Instead of doing multiple backups of 0-byte files, what we do is assign them
to a management class that doesn't retain anything. We've created a ZERO
managment class as:
         Versions Data Exists: 1
        Versions Data Deleted: 0
        Retain Extra Versions: 0
          Retain Only Version: 0

Then we perform a 2-part process:

Step1: Using an INCLUDE on the client(s) assign the files to the ZERO
management class. This will rebind all files to ZERO.

Step2: After the next EXPIRE INVENTORY process (now there will only be the
active copy of the file(s) left..) we change the INCLUDE to an EXCLUDE. The
client will then inactivate the files and the next EXPIRE INVENTORY will
remove the only remaing copy. (VERDELETED=0).

Takes a couple days/cycles, but at the end all the backed up copies are
gone.

Bill Boyer
DSS, Inc.

-----Original Message-----
From: ADSM: Dist Stor Manager [mailto:ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU]On Behalf Of
Thomas Denier
Sent: Wednesday, November 06, 2002 10:58 AM
To: ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU
Subject: Re: Dell PV136T and general Media Management


> - Coming back to my original problem, I would like to free space on my
> tapes. A bunch of rather large media files has been moved across a couple
> of servers, and has been backupped on each, which is a total waste.
>
> Is there a method to selectively delete backups of files on the tapes?
> These files have been part of ordinary incremental daily backups, and now
> use up space worth a couple of my tapes I,d rather have them deleted -
how?

If the offending files are segregated into different filespaces than any
of the files you want to keep, you can use 'delete filespace' commands.

You can create zero byte dummy files with the same names as the offending
files. You can than run enough selective backups of the dummy files to get
the real files deleted on the basis of the verexists setting in the
relevant backup copy group.