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Howto do backup generations (GFS-Grandfather,Father,Son) with Acronis TI. (chain2gen)

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Legend
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I don't know of specifics which wold cause the need for the startup repair. I do know that having the boot files inside C is a help. Sometimes when performing the startup repair, this process may take the user several passes at the repair until you get a pass rarther than a failure.

As for restores:
If you have the space, frankly, I would like to see you make a disk option backup (link 2 below--first few pictures) which would be a backup which would include all 3 partitions. You could use the exclusion feature and exclude all *.tib files plus *.video files. This backup would then have the complete partition structure but few of the data files. This would enable you to create a replacment disk using the disk option restore and restore the incomplete backup onto a new disk. then use your other methods to get all partitions up to current. This would be a lot of extra work but would almost guarantee that you could have a new identical disk. Sometimes when you have the time and the tools, conisider trying when there is no crisis and you can perform the testing in a real situation.

Another restore option using your current backup is link 3 below, item 1. This guide to restore to a larger disk is another example of how you might proceed to create a replacment disk of the same size or larger. Restrore C to correct size and leave balance unallocated. Then restore D to correct size and balance unallocated. Then create the 3rd partitioon with windows or others partitioning utility into the last unallocated space and copy your data from wherever into the 3rd data partition.

I don't think either of the 2 options would require the use of the Startup repair option--but that is unpredictable.

Good luck.

Legend
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All,
Yes. C2G continues to work with 2013 and 2014 versions. Most options offered by C2G still continue to be unique and all are functional. If you correctly install C2G, the program will work as indicated.
GroverH

Beginner
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I am struggling!
I have a Mac 27 inch with the latest operating system along with `Parallels' that simulates W7 within Bootcamp.
I have loaded Acronis, run it and have a backup onto a Western Digital Drive.
I have downloaded and extracted Chain2Go.
For me the accompanying pdf file needs a step by step procedure to conduct a partial back-up.
I do seem to have full permissions for Acronis_preprocessing_task
I run it but the "network name cannot be found"
Help
Michael

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Hi Michael,

can you please clarify which Acronis True Image version you are using? Please note that Acronis True Image for Windows version doesn't support Bootcamp.

Thank you.

Forum Member
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GroverH wrote:

All,
Yes. C2G continues to work with 2013 and 2014 versions. Most options offered by C2G still continue to be unique and all are functional. If you correctly install C2G, the program will work as indicated.
GroverH

 

Has anyone tested Chain2Gen with Acronis 2016?  I've recently upgraded and this version really seems to care if the initial FULL backup is missing when doing INCR backups.  Prior versions would 'see' that the full backup wasn't there and create it.

Beginner
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I've upgraded a previous version to 2016 earlier this week and my C2C continued to work as if nothing had happened. However it just carried on adding incrementals. It will be another 3 days before it gets to the stage where it needs to delete a set and start a new full backup, so I can't really comment on your scenario. I hope its not going to crash at that stage!

Forum Member
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Thx for the reply.  Good luck for when you hit the new generation.  I think I have found a work around ... but I can't say that I am exactly thrilled with it, namely ... I changed the backup scheme to 'Single Version'.  It creates a full back-up each time it is run and deletes other backups that are there.

Note that the delete step is fairly ruthless ... it deleted backups in the backup directory ... plus any others that it knew about.

13    True Image    12/17/2015 6:02:43 PM    Deleting backup file with path Q:\gens\set0\[Duffle2]_inc_b1_s7_v1.tib.
14    True Image    12/17/2015 6:02:43 PM    Deleting backup file with path Q:\gens\set0\[Duffle2]_inc_b1_s6_v1.tib.
15    True Image    12/17/2015 6:02:43 PM    Deleting backup file with path Q:\gens\set0\[Duffle2]_inc_b1_s5_v1.tib.
16    True Image    12/17/2015 6:02:43 PM    Deleting backup file with path Q:\gens\set0\[Duffle2]_inc_b1_s4_v1.tib.
17    True Image    12/17/2015 6:02:43 PM    Deleting backup file with path T:\Acronis Temp\[Duffle2]_inc_b1_s3_v1.tib.
18    True Image    12/17/2015 6:02:44 PM    Deleting backup file with path Q:\gens\set0\[Duffle2]_inc_b1_s2_v1.tib.
19    True Image    12/17/2015 6:02:44 PM    Deleting backup file with path Q:\gens\set0\[Duffle2]_full_b1_s1_v1.tib.

