ACRONIS TRUE IMAGE ECHO - FOR LINUX User manual

User’s Guide
Acronis®
True Image Echo
Server for Windows

2 Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2009
Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2009. All rights reserved.
“Acronis” and “Acronis Secure Zone” are registered trademarks of Acronis, Inc.
"Acronis Compute with Confidence", “Acronis Startup Recovery Manager”, “Acronis Active
Restore” and the Acronis logo are trademarks of Acronis, Inc.
Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.
Windows and MS-DOS are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
All other trademarks and copyrights referred to are the property of their respective
owners.
Distribution of substantively modified versions of this document is prohibited without the
explicit permission of the copyright holder.
Distribution of this work or derivative work in any standard (paper) book form for
commercial purposes is prohibited unless prior permission is obtained from the copyright
holder.
DOCUMENTATION IS PROVIDED «AS IS» AND ALL EXPRESS OR IMPLIED CONDITIONS,
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF
MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR NON-INFRINGEMENT,
ARE DISCLAIMED, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT SUCH DISCLAIMERS ARE HELD TO BE
LEGALLY INVALID.

3 Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2009
Table of Contents
Chapter 1. Introduction ......................................................................................7
1.1 Acronis® True Image Echo Server – a complete solution for corporate users............................7
1.2 New in Acronis True Image Echo Server..............................................................................8
1.3 Supported file systems and storage media...........................................................................9
1.3.1 Supported file systems ................................................................................................9
1.3.2 Supported storage media...........................................................................................10
1.4 Technical support............................................................................................................10
Chapter 2. Acronis True Image Echo Server installation and startup ..............12
2.1 System requirements.......................................................................................................12
2.1.1 Minimum hardware requirements ...............................................................................12
2.1.2 Supported operating systems.....................................................................................12
2.2 Installing Acronis True Image Echo Server.........................................................................12
2.2.1 Installation of Acronis True Image Echo Server............................................................13
2.2.2 Acronis Universal Restore installation..........................................................................13
2.3 Extracting Acronis True Image Echo Server components.....................................................14
2.4 Running Acronis True Image Echo Server..........................................................................14
2.5 Removing Acronis True Image Echo Server........................................................................14
Chapter 3. General information and proprietary Acronis technologies ............15
3.1 The difference between file archives and disk/partition images............................................15
3.2 Full, incremental and differential backups..........................................................................15
3.3 Acronis Secure Zone®......................................................................................................16
3.4 Acronis Startup Recovery Manager....................................................................................17
3.4.1 How it works ............................................................................................................17
3.4.2 How to use...............................................................................................................17
3.5 Acronis Active Restore .....................................................................................................18
3.5.1 Limitations in using Acronis Active Restore..................................................................18
3.5.2 How it works ............................................................................................................18
3.5.3 How to use...............................................................................................................18
3.6 Acronis Universal Restore.................................................................................................19
3.6.1 Acronis Universal Restore purpose..............................................................................19
3.6.2 Acronis Universal Restore general principles................................................................20
3.6.3 Acronis Universal Restore and Microsoft Sysprep..........................................................20
3.6.4 Limitations in using Acronis Universal Restore..............................................................20
3.6.5 Getting Acronis Universal Restore...............................................................................21
3.7 Backing up to tape drives.................................................................................................21
3.7.1 Restoring data from archives located on tape devices...................................................22
3.8 Viewing disk and partition information...............................................................................22
3.9 Changing Acronis temporary folder path............................................................................22
Chapter 4. Using Acronis True Image Echo Server ...........................................23
4.1 Main program window .....................................................................................................23
4.2 Available operations.........................................................................................................25
Chapter 5. Creating backup archives ................................................................28
5.1 Backing up files and folders (file backup)...........................................................................28
5.2 Backing up disks and partitions (image backup).................................................................32
5.3 Setting backup options.....................................................................................................34
5.3.1 Archive protection.....................................................................................................35
5.3.2 Source files exclusion ................................................................................................35
5.3.3 Pre/post commands ..................................................................................................36

