Using a QNAP NAS
Hello, I am asking for a general pointer, after spending 7 frustratiing hours trying to get thing going. I am a new user.
A few days ago I installed Acronis 2016. Without thinking I pointed Acronis at my NAS in the network section and performed a couple of backups. Today I tried to do a restore and got a message. Sorry it cannot be done this way you have to use disks. I dont know whether it means a recovery disk, or that I have to move the backup data to disks.
After some reading I found some discussons that suggested that an SMB type connection was needed because Acronis cannot detect QNAP NAS units.
I therefore activated SMB on the NAS, and checked that it is working with an SMB app on my phone. However, I am using Windows 10 64bit and for whatever reason I cannot discover the SMB share using Windows 10.
I am wondering if Windows 10 and or Acronis have a problem with SMB?
As mentioned, I can use the NAS as a network device and also an FTP device, but SMB is a problem.
Hardware. Windows 10 64bit (fresh install), QNAP NAS model TS251
My question. I can use the Network share but using recovery seems to have problems, I can use FTP. But should I really push the SMB method and get that working? If so, I can try using another Windows 7 machine tomorrow.
Any guidelines or hints are apprececiated. Thank you!


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Hi, just a short reply. Thank you for you message. I feel less alone now! But yes, I am using W10 Pro, virgin Acronis and Chrome are the onky additions. The SMB versions available are 1,2,2.1,3 Currently I am using the NAS set on 3, Just assuming W10 like it the best.... The QNAP NAS is 3 weeks old, fully up to date.
I am pretty sure the NAS SMB is activated correctly. But tomorrow I will try a W7 laptop to see if that works.
Since my post, I did succeed in getting a successful restore using the NAS Network share method. But from what I can read an SMB connection should work a lot faster? Cheers.
.
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That sounds good. Bet you still cannot see your Qnap in the Network view of Windows Explorer however, is that correct?
What did you do to get the restore task running?
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Possibly success! Maybe I was running around for nothing? I would appreciate any comments.
1. From the begining I have always been able to see my Qnap NAS using the Network view of Windows 10 explorer. But it only showed up in the Network section. I was hoping that it would show up in the Acronis software under "my NAS connections". I eventually gave up on that and then tried to achieve the SMB solution. Again I was expecting to see something like an SMB section, asking for credentials etc. Somehow I convinced myself that the Network connection that I was using was inferior somehow. Mainly due to Acronis telling me that a restore was not possible. But it turned out the Acronis backup file I was trying to use was corrupted although I never saw any warning message in the Acronis app.
This morning I set out to try to establish if my Qnap NAS was working on SMB. For the benefit of other Qnap users here are the settings.
QNAP NAS type TS-251 running OS v4.2.0
System Settings - Network Services - Win/Mac/NFS - Enable file service for MS Networking = yes, Standalone server mode. Then in advanced Options Enable Asynchronus I/O SMB version SMB 3.0
System Settings - Network click on the edit for the Ethernet1 or 2 (whichever is in use) Change the Jumbo Frame (MTU) to 9000 (from the default 1024)
PC Windows 10 64bit Pro, running Acronis True image 2016
In Acronis in Network the QNAP NAS should show up as a network device in file explorer, select the desired folder for backup/restore. The QNAP's folder should have the correct permissions etc.
When the above is done the SMB connection appears to be established correctly. I determined this by using Windows Powershell, it must be started in Administrator mode.
Windows PowerShell
Copyright (C) 2015 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
PS C:\Windows\system32> Get-SmbConnection
PS C:\Windows\system32> Get-SmbConnection (See Note1)
ServerName ShareName UserName Credential Dialect NumOpens
---------- --------- -------- ---------- ------- --------
NAS-Johnny PC Backups ASUS\lmsbv MicrosoftAccount\Graham 3.0 2 (See Note2)
Note1. This is the result of Get-SmbConnection (no SMB connection). I then used Windows Explorer and selected the NAS Acronis folder. Then ran Get-SmbConnection again. Note2. This time it shows a connection and that the SMB Dialect is 3.0
'So my conclusion is that the system appears to be working correctly in SMB mode. I have successfuly performed a couple of backup's and restore. So I am hoping that this marks the end of my Acronis adventure. Am I correct?
I am only disappointed in the lack of user information provided by the Acronis program. It was a corrupted Acronis incremental backup file which led me wrong, is there a status log anywhere (I cannot find it). I see an Acronis System report function, but dont know (yet) what this is for.
Question, is it recomended to create an Acronis Secure Zone on my NAS. I have set some strict permissions for the folder already, what additional advantage could this bring?
Thanks..
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So does your NAS showup in the TI 2016 app under network?
As far as a corrupt inc file you should always run validation of the backup at some point I do mine at backup creation. The system report is used for showing other problems tha may occurr with the app, windows, or your machine not for corruption. Your best way to find a corupted backup file is by opening the file up in Windows File Explorer. If you can do that your pretty much in the money.
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Hi, Yes it does. See attachment. I assume that the SMB mode 3, is correctly working as the 1mb MTU for best operformance over the 1gig wired LAN, but I dont know how to check it.
Yes, I have since setup the validation after backup, I dont know why that isnt set that way as the default.
Anyway, I hope this is the end and then I can start to get some confidence in this version of Acronis.
PS, I have just tried to setup a secure zone on the NAS. But only my local C: drive is shown as being available. So it looks like the secure zone thing isnt possible to do on a Network drive.
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I would not mess with the secure zone, more trouble than it is worth. Your screen shot shows a Windows File Explorer view of your NAS which is good as Windows sees it and that means SMB is working. Have you tried to use TI to create a backup with the NAS as a destination? You may have trouble seeing the NAS in the app as a destination. It will appear under Network in the destination screen if the app can see it. If it does not show up post back. I am off for lunch right now but will check back in when I return.
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Hi, thanks. No I think all is good now. Now I just need to build up my confidence with Acronis. As mentioned I have done two backups and restore and both went well and did not take long at all.
Thank you for the feedback. I think I saw that you are a FreeNas user. I was going to try that route for a NAS but chickened out! Cheers.
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Ok, gald you got things sorted, yes I am a FreeNAS user, I love it but I would only recommend it for advanced users. Lots of configuration and fair bit of maintenence but it does a fantastic job for me.
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