Backup Lifecycle
Backup Lifecycle Management
Backup Lifecycle allows you to control how many backup artifacts are retained per device. By configuring retention limits, you can automatically clean up older backups and manage storage efficiently.
Key Concepts
Retention Limit — The maximum number of backup artifacts kept per device, per backup type (FTP, SMB, and Project).
Global Retention Limit — Applies to all devices in your organization by default.
Device Retention Limit — Overrides the global limit for a specific device.
Cleanup — Old backups are automatically removed only after a successful backup run completes.
Important: The retention limit applies independently to each backup type. For example, a retention limit of 50 means the system retains up to 50 FTP backups, 50 SMB backups, and 50 Project backups per device — they are not cumulative.
Default Behavior
By default, no retention limit is configured. All backups are retained indefinitely (Unlimited Retention). You must explicitly set a retention limit to enable automatic cleanup.
Setting the Global Retention Limit
The global retention limit applies to all devices across your organization.
Step 1: Navigate to Backup Lifecycle Settings
Open the sidebar and go to General Settings.
Click the Backup Lifecycle card.
Step 2: Set the Retention Limit
On the Backup Lifecycle page, click the Set retention limit button.
A panel will open on the right side. Enter the desired number of backups to retain per device (e.g.,
50).Click Create to save.
Once configured, the retention limit is displayed on the Backup Lifecycle page.
Note: After setting a retention limit, older backups will be automatically removed on the next successful backup run. Only the most recent backups up to the configured limit will be retained.
Editing or Removing the Global Retention Limit
To edit the retention limit, click the edit icon (pencil) next to the current limit.
To remove the retention limit and return to unlimited retention, click the delete icon (trash) next to the current limit.
Setting a Device-Specific Retention Limit
You can override the global retention limit for individual devices. The device-level limit takes priority over the global limit.
For example, if the global limit is 50 and a device has a retention limit of 15, that device will only keep 15 backups per backup type.
Step 1: Open the Device Details
Navigate to the Devices page.
Click on the device you want to configure.
Step 2: Configure Backup Lifecycle
Click the three-dot menu (⋯) in the device Details section.
Select Configure Backup Lifecycle.
Step 3: Set the Device Retention Limit
A panel opens showing the current Global Retention Limit for reference.
Enter a custom retention limit for this device (e.g.,
15).Click Create to save.
Step 4: Verify the Configuration
After saving, the device's Backups tabs (including FTP and SMB tabs) display a badge indicating the active retention limit for that device.
The device also appears in the Devices with Custom Retention table on the Backup Lifecycle settings page.
How Retention Limits Are Applied
Only global limit set
50
—
50 per backup type
Only device limit set
Unlimited
15
15 per backup type
Both set (device overrides)
50
15
15 per backup type
Neither set
Unlimited
—
Unlimited (no cleanup)
Retention per Backup Type
The retention limit applies independently to each backup type:
FTP Backups
Up to 50 retained
SMB Backups
Up to 50 retained
Project Backups
Up to 50 retained
This means that with a retention limit of 50, you could have up to 150 total backup artifacts for a single device (50 of each type).
Cleanup Behavior
Cleanup only runs after a successful backup completes. Setting or changing a retention limit does not immediately delete existing backups.
When cleanup runs, the system keeps the most recent backups up to the configured limit and removes older ones.
If a device has a custom retention limit, it is used instead of the global limit.
FAQ
Q: What happens if I lower the retention limit? A: Older backups exceeding the new limit will be removed on the next successful backup run.
Q: Does the retention limit apply across all backup types combined? A: No. The limit is applied per backup type. A limit of 50 means 50 FTP + 50 SMB + 50 Project backups can be retained.
Q: When are old backups deleted? A: Only after a successful backup run completes. Changing the retention limit alone does not trigger immediate cleanup.
Q: Can I remove a device-specific retention limit? A: Yes. Removing the device-specific limit causes the device to fall back to the global retention limit.
Q: What is the default retention? A: By default, retention is unlimited — no backups are automatically deleted until you configure a limit.
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