It should be noted that the datastores listed in the backup repositories section are only places where backups are stored, not the actual backups. A datastore's visibility in the interface is the only thing lost when it is deleted from the list; the backups it held remain intact. Even if the datastore is no longer listed, the backups will still be kept on the physical storage and can still be accessed and restored.

The sections on backups and backup repositories have several functions:

Backup Section: This section provides details on scheduled and ongoing backups for the virtual machines (VMs) that are currently part of the HCI cluster. It offers a glimpse of backup activity and progress in real time.

Section on Backup Repositories: All datastores set up for backup storage are listed here, regardless of whether they include backups for virtual machines that have been removed or are still in use. Even for virtual machines that are no longer part of the HCI cluster, it provides a more comprehensive view of all stored backups.
In essence, the backup repository part gives a summary of all stored backups, both historical and current, while the backup portion concentrates on ongoing backup activities.

I hope that this makes the distinctions between these sections clear. Please feel free to ask any other questions you may have!

Impact of deleting a datastore on the backups for virtual machines may vary depending on the backup solution and configurations made. Technically, when you delete a datastore, it can affect the backup jobs associated with that data store.

For the second question, "backup section" may refer to a part of a system or software application where users configure backup settings. in some cases, this is also where the users can define backup schedules, select files or directories to be backup, configure retention policies, or set other parameters related to backup process. while "backup repositories" refer to the storage locations where the actual backup data is stored

Hi, you can delete backup repositories but this unregister it from hci. This action don't perform a delete on this repository. About second question, on backups you see the backup jobs, on backup repositories you see the targets about the backups

Hello,
deleteting backup repo may effect the backup if it is residing in the same place, otherwise it will not.

Hi, for your first question, I also don't have any idea, because I never tried to remove the backup repositories.
and for the different between backups and backup repositories is, backups is a collection of our VM backup, while the backup repositories shows the storage or drive or location where the VM backup is located.  usually it uses the external storage to be connected to HCI.

Deleting backup repositories typically does not directly affect the existing VM backups. Backup repositories are locations where backup data is stored, and deleting them would remove the storage location but not necessarily the backup data. However, if the backup repository deletion involves removing essential configuration or metadata, it could impact the ability to manage or restore backups. The backup section generally displays backups of existing VMs within the Hyper-Converged Infrastructure (HCI), while the backup repositories contain backup data, including both existing and deleted VMs. The repositories serve as storage for backup files, whereas the backup section is more focused on managing and viewing backups within the HCI environment.

The answer to your question depends on the specific backup tool and datastore configuration, but in general, there are two possible scenarios:

1. Backups remain, but are unavailable:

    If the datastore was simply removed as a location for storing backups, but the backups themselves were not explicitly deleted, they might still exist on another datastore used by the backup tool. However, you wouldn't be able to access or restore them unless the datastore is reconnected or the backup tool allows for finding backups across different locations.

2. Backups are also deleted:

    If the backup tool is configured to automatically remove backups associated with deleted datastores, then the VM backups might also be deleted along with the datastore. This is more likely if the datastore was an integral part of the backup job configuration.

The terms "backup section" and "backup repositories" can have different meanings depending on the specific software or context you're referring to. However, here's a general explanation of the potential differences:

Backup section:

    Typically refers to a user interface or menu within a system where you manage backup settings and operations.
    This section might allow you to:
        Configure backup jobs, specifying what data to back up, how often, and where to store it.
        Schedule backup tasks and view past backup runs.
        Monitor the status of backups and review logs.
        Manage backup retention policies, deciding how long to keep backup copies.

Backup repositories:

    Define the physical or virtual locations where backup data is actually stored.
    These repositories can be various types, including:
        Local disks on the system itself.
        Network-attached storage (NAS) devices.
        Cloud storage services.
        Tape drives or other offline media.

Relationship between the two:

    The backup section usually lets you define and configure one or more backup repositories.
    You specify which repository each backup job should use to store its data.
    The backup section communicates with the selected repositories to perform backup and restore operations.