I'm not sure I want it that strict.  What happens if it 'finds' my other generations?

 

Edit: I just created a small, dummy backup task and it worked perfectly (first time run was FULL, second time run was INCR).  I then renamed the target folder from 'set0' to 'set0a' and created a new 'set0' ... again, it ran perfectly creating a FULL backup.

One other thing ... my system backup task was called '[SSD]' under 2014 and it worked find.  Acronis 2016 imported it and kept the name [SSD] ... but 2016 will not let me use '[' or ']' when I create a fresh task.  Maybe that is causing it issues.

I'm trying my systems backup task again (after removing the [ & ] from the name) - we'll see how that goes.

Legend
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Good luck but I believe there will be issues.

Past versons of TrueImge would create a new full when the target folder was empty of the expected entries.

The newer versions backups have been failing when the expected entry is not found.  Let us know the final result. 
Thankis.

Forum Member
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I'm getting some good results with brand new backup tasks.  I have them both queued now and they are also due to be kicked off over night.  Tomorrow's automatic email should tell me the result.

BTW - I can attach the full log to the email ... but how, using the 2016 interface, can I inspect the various run logs?  2014 use to display a calendar with the results that you could drill into.  Hints for doing that in 2016 would be appreciated. 

Edit: Leave your email subject line blank and it populates it with the name of the task and a success / fail report (example: Duffle-2016 Task completed successfully)

I've set the current generation to expire overnight.  I will update the status of this test tomorrow.

Forum Member
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Update ... both the system and data backup tasks logs report the same ...

8    True Image    12/19/2015 1:05:06 AM    The specified file does not exist: Q:\gens\set0\SSD-2016_full_b1_s1_v1.tib.
9    True Image    12/19/2015 1:05:06 AM    The initial full backup version is not accessible at the moment.
10    True Image    12/19/2015 1:05:06 AM    The specified file does not exist.
11    True Image    12/19/2015 1:05:06 AM    The system cannot find the file specified
12    True Image    12/19/2015 1:05:06 AM    The specified file does not exist.
13    True Image    12/19/2015 1:05:06 AM    The system cannot find the file specified
14    True Image    12/19/2015 1:05:06 AM    The specified file does not exist.
Click Retry to try to read from the same location. To create a new version according to the current backup scheme, click Ignore.: ⎂Retry/⎂Ignore/⎂Cancel//
15    True Image    12/19/2015 1:05:06 AM    Create Backup Archive From:        Disk 1 To file: "Q:\gens\set0\SSD-2016.tib" Compression:        Normal Exclude: Files matching mask Match criterion:    *.tib, *.tmp, *.~
16    True Image    12/19/2015 1:05:06 AM    Pending operation 166 started: 'Creating partition image'.
17    True Image    12/19/2015 1:05:23 AM    Writing full version to file: SSD-2016_full_b1_s1_v1.tib

... and I have two new FULL backups.  I expect that tomorrow mornings scheduled tasks will happily create INCRs off these FULL backups.

 

Legend
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It would appear that when the set0 folder has been cleared or empty of old files, the program will coninue providing the user is there to provide an active "ignore" response to the error message "cannot find file specified". Without the response from the user, the task will not continue.

It would appear the task will now continue without user intervention until the next time the set0 is cleared--at which time the user will need to again be there to respond to the "ignore" prompting.

Thank you for the update.

Forum Member
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GroverH ... I'm going to have to disagree.  I was NOT up at 1:05am to provide that response.  It just rolled on all by itself.

Here are some pics of my set up ... nothing to out of the ordinary ...

http://www.ruffhi.com/pics/Acronis/Setup-01.JPG

http://www.ruffhi.com/pics/Acronis/Setup-02.JPG

http://www.ruffhi.com/pics/Acronis/Setup-03.JPG

http://www.ruffhi.com/pics/Acronis/Setup-04.JPG

The 'Generational' scheme is one I created by renaming 'custom'.  I initially selected 'incremental' and then changed the option on the bottom to 'create only incr' ... and the system renamed my selected scheme to custom (that I renamed to Generational).

