Acronis TRUE IMAGE CORPORATE WORKSTATION 9.1 User Manual
User's Guide
Acronis
True Image 9.1
Workstation
Compute with confidence
www.acronis.com
Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2006. All rights reserved.
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Manager, “Acronis Secure Zone” and the Acronis logo are trademarks of Acronis, Inc.
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2 Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2006
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ACCEPT BY SELECTING "I decline..." AND NOT INSTALLING THE SOFTWARE.
Acronis True Image Workstation (the Software) is Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2006. All rights are
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following restrictions and limitations.
1. The license is to the original purchaser only, and is not transferable without prior written
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Under current legislation, the «License Agreement» is considered a contract between you and Acronis
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Illegal use and/or distribution of this software will be prosecuted.
Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2006 3
Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................... 7
1.1 ACRONIS TRUE IMAGE WORKSTATION – A COMPLETE SOLUTION FOR CORPORATE USERS............................ 7
1.2 ACRONIS TRUE IMAGE WORKSTATION ARCHITECTURE................................................................................ 8
1.3 NEW IN ACRONIS TRUE IMAGE 9.1 WORKSTATION....................................................................................... 8
1.4 SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS AND SUPPORTED MEDIA ....................................................................................... 10
1.4.1 Minimum system requirements........................................................................................................... 10
1.4.2 Supported operating systems.............................................................................................................. 10
1.4.3 Supported file systems........................................................................................................................ 10
1.4.4 Supported storage media.................................................................................................................... 11
1.5 TECHNICAL SUPPORT .................................................................................................................................. 11
CHAPTER 2. ACRONIS TRUE IMAGE WORKSTATION INSTALLATION AND STARTING......... 12
2.1 INSTALLING ACRONIS TRUE IMAGE WORKSTATION COMPONENTS............................................................. 12
2.2 EXTRACTING ACRONIS TRUE IMAGE WORKSTATION COMPONENTS ........................................................... 13
2.3 SETTING UP SECURITY PARAMETERS FOR ACRONIS TRUE IMAGE WORKSTATION....................................... 13
2.3.1 Usernames and passwords................................................................................................................. 13
2.3.2 Firewall setup..................................................................................................................................... 14
2.4 RUNNING ACRONIS TRUE IMAGE WORKSTATION COMPONENTS................................................................. 14
2.4.1. Running Acronis True Image Workstation (local version)................................................................ 14
2.4.2 Running Acronis True Image Management Console.......................................................................... 14
2.5 REMOVING ACRONIS TRUE IMAGE WORKSTATION COMPONENTS .............................................................. 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 BACKUP SERVER ......................................................................................................................... 17
3.5.1 Backup locations, their quotas and time limits................................................................................... 18
3.5.2 Quotas and time limits for computers and users................................................................................ 18
3.5.3 Administrator profiles and User profiles............................................................................................ 18
3.5.4 Operations with archives.................................................................................................................... 19
3.6 ACRONIS SNAP RESTORE ............................................................................................................................ 19
3.6.1 How it works....................................................................................................................................... 19
3.6.2 How to use.......................................................................................................................................... 20
3.7 ACRONIS UNIVERSAL RESTORE .................................................................................................................. 20
3.7.1 How to use.......................................................................................................................................... 21
3.7.2 Using Acronis Universal Restore in virtual environment...................................................................22
3.7.3 Hints on using Acronis Universal Restore ......................................................................................... 22
3.7.4 Benefits............................................................................................................................................... 22
3.8 BACKING UP TO TAPE DRIVE ....................................................................................................................... 23
3.9 VIEWING DISK AND PARTITION INFORMATION............................................................................................. 23
CHAPTER 4. USING ACRONIS TRUE IMAGE MANAGEMENT CONSOLE....................................... 24
4.1 GENERAL INFORMATION ............................................................................................................................. 24
4.2 INSTALLING/UPDATING ACRONIS COMPONENTS ON A REMOTE MACHINE ................................................... 24
4.3 MANAGING A SINGLE REMOTE COMPUTER .................................................................................................. 25
4.3.1 Connecting to a remote computer...................................................................................................... 25
4.3.2 Backup and recovery tasks................................................................................................................. 26
4.4 MANAGING GROUPS OF COMPUTERS ........................................................................................................... 27
4.4.1 Group server management................................................................................................................. 27
4.4.2 Creating new group backup tasks...................................................................................................... 29
4.4.3 Group tasks management................................................................................................................... 31
4.5 MANAGING BACKUP SERVER ...................................................................................................................... 31
4.5.1 Default settings................................................................................................................................... 32
