Understanding Autodesk Vault Purging

Let’s first understand the need to purge. Over time, Vaults accumulate multiple versions of files, sometimes more than necessary. That’s where purging comes in.

Why Purge Versions?

• Disk Space Management: Over time, your Vault accumulates various versions of files—sometimes more than necessary. These versions take up valuable disk space on the server. Purging helps free up that space, making room for new design iterations and preventing your server from feeling like a digital attic.
• Performance Optimisation: Imagine your Vault as a well-organized library. If that library becomes cluttered with outdated books (versions), finding the right one becomes a chore. Similarly, excessive versions can impact performance during routine tasks like backups, migrations, and restores. By purging unnecessary versions, you optimise overall system performance.

This looks great and should be considered part of a healthy, maintained vault, but what are the risks of purging?

Risks and Considerations

• Permanent Deletion: Purging versions delete them permanently. Be cautious, as this action cannot be undone. Ensure you have proper backups before proceeding.
• Permissions Control: Not every Vault user should be able to purge versions. Remove the “File Version Delete Unconditional” permission from roles assigned to specific users or groups.

In summary, purging is essential for maintaining a healthy Autodesk Vault environment but requires careful planning and understanding of the associated risks.

Symetri PurgeSight scan

To Help mitigate this risk, Symetri offers a pre-purge scan of your database. This gives the vault server admin visibility of which files and items would be removed from the vault, removes some of the risk associated with the purge process, and allows the Admin team to make an informed choice prior to a vault server purge.

This service has the following benefits for a vault Administrator:

• Pre-Purge Scan: Symetri provides a pre-purge scan of your Autodesk Vault database.
• Visibility: The scan gives the Vault server admin clear visibility into which files and items would be removed from the Vault during the purge process.
• Risk Mitigation: By having this visibility, the risk associated with purging is reduced. Admins can assess the impact before committing to a purge.
• Informed Decision: Armed with this information, the admin team can make informed choices about whether to proceed with a vault server purge.