Acronis Advance Server fails to create VM conversion
Hello all,
Problem:
I am encounter an issue whereby Acronis is unable to do a VM conversion after a full backup is created.
Backup Strategy:
- Creating a daily full backup of the entire server and then after every full backup, it will convert it to VM (I have the option checked)
Current old setup:
1 server running Windows 2003 Std edition
Following this article:
http://kb.acronis.com/content/6235 to convert a scheduled backup into a VM.
Works perfectly
New setup:
2 servers running Windows 2008 R2 Std edition
Followed the same article to create a scheduled backup into a VM
Both servers are new, and both encounters the same error messages:
Task 'Backup to VM conversion' failed: 'Remote launch failed.
Additional info:
--------------------
Error code: 4
Module: 219
LineInfo: d4598347c18f8a9b
Fields: $module : C:\Program Files (x86)\Acronis\BackupAndRecovery\mms.exe
Message: Remote launch failed.
--------------------
Error code: 32795
Module: 114
LineInfo: fde974fd2ebcfe8c
Fields: $module : C:\Program Files (x86)\Acronis\BackupAndRecovery\mms.exe
Message: Failed to convert the backup to the virtual machine.
--------------------
Error code: 24
Module: 149
LineInfo: c527d80f36a739f1
Fields:
Message: Failed to copy disks.
--------------------'.
"Solutions" I have tried so far:
- Created a manual recovery task to restore the fullbackup.tib into VM (It works) But I need it to be on schedule. I cant be possibly doing it manully everytime.
I have googled around and unable to find any solutions for it. I have even tried contacting Acronis support via chat. All the solutions the give doesnt work at all.
Has anyone encountered this before?
Machine Type: VMWare workstation
Host: localhost (the same server acronis is installed into)
Target machine location: Self
I have tried this same setup and it work in Wins2003 environment
They tried to provide me alternatives which is to do a manual conversion to VM. I am not ok with this as I need it to be scheduled. They also tried updating the sapapi drivers? or something like that, and the schedmgr.exe but still not working.
Bump. None encountered this problem?
Hello all,
Thank you for your posts and your kind help dev-anon,
ITadmin, I will do my best to help you.
Unfortunately it is unknown at the moment why this issue occurs. However, your case regarding it has been forwarded to our Expert team for investigation and I am certain that we will get this resolved.
If you have additional questions please let me know.
Thank you.
Post edited, TOU violation.
Hello Ritesh,
1) check which partitions are included into the backup.
See 1.jpg
I used to check these 3 options:
- FAT32
- NTFS C:
- New Volume D:
After looking at your email below, I have tried both of the followings seperately:
a. Backup C and D partition only, excluded FAT 32 b. Backup C partition only, excluded FAT32
Both times, full backup is being made. (.tib file is successfully created) VM conversion fails with the same error message.
I have already uninstalled my antivirus 2 weeks back as I suspect it might be causing the problem, but still same issue.
2) Check if there are are any dynamic disk.
No dynamic disk. See TypeofHDD.jpg
3) Also try to backup and automatically convert just the C: volume without system reserved partition.
See above answer
4) Please make sure that we are just backing up only C drive and nothing else and schedule the job to backup and convert.
See above answer
Regards,
Johnson Ng
200 MB FAT partition is a sign of http://kb.acronis.com/content/5684 . They have the right to refuse further investigation per this article. (btw - was the old server with 2003 also EFI system or not? (disregard. It wasn't because even x64 2003, unless it's Itanium, can't boot from EFI)
Btw, does manually restored to VM (that succeeded to restore, as I understood) boot and work?
I have manually convert the .tib file into a .vmdk format.
Tried booting up and encounter the error message:
Please see VMBootupErrorMsg.jpg
I opened the .tib file and theres 3 drives inside it. C, D, and E.
For some reason, Acronis convert the EFI partition into E drive, which I suspect this is the reason the VM cannot be booted up. (See attached screenshot: TIBcontents, TIBcontents2.jpg)
I have also tried cloning the whole physical server, and restore the .tib file into another physical server of the same specs. Unable to boot up too.
So if Acronis does not support EFI paritions, does that mean that I have purchase it for nothing? :(
I am fine if the scheduled conversion to VM error is due to the EFI partitions. But I am not OK if I cannot even do a basic clone to another same physical server of the same specs.
In need of help, deserately :(
Did you set up the virtual machine bios to boot as EFI? Acronis doensn't 'convert' partitions in .tib file to drives, they are just displayed this way in tib explorer. When they are restored , OS may or may not mount them as drives with letters. It's noting otherwise special in a 200 Mb FAT-32 partition.
I have also tried cloning the whole physical server, and restore the .tib file into another physical server of the same specs. Unable to boot up too.