4 Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2006
4.5.2 Set up Administrator profiles.............................................................................................................. 33
4.5.3 Adding Users and Administrators to Acronis Backup Server database............................................. 34
4.5.4 Changing User profiles...................................................................................................................... 35
4.5.5 Configuring Backup Locations........................................................................................................... 36
4.5.6 Managing Archives............................................................................................................................. 37
4.6 CREATING BOOTABLE MEDIA...................................................................................................................... 37
CHAPTER 5. USING ACRONIS TRUE IMAGE WORKSTATION (LOCAL VERSION)...................... 39
5.1 MAIN PROGRAM WINDOW ........................................................................................................................... 39
5.2 MANAGING A LOCAL COMPUTER................................................................................................................. 41
CHAPTER 6. CREATING BACKUP ARCHIVES........................................................................................ 43
6.1 BACKING UP FILES AND FOLDERS (FILE BACKUP)........................................................................................ 43
6.2 BACKING UP DISKS AND PARTITIONS (IMAGE BACKUP) ............................................................................... 47
6.3 SETTING BACKUP OPTIONS.......................................................................................................................... 49
6.3.1 Archive protection.............................................................................................................................. 50
6.3.2 Source files exclusion......................................................................................................................... 50
6.3.3 Pre/post commands............................................................................................................................ 50
6.3.4 Compression level.............................................................................................................................. 51
6.3.5 Backup performance........................................................................................................................... 51
6.3.6 Fast incremental/differential backup.................................................................................................. 52
6.3.7 Archive splitting ................................................................................................................................. 52
6.3.8 File-level security settings ............................................................................................ ...................... 53
6.3.9 Media components.............................................................................................................................. 53
6.3.10 Additional settings............................................................................................................................ 54
CHAPTER 7. RESTORING THE BACKUP DATA...................................................................................... 55
7.1 RESTORE UNDER WINDOWS OR BOOT FROM CD? ....................................................................................... 55
7.1.1 Network settings in rescue mode........................................................................................................ 55
7.2 RESTORING FILES AND FOLDERS FROM FILE ARCHIVES ............................................................................... 55
7.3 RESTORING DISKS/PARTITIONS OR FILES FROM IMAGES .............................................................................. 59
7.3.1 Starting the Restore Data Wizard....................................................................................................... 59
7.3.2 Archive selection................................................................................................................................ 59
7.3.3 Restoration type selection .................................................................................................................. 60
7.3.4 Selecting a disk/partition to restore.................................................................................................... 61
7.3.5 Selecting a target disk/partition ......................................................................................................... 61
7.3.6 Changing the restored partition type.................................................................................................. 62
7.3.7 Changing the restored partition file system........................................................................................ 62
7.3.8 Changing the restored partition size and location............................................................................. 62
7.3.9 Assigning a letter to the restored partition......................................................................................... 63
7.3.10 Restoring several partitions at once................................................................................................. 63
7.3.11 Setting restore options...................................................................................................................... 63
7.3.12 Using Acronis Universal Restore..................................................................................................... 64
7.3.13 Restoration summary and executing restoration.............................................................................. 65
7.4 SETTING RESTORE OPTIONS......................................................................................................................... 66
7.4.1 Files to restore exclusion ................................................................................................................... 66
7.4.2 Files overwriting mode....................................................................................................................... 66
7.4.3 Pre/post commands............................................................................................................................ 67
7.4.4 Restoration priority............................................................................................................................ 67
7.4.5 File-level security settings ............................................................................................ ...................... 67
7.4.6 Additional settings.............................................................................................................................. 67
CHAPTER 8. SCHEDULING TASKS............................................................................................................ 69
8.1 CREATING SCHEDULED TASKS .................................................................................................................... 69
8.1.1 Setting up daily execution................................................................................................................... 70
8.1.2 Setting up weekly execution................................................................................................................ 71
8.1.3 Setting up monthly execution.............................................................................................................. 72
