Deleting backup sets and backup set data
IMPORTANT: The system does not automatically delete backup sets or backup set data. This process must be performed by an authorized user. Apply caution when performing this process because data cannot be recovered after it has been deleted.
This section describes how to delete backup sets and remove backed up files or file generations that are stored in the DS-System online storage.
Delete type | Description |
Selective Delete | Allows you to delete data that you specify from a single backup set. |
Assisted Delete | Allows you to delete data that has been removed from source for multiple backup sets. |
Remove Backup Set | Delete all files of a single backup set or remove a single backup set from DS-Client. |
NOTE: If two-factor authentication is enabled on the DS-Client, you can delete backup sets and backed up files or file generations only if you are an authorized user listed in the two-factor authentication settings for the DS-Client. For more information on two-factor authentication, see
“Configuring the two-factor authentication settings”.
The basic delete methods simply remove a generation from online storage. However, when the delete is combined with some other features, there are some additional considerations:
• Remove a backup set — This deletes all online data of a backup set and also removes the backup set itself.
• Selective delete — This is the simplest delete method. You browse backup sets with the Delete Wizard and pick the specific files to delete.
• Assisted delete — This is a faster method to remove obsolete data from multiple backup sets. It only selects backup data that was removed from the backup source and was detected by DS-Client.
• Generation recycling (passive delete) — All backup items must have a maximum number of online generations. For backup data that does not change often, you can have only 1 generation online even after several backups. However, data that changes often will have multiple generations. Once a file reaches its maximum number of generations, the oldest generation gets overwritten by the next backup. To prevent loss of these old generations, configure the backup set with the BLM (Infinite Generations) option, which moves the old generation to BLM Archiver.
• Delete because of retention — Any data that is not retained when a retention rule is enforced will be deleted.
The following options can affect deletes or delete behavior:
• Move to BLM (Archiving) — If BLM Archiving is available, every delete situation will have the Move to BLM option.
– If the backup set is configured with the BLM (Infinite Generations) option, the Move to BLM is always selected. If DS-System cannot move the deleted data to BLM, the delete will fail.
• DS-System delete lock (from service provider) — If your service provider has applied a Delete Lock to your customer account or to this specific DS-Client, the following will occur:
– You will see a warning message in the Activity Log when a delete activity is performed.
– If possible, DS-System will move the deleted data to BLM.
– The delete will fail if DS-System cannot move the deleted data to BLM. If the delete was a passive delete (e.g. generation recycling), the maximum generation configuration will be overruled and the surplus generations will accumulate online.
• BLM delete lock (from service provider) — If your service provider has applied a Delete Lock to your customer account or to this specific DS-Client on the BLM Archiver, the following will occur:
– You will not be able to Confirm Destruction of any destruction requests.
– You will see an error in the BLM Activity Log when a data destruction confirmation activity is performed.
NOTE: BLM is only accessible to end-users via a DS-NOC web site.
• Deleting a VMware VADP backup set with Local DS-VDR enabled — Before deleting a VMware VADP backup set with the Local DS-VDR option enabled, you must ensure that the DS-Client is connected to its Local DS-VDR Tool. For more information, see
“Configuring the Local DS-VDR Tool”.