Switching Backup Destination Drives
For data secruity reasons I use two (2) removable drives as the destination for ATI 16 backups, one drive is attached to the computer while the other is stored off site. The drives are exchanged each morning after the backups have run overnight.
Previous experience with earlier versions of ATI, including ATI 15, found that the automatic cleanup function does not support this style of backup. The work around was to use a custom backup scheme with a full backup and the automatic cleanup shut off. We manually "cleaned up" each morning when we switched the backup drives.
My computer consultant advised us to upgrade to ATI 16 as part of our reluctant transition to Win10. Our smoothly running backup routine has now become a daily fight with ATI 16 to get it to run. Every morning I get upwards of thirty messages, at roughly five minute intervals, all with identical logs. See below.
1 True Image 5/7/2016 8:30:13 AM Backup reserve copy attributes: format tib; need_reserve_backup_copy false; 2 True Image 5/7/2016 8:30:14 AM Operation MA_HQ D-Drive Backup started by schedule. 3 True Image 5/7/2016 8:30:16 AM Backup reserve copy attributes: format tib; need_reserve_backup_copy false; 4 True Image 5/7/2016 8:30:16 AM Operation: Backup 5 True Image 5/7/2016 8:30:16 AM The specified file does not exist: F:\MA_HQ Backup\Data Backup (D)\MA_HQ D-Drive Backup_full_b5_s1_v1.tib. 6 True Image 5/7/2016 8:30:16 AM The initial full backup version is not accessible at the moment. 7 True Image 5/7/2016 8:30:16 AM The specified file does not exist. 8 True Image 5/7/2016 8:30:16 AM The system cannot find the file specified 9 True Image 5/7/2016 8:30:16 AM The backup location was not found on the destination drive. Make sure the correct storage device is connected to the computer. 10 True Image 5/7/2016 8:30:17 AM Operation has completed with errors.
From the above it looks like the "automatic cleanup" routine is not really disabled and is looking for the previous backup file which is on the other drive. The only way I can get a backup to run is to run it manually.
So, first how do I get ATI 16 to make backups when I am using two different destination drives, neither of which do not have sequential backup (*.tib) files? Second, how do I get it to stop sending messages every 5 minutes and clogging up my inbox?
Steve,
Thanks for taking a look at this issue. What is unsettling is that the two backup drives have identical names / drive letters so the only issue is that apparently ATI 16 can't find the last backup for the automatic cleanup tool to check, even though automatic cleanup was turned off. However, when I turn the "tool" back on and tell it that it can have upto 10 backups it seems to run without trouble:
1 True Image 5/7/2016 8:48:34 AM Backup reserve copy attributes: format tib; need_reserve_backup_copy false; 2 True Image 5/7/2016 8:48:34 AM Operation MA_HQ D-Drive Backup started by schedule. 3 True Image 5/7/2016 8:48:37 AM Backup reserve copy attributes: format tib; need_reserve_backup_copy false; 4 True Image 5/7/2016 8:48:37 AM Operation: Backup 5 True Image 5/7/2016 8:48:37 AM The specified file does not exist: F:\MA_HQ Backup\Data Backup (D)\MA_HQ D-Drive Backup_full_b5_s1_v1.tib. 6 True Image 5/7/2016 8:48:37 AM The initial full backup version is not accessible at the moment. 7 True Image 5/7/2016 8:48:37 AM The specified file does not exist. 8 True Image 5/7/2016 8:48:37 AM The system cannot find the file specified 9 True Image 5/7/2016 8:48:37 AM Create Backup Archive From: Disk 1 To file: "F:\MA_HQ Backup\Data Backup (D)\MA_HQ D-Drive Backup.tib" Compression: Normal Exclude: Files matching mask Match criterion: *.tib, *.tmp, *.~, hiberfil.sys, pagefile.sys, $Recycle.Bin, swapfile.sys, System Volume Information, *.tib.metadata, C:\Users\Thomas McCaffery\AppData\Local\Temp, C:\Users\PCAdmin\AppData\Local\Temp, C:\Users\Thomas McCaffery\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files, C:\Users\PCAdmin\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files, C:\Users\Thomas McCaffery\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Cache, C:\Users\Thomas McCaffery\AppData\Local\Opera Software, C:\Users\Thomas McCaffery\AppData\Local\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles, C:\Users\Thomas McCaffery\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Cache, C:\Users\Thomas McCaffery\AppData\Local\Opera Software, C:\Users\Thomas McCaffery\AppData\Local\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles, C:\Windows\CSC 10 True Image 5/7/2016 8:48:37 AM Pending operation 172 started: 'Creating partition image'. 11 True Image 5/7/2016 8:50:16 AM Writing full version to file: MA_HQ D-Drive Backup_full_b6_s1_v1.tib 12 True Image 5/7/2016 9:42:19 AM Pending operation 172 started: 'Creating partition image'. 13 True Image 5/7/2016 9:42:20 AM The following backups have been successfully created: "F:\MA_HQ Backup\Data Backup (D)\MA_HQ D-Drive Backup_full_b6_s1_v1.tib" 14 True Image 5/7/2016 9:42:20 AM Validate Backup Archive Location: "F:\MA_HQ Backup\Data Backup (D)\MA_HQ D-Drive Backup_full_b6_s1_v1.tib" 15 True Image 5/7/2016 9:42:20 AM Pending operation 4 started: 'Validate Backup Archive'. 16 True Image 5/7/2016 10:22:48 AM Operation has succeeded.