8.1.4 Setting up one-time execution............................................................................................................. 72
8.2 MANAGING SCHEDULED TASKS................................................................................................................... 73
CHAPTER 9. MANAGING ACRONIS SECURE ZONE ............................................................................. 74
Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2006 5
9.1 CREATING ACRONIS SECURE ZONE ............................................................................................................ 74
9.2 RESIZING ACRONIS SECURE ZONE .............................................................................................................. 75
9.3 DELETING ACRONIS SECURE ZONE............................................................................................................. 75
CHAPTER 10. CREATING BOOTABLE MEDIA........................................................................................ 77
CHAPTER 11. OTHER OPERATIONS ......................................................................................................... 80
11.1 VALIDATING BACKUP ARCHIVES............................................................................................................... 80
11.2 OPERATION RESULTS NOTIFICATION ......................................................................................................... 80
11.2.1 Email notification............................................................................................................................. 81
11.2.2 WinPopup notification...................................................................................................................... 81
11.3 VIEWING LOGS.......................................................................................................................................... 82
11.4 EVENT TRACING........................................................................................................................................ 83
11.4.1 Windows event log............................................................................................................................ 83
11.4.2 SNMP notifications........................................................................................................................... 83
11.5 MANAGING SYSTEM RESTORE.................................................................................................................. 83
CHAPTER 12. MOUNTING AN IMAGE AS A VIRTUAL DRIVE............................................................ 85
12.1 MOUNTING AN IMAGE............................................................................................................................... 85
12.2 UNMOUNTING AN IMAGE .......................................................................................................................... 87
CHAPTER 13. TRANSFERRING THE SYSTEM TO A NEW DISK......................................................... 88
13.1 GENERAL INFORMATION ........................................................................................................................... 88
13.2 SECURITY.................................................................................................................................................. 89
13.3 EXECUTING TRANSFERS ............................................................................................................................ 89
13.3.1 Selecting Clone mode....................................................................................................................... 89
13.3.2 Selecting source disk........................................................................................................................ 89
13.3.3 Selecting destination disk................................................................................................................. 90
13.3.4 Partitioned destination disk.............................................................................................................. 91
13.3.5 Old and new disk partition layout.................................................................................................... 91
13.3.6 Old disk data.................................................................................................................................... 91
13.3.7 Destroying the old disk data............................................................................................................. 92
13.3.8 Selecting partition transfer method.................................................................................................. 93
13.3.9 Partitioning the old disk................................................................................................................... 94
13.3.10 Old and new disk partition layouts................................................................................................. 94
13.3.11 Cloning summary ........................................................................................................................... 95
13.4 CLONING WITH MANUAL PARTITIONING.................................................................................................... 95
13.4.1 Old and new disk partition layouts................................................................................................... 95
CHAPTER 14. ADDING A NEW HARD DISK.............................................................................................97
14.1 SELECTING A HARD DISK........................................................................................................................... 97
14.2 CREATING NEW PARTITIONS...................................................................................................................... 97
14.3 DISK ADD SUMMARY................................................................................................................................. 98
CHAPTER 15. COMMAND-LINE MODE AND SCRIPTING.................................................................... 99
15.1 WORKING IN THE COMMAND-LINE MODE.................................................................................................. 99
15.1.1 Supported commands ....................................................................................................................... 99
15.1.2 trueimagecmd.exe usage examples................................................................................................. 104
15.1.3 Command-line mode usage under DOS......................................................................................... 105
15.2 SCRIPTING............................................................................................................................................... 105
15.2.1 Script execution parameters........................................................................................................... 105
15.2.2 Script structure............................................................................................................................... 106
15.2.3 Script usage examples.................................................................................................................... 106
6 Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2006
Chapter 1. Introduction
1.1 Acronis True Image Workstation – a complete solution for corporate
users
You have come to rely on your workstations to run your business and retain key enterprise
data. Acronis True Image Workstation provides comprehensive, reliable, and cost-effective
system protection and recovery for systems and entire networks. With Acronis Tr ue Image
Workstation you have peace of mind knowing you are protected and can recover from any
situation.
