Azure backup - About the size of system states backup using the MARS agent

Question

Using the MARS agent to backup system states on a on-prem VM, I notice that all my backups are the same size. Witch is the size of the original backup. The schedule is one backup per week for a 4 weeks retention. I was expecting a Full backup for the first run then incrementals. Since that is what I read on the doc.
Am I missing something?
My question would be how to enable incremental backups using MARS for system states for a on-prem vm?

About the MARS Agent - Azure Backup | Microsoft Learn

Answer 1

@MarcAF Greetings!

Great question and thank you for bringing to our attention. By default, the Microsoft Azure Recovery Services (MARS) agent performs a full backup of the system state each time a backup job runs. This is because the system state contains critical data that is required to restore the operating system and applications in the event of a disaster.

The first backup of files and folders is a full backup. Subsequent backups, as mentioned, are incremental.

I have put in a request for our public documentation to clarify the difference in full/incremental between SSB and Files/Folders with MARS.

Hope this answers your question. Please write back to us if you have any further questions.

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