Even more unsettling is that we had been using the full backup / no cleanup setup on ATI 15 with absolutely no issues -- an essentially flawless operation backing up two separate hard drives, with two separate backup jobs, to the same alternating backups we are using now.
On a separate note, we have found that the automatic cleanup tool / function was the source of much trouble with ATI 15, even when using the same backup drive for a specific computer. Apparently the cleanup tool is so embedded into the core of the software there is no way to turn the darned thing off, even when the software says it is turned off. I find this to be major defect in the basic ATI code.
Tom, I do not think that automatic cleanup is involved in the error messages shown in the log you posted, there would be different messages if that were the case.
The real issue here is that although you have two identical backup drives with the same names and using the same drive letter, you are creating a backup that is written to say drive 1 but which does not exist on drive 2 when you connect that drive to perform the next scheduled backup. The Acronis database for your backup task has a record for the backup written to drive 1 and therefore checks for this as part of starting the new backup task, as this will form the basis for the name given to the next backup image.
In this scenario you are causing an error because your backup drives are out of sync with the database and always will be when you switch between them alternatively while performing the same backup task.
Each backup location is unique and identified by the hardware UUID and the Windows GUID in a backup task. So...
1) IF you change the letter or name of the Drive in Windows - it breaks the backup since the location is not the same as was originally created in the backup task
2) If you have multiple drives, a unique backup task must be created for each destination location. Backup names need to be unique for each backup job. Trying to trick the application by using the same backup name and/or backup USB drive will not work.
Also, keep in mind that Windows can and will reassign drive letters if they are already in use. So, if you have Drive 1 plugged in as say D:\ now and Drive 2 as E:, but Windows reverses the letters because another flash drive is plugged in or something, that can also cause problems. As a result, you may want to assing your backup drives specific Letters further down the chain (R, S, T.... or work backwards from Z: for each drive making sure they never are setup with the same letter to begin with).
How to change Windows Drive Letters (LEAVE your C: Drive alone though!!!!!)
As a total newbie and trying to get a feel for the product I find this lack of support for 'swapped external HDDs' both astonishing and disappointing. ATI is supposed to be the bees knees of SOHO backup solutions. The 'Keep one drive plugged in and then swap it for one offsite' approach is about as standard a requirement as it gets.
I had a chat session and was told nothing more than that I would have to check the 'Backup Reserve Copy' box and so that's the advice from the support center. From what Tom's saying above that is far from the case.
Whilst I understand the need for the product to keep a 'database' in order to link to the previous backups- particularly where Incremental or Differentials are concerned, SURELY it must be a simple matter to have an option for Full Backup every time that allows for this schema.
Given the hoops needed to get such a schema to work in ATI I might as well just write a simple script and get my clients to click on that every night before they go home (and save the cost of ATI).
Come on Acronis. We're in version 16 of this product. This is NOT a difficult bit of functionality to give us.
Am I cynical in thinking that it is all designed to force us to use the Cloud solution? That is fine if you have a fibre link but on good old ADSL, trying to shift 50GB up the wire is a non-starter.
