backup-to-disk overwrite media

[klantomo]

Is it possible to automatically erase virtual media created with Backup Exec backup-to-disk feature? I want to backup to a hard disk then duplicate the virtual media to a tape library and then automtically free the disk space again.

Thanks

 

[Rols]

No unfortunatley the data will still exist on the hard drive even if the media has been deleted from the media sets. The only way to get rid of it is to erase it manually (ie: through windows explorer etc).

Cheers

 

[Agentstarks]

What if you made a simple batch file to erase everything in your backup-to-disk folder, then use scheduled tasks to run the batch file at your specified times?

 

[klantomo]

Running a batch to delete the files in the backup-to-disk folder is doable, but how do I get rid of the virtual media in backup exec? do I have to delete them manually every date? somehow it seems that this whole backup-to-disk feature is not well thought-out.

 

[Rols]

You will have to move the media into the retired media pool & then delete it from there.

I think you are right the backup to disk feature doesnt seem to be all that well engineered.

Cheers

 

[Kopfjager]

Backup exec treats those files almost exactly as it would a tape. So just like if you delete a tape from a media set, its not like the tape really disappears.

A couple of ideas come to mind.

Unless this is a one time backup, just set the job to overwrite, and put no overwrite protection on the media set that holds the bkf files. This way, Backup Exec uses the same files each time and although the space is always taken, you wont keep adding to the amount used.

Another thing you can do, if this is 9.x only, is to schedule erase jobs. It reduces the size of the file to a few kilobytes. If this is 8.6, you'll have to erase manually.