4 Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2009
5.3.4 Database support......................................................................................................36
5.3.5 Compression level.....................................................................................................37
5.3.6 Backup performance .................................................................................................37
5.3.7 Fast incremental/differential backup ...........................................................................38
5.3.8 Archive splitting........................................................................................................39
5.3.9 File-level security settings..........................................................................................39
5.3.10 Media components ..................................................................................................40
5.3.11 Error handling.........................................................................................................40
5.3.12 Dual destination backup...........................................................................................41
5.3.13 Additional settings...................................................................................................41
Chapter 6. Restoring the backup data ..............................................................43
6.1 Considerations before recovery.........................................................................................43
6.1.1 Restore under Windows or boot from CD?...................................................................43
6.1.2 Network settings in rescue mode................................................................................43
6.1.3 Recovering dynamic volumes .....................................................................................44
6.2 Restoring files and folders from file archives ......................................................................44
6.3 Restoring disks/partitions or files from images ...................................................................47
6.3.1 Starting the Restore Data Wizard................................................................................48
6.3.2 Archive selection.......................................................................................................48
6.3.3 Restoration type selection..........................................................................................48
6.3.4 Selecting a disk/partition to restore ............................................................................50
6.3.5 Restoring NT disk signature .......................................................................................50
6.3.6 Selecting a target disk/partition..................................................................................51
6.3.7 Changing the restored partition type...........................................................................52
6.3.8 Changing the restored partition file system..................................................................52
6.3.9 Changing the restored partition size and location.........................................................53
6.3.10 Assigning a letter to the restored partition.................................................................53
6.3.11 Restoring several disks or partitions at once ..............................................................53
6.3.12 Using Acronis Universal Restore................................................................................54
6.3.13 Setting restore options.............................................................................................55
6.3.14 Restoration summary and executing restoration.........................................................55
6.4 Setting restore options.....................................................................................................55
6.4.1 Files to exclude from restoration.................................................................................56
6.4.2 Files overwriting mode...............................................................................................56
6.4.3 Pre/post commands ..................................................................................................56
6.4.4 Restoration priority....................................................................................................56
6.4.5 File-level security settings..........................................................................................56
6.4.6 Specifying mass storage drivers..................................................................................57
6.4.7 Additional settings.....................................................................................................57
6.4.8 Error handling...........................................................................................................58
6.5 Creating dynamic disks and volumes.................................................................................58
6.5.1 Creating dynamic volumes.........................................................................................59
Chapter 7. Scheduling tasks..............................................................................61
7.1 Creating scheduled tasks..................................................................................................61
7.1.1 Setting up daily execution..........................................................................................63
7.1.2 Setting up weekly execution.......................................................................................64
7.1.3 Setting up monthly execution.....................................................................................65
7.1.4 Setting up one-time execution....................................................................................65
7.1.5 Setting up event-driven execution ..............................................................................66
7.2 Managing scheduled tasks................................................................................................66
Chapter 8. Managing the Acronis Secure Zone .................................................68
8.1 Creating Acronis Secure Zone...........................................................................................68
8.2 Resizing the Acronis Secure Zone......................................................................................70
8.3 Changing the password for Acronis Secure Zone ................................................................71
8.4 Managing backups in the Acronis Secure Zone...................................................................71

5 Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2009
8.5 Deleting Acronis Secure Zone...........................................................................................72
Chapter 9. Creating bootable media .................................................................73
9.1 Creating Acronis rescue media..........................................................................................73
9.2 Creating a Win PE ISO with Acronis True Image Echo Server ..............................................75
Chapter 10. Operations with archives...............................................................76
10.1 Validating backup archives .............................................................................................76
10.2 Exploring archives and mounting images .........................................................................76
10.2.1 Exploring an archive................................................................................................77
10.2.2 Mounting an image..................................................................................................78
10.2.3 Unmounting an image .............................................................................................80
10.3 Consolidating backups....................................................................................................80
Chapter 11. Notifications and event tracing .....................................................84
11.1 Email notification...........................................................................................................84
11.2 WinPopup notification ....................................................................................................84
11.3 Viewing logs..................................................................................................................85
11.4 Event tracing.................................................................................................................86
11.4.1 Windows event log..................................................................................................86
11.4.2 SNMP notifications...................................................................................................87
11.5 Managing System Restore ..............................................................................................87
Chapter 12. Working with a virtual environment .............................................89
12.1 Backing up data on virtual machines ...............................................................................89
12.2 Recovering data on virtual machines ...............................................................................89
12.3 Using the disk conversion feature....................................................................................90
12.3.1 Recover data on the VM...........................................................................................90
12.3.2 Recover both data and the VM .................................................................................90
12.3.3 Physical to virtual migration .....................................................................................90
12.3.4 Converting workloads ..............................................................................................91
12. 4 Converting disk images to virtual disks ...........................................................................91
Chapter 13. Transferring the system to a new disk..........................................93
13.1 General information.......................................................................................................93
13.2 Security........................................................................................................................93
13.3 Executing transfers........................................................................................................94
13.3.1 Selecting Clone mode ..............................................................................................94
13.3.2 Selecting source disk ...............................................................................................94
13.3.3 Selecting destination disk.........................................................................................95
13.3.4 Partitioned destination disk ......................................................................................96
13.3.5 Old and new disk partition layout..............................................................................96
13.3.6 Old disk data ..........................................................................................................96
13.3.7 Destroying the old disk data.....................................................................................97
13.3.8 Selecting partition transfer method...........................................................................98
13.3.9 Partitioning the old disk ...........................................................................................99
13.3.10 Old and new disk partition layouts ..........................................................................99
13.3.11 Cloning summary.................................................................................................100
13.4 Cloning with manual partitioning...................................................................................100
13.4.1 Old and new disk partition layouts..........................................................................100
Chapter 14. Adding a new hard disk ...............................................................102
14.1 Selecting a hard disk....................................................................................................102
14.2 Creating new partitions ................................................................................................102
14.3 Disk add summary.......................................................................................................103
Chapter 15. Command-line mode and scripting .............................................104
15.1 Working in the command-line mode..............................................................................104

