Hello all,I'm using a ReadyNAS 104 at level 6.4.1. When defining a backup job to backup ReadyNAS contents to an external USB/eSATA drive connected to the ReadyNAS, there's an option to remove the content of the backup destination: Here is what I did and what happened:I defined backup job 1 to backup all ReadyNAS home directories to the external drive.For this job I did NOT check the "Remove the contents of the backup destination ..." option.Backup job 1 run all the night but completed successfully.I defined backup job 2 to backup all private time machine backups to the same external drive backup job 1 is using.For this backup job 2 I decided to always "Remove the contents of the backup destination", so I check this option for backup job 2.As the option is private for each backup job, I though it will delete only the data which was backed up by this job.I started backup job 2 which has the "Remove the contents of the backup destination ..." option checked.I was very surprised to see that the backup job 2 deleted ALL contents of the external drive, including my backup job 1 home directory backups.Again, I thought the option is affecting the backup job 2 data only as it's the only backup job having the "Remove the contents of the backup destination ..." option checked.I feel the implementation of the option "Remove the contents of the backup destination ..." is not good because it's not intuitive. Why is it possible to use different settings for different backup jobs when the option has a global effect on all backup jobs? I know it's possible to specify different backup target devices for each backup job, but the description / warning for this option in the GUI should be more clear on what's happening when I check the option.The warning should clearly state that removing ALL contents means EVERYTHING on the backup target device, and not only the backup target path on the target device. Don't know if this makes sense to you? Regards... Holger

HolgerGT86 wrote: This was a quick one. It happens when you run a backup job and do not specify a destination path. I defined a test backup job to back up source /data/backup (share:Backup) to destination USB back top. I did not specify a path for the destination, I selected to run a full backup and checked the option "Remove the contents ...". When running the test backup job all data on the destination device was deleted, including the already backed up data for "BackupHomeFoldersToTaurus" and "BackupTimeMachineToTaurus". Don't know if this makes a difference now? Regards, Holger That means its working as designed - deleting all files in the specified destination folder before beginning the backup.

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HolgerGT86

Guide

Dec 03, 2015

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Remove contents of backup destination option

Hello all,

I'm using a ReadyNAS 104 at level 6.4.1.

When defining a backup job to backup ReadyNAS contents to an external USB/eSATA drive connected to the ReadyNAS, there's an option to remove the content of the backup destination:

Here is what I did and what happened:

I defined backup job 1 to backup all ReadyNAS home directories to the external drive.
For this job I did NOT check the "Remove the contents of the backup destination ..." option.
Backup job 1 run all the night but completed successfully.
I defined backup job 2 to backup all private time machine backups to the same external drive backup job 1 is using.
For this backup job 2 I decided to always "Remove the contents of the backup destination", so I check this option for backup job 2.
As the option is private for each backup job, I though it will delete only the data which was backed up by this job.
I started backup job 2 which has the "Remove the contents of the backup destination ..." option checked.
I was very surprised to see that the backup job 2 deleted ALL contents of the external drive, including my backup job 1 home directory backups.
Again, I thought the option is affecting the backup job 2 data only as it's the only backup job having the "Remove the contents of the backup destination ..." option checked.

I feel the implementation of the option "Remove the contents of the backup destination ..." is not good because it's not intuitive. Why is it possible to use different settings for different backup jobs when the option has a global effect on all backup jobs?

I know it's possible to specify different backup target devices for each backup job, but the description / warning for this option in the GUI should be more clear on what's happening when I check the option.

The warning should clearly state that removing ALL contents means EVERYTHING on the backup target device, and not only the backup target path on the target device.

Don't know if this makes sense to you?

Regards... Holger

Other Discussions

StephenB
Dec 10, 2015
HolgerGT86 wrote:

This was a quick one.

It happens when you run a backup job and do not specify a destination path.

I defined a test backup job to back up source /data/backup (share:Backup) to destination USB back top. I did not specify a path for the destination, I selected to run a full backup and checked the option "Remove the contents ...".

When running the test backup job all data on the destination device was deleted, including the already backed up data for "BackupHomeFoldersToTaurus" and "BackupTimeMachineToTaurus".

Don't know if this makes a difference now?

Regards,

Holger

That means its working as designed - deleting all files in the specified destination folder before beginning the backup.

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StephenB
Guru - Experienced User
Dec 03, 2015
The option warns that "this option deletes all folders and files in the backup destination."

I get that you thought it did something else, but I'm not seeing a way to word it more clearly. Do you have a suggestion?
- HolgerGT86
  Guide
  Dec 04, 2015
  
  This is the current text for the option:
  
  "Remove the contents of the backup destination before performing a full backup.
  This option removes from the backup destination any files that were removed in the backup source.
  Warning: This option deletes all files and folders in the backup destination."
  
  Before I suggest another text, let me ask one more thing to ensure I get it right.
  The text says that the contents of the backup destination are only removed when a full backup is run. Does it mean nothing is removed when an incremental backup is done?
  Means, when I decide to schedule a full backup every week, than every week, before the full backup starts, everything is deleted? Nothing is deleted when running incremental backups between the full backups?
  
  For me the message text should say something like this:
  
  "Remove the contents of the backup destination before performing a full backup.
  This option removes from the backup destination any files that were removed in the backup source.
  Warning: This option deletes all files and folders in the backup destination. It is not limitted to the destination path used by this backup job but impacts the data of all backup jobs using the same backup destination device."
  
  Maybe an English native speaker is able to do better.
  
  Regards,
  Holger
  - StephenB
    Guru - Experienced User
    Dec 04, 2015
    What it does is delete ALL files and folders from the destination folder BEFORE the full backup is run. It doesn't check for files that were deleted on the source or anything else.
    
    If you want to just delete files that are no longer on the source, there is a different option for that (but it is only available for some protocols - rsync in particular).
    
    I think you are might be saying that the option deleted files on the drive that were not in the destination folder. If so, I think you've found a bug. Please confrim that I'm understanding you correctly. If you can post of screen shot of the backup settings, that would be helpful.