TIH 2013 "Fomds and includes backup versions in a set that don't belong to it!
I've been using TIH 2013 with Plus Pack build 66514 for about 3 weeks now and things had been running smoothly. I still use Mudcrab's Chain2gent scripts as I have been doing for years A few days ago, when TIH seemed to start "jumping the fence," i.e., including backup versions from ...\set1 in the current set, ...\set0! This gets very confusing and spoils the whole cocept of generations, especially since it has been known to continue buildin incrementals in set0 off the full backup in set1!
For those unfamililar, Chain2gen is a set of batch scripts designed to preserve a backup chain by moving in into anoter folder (behind TIH's back) on a desigated day of the week, or other trigger and let TIH start over with an empty folder and do a full backup followed by incrementals.
I know there is a check box called "Search for backup files on startup, but it's unchecked. I'm at a loss.
Since I can't find any new functionality in TIH to replace Chain2gen any informal help would be appreciated. I know this thing is unsupported, but TIH should not be grabbing .tib files from anywhere it feels like it. Eh?
How can I keep it in one folder?
One other thing I should mention- my wife has a laptop that runs an identical copy of TIH 13 and backs up over the network to the same external disk as a shared device on my computer (these aren't the files that are getting mixed up). TIH finds them and lists them as separate "jobs" but I just remove them from the list on my copy.
Thank you,
Jim Nugent
Thanks for the quick reply. All settings check out except I had Custom / Incremental instead of Inncremental / Incremental. I have temporarily moved the files from set1 to a completely different directory. I do have the "Automatically Add backup files check dimmed (unchecked). I think that somehow opening directories from within Acronis might cause it to "notice" files; I'm going to have to be careful about that. I've opened and closed the program several times, and it has not "found" any additional files. Since C2G relies on the fact the the incremental scheme and method doing a full backup if the destination folder is empty, if it "finds" a full backup from the wrong generation and builds and incremental based on it, I'm screwed. I wish it would just ignore files outside the destination folder!
The next step will be to move them to another drive! I had been toying with simply setting the hidden bit, but that might get me into trouble if I needed to recover from bootable media. We'll see what happens tonight.
Thanks,
Jim
In order make sure the next backup creation is a a full backup, be sure and either run the Force bat file so C2G will clear set0; or you make sure the set0 folder is empty. The Force bat file is C2g's method of making TI start over.
The scan for backups program has issues and will sometimes do a scan for unknown reasons. It is something some of us complain about but but not enough complaints to get fixed.
When I install a new version such as 2013, I always start with new tasks. The TI Database tracking of what backup is due next sometimes produces wrong results. The force new chain can be very helpful.
Sometimes, if I need a folder correction, etc. I just rename the folders higher in number so that set0 becomes empty.
Thanks GroverH. It worked last night. The problem I was having was not c2g forgetting to drop the trigger file. It was that c2g would push the files from \set0 to \set1 as designed, but TIH would simply continue building incrementals off the full backup the now was in \set1.
I think this behavior may be caused by accidentally extending the backup list by using the "Open location" function and poking around in those folders.
So far, so good. C2G is doing its job and so is TIH. Last night was supposed to be a full backup but disk space ran out. After fretting over how this could happen, I realized it was legitimate --- I'd moved a whole backup chain into a folder outside C2G's naming sequence to "hide" it. Well I hid it from myself. :(
I delete that chain, now obsolete, and the full backup is running noow.
Thanks again for your help.
AFAIK I still cannot get the functionality of Chain2Gen out of TIH alone. I hope they never do anything to break it.
Best, Jim
PS I have a couple of questions (easier, I hope) but I'll post them in different threads.
AFAIK I still cannot get the functionality of Chain2Gen out of TIH alone. I hope they never do anything to break it.
TrueImage 2011-2012-2013 hss NOT added any new features which exist in C2G or at least none that I am can remember.
The one 2013 TI feature which has been improved which seems to work most of the time for most people is the feature of "automatic cleanup" if you want to create a new full after x number of full or Inc or Diff type backups; and to "store no more than x number of recent version chains." Automatic cleanup seems to work whereas, users continue to report isssues with consolidation--or data base corruption. Automatic cleanup seems to work if the backup scheme is set as per my examples of 11-Full; 11-Inc; or 11-Dif listed in link #2 below.
However, there are limits for TI to the above:
1. TI creates the replacement first before deletion of old, which for some is can cause space issues because of the temporary need for space for another full before deletion..
a. If you need deletion of old backup before creation (rather than after creation), only C2G can handle or TI requires a custom user batch file to achieve the deletion first.
b. If you want a full to occur on a specific day or date, even if backup target number has not been achieved, only C2G can handle or a custom user bat file needed.
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As long as TI continues to create a full when the target location is empty, C2G should continue to work.
C2G really works well for me because I can keep the old chain while building the new chain. Also I saw something interesting in Backup Explorer: it "looks" beyond the current folder. For example if your are running C2G, it shows backs in set 1 (and presumably set2, etc. if you have them) has well as set0. See the attachiched picture - 2 screenshots one above the other.
That's OK as long as it doesn't "look" in folders other than set0 when deciding whether to do a full or incremental back up. I once had it builld an incremental in set0 (which had just been emptied by C2G) based on the full backup in set1. I believe this can happen if you are not careful with the "Browse for Backup" function. You can accidentally add a file to the list. At least that's my work ing theory.
Look at the picture. For a C2G old timer, I think it's interesting. Notice the veritical bar between backups in different folders.
Yes, the vertical bar is a chain separator for all backups listed and all was created by the same TI task.
I am not surprised. If "scan for backups at startup" was to be invoked intentionally or accidentally, more chains would be added to the list displayed by the Acronis backup explorer.
A couple questions.
1. When you installed 2013, did you start over with new tasks in a new storage folder?
2. How are you handling validation? Is this being done each backup or monthly or manually?
3. What are your C2G settings for this task such as:
MAX_BACKUP_GENERATIONS=
TRGR_ON_MAX_TIB_CNT=
4. Are you using any other C2G settings as above from the same file such as backups on a certain day or date, etc
Hi GroverH,
Sorry so long in replying! Timd got away from me, and to be honest TIH has been working well recently.
Yes, the vertical bar is a chain separator for all backups listed and all was created by the same TI task.
I am not surprised. If "scan for backups at startup" was to be invoked intentionally or accidentally, more chains would be added to the list displayed by the Acronis backup explorer.A couple questions.
1. When you installed 2013, did you start over with new tasks in a new storage folder?
I left the folder structure alone, but made sure the tib files were in set1, and set0 was empty. TIH did a very good job of importing the tasks from 2011. I inspected all the settings, and concluded they were correct. I just started using it.
2. How are you handling validation? Is this being done each backup or monthly or manually?
Each backup is validated immediately after it is created.
3. What are your C2G settings for this task such as:MAX_BACKUP_GENERATIONS=
TRGR_ON_MAX_TIB_CNT=
MAX_BACKUP_GENERATIONS=1
TRGR_ON_MAX_TIB_CNT=4
4. Are you using any other C2G settings as above from the same file such as backups on a certain day or date, etc
My settings are:
TRGR_ON_DAY1=Sun
TRGR_ON_DAY2=Wed
As you can see, there is redundancy. That is to catch the case where a Sun or a Wed is missed; the MAX_TIB_CNT=4 will kick in and flip it. I've had that setting for a long time.
Best.
Jim
One More Thing-
My Backup Explorer list no longer (for now...) show the chain with set1 behiind it. See attached screen shots.