I don't believe there is anything else funky in my set-up.  If anyone wants to know some of the 'Advance' options, let me know.

Edit: Just back from seeing Star Wars VII ... excellent flick ... re return to the original (Ep IV, V and VI).  I loved they way the kept continuity with those films ... including the immortal line 'I have a bad feeling about this'.  Anyway, I added a 4th pic (above) of my error options.

Legend
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I'm glad that you did respond with your experiences. C2G has worked without flaw--except for the obstacles that TI puts in its way.

You are also reporting another difference from the norm.  in 2015 and 2016, in the normal usage of those version (none c2g usage) , any user named backup scheme would not work as intended and provide no automatic deletions.  As all deletions are done by C2G, this current scheme naming problem is not affecting C2G operation. As long as TrueImage will keep producing the proper backup type, that is all that matters to C2G.

Too bad that the creator of C2G (OracleDBA) is not aware of how successful his program has been for many years. He has not posted since early 2011.

Forum Member
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GroverH wrote:

Too bad that the creator of C2G (OracleDBA) is not aware of how successful his program has been for many years. He has not posted since early 2011.

Well said Grover!  It runs like a watch here!!

 

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Lots of folks have moved on. I think lots of folks just write on the cloud, letting the cloud provider handle backup as part of regular admin.

Beginner
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They may have moved on but they may regret moving if their cloud vendor goes belly up one day, not to mention the issue of uploading and downloading 350 GB of a backup, or even more given the trend in disk sizes. If you;re serious enough about your data to be taking backups you should be serious about having control of the backups and that means knowing where they are and being able to safeguard them yourself.  In addition try uploading 350GB on most broadband links - they are Asynchronous with the upload speeds much less than the download. 

Beginner
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As predicted I had the same problem as others when it was time for my weekly full backup - C2G deleted the set and then TI2016 refused to create a full backup! I'm glad I only updated one system to TI2016 now!

I have created a new custom scheme in which I hope I'm going to be able to largely replicate the brilliant and sensible way that C2G worked. The GFS approach that C2G implements is a fundamental approach for secure easy to understand and granular backups - why would anyone want to do anything else? 

The first backup for my new custom scheme was done this evening and took as long as the previous versions so no advantage there. I'll have to wait for another week to see how this pans out now. I wonder why they changed this way of operating i.e. ask for human intervention if no full backup exists and it's told to create an incremental. It must have been a deliberate coding change. I wonder if there is any way we can ask for this change to be reversed? I mean they can't be claiming its a bug fix after all these years.

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So I wonder if you would mind sharing the results of your experiment. Did you succeed in getting TI 2016 to create a new full backup on its own after C2G deleted the previous week's set?

If so, would you mind explaining exactly what you had in your custom scheme that made this possible?

Thanks!

Beginner
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Hi Jerald,

Apologies for not getting back to the forum before now but the reason is I'm not 100% certain whether I have proved anything yet or not!

What I have done so far is to create a custom scheme using the differential method. I set it up to create a full version after every 6 differentials and this works as one whould expect and hope. I then specified that it should delete version chains older than 15 days which I hoped would give me 2 full weeks of backups. However I now have 15 full (2) and differential (13) backups (actually I have 17 if you included an earlier full and differential in the same directory) and it looks like it will just go on adding more, but having read the help page closely I am wondering whether I have read it correctly - I think I have but I'm not sure.

Anyway this evening I have changed the delete rules to say that it should store no more than 2 recent backup chains, but again I'm not sure whether I should read this to mean delete one immediately it has completed the second chain, or delete one when it is about to create the third chain - tomorrow night will tell whether the first interpretation is correct or not but I will have to wait until next Monday to know whether the second is the right interpretation, or maybe nothing will happen at all. I'll keep you posted.

regards,  Bernard

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If you continue to have probllems why not write your own batch file instead of using C2G. What you seem to want is 2 weeks of daily so Set0 contains current week and Set1 contains the previous week. Use more Sets to retain more weeks.

