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[ibacondors]

How does one manually optimize recovey point sets in Norto Ghost 14?  I know it can be done, I've done it.  But why I can't find how to do it again I don't know.  I've got a few sets I want consolidated but can't figure out how I did it before.

[mdturner]

Hi ibacondors

I can't remember that being manual since it is long time since I used Ghost 14. However,

Here are the automated steps for Ghost 15 which hopefully is the same or similar and could lead you to your answer.

To automate management of backup data

1. On the Tools page, click Manage Backup Destination.

2. Select Limit file versions for file and folder backups, and then type a number between 1 and 99.

3. Select Monitor disk space usage for backup storage, and then drag the slider to limit the total amount of disk space that can be used for your recovery points and your file and folder backup data.

4. Do one of the following:

   • Select Warn me when backup storage exceeds threshold if you only want to be notified when the storage size is exceeded, but you do not want any action to be taken.

   • Select Automatically optimize storage if you want Norton Ghost to manage the backup data automatically, without prompting you.

     If you select this option, Norton Ghost automatically deletes the old recovery points and limits file versions to remain within the threshold that you set.

5. Select Delay changes until next backup if you do not want to apply your changes until the next backup runs.

6. Click OK.

[ibacondors]

Thanks for trying but that box is grayed out, (under the Settings menu of Manage Backup Destination).  But I know it can be done manually, it was oly yesterday I did it.  They hid it well!

[mdturner]

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ibacondors wrote:

Thanks for trying but that box is grayed out, (under the Settings menu of Manage Backup Destination).  But I know it can be done manually, it was oly yesterday I did it.  They hid it well!

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If you have "monitor disk space usage for backup storage" checked then you should then be able to check "automatically optimize storage". The only thing you can do manually is to select "clean up" to clean up recovery points.

[AllenM Norton Fighter]

Hi ibacondors,

I think what you are referring to is being able to optimize a recovery set to consolidate a base + multiple incrementals into a base + single incremental, correct?

You can do this. Please proceed as follows.

You can also consolidate recovery points. For example, if you have a base + 10 incrementals you can consolidate these so that when completed you will have only the base + 1 incremental. E.g., incrementals 2-10 will have been consolidated into a single incremental. To do this you go into Tools > Manage Backup Destination. Then highlight the recovery point set you wish to consolidate and click Delete. On the next page, select Automatic.

Hope this helps.
Allen

[ibacondors · Accepted solution]

It turns out that yes it can be done manually.  When you click on Manage Backup Destination, choose a recovery point set and then press Delete, the next dialog recommends deleting all but the first and last recovery point.  If you choose that recommended setting it will manually consolidate the recovery points.

[AllenM Norton Fighter]

Hi ibacondors,

Thanks for the update. A word of advice on this, please pay heed to the warnings on page 128-129 of the Ghost 14 user guide. It is very easy to delete recovery points which could cause you problems.

You indicated in your post you wanted to consolidate your recovery point set.

The Automatic does exactly that and also ensures that you don't lose data by removing the wrong recovery set. It is the safest option for consolidation because it ensures that all changes between the base and the last incremental of the set is retained. This option will create a single incremental which will contain all changes since the base and then remove all other incrementals.

If what you want is consolidation this is the safest option to use.

Allen