.. _backup-size-considerations:

Backup Size Considerations
--------------------------

.. index:: drives;drives add
.. index:: backup;backup create
.. index:: voss;voss db_collection_stats

The default backup partition size is 50GB for the default 250GB database partition size.
These are the default partition installation sizes.

.. important::

   Backups should be created and restored in a **screen** session - see: :ref:`screen-command`.


To determine the required space for a specific backup partition, carry out and consider the following:

1. Run **backup create <location-name>** from the CLI. The command output indicates the required space needed to do
   the backup.
  
   If the current backup partition size is too small, the command will fail and suggest the size of the partition required.
   The size can be increased in size with the **drives add** command.
  
   .. raw:: html
   
      <p>See: <a href="../platform/reference-system-drive-control.html">Drive Control</a></p>

   .. raw:: latex

      See the Drive Control topic in the Platform Guide.

   If there is sufficient space but only a size check is required, the backup command can be canceled (Ctrl-C), if needed.
2. Run **voss db_collection_stats all** to show the size of the current database. This command validates the size of
   the database.  This total will be smaller than the suggested backup size.

* A local backup requires free space of at least twice the size of the database. Preferably add another 30% of this.
  At any given time it is therefore recommended that available backup space should be approximately
  twice the database size plus 30% of the database size.

  For remote backups, the backup requires free space of at least the size of the database plus 30% of this.


* Database growth over time needs to be considered and allowed for in the backup partition size.
* Space for multiple local backups also needs to be considered and added to the calculated backup partition size.