1. Count the tib filres in Set0 (current weeks images)

2. If count = 7 do following otherwise run ATI

  a. Delete oldest Set

  b. Rename next oldest to oldest and repeat until rename Set0 to Set1 (moves current week into Set1)

  c. Make a new (empty) Set0 to hold new week

  d. Run ATI

 

Forum Member
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Jerald Paquette : Did you succeed in getting TI 2016 to create a new full backup on its own after C2G deleted the previous week's set?

I got my 2 nightly backups (one for the system, one for the data) to work using TI 2016 and C2G.  I create a new generation early Wednesday morning and for the past 3 to 4 weeks the batch file has been doing its thing (ie aging the generations and presenting a totally empty set0).  TI 2016 isn't completely happy with an empty directory and it does complain ... but it does roll on and create a full backup without human interaction.  The next night it adds an incremental file to the previous night's full backup.

Beginner
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What sort of complaint does it make and how do you get round it without any manual intervention? On my system it deletes the backups and then asks for manual intervention, and since its running in the middle of the night that's a bit of a problem. Does your system just fail to do a backup the first night on deleting the previous one and then proceed to do the full backup the next night?

Forum Member
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@Bernard ... read posts #205 thru #212 above.  They contain answers to all of your questions.

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First, thanks to everyone who responded directly or indirectly to my post. I found the exchange very helpful.

Yesterday I downloaded a trial copy of 2016 to see if I could make it do my standard two-generation weekly C2G set. I wanted to verify this before purchasing. In light of Ruff_Hi 's posts just before mine, I thought I would have no problem but I wanted to verify that for myself. I then saw Bernard's post and wondered what kind of problem he was having and how he had solved it.

I hadn't thought of the idea of writing a batch file myself but it certainly offers another option.

So now I guess I just wait to see if 2016 will do my two-week generational backups for me with C2G which I expect it will.

One thing that surprises me is that 2016 takes longer, much longer, to do a full backup with verification than 2012.

Beginner
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Well I now seem to have Acronis TI 2016 running so that it produces exactly the same results as C2G. Of course that is not the same as saying it will do everything that C2G will do but at least from my perspective its a start.

My objective was to have at least 1 full backup with 6 following incrementals and then a second week of the same being created i.e up to a maximum of 2 complete backups with 12 incrementals and a minimum of 1 full and 6 incrementals. Based on what I see in the directory containing the backups this is happening and I don;t see any reason why I cannot achieve any variation on this theme.

Basically what I have is a custom scheme with a full backup being created every 7th day, incrementals each succeeding day and a request to keep no more than 2 full backup versions. seems to be working perfectly - apart from all the other idiosyncracies of the Acronis end user interface - why they can't produce a decent consistent EUI I just don't know. It must be one of the worst GUIs in the business. 

Regular Poster
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Bernard,

Unless I am misunderstanding, what you describe as successful is just normal backup procedure for any of the last five  (or so) versions of TrueImage Home without any involvement of C2G.  C2G goes beyond by offering special scheduling and other special features. plus predictability. It is these special features which makes C2G so different and liked by its users. TI does the simple whereas C2G does the complex--might be one way of desribing C2G.

Below is some comments as to how to configure TrueImage to work  as you describe.

Getting TI to produce the results you describe is all a matter of using the correct settings and then not later changing these settings.  You can look at any of my postings where I describe how any user can achieve that result.  My examples  of GH11, GH12, or GH13 will typcially produce the results you describe. Altering the  "store  no more than 'n" determings how many chains to keep, and the number you set for how many incremental to keep determines the length.

 TI creates it backups and then does the deletion thus requiring enough storage space for one more full, whereas C2G first deletes set0 so the addiitional temp storage space not needed but  depends upon TI to create the new replacement full into a blank folder. Prior versions of TI would create a full when it found the folder empty, but, for most users, version 2015 and 2016 refuses to perform a backup when it finds the storage folder empty of prior backups.  That has been the discussion these past few postings.

GH11. Create Custom Full Backup Scheme w/auto cleanup.
...Store/Keep 4 versions (chains). Use whatever number best fits the individual needs..

GH12. Create Custom Incremental Backup Scheme w/auto cleanup.
...Keep Full plus 6 Inc per chain. Store/Keep 4 chains. Use whatever number best fits your needs.

