---
name: "barman-keep"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "barman-cli"
version: "3.13.3-1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/barman-keep"
---

# barman-keep(1)

Barman Sub-Commands

## NAME

barman-keep - Barman Sub-Commands

## SYNOPSIS

```
keep
    [ { -h | --help } ]
    { { -r | --release } | { -s | --status } | --target { full | standalone } }
    SERVER_NAME BACKUP_ID
```

## DESCRIPTION

Mark the specified backup with a **target** as an archival backup to be retained indefinitely, overriding any active retention policies. You can also check the keep **status** of a backup and **release** the keep mark from a backup. You can use a shortcut instead of **BACKUP\_ID**.

## PARAMETERS

- **SERVER\_NAME**

  Name of the server in barman node

- **BACKUP\_ID**

  Id of the backup in barman catalog.

- **-h / --help**

  Show a help message and exit. Provides information about command usage.

- **-r / --release**

  Release the keep mark from this backup. This will remove its archival status and make it available for deletion, either directly or by retention policy.

- **-s / --status**

  Report the archival status of the backup. The status will be either **full** or **standalone** for archival backups, or **nokeep** for backups that have not been designated as archival.

- **--target**

  Define the recovery target for the archival backup. The possible values are:

  - •

    **full**: The backup can be used to recover to the most recent point in time. To support this, Barman will keep all necessary WALs to maintain the backup's consistency as well as any subsequent WALs.

  - •

    **standalone**: The backup can only be used to restore the server to its state at the time of the backup. Barman will retain only the WALs required to ensure the backup's consistency.

## SHORTCUTS

Use shortcuts instead of **BACKUP\_ID**.

| | |
| --- | --- |
| **Shortcut** | **Description** |
| **first/oldest** | Oldest available backup for the server, in chronological order. |
| **last/latest** | Most recent available backup for the server, in chronological order. |
| **last-full/latest-full** | Most recent full backup taken with methods **rsync** or **postgres**. |
| **last-failed** | Most recent backup that failed, in chronological order. |

## AUTHOR

EnterpriseDB

## COPYRIGHT

© Copyright EnterpriseDB UK Limited 2011-2025