If you 're using the Windows Server Backup utility, to backup your Active Directory or your Standalone Server 2016 or 2012, and you're running out of space on the backup disk (destination), because of the multiple backup copies then continue reading this article.
The Windows Server Backup tool, allows Administrators to perform a full backup of all Server data including the Operating System, the installed applications and all the related information for the Active Directory (System State Backup), in order to restore the Server in case of failure to the same or a different server (Bare Metal Recovery Backup).
However, the Windows Server Backup does not manage automatically the space when performing System State backups, and as result of that, you may run out of space on the backup destination with the passage of time, with error:
"Windows Backup encountered an error while writing to the backup target. Detailed Error: There is not enough space on the disk." *
* Note: To find out the number and the used space of backups, open the Windows Server Backup Utility and look under the "Destination usage" section.
In this tutorial, you'll find detailed instructions on how to delete the old System State Backups or the Full Backups (File(s), Application(s), Bare Metal Recovery, System State), on a Windows Server 2016 or Server 2012.
How to Delete Windows Server Backups on Server 2012/2016.
1. First of all, proceed and list all available Windows Server backups and their type (System State or Full), by typing this command:
- wbadmin get versions *
* Note: If you want to view the available backups on another volume (drive). type:
- wbadmin get versions -backupTarget:Drive_Letter:\
e.g. If you want to view the backups on drive G:, type:
- wbadmin get versions -backupTarget:G:\
2. Now, look at 'Can Recover' line, to find out the type of each available backup (System State, or Full ), and according the type of the Windows Server Backup that you want to delete, proceed as follows:
A. If you want to delete a System State backup (1), go to Part 1.
B. If you want to delete a Full backup (2), go to Part 2.
Part 1. Delete Windows Server System State Backups (Server 2012 & 2016).
Part 2. Delete Windows Server Full Backups (Server 2012 & 2016).
Part 1. How to Delete System State Backups in Server 2016/2012.
To delete the system state backups you can you the "WBADMIN DELETE SYSTEMSTATEBACKUP", command with the following parameters:
-keepVersions:<No. of copies to keep> | -version:<VersionIdentifier> | -deleteOldest
-backupTarget:<VolumeName>
-machine:<BackupMachineName>
-quiet
Examples *
* Note: Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
A. To DELETE the OLDEST System State backup, type:
- wbadmin delete systemstatebackup -deleteOldest
Note: To delete the oldest system state backup stored on disk G:, type:
- wbadmin delete systemstatebackup -backupTarget:f:\ -deleteOldest
B. To DELETE ALL SYSTEM STATE backups, EXCEPT the TEN (10) MOST RECENT: *
- wbadmin delete systemstatebackup -keepVersions:10
* Notes:
1. Change the number "10" in the above command, according the recent versions you want to keep.
2. To delete all system backups, except the ten most recent on drive G:, type:
- wbadmin delete systemstatebackup -backupTarget:f:\ -keepVersions:10
C. To DELETE a SPECIFIC SYSTEM STATE backup:
1. Look at Version Identifier line, to locate the system state backup that you want to remove.
2. Give the following command to delete the specific version of the system state backup:
- wbadmin delete systemstatebackup -version:Version-Identifier
e.g. If you want to delete the system state backup created on November 10, 2018 at 12:12, type:
- wbadmin delete systemstatebackup -version:10/11/2018-12:12
D. To DELETE ALL SYSTEM STATE backups: *
- wbadmin delete systemstatebackup -keepVersions:0
* Note: It's not recommended to delete all the system state backups.
Part 2. How to Delete Full Backups with WBADMIN command.
To delete the full backups you can you the "WBADMIN DELETE BACKUP", command with the following parameters:
-keepVersions:<No. of copies to keep> | -version:<VersionIdentifier> | -deleteOldest
-backupTarget:<VolumeName>
-machine:<BackupMachineName>
-quiet
Examples: *
* Note: Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
A. To DELETE the OLDEST Full Backup with the wbadmin command:
- wbadmin delete backup -deleteOldest
B. To DELETE ALL Full backups, EXCEPT the TEN (10) MOST RECENT: *
- wbadmin delete backup -keepVersions:10
* Note: Change the number "10" in the above command, according the recent versions you want to keep.
C. To DELETE a SPECIFIC Full backup:
1. Look at Version Identifier line, to locate the Full backup that you want to remove.
2. Give the following command to delete the specific version of the Full backup:
- wbadmin delete backup -version:Version-Identifier
e.g. If you want to delete the system state backup created on July 3, 2019 at 06:43, type:
- wbadmin delete backup -version:03/07/2019-06:43
D. To DELETE ALL Full backups: *
- wbadmin delete backup -keepVersions:0
* Note: It's not recommended to delete all the Full backups.
That's it! Let me know if this guide has helped you by leaving your comment about your experience. Please like and share this guide to help others.