Minimizes downtime
Acronis True Image Workstation enables you to restore systems in minutes, not hours or
days. An entire system can be restored from an image that includes everything t he system
needs to run: the operating system, applications, databases, and configurations. No
reinstallation or reconfiguration is required. Moreover, complete system restoration can be
performed to an existing system or to a new system with different hardware or to virtual
machines. With the new Acronis Snap Restore feature, users can access a system during
restore, further decreasing downtime. File-based 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. A central management console provides remote
administration, ensuring that all systems in the network, regardless of your domain and
workgroup structure, can be managed from one location. Complete, unattended restores
from remote locations are supported with a remote bootable agent.
Automates Backup
With the scheduling capability in Acronis True Image Workstation, you simply create backup
tasks, tailored by group, at certain times or at certain events, automating backups.
To ensure that backups have occurred, or user intervention is required, you can request
notifications via email or pop-up. You can view Acronis events in Windows Application Events
Log or Acronis own log. 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 they have been created.
Ensures 24 X 7 Uptime
With the Acronis Drive Snapshot systems can be imaged while they are i n use, supp orting 24
by 7 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 CPUs available for mission critical applications. Moreover, users
can control hard disk drive writing speeds and control network bandwidth used during
backups, allowing you minimally disrupt business operations.
Supports Cutting Edge Technology
Businesses today are moving to leverage the latest technologies, dual -core 64 bit processors
and 64 bit operating systems. With Acronis True Image Workstation, you can protect these
new machines, as well as legacy ones, running one solution.
Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2006 7
Leverages Existing Technology Investments
The product can leverage your current storage infrastructur e by supporting a wide 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 St orage (DAS), Network
Attached Storage (NAS), Storage Area Networks (SAN), Redundant Arrays of Independent
Disks (RAID) devices, 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 Workstation can be used to clone an image onto multiple workstations.
For example, a company purchased several computers and needs similar environments on
each of them. Traditionally, an IT manager should install the operating system and programs
on every workstation. With Acronis True Image Workstation, the IT manager can create a
disk image of the first system deployed. That image can then be duplicated onto multiple
computers.
If you need to upgrade the workstation hard disk drive, Acronis True Image Workstation
simplifies the task to few mouse clicks creating the exact copy of your old disk t o a new one
and adjusting partitions size to fit a new hard disk.
1.2 Acronis True Image Workstation Architecture
Acronis True Image Workstation includes the following components.
1. Acronis True Image Management Console – a tool for managing data backup/restore
in a local network from a single location. Facilities include remote program components
installation, managing computer groups (via Acronis True Image Group Server) and
backup archives (via Acronis Backup Server), scheduling individual and group backup
tasks, remote data recovery, checking backup archives, setting backup/restore options on
remote computers.
2. Acronis True Image Agent – a server applicati on, enabling remote managing of data
backup/restore on a networked computer from Acronis True Image Management Console.
3. Acronis Backup Server – when installed on a networked computer, automatically
manages backup archives, stored on this computer, in accordance with the rules, set by an
administrator.
4. Acronis True Image Group Server – when installed on a networked computer, allows
group monitoring of backup tasks on all networked computers in real time.
5. Acronis True Image Workstation (local version) – a component for backup/restore
management on a local server. Facilities include scheduling backup tasks, data recovery,
exploring backup archives, cloning hard disks data and formatting partitions on new hard
disks, command-line mode and scripts execution.
6. Acronis Bootable Rescue Media Builder - creat es bootable media, its ISO image or
RIS packages enabling data recovery in case of non-Windows or corrupted operating system.