6 Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2009
15.1.1 TrueImageCmd.exe supported commands...............................................................104
15.1.2 Common options (options common for most trueimagecmd commands) ....................107
15.1.3 Specific options (options specific for individual trueimagecmd commands)..................108
15.1.4 Trueimagecmd.exe usage examples........................................................................113
15.1.5 Ebasrvdb.exe tool: generate an XML file with the backup mapping details...................118
15.1.6 Adv_report.exe: a report generation tool.................................................................118
15.1.7 Command-line mode usage under DOS...................................................................118
15.2 Scripting.....................................................................................................................119
15.2.1 Script execution parameters...................................................................................119
15.2.2 Script structure .....................................................................................................119
15.2.3 Script usage examples...........................................................................................120

7 Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2009
Chapter 1. Introduction
1.1 Acronis® True Image Echo Server – a complete solution for
corporate users
Acronis True Image Echo Server is a comprehensive backup and recovery solution for a
Windows-based server.
Acronis True Image Echo Server creates a transportable image, independent of the
hardware platform that can be restored directly to and from any virtual or physical
environment.
Minimizes downtime
Acronis True Image Echo Server enables you to restore systems in minutes, not hours or
days. An entire system can be restored from an image that includes everything the
system needs to run: the operating system, applications, databases, and configurations. it
is not necessary to reinstall software or reconfigure your system or network settings. The
complete system restoration can be performed to an existing system, to a new system
with different hardware, or to virtual machines. With the Acronis Active Restore feature,
users can access the server and begin working during the restore process, further
decreasing downtime. File-level backups provide you with the flexibility to only backup
specific, critical files.
Eases Administration
Wizards guide users through backup and recovery tasks, ensuring the product can be
implemented with minimal user training.
Automates Backup
With the scheduling capability in Acronis True Image Echo Server, you simply create
backup tasks, tailored by group, or certain times or events.
To ensure that backups have occurred, or if user intervention is required, you can request
notifications via email or Windows Pop-up. You can view Acronis events in the Windows
Application Events Log or Acronis own log files. Log messages can be automatically sent
out to SNMP clients.
The product also supports the creation of custom commands before and after backups.
For example, users can automatically run anti-virus products before an image is created
and verify the validity of backups after the image has been created. And because these
tasks can be scheduled, you need not recreate the script to run the pre- and post-event
tasks each time; you can set the scheduled events once and they will run each time
automatically.
Ensures 24 X 7 Uptime
With Acronis’ patented drive snapshot technology, systems can be imaged while they are
in use, ensuring 24-by-7 system availability. This technology enables the product to
backup and image critical operating system files, the master boot record and any
partition-based boot records without requiring a reboot. A CPU allocation feature allows
you to limit the amount of CPU usage for the application to maximize the CPU’s
availability for mission critical applications. Additionally, users can control hard disk drive
writing speeds and control network bandwidth used during backups, allowing minimal
disruption of business operations.

8 Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2009
A feature that allows you to suspend database activity for several seconds is provided so
that you can create a valid image of mission-critical applications such as Microsoft
Exchange Server, Microsoft SQL Server and Oracle. This database suspension process
supports Microsoft’s Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS). If your database or operating
system does not support VSS, Acronis True Image Echo Server will execute your custom
commands to execute database suspension.
Leverages Existing Technology Investments
The product can leverage your current storage infrastructure by supporting a variety of
storage media, so you can avoid costly hardware purchases to implement the solution.
The product supports key storage technologies such as: Direct Attached Storage (DAS),
Network Attached Storage (NAS), Storage Area Networks (SAN), Redundant Arrays of
Independent Disks (RAID), tapes, USB and IEEE-1394 (FireWire) compliant storage
devices, CDs, DVDs, removable drives (Floppy, Zip, etc.) and shared storage. Moreover,
the product ensures that you maximize the space on these resources with four levels of
compression.
Disk cloning and new disk deployment
Acronis True Image Echo Server can be used to clone an image onto multiple servers. For
example, let’s say a company purchased several servers and needs similar environments
on each of them. Traditionally, the IT manager would install the operating system and
programs on every server. With Acronis True Image Echo Server, the IT manager would
configure a single server, then create a disk image of the system. That image can then be
duplicated onto multiple servers.
If you need to upgrade the server hard disk drive, Acronis True Image Echo Server
simplifies the task to few mouse clicks creating the exact copy of your old disk to a new
one and adjusting partitions size to fit a new hard disk.
Volumes conversion
Acronis True Image Echo Server can back up and recover dynamic volumes.
Dynamic volume as is can be recovered over the same volume or unallocated space of a
dynamic group. Acronis True Image Echo Server has necessary tools for any-to-any disks
conversion in terms of basic disks and dynamic volumes of any type (simple, spanned,
striped, mirrored or RAID 5). The tools are available in bootable program version as well.
Having booted the Acronis environment, you can easily prepare the desired dynamic
group on bare metal or a computer with non-Windows operating system.
1.2 New in Acronis True Image Echo Server
Backup
Backup and restore of 2+TB volumes
Encrypting backups with industry-standard AES cryptographic algorithm (key size 128,
192, 256 bit)
Multi-volume snapshot for databases spread on several disks
Control network bandwidth usage when backing up to FTP
Error handling: ignore bad sectors, silent mode (no pop-ups, continue on all errors)
Dual destination backup: local + network share
Support for VMware Consolidated backup

