Consolidation = endless grief. What is it for? Can it be stopped?
What is consolidation? I've read the manual, KB articles, the forum etc but it makes no sense and my backups are forever failing at the consolidation stage with 'failed to open data stream'. I recreate the task because according to a KB article it had become corrupt again (and again and again).
So what is consolidation? It causes trouble and offers me nothing. It is used when the program is asked to delete old backup series but why the heck are not old backup series just deleted?
If I have full and differential backups and set new full backups every five differentials and if I ask the program to only keep three series why does the program need to consolidate anything about the oldest series before it's deleted? Consolidation wastes time, it causes problems and I don't understand that it does anything useful. Surely a new full back up is 'full' and there is nothing about the oldest backup series that needs to be kept or 'consolidated'.
What don't I understand? Can the troublesome consolidation step be turned off while having the program automatically delete backup series according to number, age or size?
Avoid consolidation. Asking for your data to be mixed into another backup is asking for trouble. Below is some suggested methods of using automatic cleanup and have the program automatically delete the oldest chains so the older chains are deleted rather than integrated into existiting backups.
The examples below work if configured as the examples and left alone without further edits. Applicable for 203-2014-2015.
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Depending upon the type of backup scheme you wish to create, here is an example of each type. These can be set up for Disk image, or Partiton, or Files-folders backups. These example show how to set up automatic cleanup so the program will do the deletion after it reaches your set goal of how many chains to retain.
Editing an existing task is not recommended. Rarely does an edited task perform to user expectations. It is usually better to start with a new task using a new non-identical task name and point to a new storage sub-folder so each task has it own storage folder/sub-folder. Old task can be stopped or deleted from the task listings.
GH25. Understanding differences between Inc and Dif for Safety
GH63. 64640: Hints to help prevent issues with your TIB backup files creation.
GH63. 75086: A discussion on how to configure backup schemes.
GH64. 71342: 2015 How to save a non-scheduled task.
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Thanks for your input Grover. I'd agree with you about avoiding consolidation. In all my backups, I never realised that I was ever asking for it though :)
Is there some tab or field input in the various setup parameters that allow you to choose consolidation of which you are aware please?
I use your "GH13" methodology, keeping 2 chains on the go at any time, but keep 6 Differentials per Chains - unless the storage media is limited.
My problems came about when I set up a secondary backup of data on a 64Gb USB stick, in order that I could keep the stick in a different geographical location to the HDD that contains the primary backup. The stick often runs out of room and I then delete the backup from Acronis (I find this to be a "flaky" process at the best of times - sometimes it will, sometimes you have to do workarounds) before re-formatting the USB stick and making a new backup in Acronis that performs an identical function as that deleted. Unfortunately, Acronis now constantly errors on all other backups at the point where consolidation is attempted (again - I don't believe I have specifically asked for this function to be undertaken in any of my backups). Error messages refer to not being able to access a previously deleted backup that once resided on the USB Stick. The backups themselves seem perfectly formed and pass the validation stage (set to validate immediately after backup), BUT, I haven't yet been brave enough to try a restore of any of them :0
If you could point me to where consolidation with other backups can be switched on or off, I'd be eternally grateful.
Thanks for listening.....
Sorry. I posted a new comment rather than "replying" to this one. Hope you are able to see it.