How to save backup`s into its own custom generated (date) backup folder ?
I tried to find answer to my question but I could not find.
My setup: Acronis True Image Home 2010.
My Win XP PC is scheduled for full backup with backup verification once a month. Backup is created locally on my PC.
Total size : 25 GB / 500 files / 50MB files.
The question.
Files are saved at:
D:\Backup\IMAGE_PC_NAME\pc_name_IMG_C_FULL_@date@_.tib
As you can see all files are saved into one folder.
My last five backups generated 2500 .tib files into one folder. Those files are hard to sort or maintain.
Is there a way to have every backup created into its own custom generated (date) folder ?
Example:
D:\Backup\IMAGE_PC_NAME\IMG_C_FULL_15.01.2011\pc_name_IMG_C_FULL_@date@_.tib
D:\Backup\IMAGE_PC_NAME\IMG_C_FULL_15.02.2011\pc_name_IMG_C_FULL_@date@_.tib
D:\Backup\IMAGE_PC_NAME\IMG_C_FULL_15.03.2011\pc_name_IMG_C_FULL_@date@_.tib
ThankS!

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KraFT,
Not sure whether this posting is active but I did want to respond.
500 files seems excessive. Are you getting more than one file for each backup? If yes, most likely your Windows file system is "Fat32" which has file size limation of 4GB. If "Fat32", you can convert your file system to "NTFS" which will enable you to have only one combined file for each backup.
What type backups are these? Are incrmental or differential backups included?
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Not sure whats the problem with having 500 files generated.
Anyway, yes.
- Its WIN XP, NTFS File system.
- Acronis True Image Home 2010.
- Its ALWAYS FULL image of system C partition. ( IMG_C_FULL )
- Normal compression method with fixed archive splitting size. (50MB)
- Total image size : (Avg)25 GB = 500 files x 50MB .
So, its not incremental or differential backup. Its always full backup.
Why would this seem excessive?
Only if this is not a problem for Acronis lets get back on the question.
"Is there a way to have every backup created into its own custom generated (date) folder ? (See example I posted above.)"
Thanks!
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There is nothing wrong with having 500 files it. One file per backup is just more commonly seen. It just wasn't what I was expectiing. If it works, that's all that matters.
One option might be to use a batch file to perform a renaming function of a fixed name into your desired name but someone else will have to counsel you on that.
Another option:
What I can suggest is there is a free program written by Acronis MVP oracleDBA named Chain2Gen (C2G) which would put each backup (50 files) into its own folder so you would end up with five folders but the final target folder would be named set0; set1; set2; set3; set4;
set0 (most recent backup)
set1 (2nd most recent backup)
set2 (3rd most recent backup)
set3 (4th most recent backup)
set4 (5th most recent backup)
If five backups is your retention rule, the sixth and subsequent backup would shuffle the contents so you always had the five most recent backups.
Backup would be directed by TI into a folder using your name except into a sub-folder named set0
(task target destination)
D:\Backup\IMAGE_PC_NAME\set0\pc_name_IMG_C_FULL_@date@_.tib
TrueImage normally assigns a sequential number 2-50 to each individual file
(contents of the D:\Backup\IMAGE_PC_NAME\set0 folder)
pc_name_IMG_C_FULL_@date@_.tib
pc_name_IMG_C_FULL_@date@_2.tib
pc_name_IMG_C_FULL_@date@_3.tib
pc_name_IMG_C_FULL_@date@_50.tib (file #50)
At scheduled backup time, using the TrueImageHom Pre/Post Pre command, TrueImage would allow C2G the first few seconds to move the files from set0 into set1 so that set0 is empty at time of actual backup creation.
TrueImage creates the backup and performs the scheduling.
Chain2Gen is a helper program for TIH and its most basic job is to enforce the retention rules you apply. The folder name "set0 is a requirement and you would a folder for each weeks backup for as many folders(weeks) as you wish to retain. If you retained 26 weeks of backups, then your folders would be set0 sequentially to set25.