9 Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2009
Archive bit reset (file-level backup only)
Generating time-based names for backup files
Recovery
Recovery of dynamic volumes
Recovery of system dynamic volumes on dissimilar hardware using Acronis Universal
Restore or Acronis Active Restore
Scheduling
Schedule archive validation
Start every N hours within daily schedule
Start on free disk space change by the specified amount
Cloning a task
Notification via e-mail
Multiple e-mail addresses
From and Subject fields
Logon to incoming mail server
Operations with archives
Convert disk images to virtual disks for VMware, Microsoft, XenServer and Parallels virtual
machines
Consolidate backup files (create a consistent copy of archive while deleting selected
backups)
Explore archives (open in read-only mode any image or file-level backup)
Operations with hard disks
Convert basic disk to dynamic
Create dynamic volumes
CLI features
MBR restore
Backup to FTP server
Allow logs on net share
Merge unallocated space by moving partitions and create Acronis Secure Zone on the
space
1.3 Supported file systems and storage media
1.3.1 Supported file systems
•FAT16/32
•NTFS
•Ext2/Ext3
•ReiserFS

10 Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2009
•Reiser4
•Linux SWAP
•XFS
•JFS
•DFS
If a file system is not supported or is corrupted, Acronis True Image Echo Server can copy
data using a sector-by-sector approach.
For XFS and JFS file systems the partition resizing feature is not supported.
1.3.2 Supported storage media
•Hard disk drives
•Networked storage devices such as Storage Area Networks (SANs) and Network
Attached Storage (NAS)
•Tape libraries, autoloaders, SCSI tape drives
•IDE and SCSI RAID controllers of any level
•FTP-servers*
•CD-R/RW, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R (including double-layer DVD+R), DVD+RW, DVD-
RAM**
•USB 1.0 / 2.0, FireWire (IEEE-1394) and PC card storage devices
•ZIP®, Jaz®and other removable media
* - Data recovery directly from an FTP-server will require the archive to consist of files no
more than 2GB in size, so please note this during the backup image creation. It is
recommended that you change the source computer firewall settings to disable the
Routing and Remote Access Windows service. The previous versions of the software
recommended for the target FTP-server the usage of passive mode for file transfers and
usage of ports 20 and 21 at the source computer for both TCP and UDP protocols. The
current version has no such limitations: you can use active or passive mode and any port,
changing the default settings at Options->Backup Options->Advanced settings.
** - Burned rewritable discs cannot be read in Linux without kernel patch.
1.4 Technical support
As part of a purchased annual Support charge you are entitled to Technical Support as
follows: to the extent that electronic services are available, you may electronically access
at no additional charge, Support services for the Software, which Acronis shall endeavor
to make available twenty four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days per week. Such electronic
services may include, but are not limited to: user forums; software-specific information;
hints and tips; bug fix retrieval via the internet; software maintenance and demonstration
code retrieval via a WAN-accessible FTP server; and access to a problem resolution
database via Acronis customer support system.
Support shall consist of supplying telephone or other electronic support to you in order to
help you locate and, on its own, correct problems with the Software and supplying

11 Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2009
patches, updates and other changes that Acronis, at its sole discretion, makes or adds to
the Software and which Acronis makes generally available, without additional charge, to
other licensees of the Software that are enrolled in Support.
Upon mutual agreement by both parties, Acronis shall:
(i) supply code corrections to you to correct Software malfunctions in order to bring such
Software into substantial conformity with the published operating specifications for the
most current version of the Software unless your unauthorized modifications prohibit or
hamper such corrections or cause the malfunction;
or (ii) supply code corrections to correct insubstantial problems at the next general
release of the Software.
More information about contacting Acronis Technical Support is available at the following
link: http://www.acronis.com/support/

