Hi ,

Let me explain where this confusion comes from. In the versions before v.6.0.0, we stored the backups using a colon sign in the path (C:). Then, due to some technical issues, and to make things easier for seeding and export (using external appliances like Snowball, Wasabi Ball, B2 Fireball), we started to use a dollar sign in the path (C$). That's why you can see these two different formats (C: and C$). These backups were made by different versions of the software.

Thanks for the reply. And that agrees with my first using the program at 5.9.x, and upgrading to version 6 when it became available. So, if I follow you, can I purge that 5.x created directory on B2 (the smaller C: on B2) because 6.x only knows about and is managing the storage in C$? That would also make sense because I recently added backing up files from the Public directory to my backup plan after upgrading to 6.x which is why it's only listed under C$.

It's my understanding you should leave the C: files in place as we track the older backups and file versions. If you delete them, you may inadvertently delete file backups you were hoping to keep. Plus, your repository will be out of sync if you delete directly on B2 (always use our delete functionality in the Storage tab to remove old backup files). I'll confirm this with the team (confirmed).

That also makes sense. I have my backup jobs save the last 3 versions of backed-up files. I let MSP handle that aging (in other words, B2 doesn't do any file aging of its own). And it's possible that those old versions stretch back in time to when I was using version 5.X.

But in an emergency, if I need to restore files without using MSP (i.e. using B2's web client to get the files) it makes piecing together things a bit complicated. Hopefully, that disaster never happens.

BTW - I'm still waiting for GFS. That will make retention semantics much easier.

You need to use CloudBerry / MSP360 Backup to restore your files - unless you are using the Simple Backup mode. Backups are in a proprietary format and compressed & encrypted for most backups. You can always use our software in Restore Only Mode should you ever need to restore files on a new PC and your license is not available to register properly. GFS is in the works.