GH13. Create Custom DifferentialBackup Scheme w/auto cleanup.
...Keep Full plus 2 Diff per chain. Store/Keep 2 chains. Use whatever number best fits your needs.

GH25. Understanding differences between Incremental and Differential backups for data recovery.

GH64. 71342: 2015 How to save a non-scheduled task.

GH63. 64640: Hints to help prevent issues with your TIB backup files creation.

GH65. 75086: A discussion on how to configure backup schemes.

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.

 

Custom Backup Schemes Creation

https://forum.acronis.com/forum/100416

Beginner
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Good Day All

I am having a small item on my part in learning to properly set up chain2Gen.

My problem is the set0, set1, etc. are NOT being used.  All the .tib files are in G:/backup/ and not in the 4 test folders

I would like to be able to have a repeating Master Backup and 28

incremental backups on a repeating basis until the target disk gets full.

For testing, I am attempting one Master and 3 incremental backups and then a new full set of the same.

My edits in !_USER_SPECITIED_PARAMS_FOR_ACRONIS.bat are as follows

  set    TARGET_UNC_N_DEVICE=G:

  set    TARGET_GENERATIONS_FOLDER=\backup\

  set    MAX_BACKUP_GENERATIONS=3

 

:: --User must set this next variable if the preceding option 1 is applicable--------------

   set         TRGR_ON_MAX_TIB_CNT=3

Acronis True Image 2016 is set to do a daily

Backup method is Incremental with Create a full version after every 3 incremental versions

Does anyone have any ideas on what I am doing odd/wrong ??

Thanks in advance

 

Jim Sterling

Regular Poster
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Hi James,

you said ... " All the .tib files are in G:\backup\ and not in the 4 test folders"

when you define your acronis backup task it needs to be defined so backups go into the set0 folder 
as you said, the .tib files are going into G:\backup\ and not G:\backup\set0

you should enjoy success if you delete your existing job and recreate it so files go into G:\backup\set0  

Its all pretty simple.
Every time Acronis does a backup, if the target folder is empty
then Acronis can NOT create a new INCR because it lacks the basis to make an incr.
as such Acronis is forced to make a new full/baseline.

Conversely stated, 
if the target folder already has a set of .tib files to work upon 
then Acronis can create the next incr set.

Because of the above behavior.
Chain2gen is intended as a pretask routine that works off the params you set.

if a triggering event is NOT seen then Chain2gen does nothing, exists gracefully and the Acronis backup job runs as defined.

however 

if a triggering event is reached then chain2gen "clears" the set0 folder by
deleting the contents of the highest set# folder and moving the contents of all lower sets up one.
The end result is folder set0 will be empty.
A fraction of a second later when your backup task actually runs
it will see an empty folder and start a new full/baseline.

Legend
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Hello to MVP Oracledba,

What a pleasant surprise to see your current posting.

Your program from 2009 has been fabulus, but Acronis keeps changing things. Your program still has usable features lacking in TrueImage. Verson 2016 is nothing like what TrueImage was a few years ago.

When TrueImage finds set0 empty, for many, TrueImage errors out &  refuses to make a new full and will not make further backups.

So James may be one of the lucky ones where the program does continue after finding set0 has been emptied.

or sadly, may find that the backups stop when TrueImge finds folder set0 has been emptied.

PS to James

The  type backup chosen in TrueImage is Full plus infinite incrementals. It is the setting in C2G that controls number of incrmentals. When C2G reaches its preset configured  number of inc, it then moves each folder upwards according to its C2G configuration settings.

The number of incrementals is set or controlled  in C2G.  The number of incrmentals in TrueImage is set to infinite or no fixed number.

  set    TARGET_UNC_N_DEVICE=G:

  set    TARGET_GENERATIONS_FOLDER= "\backup\"

  set    MAX_BACKUP_GENERATIONS=4

         A setting of 4 would be keeping 4 chains of assorted backups. Each chain would be 1 full plus any number of Inc or Dif before next fulll)

         A setting of 4 would create 4 storage folders (set0, set1, set2,  set3). Each folder would contain 1 chain .

   set         TRGR_ON_MAX_TIB_CNT=29

          A setting of 29 is the max number of files inside folder set0 before set0 is emptied.