12 Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2009
Chapter 2. Acronis True Image Echo Server
installation and startup
2.1 System requirements
2.1.1 Minimum hardware requirements
Acronis True Image Echo Server requires the following hardware:
•Pentium processor or higher
•512MB RAM
•FDD or CD-RW drive for bootable media creation
•Mouse (recommended).
2.1.2 Supported operating systems
Acronis True Image Echo Server
•Windows Professional 2000 SP4/ Professional XP SP3
•Windows Server 2000 /Advanced Server 2000 /Server 2003
•Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, Windows Server 2003 x64 Editions
•Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 x64 Edition (except for the Acronis
Active Restore feature)
•Windows Vista all Editions (except for the Acronis Active Restore feature)
Acronis Universal Restore (optional)
•Windows Professional 2000 SP4/XP Professional SP3
•Windows Server 2000 /Advanced Server 2000 /Server 2003/Server 2008
•Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, Windows Server 2003 x64 Editions, Windows
Server 2008 x64 Edition
•Windows Vista all Editions
Acronis True Image Echo Server bootable version enables disk-level backup and recovery
on a computer running any PC-based operating system.
2.2 Installing Acronis True Image Echo Server
To install Acronis True Image Echo Server, run the Acronis True Image Echo Server setup
file.
If you have the trial version of Acronis True Image Echo Server installed on your system,
you must uninstall it before installing the commercial version of the product.

13 Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2009
Acronis True Image Echo Server Install Window
2.2.1 Installation of Acronis True Image Echo Server
Typical, Custom and Complete installation is available. Having pressed Custom, you
can choose to install, besides the Acronis True Image Echo Server, Rescue Media
Builder and Bart PE plug-in.
With Rescue Media Builder you can create bootable rescue disks or RIS packages (see
details in
Chapter 9. Creating bootable media ). Installing the Bootable Rescue Media
Builder will allow you to create bootable media, its ISO image or a bootable RIS package
at any time from the main program window or running Bootable Rescue Media
Builder on its own.
The widely used Bart PE utility provides a Windows-like operating environment invoked
via removable bootable media. Applications are installed into Bart PE in the form of plug-
ins. Choosing Bart PE plug-in installation (disabled by default) provides the ability to
include Acronis True Image Echo Server into a Bart PE plug-in tab. The plug-in files will be
placed into the component installation folder along with other program files.
When installed, Acronis True Image Echo Server creates a new device in the Device
Manager list (Control Panel -> System -> Hardware -> Device Manager ->
Acronis Devices -> Acronis TrueImage Backup Archive Explorer). Do not disable
or uninstall this device, as it is necessary for connecting image backups as virtual disks
(see
10.2.2 Mounting an image ).
2.2.2 Acronis Universal Restore installation
Acronis Universal Restore is an option for Acronis True Image Echo Server. It is purchased
separately and installed from a separate setup file. Acronis Universal Restore has its own
serial number that is required at installation.
Acronis Universal Restore can only be installed on a computer where at least one of the
following Acronis components is installed:
Acronis True Image Echo Server
Bootable Media Builder.

14 Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2009
Acronis Universal Restore can be installed on a networked computer either locally, by
running the setup program, or remotely, using one of remote installation services such as
Systems Management Server (a component of Microsoft Windows NT BackOffice program
package).
After installation, Acronis Universal Restore automatically plugs in one or more of above
program components. Acronis True Image Echo Server name, displayed in its main
window, changes to Acronis True Image Echo Server with Universal Restore.
2.3 Extracting Acronis True Image Echo Server components
When installing Acronis True Image Echo Server, you can save the setup (.msi) file on a
local or network drive. This will help when modifying or recovering the existing product
installation.
To save the setup file:
•run the Acronis True Image Echo Server setup file
•in the Install Menu, right-click on the program name and select Extract
•select a location for the setup file and click Save.
2.4 Running Acronis True Image Echo Server
You can run Acronis True Image Echo Server in Windows by selecting Start ->
Programs -> Acronis -> Acronis True Image Echo Server -> Acronis True
Image Echo Server or clicking the appropriate shortcut on the desktop.
If your operating system fails to load, you can run Acronis Startup Recovery Manager.
However, this must be activated
prior to use; see 3.4 Acronis Startup Recovery Manager
to learn more about this procedure. To run the program, press F11 during the server
bootup when you see a corresponding message that tells you to press that key. Acronis
True Image Echo Server will be run in the standalone mode, allowing you to recover the
damaged partitions.
If your disk data is totally corrupted and you cannot boot (or if you have not activated
Acronis Startup Recovery Manager), load the standalone Acronis True Image Echo Server
version from the bootable media (created by you using Rescue Media Builder) or RIS-
server. Then you will be able to restore the disk from a previously created image.
2.5 Removing Acronis True Image Echo Server
You can remove Acronis True Image Echo Server by selecting Control panel -> Add or
remove programs -> <Acronis True Image Echo Server> -> Remove. Then
follow instructions on the screen. You may have to reboot your computer afterwards to
complete the task.
In case you remove Acronis True Image Echo Server from the system, there is an option
to keep the Acronis Secure Zone along with its contents (which will enable data recovery
on booting from bootable media) or remove Acronis Secure Zone.

