Forever Forward Incremental Support

Forever Forward Incremental (simple schedule) requires the Synthetic Full backup enabled.

Synthetic backup is a backup type that creates a full backup using in-cloud data copying. This backup type is required for Forever Forward Incremental backup. If a plan type and backup destination support synthetic backup, it will be switched on automatically, but for MinIO and other S3-compatible storage accounts, the synthetic full backup can be enabled in the storage account properties.

To enable synthetic full for the backup storage, perform the following steps:

1. Enable the synthetic full backup in storage account properties.
2. Create files backup plan for testing purposes using this backup storage destination. Run this plan manually once.
3. Force the synthetic full backup for this backup plan. In case the forced backup plan run is successful, you can use this backup plan destination to create backup plans with a Forever Forward Incremental schedule.

Step 1. Enable Synthetic Backup for Backup Storage Destination

Management Console

To enable the synthetic full backup, proceed as follows:

1. In Management Console navigate to **Backup > Storage Accounts.
2. Find the required storage account then expand actions and select Change Credentials.

3. Click Allow Synthetic Full backup.

4. Save your selection.

Backup Agent

To enable the synthetic full backup, proceed as follows:

1. In the Backup Agent application menu, select Edit Storage Accounts.
2. Find the required storage account then click Edit.
3. Click Advanced Settings.
4. Select the Use synthetic full backup checkbox.
5. Click OK.

Step 2. Create Backup Plan for Testing Purposes

Synthetic backup applies for the following backup types:

• File-Level Backup
• Image-Based Backup
• VMware Backup
• Hyper-V Backup

For testing purposes, it is recommended to create a Files Backup plan.

Step 3. Force Synthetic Backup for Backup Plan

To force a synthetic full backup for testing purposes:

Management Console

1. Open Backup > Computers.
2. Find the required computer, then click the Configure icon in the Backup Plan Status column.
3. On the side panel, navigate to the Backup Plans tab
4. Find the plan to run.
5. Expand this control to use the following option:
   • Force Synthetic Full Backup

Backup Agent

1. In the application expand the backup plan you want to run a synthetic full backup for.
2. On the Run control, open the drop-down menu.
3. Click Force Synthetic Full Backup.

Check whether this backup plan run is completed successfully. It is recommended to perform a test restore using this backup plan.