PowerProtect Data Manager SQL Log Backup Retention Periods Do Not Match with the Source and Destination Sites

Summary: Replicated period for log backups for SQL is showing the wrong retention period on the Destination side.

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Symptoms

PowerProtect Data Manager (PPDM) SQL log backups are saved as FULL backup on the destination site with 90 days or retention policy. The actual defined retention period is 30 days.

Cause

The number of replication copies from the source to destination does not match.
Retention defined at policy level for backup and replication:
  • Full backup: 90 Days
  • Differential backup: 90 Days
  • Log backup: 30 Days
This behavior is caused as per the recommendations from Microsoft for the SQL backups as the PPDM appliance does not support Differential backups on the secondary Destination Microsoft SQL replicas. This is a limitation of the Microsoft SQL server and is working as per the design.
This limitation is also recorded in the log files.

Log file
The SQL availability Group properties are showing "Any replica" on the snapshot below. The recommendation is to change the availability group properties from "Any replica" to the "Prefer Secondary" option.

Availibility group pointing to
 

Resolution

The SQL Administrator has to change the availability group "XXXXX" backup preferences to the "Prefer Secondary" setting. Once this configuration change has been made on the SQL end, monitor the SQL server backups. Check if the retention period is matching with the Source and the Destination sites.
 
Availability group pointing to
 

Affected Products

Data Domain, PowerProtect Data Manager Appliance, PowerProtect Data Protection Software, Integrated Data Protection Appliance Family, PowerProtect Data Protection Hardware
Article Properties
Article Number: 000218342
Article Type: Solution
Last Modified: 30 Apr 2025
Version:  3
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