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Someone please explain to me...

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I'm trying to understand what the Acronis True Image 2021 is creating on the backup drive. I've read all the Support info, and it's still not making sense (to me). I've attached 3 images. The first is a screen shot of the Backup Scheme I'm using. The second is a screen shot of the directory (as of today) on the backup drive. The third is a screen shot of the files inside the last folder.

What I'd like to know is:

1) What is the purpose of having 4 directories on the backup drive with identical backup files in them? Will even more directories with more identical backup files be created?

2) I thought, from the Backup Scheme I designated that a full backup would be run every 6 days, (a full backup, then 5 incrementals, then another full backup, etc....) I only see one full backup on November 16. Where are the other full backups?

If someone could shed some light on this, I'd really appreciate it. (In language I can understand, please....)

Thanks!

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What you are seeing is correct / normal for how backups using .TIBX files works for ATI 2020, 2021 and ACPHO.

All .TIBX files within the same backup version chain will show the contents of all the files within that chain.  So for your chosen backup scheme with 3 x Full backups plus 3 x 5 Incrementals, then you should see between 18 and 24 entries listed depending on when you look, the higher number could be seen after a new Full backup has been created before automatic cleanup runs to delete the oldest file with a full and 5 incremental slices.

There should always be a 12KB initial file for this type of version chain once the max number of files set for the scheme has been exceeded.  That 12KB file contains metadata that is used by the backup chain and should not be deleted!

You are only seeing 3 x large files (those with -0004, 5 & 6 suffices) because Incremental slices are automatically consolidated in the same file as the Full backup for that version.

The best way to see what the files are is to look at the Activity panel for your backup task where it will what type of backup was created on what date.  Alternatively, you can see the same type of information using the Clean up versions tool.

See the following KB documents published by Acronis with regards to .tibx files.

KB 63518: Acronis True Image 2020: do not delete first tibx file

KB 63227: Acronis True Image: Do not delete .TIB or .TIBX files outside of Acronis True Image

KB 63498: Acronis True Image 2020-2021: new tibx backup format FAQ

KB 63425: Acronis True Image: Limitations of tibx backups

KB 63516: Acronis True Image 2020: Incremental backups do not create separate files when using new backup format

KB 63445: Acronis True Image 2020: how to view and manage backup versions in new backup format

KB 63444: Acronis True Image 2020 and 2021: tibx backups in local destinations

KB 63613: Acronis True Image: local backups are not available for recovery if "metadata" file appears in the backup destination - if you see metadata file(s).

Thank you. Now, one follow-up question.

As you noted, my current chosen backup scheme is 3 x Full backups plus 3 x 5 Incrementals.

The question: Is there any advantage to having 3 Full backups plus 5 Incrementals instead of only 2 Full backups plus 2 x 5 Incrementals? What is your experience/opinion?

Thanks again.

Baron, the choice of backup scheme really is down to the individual.  Personally I normally stick with just 2 full backups with 5 incrementals each of which is run weekly alongside other backups to different destinations on other days of the week.

If you are running a more frequent schedule then more backups will be created and storage capacity comes into play in the calculations.

The choice depends on how far back you might want to recover to, how much storage you have etc.