Consolidating backup!
Hi,
I have recently updated to build 6027 of Acronis True Image Home 2016.
I use this program to back up my personal folders; specifically on a daily process!
I backup my data using the differential option, opting to create a full new backup, after 28 days, deleting old versions after 5 days.
This has worked well, under previous build states.
However, with build 6027, I have observed that the program has stated Consolidating Backups; this started after only after 9 differential backups.
So far, I haven’t observed what happens after “consolidation”, as I have stopped the process, as it takes so long!
Take a look at the attachment, which indicates less than a minute to complete - This was 7 hours ago"
However, I have no wish for my differential backups to be consolidated in to one backup, until after 28 differential backups, as this would inhibit me looking for something I may have deleted, or amended in a specific differential backup.
Looking in the Help document, “Consolidation” is not listed in the Index.
Can anyone advise how to stop this program from consolidating backups?
Brian,
First a discussion of the term "consolidating".
In past versions, this meant the merging of data from 2 or more into 1, but it also meant the planned program deletion of old backups.
In 2015 and 2016, there is no option "consoldate" but the program is using the term to describe the planned deletion of old backups when the deletion is due.
So, nobody knows for sure what the program is attempting to tell us.
If it were me, I would perform a cleanup of the progam vai the TI cleanup utility. The cleanup utility can be found in my signature link item #4. Use the 2015 link--not the 2014 link.
This will uninstall the current program and any residue of old installs.
This will mean that you will need to create all new backup tasks. Here is a link to discuss creating custom backup schemes.
http://forum.acronis.com/forum/100416
Use the examples of GH-11, GH-12 or GH-13 for examples of how to create your backup tasks. Each of these tasks use automatic cleanup which is the planned deletion (consolidating) of the oldest chains so you can keep your pre-determined number of chains. When you reach the pre-determined number of chains to keep (store no more than n' recent version chains), the program will delete(consolidate) the oldest chain. Remember, in ACronis speak, a chain is the sum of 1 full + any inc or diff before the next full. My link #100416 illustrates this in detail.
Get the new task created with all the correct settings BEFORE creating your first backup. When you edit or change a task, you are almost alwayis "shooting yourself in the foot"--so to speak, so editing a task is a "no no". Ther are also some additional guides to help at this link.
https://forum.acronis.com/forums/acronis-true-image-home-discussions/be…
My experience has been that if you set the tasks up correctloy and then dol not edit them, the tasks will perform successfully.
Each task needs its own individual name (no repeats) and each task should have its own individual storage folder so there is not mixing of tib files from the different tasks.
The cleanup utility can be found in my signature link item #4. Use the 2015 link--not the 2014 link.
PS: Also, in the custom backup schemes, do NOT use the "disk size llmit" as it may involve more "consolidating" which could be the merging of data.
Tasks can be created as non-schedule or as "scheduled with later start" so you can get the settings the way you want before doing any backups.
Hi GroverH & Steve,
Thank you for your messages, and which I have only viewed today - I did not receive the automatic notifications of your postings .
I'm most grateful for your advice, which I will digest slowely
In reply to Brian, by truwrikodrorow…
Must be true, because I WANT to consolidate one of mine, and the option is no longer there. :-(
Donna, in the later versions of ATI, consolidation is shown in the log messages but is actually referring to the process of automatic cleanup, not to the older process of actually consolidating backup files.
The way to consolidate backups now would be to create a new full backup image.