Servers filling up since replication appliance gone

Hi Claudio,

You have 2 ways to attack this problem: 

1. You can remove from protection the volume or volumes that are having problems, this will get rid of those log files automatically for you after around 5 minutes. Once they are no longer in the system you can reprotect them. The downside with this approach is that it is going to trigger a new base image.
2. You can upgrade the core and agent to a newer version as the newer versions changed how they track the logs and no longer keep growing like that. Something 6.3 or newer should do the trick however if you prefer this approach I would recommend going to the latest version supported by your core OS.

Lastly, since you mention you are new to Rapid Recovery and they didn't give you any knowledge transfer I recommend you to watch these free training videos Rapid Recovery Administration: Module 1 - Product Overview - Free (quest.com). You can check the rest of them here Rapid Recovery - Educational Services (quest.com)

Thanks a lot Victor, I don't believe we are licensed to upgrade any further than what we are, when I check the licensing it spits this error: "

Forgot to mention in my previous message, you have 2 different problems. 

1. Replication
2. And AALogs

Both of them are not related one to another.

For the replication problem, you need to make sure the source core is able to reach the target core by testing ping to the hostname or IP address from the source core, and also making sure is able to telnet from the source to the target using the port 8006. If the server is not able to ping then the replicatin wont work, you can also remove the replication on both servers and try to add the replication server from the source core again.

To remove the volume from protection what you need to do is select the affected volumes and uncheck the protection check marks similar to this www.screencast.com/.../99LnBo07z

Thanks again Victor.  Yeah the "destination core" is gone, it appears the Dell server was formatted and made into a simple Dell R730XD (no quest software at all).  So I think I will delete.  Does the attached image seem like a good course of action to fix things?  https://i.imgur.com/R9EZTWq.png

Yes, just like that, after you do that wait around 5 minutes and check the affected server to verify if the AALogs are gone, if yes, then protect the volumes again.

Thank you, I went ahead with the plan, and un-paused the job.  The AALogs are still there though.  I am going to a meeting and will check back if things changed.

Still at the same spot, not sure what else I need to do to free up the space, I will attach one final image showing that 2 new "AALog" files are created, and none deleted.

https://i.imgur.com/EKyQd0Z.png

Try the solution #2 from this KB article How to delete AALogs change logs (118402) (quest.com) 

Thank you, I will try.   I hate that I may have to do this 30x for 30 servers!

Hello Claudio. I totally agree with Victor, however if I fill in some other blanks. However if I can add some insight to this: 

"I just started my role at this organization with no knowledge transfer.  I have never used Quest Rapid Recovery, so during my investigation I found out that apparently we had 2 appliances, but one disappeared (for whatever reason), so all the servers that are protected show yellow, and I believe that since replication is not taking place, the servers are getting full with AALog_xxxxxxx Files"

1. You have inherited RR - it's a fine product. Like any others it has its nuances. We use it, resell it, and it really isn't a bad way to go. 
2. Replication has nothing to do with the AALogs. The repo filling up, yes (as you can't run retention against recovery points that haven't been sent yet), however not the AAlogs
3. The DL appliances have a 'write to use' license, which is perpetual, so you can continue to use RR on that version without maint or support until that hardware dies. However if you want to upgrade or get support, that is the maintenance (support) agreement which would have to be purchased from Quest, or from a reseller (which is honestly a niche that we fill day in and day out).

The way RR 'should' work, is the moment you backup a volume, the log files (the change logs) should reset themselves. So if the protected machines are in yellow, they ain't backing up, and yes, the logs will fill up. As Victor says, he is right, and we both will totally agree, this can break, and yes you have to either remove said volume from protection, and either (wait a few minutes, refresh metadata, run a backup, reboot, stop/start agent) and TYPICALLY that'll do it, but otherwise, the manual process: https://support.quest.com/kb/118402/how-to-delete-aalogs-change-logs which it may auto reboot on you. 

If you do get under maintenance, or get a license from a reseller, you can upgrade to whatever version is out there. Also like Victor says, the logic has changed over the years. 

To expound further on this, as it is a DL, it was (or use to be) under Dell/Quest hardware support, which kept you on Server 2K12 or 2K12 R2. Most of these devices are old enough that Quest/Dell will no longer offer support contracts for the hardware, however if you were to get a non-DL license from Quest or a reseller, you could then save the existing repo, and then image the hardware to 2K16, 2K19, or 2K22, whichever you wish. 

Lots of things, lots of options. Happy to help. By the way, hello Victor and Co, hope all is well.