will not be filled up in under a month

Thanks again,
Ben