           Set0 would contain 1 full plus 28 incrementals before being emptied.

 

Beginner
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Changes have been made and a test run (first of many) is started   Thank you very much..

it is the simple things that trip us up

 

Again, Thank You

Jim Sterling

Beginner
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Changes have been made and a test run (first of many) is started   Thank you very much..

it is the simple things that trip us up

 

Again, Thank You

Jim Sterling

Beginner
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Here is a Hope to Luck  (grin)

Thank you for the heads up

First of many test runs are now started..

Thank You

Jim Sterling

Regular Poster
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James,

   Please post back with the results of your tests.  I had been under the impression, as Grover posted, that C2G wouldn't work in TI2016.  It will be a pleasant, and most wanted surprise, if it does.

Forum Member
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I think I am one of the lucky ones as the existing batch files (et al) work for me with TI 2016.  When a new gen starts, TI does complain about the lack of a file a few times and then it just creates it anyway (no human interaction).

Regular Poster
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Commenti: 104

Ruff_Hi,

   Thank you for that information.  Maybe I will give it a try.  Having each set in a separate folder would make certain other operations a lot simpler for me.

Legend
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Ruff_Hi,

Would  you clarify a couple settings that you are using.

1. Where is the storage disk for the backups located? Is it internal, an external usb (2 or 3?) , or network drive.  What type-spin or ssd?

2. Under disk backup options, under Error Handling.  Is the box checked or unchecked for disk retry on error? If checked, what is the retry number?

3. Under scheduling, advance settings, is the option checked or unchecked on "retry on error" Is the "if missed" on startup, checked or unchecked.?

4. what does the log file show on the error message about not finding the missing files?

Thank  you.

Forum Member
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I'm away from my PC so I can't answer all of those questions.  I did post some pics (post #212) above and if those don't answer the Qs, I'll take a look once I get back home.

GroverH wrote:
1. Where is the storage disk for the backups located? Is it internal, an external usb (2 or 3?) , or network drive.  What type-spin or ssd?

My target HDD is a WD Blue 1TB internal that gets swapped out and sent offsite each 5 weeks (my generations are on a weekly cycle).

GroverH wrote:
4. what does the log file show on the error message about not finding the missing files?

Re the log file ... TI emails me each night about the status of my backup task.  I posted some of the log in post #210 above.

Regular Poster
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oracledba, thank you for the wonderful tool you developed for Acronis True Image!

It would be great if our product team could discuss the tool with you and how it could be implemented in the product itself. I am sending you a private message to figure out the best way for us to talk.

Thank you!

Beginner
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after 8 runs it does not do a new master.. :-<   The basic script C2G seems to function but the multiple masters do NOT happen

Setting the Error handling to Do not show messages seems to "hide" the interactive Missing file option so that seems to be a good thing

but my end goal of multiple masters does not work now.

Oh, this is a USB 2.0 WD hard drive

Nuts.. I wish this had been a valid answer

Thanks to all for all the responce

Jim Sterling

Legend
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Commenti: 11125

All,

In my initial testing of 2016 and C2G, I have just begun, but C2G DID DELETE THE CONTENTS OF THE SET0 FOLDER,
AND THE NEXT BACKUP PRODUCED THE MISSING FILE ERROR.  I clicked the ignore error option and the next full did occur.
I Have not got to the next set0 clearing but I would expect the same error to occur & need  manual clicking the IGNORE option.

James,

In order for C2G to function as planned, the settings in both programs must be correct/match. One place to start would be to look at the error file for C2G, plus look at the "service log" file for the associated  Trueimage task.
This malfunction would imply a mismatch with the settings or the paths. Since the tibs were created, it would seem to indicate the path in the C2G does not match.

If set0 is to be cleared after it contains 8 backups, then one setting must be

       set         TRGR_ON_MAX_TIB_CNT=8   (Note: this is quantity to be in set0 for set0 to be cleared or moved upward)

For thesse path settings to be correct,
       set    TARGET_UNC_N_DEVICE=G:

       set    TARGET_GENERATIONS_FOLDER= "\backup\"

the destination path in TI would need to be g:\backup\set0\your task name_Full_B1_S1_v1.tib

The backup scheme in TI would need to be set to Full plus only incrmentals thereafter.