I couldn’t' agree more Andrew, I've been working with ATI for over 15 years, as systems engineer it’s my job to make sure offsite/offline backups are running smooth. I know for a fact that we used to do this with their $1000.00+ server product years ago. But after they got popular and changed their support structure, we decided to use BackupAssist for all server backups. It's cheaper and better supported, with similar features. It also fully supports backing up to multiple USB drives.
Anyway, I've decided to use a synchronization app to copy my 2TB of data from my personal data stores to external USB 3.0 drives. After doing some research I’m going to try out this one: http://www.goodsync.com/ it received good reviews and the price is right - $29.99.
I’m also moving all my customers off ATI for personal use. They are NOT the company they used to be.
ATI 2016 has failed the most basic rule in backing up data, the 3,2,1 rule:
- Keep at least 3 copies of your data
- Rotate them at least twice a week
- Store one of the copies offline!!
John/Andrew.
If I create a copy batch file (robocopy) to d:\backups and Windows mounts my hard drive as E:\ because D: is already in use by a new USB flash drive I already plugged in before it, it's not going to work in that scenario either (Acronis aside).
Alternatively, If I have 2 USB drives (one for my backups and one with my only copy of all my kids pictures since birth), that are never plugged in at the same time (so they both get the same drive letter when they are attached), I wouldn't want Acronis writing backups to my picture drive automatically either.
I think there are people like yourselves that would like this to happen, but also people that wouldn't. By configuring the backups to run on a specific drive identified by UUID, that is the safe move and the one "less destructive". This behavior is the same in other backup products like Retrospect as well. I'm not sure about Macrium, but suspect it to be the same - I havent' tried.
Please submit feedback to Acronis directly through the app. With enough request, it could change in time. However, I personally think the behavior, although not ideal for your situation, is more suited for a home backup product where users are lookign to backup up their data, and not accidentally write the backup content to a drive they didn't intend to.
For what you want to do, I think a synchronization app makes more sense. Allwaysync is a good free one too. Alternatively, a simple robocopy script (already built into Windows) would do the trick too.
I agree with the posters that ATI should support, and encourage, I think, the rotation of backup disks. In the days of ransomware, this would be a good practice to encourage for consumers. Of course, not all consumers can or are willing to invest in multiple backup destination media, so encourage, not require.
The backup reserve thing is antiquated and inappropriate by a mile.
Unfortunately, the only way to do this with this consumer software is to have different tasks pointing at different physical disks. It is not perfect since scheduled tasks will error out when the destination disk is not there.
The practice of using sync software in addition to image software is also a good practice. Since all files are lost if the single archive file fails, and no other software can open/repair these archive files. I wish local sync would be part of the product. This remote sync feature currently present is useless to me.
Thanks for the discussion guys. I'm going to go the (local) sync route - probably GoodSynch following a bit of research (thanks John).
I have sympathy with Bobbo. There is an issue there.
However, I still struggle with the 'discouragement' of a multiple destination solution. I'm guessing that a ransomeware attack would find the single external HDD and that's that - no backup. So a single external HDD backup is no backup at all.
Sorry Acronis - it's bye bye for now.
I too am having the same problem - seems like a resonable scheme to be supported.
My latest thought is to make the drives I switch out accessible through a UNC share (using the defualt hidden administrative $ share would probable work) with appropriate credentials - maybe ATI won't care about UUID's and GUID's when working through a share? Also could use just one backup job this way.
Trying it now to see if it works...
I haven't tested personally, but seems to be available in 2017 now...
http://www.acronis.com/en-us/support/updates/changes.html?p=38886
Other improvements:
- Added the ability to create disk- and file-level backups from Windows File Explorer directly.
- Improved reconnecting behavior for online backups when Acronis Cloud is not available.
- Increased number of stored backup versions for Acronis True Image for Mac (now up to 20 versions).
- Compression level and encryption method are now visible while editing an existing backup (available on Windows only).
- The application now works correctly if a drive letter changes (available on Windows only).
- The default sync can now be removed (available on Windows only).
- The user interface of the Web Account has been refreshed.
My guess is that even though this should now be supported, it would only apply to a new backup task and not one created from 2016 or earlier. You could take a backup of your system as is for posterity, grab the 2017 trial, upgrade, create a NEW test task and verify if it has the desired behavior now or not and then determine if you want to migrate to 2017 or roll your image back and stick with 2016.