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    I have three clients backing up to my WHS2011 server.  The sum of these clients is almost 2TB, and my Client Computer Backups (CCB) drive is down to 9GB.  I'd like to keep the ability to set up Server Backup so I've elected to stay below the 2TB CCB limit rather than expanding onto a >2TB drive.

    After looking through the forums I decided that my best bet was to move files off my largest client and onto the server.  I added a new 2TB drive to the server, moved the Music and Video folders onto the new drive, and moved all my client music / video files into that new server folder.  The server is now the sole repository for my music and videos.  By moving them off the client, I reduced the total file size of that client from 1.5TB to 600GB.  The CCB drive should have benefited from an identical reduction in stored files.

    I moved the files about four days ago and toggled Shadow Copies off and then back on again, to delete the old backups.  Unfortunately the server is still reporting "Low Free Space" with 9GB free on the dedicated 2TB CCB drive, despite the fact that the sum total of all clients is more like 900GB.

    How can I get the server to reclaim and make available the nearly 1TB which should now be free?


    • Edited by cornwell Saturday, September 10, 2011 12:08 AM
    Saturday, September 10, 2011 12:07 AM

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    Because of the way Windows Home Server stores files, simply removing some files from one machine may not have a significant impact on your client backup database. Even if it eventually does reduce the size, it will be some time, because Windows Home Server will need to expire all of the backups containing them.

    To answer the obvious next question, you can tag individual backups to be deleted the next time cleanup runs, though you have no control in the dashboard over the cleanup task, which runs weekly at 11:59 PM on Saturday. To tag an individual backup for cleanup:

    • Connect to the dashboard.
    • View the properties of the computer you want to purge one or more backups for.
    • Select the Backup tab.
    • Select a backup you want deleted, and click the View details ... button.
    • Choose Delete this backup when Cleanup runs. from the dropdown list box.
    I'm not on the WHS team, I just post a lot. :)
    • Marked as answer by cornwell Sunday, September 11, 2011 7:39 PM
    Saturday, September 10, 2011 2:46 AM

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    Because of the way Windows Home Server stores files, simply removing some files from one machine may not have a significant impact on your client backup database. Even if it eventually does reduce the size, it will be some time, because Windows Home Server will need to expire all of the backups containing them.

    To answer the obvious next question, you can tag individual backups to be deleted the next time cleanup runs, though you have no control in the dashboard over the cleanup task, which runs weekly at 11:59 PM on Saturday. To tag an individual backup for cleanup:

    • Connect to the dashboard.
    • View the properties of the computer you want to purge one or more backups for.
    • Select the Backup tab.
    • Select a backup you want deleted, and click the View details ... button.
    • Choose Delete this backup when Cleanup runs. from the dropdown list box.
    I'm not on the WHS team, I just post a lot. :)
    • Marked as answer by cornwell Sunday, September 11, 2011 7:39 PM
    Saturday, September 10, 2011 2:46 AM
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    Thanks so much, Ken!  I really appreciate your detailed and educational answer.

    Is there a way to manually initiate Cleanup?  Or do I need to wait until...tomorrow night, it seems.

    Saturday, September 10, 2011 4:21 AM
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    On Sat, 10 Sep 2011 04:21:21 +0000, cornwell wrote:

    Thanks so much, Ken!? I really appreciate your detailed and educational answer.

    Is there a way to manually initiate Cleanup?? Or do I need to wait until...tomorrow night, it seems.

    1. Connect to your WHS server via RDP, or log on to it locally if you can.
    2. Open Task Scheduler.
    3. Expand Task Scheduler Library/Microsoft/Windows and click on Windows
    Server.
    4. Right-click on Cleanup and then click Run.

    Paul Adare
    MVP - Identity Lifecycle Manager
    http://www.identit.ca
    On a clear disk you can seek forever.  -- Denning

    Saturday, September 10, 2011 11:16 AM
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    Paul's procedure will work; note however that it's not supported and it's already Saturday morning, so you could just wait for tomorrow. :)

    Also, it's possible that you will not see a significant change to the amount of space used by client backups, depending on the data on all of your home computers.

    I'm not on the WHS team, I just post a lot. :)
    Saturday, September 10, 2011 12:47 PM
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    Thanks Paul, your specific reply pointed the way to reclaim drive free space (was critically low).

    Cheers.

    Saturday, October 15, 2011 6:25 AM