A setting such as below would indicate the C2G would automatically create 4 folders. set0 (work folder) , set1, set2, set3 (tib chain storage folders) and each folder would contain 1 full plus 7 inc or 8 files in each folder as the backup chains accrue.
        set    MAX_BACKUP_GENERATIONS=3   

The zip file contains the instructions is the readme file and each instuction is important which includes the unlocking of the files and the running of the pre-processing bat file.
It does take detailed reading to make sure all the steps are covered.

Also look in your backup folder to confirm that folders set0, set1, set2, set3 do exist and these should have been created by the program automtically. This confirmation would help to confirm the correctness of path settings.

A review of this entire post from the very beginning would also help to make sure all points are covered.

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GroverH wrote:
Ruff_Hi,

Would  you clarify a couple settings that you are using.

2. Under disk backup options, under Error Handling.  Is the box checked or unchecked for disk retry on error? If checked, what is the retry number?

Thank  you.

Back from my work conference.  Here is what I have ... 

Firstly, I am using Acronis True Image 2016, Build 6569.

Disk Backup Options / Advanced / Error Handling has three check boxes ...

  [X] Do Not Show messages and dialogs while progressing

  [ ] Ignore Bad Sectors

  [X] Repeat attempts if a backup fails

(5) times with an interval of 30 seconds

 

GroverH wrote:
3. Under scheduling, advance settings, is the option checked or unchecked on "retry on error" Is the "if missed" on startup, checked or unchecked.?

Here there are 4 check boxes (description abrivated) ...

  [ ] run backup only when computer idle

  [X] wake up from sleep

  [X] prevent PC from sleeping

  [ ] run at system startup

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According to my testing, each time C2G clears the set0 folder, someone must be present to click the "ignore"  button

to make TI create the next FULL BACKUP. As long as someone is present to click he IGNORE button,

C2G will perform all its functions successfully.

https://forum.acronis.com/system/files/users/285/c2g-ignore-msg.gif

My test settings were  Backup scheme=Custom/Full/Diff/Continue diff indefinetely. No present number of differentials--as per C2G.

Destination was a ReadyShare (usb flash drive connected to Router)

My backups were file backups run manually.

C2G settings were:

:: MANDATORY VARIABLES
:: User must change these next 3 variable and supply their own pertinent information.
  set  TARGET_UNC_N_DEVICE="\\READYSHARE\USB_Storage"  (Device to target)
  set  TARGET_GENERATIONS_FOLDER="\C2G-Test-Backups\"     (Storage folder which contains set0 folder.)
  set  MAX_BACKUP_GENERATIONS=4         (Number of chains kept. EACH CHAIN IN INDIVIDUAL FOLDERS.)
  set  TRGR_ON_MAX_TIB_CNT=3               (NUMBER OF TIB FILES IN SET0 BEFORE RELOCATING TO SET1 FOLDER.)

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I have two backup tasks run each night at 1:05am and 1:45am.  Each Wednesday morning it starts a new generation and, while complaining a little bit about the lack of the prior data file, it does successfully create a new one without any human interaction.

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Ok my settings do match and, maybe, just maybe i might have found my answer

under the backup method incremental, I notice the cleanup option

inside the cleanup settings there are options to keep and how many

do not delete first version ..  etc..

I have now set this stuff to what I think i want and am running a new set of manuall backups..

Will post what i find out after more trial/testing

Thank you all again

Jim Sterling

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See attached for correct backuo scheme--if using incrementals. C2G is the controlling factor for how mamy files in set0 folder before set0 is cleared.

  set  TRGR_ON_MAX_TIB_CNT=3               (NUMBER OF TIB FILES IN SET0 BEFORE RELOCATING to SET1 FOLDER. A setting of 3 is Full +2 inc)

  set  MAX_BACKUP_GENERATIONS=4         (Number of chains kept. EACH CHAIN kept IN INDIVIDUAL FOLDERS.)

Editing or making changes to the task will cause the task not to function correctly.

What problem are you having.  Go to the 2016 forum and a create a new posting.

show us examples of your settings. 

TI needs only 3  setttings which  is the backup scheme as per illlustration, plus choosing the destination path to the G:\Backups\set0 folder; plus adding the "Acronis_PreProcessing_task.bat" to  pre/post pre command  options which is part of disk backup options.