15 Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2009
Chapter 3. General information and
proprietary Acronis technologies
3.1 The difference between file archives and disk/partition images
A backup archive is a file or a group of files (also called in this guide “backups”), that
contains a copy of selected files/folders data or a copy of all information stored on
selected disks/partitions.
When you back up files and folders, only the data, along with the folder tree, is
compressed and stored.
Backing up disks and partitions is performed in a different way: Acronis True Image Echo
Server saves a sector-based snapshot of the disk, which includes the operating system,
registry, drivers, software applications and data files, as well as system areas hidden from
the user. This procedure is called “creating a disk image,” and the resulting backup
archive is often called a disk/partition image.
Acronis True Image Echo Server stores only those hard disk parts that contain data (for
supported file systems). Further, it does not back up swap file information (pagefile.sys)
and hiberfil.sys (a file that keeps RAM contents when the computer goes into
hibernation). This reduces image size and speeds up image creation and restoration.
A partition image includes all files and folders independent of their attributes (including
hidden and system files), boot record, FAT (file allocation table), root and the zero track
of the hard disk with master boot record (MBR).
A disk image includes images of all disk partitions as well as the zero track with the
master boot record (MBR).
All Acronis True Image Echo Server archives files have a “.tib” extension by default.
It is important to note that you can restore files and folders not only from file archives,
but from disk/partition images, too. To do so, mount the image as a virtual disk (see
10.2.2 Mounting an image ) or start the image restoration and select Restore specified
files or folders.
3.2 Full, incremental and differential backups
Acronis True Image Echo Server can create full, incremental and differential backups.
A full backup contains all data at the moment of backup creation. It forms a base for
further incremental or differential backup or is used as a standalone archive. A full backup
has the shortest restore time as compared to incremental or differential ones.
An incremental backup only contains data changed since the last full or incremental
backup creation. Therefore, it is smaller and takes less time to create. However, since it
does not contain all data needed to restore an image,
all the previous incremental
backups
and the initial full backup are required for restoration.
A differential backup creates an independent file containing all changes since the last
full archive. Generally, data from a differential backup will be restored faster than an
incremental backup, as it does not have to process through a long chain of previous
backups.

16 Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2009
A standalone, full backup could be an optimal solution if you often roll back the system to
the initial state (for example, systems in a gaming club or Internet café where you need
to undo changes made by the guests). In this case, you need not re-create the initial full
image, so the backup time is not crucial and the restore time will be minimal.
Alternatively, if you are interested in saving only the most current data state to be able to
restore it in case of system failure, consider the differential backup. It is particularly
effective if your data changes tend to be little as compared to the full data volume.
An incremental backup is most useful when you need frequent backups and possibility to
roll back to any one of multiple stored states. For example, let’s say you create a full
backup once a month. If you then create an incremental backup each day of a month,
you will get the same result as if you created full backups every day. However, the cost in
time and disk space (or removable media usage) will be as little as one tenth as much.
It is important to note that the above arguments are just examples for your information.
Feel free to make up your own backup policy in accordance with your specific tasks and
conditions. Acronis True Image Echo Server is flexible enough to meet any real-life
demands.
An incremental or differential backup created after a disk is defragmented might be
considerably larger than usual. This is because the defragmentation program changes file
locations on disk and the backups reflect these changes. Therefore, it is recommended
that you re-create a full backup after disk defragmentation.
3.3 Acronis Secure Zone®
The Acronis Secure Zone is a special partition for storing archives on the computer system
itself. Certain Windows applications, such as Acronis disk management tools, can access
the zone. In the Acronis True Image Echo Server Wizards’ windows the zone is listed
along with all partitions available for storing archives.
A consistent external copy of archives, saved on Acronis Secure Zone, can be created on
a network share using dual destination backup feature. See details in
5.3.12 Dual
destination backup
.
Acronis Secure Zone is always available for archive creation as long as there is space for
the backup file. If there is not enough space, older archives will be deleted to create
space.
Acronis True Image Echo Server uses the following approaches to free up space in the
Acronis Secure Zone:
•If there is not enough free space in the zone to create a backup, the program deletes
the oldest full backup with all subsequent incremental/differential backups.
•If there is only one full backup (with subsequent incremental/differential backups) left
and a full backup is in progress, then the old full backup and incremental/differential
backups are deleted.
•If there is only one full backup left, and an incremental or differential backup is in
progress, you will get an error message telling you there is a lack of available space.
In that case, you will have to either re-create the full backup or increase the size of
the Acronis Secure Zone.
You can also manually consolidate or remove unnecessary backups from Acronis Secure
Zone (See
8.4 Managing backups in the Acronis Secure Zone)

