Trigger an incremental backup
I am currently using True Image 2020 to backup my photo archive to optical disk. This file archive is unlikely to change existing files, only that more and more photos are added. There certainly could be file folder structure changes though as well.
I've setup a File Backup using no compression, and the backup scheme is a custom incremental scheme with only incremental version. This is not on a schedule, as I intend to do it as needed as opposed to on a specific schedule.
The activity tab shows the initial backup method as "Full" and was completed and validated.
I attempted to start the incremental backup and immediately filled a 25GB optical disk with the progress meter showing very little progress. I then cancelled the backup and checked the activity tab. The update showed the cancelled activity as a "Full" method backup. I checked the folders, and saw that 10GB of pictures had been added.
First question... how do I start an incremental backup? Could this have been the incremental backup but would still be indicated as "Full"?
Second question, is there any way to see the size of the incremental backup file before the backup begins? Since I have multiple sizes of discs (25GB, 50GB, 100GB) and also know that incremental backups can have subtle changes in the expected file size.
Thank you.
Steve - thank you very much! And I appreciate the help!
My original FULL backup consisted of 7 BD discs and covered almost 600GB of data. I ran a seach of the folders before the backup for files with the archive flag set, and there was approx 10GB of files indicated.
I looked at the ti_demon files from the prior runs, I didn't notice anything that stood out. So I decided to run again today.
I inserted the first disk from the original backup. Without this disk in, you cannot access the backup options. I verified the options were set correctly (incremental backup, no FULL backup after the 1st, no schedule). I then hit the "BACKUP NOW" button.
When ATI asked for a disk, I inserted the last disk from the Full backup. It very quickly told me the disk was full and to insert another disk (or open up space on the partition). I then inserted a blank BD disk, and it proceeded to write the entire 25GB disk and ask for the next disk. I then cancelled the backup and checked the ti_demon file (which is posted below).
Couple of notes… There is an error that occurs right after the start: “Error 0x17001a: Failed to create snapshot for backup." Not sure if this has an impact.
The first attempt to write the file shows a filename of “PHOTOS_full_b1_s1_v1.tib" Which leads me to believe even when it asks for the disk, it’s already started a Full backup.
Any ideas on how to trigger the incremental backup?
ti_demon file (beginning):
2020-09-09T09:27:22:062-05:00 9548 I00000000: -----
2020-09-09T09:27:22:063-05:00 9548 I00000000: ATI Demon started. Version: 24.6.1.25700.
2020-09-09T09:27:22:098-05:00 9548 I00640000: Backup reserve copy attributes: format tib; need_reserve_backup_copy false;
2020-09-09T09:27:22:099-05:00 9548 I00640002: Operation File Backup - PHOTOS started manually.
2020-09-09T09:27:22:124-05:00 9548 I00640000: Backup reserve copy attributes: format tib; need_reserve_backup_copy false;
2020-09-09T09:27:22:125-05:00 9548 I013C0000: Operation: Backup
2020-09-09T09:27:22:126-05:00 9548 I0064000B: Priority changed to Low.
2020-09-09T09:27:22:822-05:00 9548 I0017001A: Error 0x17001a: Failed to create snapshot for backup.
| trace level: information
| line: 0x616ad0806a6302a7
| file: c:\bs_hudson\workspace\123\archive\sel_dir.cpp:1436
| function: Seldir::SelectedDir::MakeSnapshot
| line: 0x616ad0806a6302a7, c:\bs_hudson\workspace\123\archive\sel_dir.cpp:1436, Seldir::SelectedDir::MakeSnapshot
| $module: ti_demon_vs_25700
2020-09-09T09:27:22:823-05:00 9548 I000B03F0: <bold>Create Backup Archive</bold><endl/><tabpoint value=30><indent value=4><textcolor value=0x00ff0000>Password Protected</textcolor><endl/>From: <indent value=10><textcolor value="navyblue">\\WRIGLEYVILLE\Photos\
</textcolor></indent><indent value=4><endl/>To file: <indent value=10><textcolor value="navyblue">"File Backup - PHOTOS_full_b1_s1_v1.tib"</textcolor></indent><indent value=4><endl/>Compression: <indent value=10><textcolor value="navyblue">None</textcolor></indent><indent value=4><endl/>Exclude: <indent value=10><textcolor value="navyblue">System files, Files matching mask</textcolor></indent><indent value=4><endl/>Match criterion: <indent value=10><textcolor value="navyblue">hiberfil.sys, pagefile.sys, $Recycle.Bin, swapfile.sys, System Volume Information, *.tib, *.tibx, *.tib.metadata, *.~, *.tmp,
Jim, I would suggest that you may need to approach this backup in a different way as it looks like ATI cannot handle incremental backups to optical media when it is spreading across multiple discs (unless it needs you to insert each & every disc of the set)!
This is a case where using an external USB drive would be beneficial, i.e a 1TB HDD drive which can store both the Full and subsequent incremental backup files.
If you want to copy these backup files onto optical media as a second backup of the data, then you can set a split level in the Advanced Options for the backup task, to set a maximum file size that can be written to your 25GB discs.
The reason for the snapshot error reported in the log is where the source files are located, i.e. on a network resource \\WRIGLEYVILLE\Photos\ for which snapshot is not possible as it can only be used on the local PC filesystem.
Steve - thank you again for your help. Unfortunately the only reason I purchased ATI was specifically to backup this group of files incrementally on optical disks. I'm very much a WORM backup type of person, which doesn't lend itself to USB drives (at least not affordable ones) and hard drives. I don't want to invest in a tape drive either. So I need a backup software that can handle this situation.
I very much appreciate your time and expertise! Thank you!
Jim, as Steve suggested, move the backup to a USB drive. I assume you are using a laptop otherwise you could install an internal drive. I have a desktop as well as several laptops. In my desktop tower, I have several drives connected to either my motherboard or an adaptor card. Currently, I have a total of 11 drives of which 7 are for backups. I use ATI 2020 and SyncbackPro to backup my OS and data. A long time ago I separated the OS and data thus making it easier (for me) to easily determine which is which.
One of my sons has only a laptop and it contains critical customer data. For this, we use two rotating 4TB USB drives. One of which is always offsite.
With ATI you can also use the cloud option, this I have not used because of compliance requirements. I'm not suggesting that the cloud is not safe but the guys that create the compliance requirements don't trust the cloud. Also, in the past, the internet speeds were too slow for a speedy recovery. Today several providers provide up to 1 gb speed, however, most consumers do not have the necessary hardware to take full advantage of the higher speeds.
FYI optical disk do fail over time.
Some of my "data" is synchronized nightly across several PCs using SyncBackPro. I could sync in realtime but have not stepped up to this level because I don't have a critical need to do so. I do have one very small folder that is synced in realtime across several PCs.
Obviously there are numerous considerations and backup schemes. Feel free to ask questions.