Re-read post 240 above. Provide more details as to what is happening and what is not happening.

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Grover,

   I assume from this and your previous post that someone still has to manually press Ignore in order for the process of starting a new full backup proceeds after Set0 has been cleared by C2G.

I won't have time to try it for a few days (going out of town), but wonder if you have tested, in 2016, setting the Error Handling Option to:

  • Do not show messages and dialogs while processing (silent mode)

HELP for this setting   - Enable this setting to ignore errors during backup operations. This is useful when you cannot control the backup process.

Seems to me this might do the trick, if it does what it should, unless it causes other problems.

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OK.  Selecting the option to `Ignore Errors` results in TI 2016 starting a new backup generation in an empty folder (after logging a few complaints) without user intervention.  There are few unresolved issues, which can probably be lived with.

  • On the first attempt to do a recovery from this "empty folder created" backup, TI complains that it can't find the file it is looking for.  I ignored this and the process proceeded as expected.  On subsequent recovery attempts, this message was NOT repeated.
  • The size of the backup is incorrect.  It seems to be including the size of the deleted backup in the total.
  • I don't know if either of these will have any effect "down the road".  For example, what might happen if TI thinks the backup is larger than the available disk space?  I guess I'll find out in a week or so.

The backup database does not seem to fully compensate for the "missing" backup files.

 

 

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Ron,

RE: C2G with TI 2016. C2G relocates the Set0 to Set1 (as normal) . TI finds the target folder (set0) empty and will NOT create a new full.

A couple personal comments. In my new testing, I did enable the "ADVANCED/DISK BACKUP OPTIONS ERROR HANDLING" options to

    (checked) Do not show messages and dialogs while processing (silent mode)

    (checked) Ignore bad sectors

     (checked) Repeat attempt if a backup fails. (5 attempts)

If the task was a scheduled task, the program did ignore the missing files and created a new Full so task could continue.

If the task is non-schedulede and  run manually, the program wouold not ignore automatiacally and needed a manual "ignore" burtton press by the user.

--------------------------------------------------------

While the error (target folder empty) was ignored and a new full was created, the downside is as you stated with the history.

The TI2016 continued to track the new creation and CREATED NO witten ERROR MESSAGES (and no log files) when the backup actual failed for reasons such as the disk not acccessible so no backup could run, or any other error.

If the TI2016 program is producing C2G backups, I do not believe the user can expect or rely on any of the statistics for that particular task.  The user will need to inspect the "set?" folders themselves and act accordingly without any help from TrueImage.

It management of Acronis would cooperate and perform a couple minor changes to their program , Acronis program design could include an error option where the user could checkmark an option which told  the program that  C2G was being used  so the program should automatically  ignore the "missing file" syndrome and go ahead and produce the new full (same as before in 2014 and before).  Continuing to use the 2016 ignore all errors is not a good long term solution.

So, the bottom line  is that C2G will continue working only  if the TI error message is enabled to ignore all errors, (log files missing)  but any history or statistics offered by TI for the C2G  task is highly questionalble. Notification does work for those logs which are created.

Grover

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ATI Home 2010 on Win 7 Home SP-1 64 bit using an unattended overnight batch script with an NAS receiving incremental images. Instead of C2G my batch includes commands to start a new Set0 if the current month is different from the one in Set0.

Frequently the image would fail so I added commands that if ATI failed a second try was to be immediately made. I checked for failure by comparing the number of TIB files in Set0 before and after the atempts which are run by START "" /WAIT commands.

The second attempt always works so there was a problem connecting to the Ethernet connected NAS.

I offer this as a potential solution to current problem. I will post the batch segment if you want to see it.

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Grover,

    My experience is similar.  Although if I set up a scheduled task, but then trigger that task manually, by pressing the "Backup Now" button in the lower right corner of the GUI, TI2016 would ignore automatically and start the new backup edition.

I do NOT have the "Ignore bad sectors" selected.

So far, I have not had a failure of the backup -- in my case it might be due to a network problem.  I have the results of the backup email'd to me.  It'll be interesting to see what happens in the event of a real error.

-- Ron