Limit the number of copies to backup to disk Job

[cptjck25]

Is there a way to limit the number of copies of a "backup-to-disk" job from BackupExec. We want to set particular jobs so they only keep a certain number of backup sets. But so far it just keeps using all available space. Thanks in adavnce

[Ken_Putnam]

From Tools\Options\Media Management

Verify that the option to "use overwriteable media in the target media set before scratch media"  is selected

Then from the Media Tab, right click the media set the job uses and set the OPP to whatever suits your needs

If for example you want to keep Daily jobs for two weeks, set the Daily Media set to an OPP of 13 days. 

(BTW, You should NOT use append for B2D jobs, only overwrite)

[cptjck25]

The backup to tape is now over writing but  when the Backup to disk job runs it is not overwriting After it completes, there are 5 backup sets in the folder going back 6 weeks. The retention period is set at 4 weeks. I apply the same settings. But nothing any ideas

[pkh]

If you set your OPP to 4 weeks then you would get 5 copies on your disk at any one time.  This is because the OPP is calculated from the END of the job that writes to the media.

Let's say, your weekly job starts on Sat. 10 p.m. and ends at 11 p.m.  Since your OPP is set to 4 weeks, the media is protected until 11 p.m. on the fourth Sat.  When your weekly job starts on the 4th Sat at 10 p.m., the media is still not overwriteable and BE will have to use another media.  If you want to keep just 4 backup sets, then you should set your OPP to 3 weeks.

Also, note that after you change your OPP to 3 weeks, BE will not delete any unwanted copies from your disk.  You would have to associate the media with the retired media set, delete it from BE and then physically delete it from your disk.