One thing I do not know is what number TrueImage will use as the first number for each successive weekly backup but whatever number TI used, it would not affect the functioning of C2G--each backup would be placed in the set0 folder and moved along the folder chain each week.
If C2G is of interest, more details can be found inside my signature below.
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Should you decide to test Chain2Gen, here are some of the settings you will need. You will still need to read and understand and implement the instructions but they really are quite easy just lengthy.
1. Visit the main Chain2Gen posting located at
http://forum.acronis.com/forum/5940
Download the Chain2Gen_v2.6.2.zip file
2. Before you unzip, Right click on the downloaded zip file, check properties. Check Security on bottom row and see if you have an "unblock" option. If yes, then click on the "unblock" button to remove the security block.
3. Unzip and copy all C2G files into a control folder on your drive C or other location where the folder will be part of the backup. If you use C2G for more than one task, you need a control folder for each task. Control folder could be such as
C:\Chain2Gen\IMAGE_PC_NAME\
4. As a double check to make sure the security is cleared, right click on one of files which has the vbs extension. Check to assure there is no "unblock" option. If an unblock option is found, then you must individually check each vbs file and each bat file and clear each file individually.
5. Use Notepad and edit the "!_USER_SPECIFIED_PARAMS_FOR_ACRONIS.bat" file and assign your own parameters.
C:\Chain2Gen\IMAGE_PC_NAME\!_USER_SPECIFIED_PARAMS_FOR_ACRONIS.bat
5A. Change "target device" from
set TARGET_UNC_N_DEVICE="\\Maximus\E (1TB device)"
change to
set TARGET_UNC_N_DEVICE=D: (or use your UNC path)
5B. Change "target folder" from
set TARGET_GENERATIONS_FOLDER=\backup\Sidney_linea\
change to
set TARGET_GENERATIONS_FOLDER="\IMAGE_PC_NAME\"
(include quotes but do not include the Set0 as part of the parameters here)
5C. Change "number of file backup chains to be retained" from
set MAX_BACKUP_GENERATIONS=1
change to
set MAX_BACKUP_GENERATIONS=5
(or your choice of how many weeks backups to be retained)
5D. Change "number of file inside target folder to trigger a new backup" from
set TRGR_ON_MAX_TIB_CNT=0
change to
set TRGR_ON_MAX_TIB_CNT=1
Note: the setting of 1 will cause the contents of the set0 folder to be moved to set1. This is because the set0 folder will contain at least 1 or more files
6. Create a new TrueImageHome task
6a. Set task to weekly or a frequency or your choosing.
6b. While on schedule screen, check advanced setting for any changes.
6c. Set the storage destination as
Browse to and inside the set 0 folder
D:\Backup\IMAGE_PC_NAME\set0\
and assign the name to the backup file
pc_name_IMG_C_FULL_@date@_.tib
Target window will read
D:\Backup\IMAGE_PC_NAME\set0\pc_name_IMG_C_FULL_@date@_.tib
(do not include the .tib extension as the program will add it automatically)
6d. Under the 'disk backup options',in addition to your own choices (such as password or archive splitting or enable archive validtion or stop monthly validation), point to ths C2G "Acronis_PreProcessing_task.bat" inside the C2G control folder to the Task Pre/Post commands under the Pre setting
Pre setting will read
C:\!Chain2Gen\Image_PC_Name\Acronis_PreProcessing_task.bat
Note: do NOT click Ok until after 6e is completed.
6e.Change the backup scheme from "version chain" to "custom scheme" with the Backup method=Full
as per the full illustration inside this link below.
http://forum.acronis.com/sites/default/files/mvp/user285/misc/c2g_backu…
Click OK to accept the prior settings which includes the backup options and the backup scheme.
6f. Save the final settings using the Backup Later.
Note:
It might be wise to change the name of the backup file slightly to avoid any confusion/duplication by TrueImage. If the new is the same as the old name, TI just may get confused.
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Can any one advise how to name your backup with a date?
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Monroe,
Which version of TrueImage?
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Read this in detail. It shows how to edit the script and add the date
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