It doen't prove that it's impossible to boot GPT disk backedup-restored as a whole.
Did you set up the virtual machine bios to boot as EFI?
How do you do that? I tried exploring the BIOs, but dont see anything about EFI partition thingy.
When restoring a .tib image to a VM, where should I restore the EFI partition to? As primary or logical?
I tried restoring the EFI partition to "blank" letter drive, C: NTFS to C, D: New volume to D.
Result: Cannot boot up
Error message:
Remove disks or other media.
Press any key to restart
I have also tried restoring the EFI partition to C drive, C drive to D drive, and D drive to E drive.
Cannot boot up too :(
The VM may not support EFI (very likely). In this case, you have to either manually change the windows booting style to MBR (restoring main 'C' partition to a 'C' partition on an MBR disk and keeping 200 mb ntfs 'reserved' windows partition that contains MBR boot code may work. Or may not until repair from windows boot DVD. Or may not work at all) or limit to restoring on the physical machine.
The VM may not support EFI (very likely). In this case, you have to either manually change the windows booting style to MBR (restoring main 'C' partition to a 'C' partition on an MBR disk and keeping 200 mb ntfs 'reserved' windows partition that contains MBR boot code may work. Or may not until repair from windows boot DVD. Or may not work at all) or limit to restoring on the physical machine.
How do I do that?
I have reformatted one of my servers, reinstalled Windows 2008 R2 Std without IBM Serv Guide CD. (Previously, wins 2008 standard r2 is installed using IBM Serv Guide, hence there is this EFI partition).
After installation, checked from Disk management, There are only 3 partitions, 100MB FAT 32 System Reserved partition, C: and D:.
Installed Acronis, and did a scheduled conversion to VM after every full backup. .tib file successfully created but conversion to VM failed :(
Tried the following combinations of backup:
1. Clone and convert to VM > all drives, System partition, C and D drive
2. Clone and convert to VM > C and D drives only
3. Clone and convert to VM > C drive only
Destination F: (500GB Portable hard disk)
All of the tests above failed with this error. (Please see attached)
Now I am wondering if Acronis is compatible in x64 bit Wins 2008 or not.
Dear ITAdmin,
Please take a look at the following article: Acronis Products Do Not Support EFI Based Operating Systems.
It specifically says that EFI based OSes are not supported, unless they are installed in BIOS/MBR mode.
Please do not get this wrong, Windows 2008/2008 R2 are fully-supported as long as they are installed in BIOS/MBR mode, even if they run on EFI-capable Servers.
VMware Workstation is not capable of EFI, that is why the manually converted virtual machine does not boot neither.
In order to be able to accomplish what you want, you need to install Windows on a disk formatted in MBR partition style. Then the conversion after backup will succeed, and the resulting VM will be bootable.
--
Best regards,
Ahmad Ibrahimov
Expert Engineer | Microsoft Certified Professional
Acronis Customer Central
I have checked the disk properties and it is showing up as GPT.
A quick question: How do I format the partition as MBR? I am running RAID 5. WIns 2008 R2 standard.
Is this possible?
Hi ITAdmin,
The fact that it is showing up as GPT means that the system is running in EFI mode.
In order to install Windows 2008/2008 R2 on MBR you need to format the partition in MBR style during Windows setup. It should not matter if you have a RAID array or a plain hard disk. See the below screen from the Windows Setup:
You need to go to drive options and delete all existing partitions, then create new ones in MBR style.
--
Best regards,
Ahmad Ibrahimov
Expert Engineer | Microsoft Certified Professional
Acronis Customer Central
Hello Ahmad,
Thank you for your help. There isnt any options for me to create in MBR style. How do you do that?
Please see attached. It seems that my IBM xseries 3550 M3 comes with EFI partition enabled?
The error pops out when i click on (Show details) on partition 1, which is 100MB.
When i click on "New" and choose the max size, 3 partitions are created automaticall
I can install it in partition 3 no issue. But after installing windows, I checked the disk management in windows and it is showing up as GPT.
I am aware that this is not a problem of Acronis, but do you have any idea on this?
Hello All,
Thank you for everyone's input. It turns out the server I am using is using UEFI system. Checked with the hardware vendor and according to him, to install into UEFI systems using MBR partition style, you will need to edit the BIOS setting to boot from "Legacy Only".
Now my partition is in MBR style and Acronis is running it fine.
*happy*
Hello ITadmin,
My congratulations! By the way, full EFI support is planned to be introduced in Acronis Backup & Recovery 11. No release date yet, though :).
--
Best regards,
Ahmad Ibrahimov
Expert Engineer | Microsoft Certified Professional
Acronis Customer Central