Changing backup drive location and adding to existing backup
I have a usb hard drive that is normally attached as network drive to my router but I would like to attach it directly to my computer for the initial, large backup and move it back to the network drive location for the incrementals. The problem is when I move it back to the network drive location I thought all I would have to do is change the drive location by selecting settings for the backup, browsing to the new location, and selecting the backup file but what happens is on the next backup is the initial backup is erased and an all new backup gets created, which takes many hours over my network (over 300 GB of data).
What is the correct procedure to change the backup location and add to the existing backup?
I did some addition searching and think I found the solution at the link below.
http://forum.acronis.com/forum/35632
"You click on browse for backup, select, for example, the last backup in the chain you removed. ATI should relist the backups in the backup lists. Then click on the gear on the right of the listing, choose recreate backup settings."
Problem is that when I tried my previous method of changing the location and selected the backup file I swear it asked me if I wanted to add to the existing archive, which I answered yes, and it still recreated a new backup (bug???).
I believe you could use the "Edit Setting/Move" option and move the target to the network drive.
The move settings would redirect all future backups to a new location.
When it came time for the next full, you would need to do more modifications.
One problem with splitting the files is that should you have need to do a restore or a validation, you would
1. via error messages, direct the program to the storage location of each file.
2. Probably have to gather all the files from one chain into a single folder in order to have a restore or validation performed.
After I moved the drive I saw that the orginal backup version settings was still listed so I removed it from the backup list and browsed for backup and selected the last backup. I then recreated backup settings and it appears all is good to go!
One thing I found is that if it is set to validate after backup it validates the whole backup chain not just the incremental which takes a long time over the network! It sure would be nice if previous backups were already validated that just the incremental would have to be validated.
An incremental backup is useless on its own, as it requires all previous backups in the chain for mounting or restoration. Thus, it makes sense that validation would include all backups in the chain. Otherwise a "validated" test result would be meaningless, as if the latest incremental were fine but one earlier backup in the chain were not, you would not be able to restore.
I understand but if all the earlier backups were validated it would seem you would need only to validate the new incremental backup? Acronis could create flags to show which ones were already validated. I suppose a previously validated backup could get corrupted so it would be useful to have settings to select full archive validation or incrementals since the last validation. I am not an expert but does that make sense?
"were validated" may be the key point. HDs can develop errors, and just because something validated last week doesn't mean it will today. Plus, if one of the earlier incrementals is missing, any validations of subsequent images are moot.
I guess ATI developers want a "validated" result to be meaningful, but I understand your point.
A backup can get corrupted anytime after it is validated so what is your point? I am more worried that a backup is validated right after it has been created so at least you know if you have to recreate it before making more backups in the chain.
One issue I found with using recreate backup settings is that not all the orginal settings are restored. It seems all the command does is create a new backup setting with the corrrect path. I had to recreate the schedule, type of back-up, and another non-default options.
I prefer not to use the recreate or clone settings. I seem to get better or more predictable results if I begin the new task from the very beginning with no internal ties to its predecessor.