17 Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2009
Acronis Secure Zone contents can be viewed directly from Windows Explorer. Open My
Computer (Start -> My computer, or Start -> Run… -> explorer /n, /e, /select, c:\ ) and
double-click on the Acronis Secure Zone icon. In the window that opens, all backup
archives stored in the zone along with their creation dates will be listed. However, viewing
backup archive contents, backup restoration, consolidation, and deleiton can be perfomed
from Acronis True Image Echo Server only. For more information, see
8.4 Managing
backups in the Acronis Secure
Zone .
For information on how to create, resize or delete Acronis Secure Zone see Chapter 8.
Managing the Acronis Secure Zone
.
You can back up data automatically on a schedule (see
Chapter 7. Scheduling tasks ), and
not worry about zone overflow issues. However, if you keep long chains of incremental
backups, it is a good practice to check the zone free space periodically. To do so, start the
Manage Acronis Secure Zone wizard and see the zone free space that is displayed on
the wizard’s second page. To do so, start the Manage Acronis Secure Zone wizard and
check the zone free space, or manually remove or consolidate unnecessary backups.
For information on how to create, resize or delete Acronis Secure Zone, or manage
Acronis Secure Zone backup archives using this wizard, see
Chapter 8. Managing the
Acronis Secure Zone
.
In case you remove Acronis True Image Echo Server from the system, there is an option
to keep the Acronis Secure Zone along with its contents (which will enable data recovery
on booting from bootable media) or remove Acronis Secure Zone.
The Acronis Secure Zone should not be the only location where a backup is stored.
Should the disk have a physical failure, the Acronis Secure Zone could be lost. This is
particularly critical for backups of servers; the Acronis Secure Zone should only be one
part of an overall backup strategy.
3.4 Acronis Startup Recovery Manager
3.4.1 How it works
The Acronis Startup Recovery Manager enables starting Acronis True Image Echo Server
without loading the operating system. If the operating system won't load, you can run
Acronis True Image Echo Server by itself to restore damaged partitions. Unlike booting
from the Acronis removable media or RIS server, you will not need a separate media or
network connection to start Acronis True Image Echo Server. It is especially handy for
mobile users who need to run a server operating system on their laptop.
3.4.2 How to use
To be able to use Acronis Startup Recovery Manager at boot time, prepare as follows:
1. Install Acronis True Image Echo Server or Acronis True Image Agent on a computer.
2. Activate Acronis Startup Recovery Manager. To do so, click Activate Acronis Startup
Recovery Manager and follow the Wizard’s instructions.
When Acronis Startup Recovery Manager is activated, it overwrites the master boot
record (MBR) with its own boot code. If you have any third-party boot managers
installed, you will have to reactivate them after activating the Startup Recovery Manager.
For Linux loaders (e.g. LiLo and GRUB), you might consider installing them to a Linux
root (or boot) partition boot record instead of MBR before activating Acronis Startup
Recovery Manager.

18 Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2009
Here’s an example of how you would use this feature. If failure occurs on a computer,
turn on the computer and press F11 when you see the "Press F11 for Acronis Startup
Recovery Manager" message. This will run a standalone version of Acronis True Image
Echo Server that only slightly differs from the complete version. For information on
restoring damaged partitions, see
Chapter 6. Restoring the backup data .
Be careful! Disk letters in standalone Acronis True Image Echo Server might sometimes
differ from the way Windows identifies drives. For example, the D: drive identified in the
standalone Acronis True Image might correspond to the E: drive in Windows.
3.5 Acronis Active Restore
With this feature you can boot the OS on a crashed computer before the system is
completely restored from an image and start work seconds after the restoration is
launched. The restoration will be continued in the background.
3.5.1 Limitations in using Acronis Active Restore
1. Acronis Active Restore is currently available for images located in the Acronis Secure
Zone only.
2. Acronis Active Restore does not support images of Windows Vista and Windows Server
2008. If any Vista or Windows Server 2008 edition is detected in an image, the Active
Restore option will not appear.
3. Acronis Active Restore does not work if the image contains dynamic disks and volumes.
4. Acronis Active Restore cannot be used if the image contains no operating system (a
logical partition or disk image) or when restoring file archives.
3.5.2 How it works
When the restoration procedure is started, Acronis True Image Echo Server:
1. Finds the sectors in the image which contain system files, and restores these sectors
first. First the OS is restored and can be started very quickly. Having started the OS, the
user sees the folder tree with files, though file contents still is not recovered.
Nevertheless, the user can start working.
2. Next, the application writes on the hard disk its own drivers, which intercept system
queries to the files. When the user attempts to open files or launch applications, the
drivers receive the system queries and restore the sectors that are necessary for the
requested operation.
3. At the same time, Acronis True Image Echo Server proceeds with the complete sector-
by-sector image restoration in the background. However, the requested sectors have the
highest priority.
Finally, the image will be fully restored even if the user performs no actions at all. But if
you choose to start working as soon as possible after the system failure, you will gain at
least several minutes, considering that restoration of a 10-20GB image (most common
image size) takes about 10 minutes. The larger the image size, the more time you save.
3.5.3 How to use
To be able to use Acronis Active Restore, prepare your system this way:
1. Install Acronis True Image Echo Server.

