Retention Policies in JFrog help organizations manage storage and maintain system performance as the volume of binaries grows with faster development cycles. These policies allow you to clean up or archive stale artifacts to optimize storage and meet compliance requirements.
Cleanup
JFrog Cleanup solution allows platform and project administrators to define customizable policies based on specific criteria for removing stale binaries from across their JFrog platform. This provides control over storage utilization and ensures optimal system performance. By setting specific criteria and rules, system administrators can customize a repeatable cleanup process that aligns with their organization's requirements. To get started with configuring and using Cleanup Policies, click Cleanup.
Archive
JFrog Archive solution allows platform and project administrators to define customizable policies for archiving stale artifacts. By defining specific criteria, administrators can automate the movement of stale artifacts from an active Artifactory instance to an archive instance backed by low-cost storage. This helps maintain system performance, reduce storage costs, and meet regulatory compliance requirements. For more information, see Archive.
🧹 Cleanup vs 🗄️ Archive — Quick Comparison
Category | Cleanup 🧹 | Archive 🗄️ |
|---|---|---|
Purpose | Delete stale packages and RB V2 Build Cleanup is coming soon | Move stale packages to long-term archive |
Use Case | Free up space and improve operational efficiency | Free up space and improve operational efficiency in active instance after moving items to archive instance Long-term retention and compliance |
Restore and Access Data | ❌ Data is permanently lost if cleanup is done without using the Trash Can.
| ✅ Data is available in Archive instance. Not readily accessible, but available on restore |
Automation | ✅ Policy-based cleanup | ✅ Policy-based archive |
Designed for Compliance | ✅ Smart retention strategies that align with compliance requirements can be implemented | ✅ Archives packages along with metadata and evidence for compliance |
Storage Optimization | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Platform Support | Packages
Release Bundles V2
| Smart Archiving
Legacy: Supported on self-hosted only |
License Required | Enterprise + | Smart Archiving: Enterprise+ Legacy: Enterprise X/+ |
Risk of Data Loss | ⚠️ Yes, if misconfigured and Trash Can not configured | ❌ No, data available in Archive instance and can be restored on-demand |
Best For | Active DevOps environments | Regulated industries, long-term retention |