Acronis 2021 TIB File

Steve, as you are creating disk backups in ATI 2021 these will be using .tibx format, not .tib (assuming the backup task was created on this version).  This change to .tibx files brings new rules for the way these work, i.e. incremental backups no longer are in separate files but are consolidated within the same .tibx file as the initial full backup for that version chain.

When clicking on .tibx files in Explorer, every file will show the same information with information for all current files within the backup chain(s).

The reason for the message about the Recovery tab information is caused because you have changed the Destination location for a backup task which has already created some backup files in a different destination location than the one you are changing the task to use.

Ideally, it is best to keep all the files for any backup task in a single destination location.

Thanks Steve,

I'll keep all backup files in one folder on the external HD. 

Re: BACKUP CHAIN -  when I backup both HDs in the desktop, I want to do a full backup each time, not an incremental.  As a sanity check, am I doing a FULL backup?  I ask as in prior versions of Acronis, I did full backups, never an incremental.  Want to ensure I didn't miss something in the 2021 BACKUP process.

Thanks so much - Steve

Steve, with the use of .tibx files, there are additional factors that need to be understood, even for making only full backups!

When you make a full backup image, if that is the only backup created by that task, then it is fully independent.

As soon as you make a second full backup image for the same task, then a new .tibx file using a numeric suffix is created, i.e. FullBackup-0001 but this is now interdependent on the previous full backup file by being linked via metadata.

Taking this to the next step, if you make a third full backup, and have set automatic cleanup to only store 2 recent version chains, then a new FullBackup-0002 file is created and the initial FullBackup.tibx file is reduced in size to 12KB as a metadata store.  Again, all the files for this task are interdependent!

See forum topic: Full Backups no independent entity where this has been discussed in some depth.

The way to tell if you have created a Full backup is to look at the Activity panel for your backup task, where this will tell you easily / clearly what type of backup was created.

Thanks Steve,

I rotate a total of 4 external HDs (numbered 1-4) and typically back up once weekly or so. When done with the HD, it goes to my safety deposit box and I retrieve the next HD in sequence.  Been doing this a while as I worked from home (now retired).

Before starting a backup on a "just retrieved" HD, I delete older backups.  If I may ask, in doing FULL backup, should I point Acronis to the same location on the HD (i.e., do not change directories)?  For example, I may execute FULL backups 3-4 times on a given HD before swapping it with the next HD in sequence.  I get a little shakey when you mentioned the backups are interdependent.  I do not remember Acronis doing this in the past.  Concern is with file corruption between interdepedent backups (i.e., corrupted metadata, etc.).

Is it best for me to create a directory on the HD using the backup date?  Then the next backup, create another directory, naming by that given date?

Thanks - Steve

Steve,

When you configure the backup task, use the following settings:

Scheduling - Do not schedule

Backup scheme - Custom scheme

Backup method - Full

With the task configured as above the task must be run manually and will create a Full disk backup file independent of any other backup files in the same location.

Thanks Steve,

Really appreciate the steps.  I'll follow your procedure.

Steve

Enchantech wrote:

Steve,

When you configure the backup task, use the following settings:

Scheduling - Do not schedule

Backup scheme - Custom scheme

Backup method - Full

With the task configured as above the task must be run manually and will create a Full disk backup file independent of any other backup files in the same location.

Are you sure about this? That's how I do backups and I'm pretty sure the dependencies are still there.

Bruno, you are correct.  If you follow the settings advised by Bob then the full backups are interlinked as can be seen if any file is double-clicked, it will show the dependent files!

The above is from a test backup task using the suggested settings showing the linkage between the -0001 file and the previous full backup file for the task.

The only way to ensure full independence is to either create a new task with a unique name each time, or else to rename the backup file immediately after it is created!
Note: I use Bruno's tibdlink tool in a post command to do this for one of my backups.

Yep, error on my part. I needed to clarify "location" further.  That's what I get for being in a hurry this AM.

I meant to write "disk location" but even that is not sufficient.  Each backup file needs to be in it's own folder but can be in the same disk partition location.

So in essence I was attempting to confirm the OP's question.  Apologies for screwing that up.

Thanks all!!

I feel it is best to create a folder named for the backup date & full backup to that folder .. if I read feedback correctly

Confirmed

Thank you!!