19 Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2009
2. Create the Acronis Secure Zone on the server hard disk (see Chapter 8. Managing the
Acronis Secure Zone
).
3. Activate Acronis Startup Recovery manager (see
3.4 Acronis Startup Recovery
Manager
) and create bootable media or RIS package with Acronis True Image Echo
Server (see
Chapter 9. Creating bootable media).
4. Back up (image) the server’s system disk to Acronis Secure Zone (see
5.2 Backing up
disks and partitions (image backup)
). You can back up other disks/partitions as well, but
the system image is mandatory.
When performing Active Restore, the current Acronis True Image Echo Server version
always restores the entire system disk. Therefore, if your system disk consists of several
partitions, all of them must be included in the image. Any partitions which are missing
from the image will be lost.
If failure occurs, boot the server from the bootable media, or RIS server, or using F11.
Start the recovery procedure (see
6.3 Restoring disks/partitions or files from images ),
select the system disk image from Acronis Secure Zone, choose Use Active Restore and
in the next window click Proceed. In a few seconds the computer will reboot to the
restored system. Log in and start work – no additional reboots or other actions are
required.
You can perform Active Restore running Acronis True Image Echo Server in Windows
operating systems as well. However, it is mandatory to have bootable media in case
Windows cannot boot.
3.6 Acronis Universal Restore
3.6.1 Acronis Universal Restore purpose
A system disk image can be deployed easily on the hardware where it was created or to
identical hardware. However, if you change a motherboard or use another processor
version — a likely possibility in case of hardware failure — the restored system could be
unbootable. An attempt to transfer the system to a new, much more powerful computer
will usually produce the same unbootable result because the new hardware is
incompatible with the most critical drivers included in the image.
Using Microsoft System Preparation Tool (Sysprep) does not solve this problem, because
Sysprep permits replacing drivers only for Plug-and-Play devices (sound cards, network
adapters, video cards etc.). As for system Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) and mass
storage device drivers, they must be identical on the source and the target computers
(see Microsoft Knowledge Base, articles 302577 and 216915).
Acronis Universal Restore technology provides an efficient solution for hardware-
independent system restoration by replacing the crucial Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL)
and mass storage device drivers.
Acronis Universal Restore is applicable for:
1. Instant recovery of a failed system on different hardware
2. Hardware-independent cloning and deployment of operating systems
3. Real-to-virtual and virtual-to-real computer migration for system recovery, test and
other purposes.

20 Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2009
3.6.2 Acronis Universal Restore general principles
1. Automatic HAL and mass storage drivers selection
Acronis Universal Restore searches the Windows default driver storage folders (in the
image being restored) for HAL and mass storage device drivers and installs drivers that
better fit the target hardware. You can specify a custom driver repository (a folder or
folders on a network drive or CD) which will also be used for drivers search.
The Windows default driver storage folder is determined in the registry key
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Current version\DevicePath. This
storage folder is usually WINDOWS/inf.
2. Manual selection of mass storage device driver
If the target hardware has a specific mass storage controller (such as a SCSI, RAID, or
Fibre Channel adapter) for the hard disk, you can install the appropriate driver manually,
bypassing the automatic driver search-and-install procedure.
3. Installing drivers for plug and play devices
Acronis Universal Restore relies on built-in plug and play discovery and configuration
process to handle hardware differences in devices that are not critical for the system
start, such as video, audio and USB. Windows takes control over this process during the
logon phase, and if some of the new hardware is not detected, you will have a chance to
install drivers for it later manually.
3.6.3 Acronis Universal Restore and Microsoft Sysprep
Acronis Universal Restore is not a system preparation tool. You can apply it to any system
image created by Acronis products, including images prepared with Microsoft System
Preparation Tool (Sysprep). The following is an example of using both tools on the same
system.
Acronis Universal Restore does not strip security identifier (SID) and user profile settings
in order to run the system immediately after recovery without re-joining the domain or re-
mapping network user profiles. If you are going to change the above settings on a
recovered system, you can prepare the system with Sysprep, image it and restore, if need
be, using Acronis Universal Restore.
3.6.4 Limitations in using Acronis Universal Restore
1. The system recovered by Acronis Universal Restore might not start if the partition
structure in the image or the target disk partitioning does not coincide with that of the
source disk. As a result, the loader, restored from the image, will point to the wrong
partition and the system will not boot or will malfunction.
Such might be the case if you:
- image only selected partitions but not the entire source disk
Keep in mind, that the source disk may have a hidden maintenance partition created by
the computer vendor. Therefore, if you check each partition for backup instead of
checking the disk, this hidden partition will not be included into the image.
- restore not the entire source disk, but only the selected partitions. In some cases,
especially if your system resides on a partition other than the first, this can confuse the
loader and prevent the restored system from startup.
To avoid the problem, we recommend that you image and restore the entire system disk.