1.3 New in Acronis True Image 9.1 Workstation
• Support for Windows XP Professional x64 Edition
• Support for GPT hard disks (disks with GUID partition table)
8 Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2006
• Acronis Backup Server – This software application, when installed on a networked
computer, automatically manages backup archives, stored on this computer, in
accordance with the rules, set by an administrator
• Acronis True Image Group Server – when installed on a networked computer, allows
managing and monitoring of group backup tasks on all networked computers in real time
• Backup to/restore from FTP servers
• Acronis Snap Restore – A user can start working in seconds while the system is still
being restored
• Acronis Universal Restore (optional) – Hardware-independent live system restore
• File-level backup and recovery, including files opened in exclusive usage mode - In
addition to an entire partition/system backup
• Differential backup – Backup only the changes made since the full backup
• Fast incremental/differential backup – Users can choose to compare files with their
archived copies by date/size (fast process) or by file contents (precise, but timeconsuming process)
• Files and folders backup/restore filtering – Saves space when creating file backups
by only backing up files of the types the users want to keep. Similarly, a user can tell the
program not to restore certain files from the file archive
• Pre/post backup/restore commands – Users can specify their own commands which
will be executed before and after the backup or restore process. For example, one might
want to remove some temporary files from the disk before starting backup or configure a
third party antivirus product to be started each time before the backup starts
• User-editable default backup options – Users can configure and save backup
parameters, such as backup performance (hard disk writing speed, network bandwidth
during backups), validate backup archive after backup completion, file-level security
settings (preserving files’ security settings in the archive, storing encrypted files in
encrypted or decrypted state)
• User-editable default restore options – Users can configure and save restore
parameters, such as files overwriting mode, the original or current date and time for
restored files etc.
• Read-write mode of mounting images
• Bootable backup media – When backing up to removable media, users can make this
media bootable in the same manner as rescue CD, so separate recover media is not
required
• Bootable disks ISOs and RIS packages – In addition to burning a bootable rescue
disk, users can save its ISO image for burning later, or create a RIS package for remote
boot of Acronis True Image Workstation
• Acronis Bootable Agent – Adding this Agent to the rescue disk or RIS package will
enable the administrator to manage the remote computer, booted from this disk/server,
with Acronis True Image Management Console. Thus, they can restore unattended
systems from remote locations
• Windows Event Log and SNMP support – Store event log messages, issued by
Acronis True Image Workstation, to Windows Event Log or send them to SNMP clients
Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2006 9
• Manage System Restore tool (for Windows XP) – Turn on/off the Windows native
System Restore tool directly from Acronis True Image Workstation
• Context Help
1.4 System requirements and supported media
1.4.1 Minimum system requirements
Acronis True Image Workstation requires the following hardware:
• Pentium processor or higher
• 256 Mb RAM
• FDD or CD-RW drive for bootable media creation
• Mouse (recommended).
1.4.2 Supported operating systems
Acronis True Image Management Console
• Windows 98/Me
• Windows NT 4.0 Workstation SP6/2000 Professional SP4/XP Professional SP2
• Windows NT 4.0 Server SP6/2000 Server/2000 Advanced Server/2003 Server
• Windows XP Professional x64 Edition
Acronis True Image Agent for Windows
Acronis True Image Workstation
• Windows 98/Me
• Windows NT 4.0 Workstation SP6/2000 Professional SP4/XP Professional SP2
• Windows XP Professional x64 Edition
Acronis Backup Server
Acronis True Image Group Server
• Windows NT 4.0 Workstation SP6/2000 Professional SP4/XP Professional SP2
• Windows NT 4.0 Server SP6/2000 Server/2000 Advanced Server/2003 Server
• Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, Windows Server 2003 x64 Editions
Acronis True Image Workstation bootable standalone version enables backing up and
recovery a disk/partition on a computer running any PC-based operating system, including
Linux®.
1.4.3 Supported file systems
• FAT16/32
• NTFS
• Ext2/Ext3
• ReiserFS
• Linux SWAP
10 Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2006
If a file system is not supported or is corrupted, Acronis True Image Workstation can copy
data using a sector-by-sector approach.
1.4.4 Supported storage media
• Hard disk drives
• Networked storage devices such as Storage Area Networks ( S ANs) and Network Attached
Storage (NAS)
• SCSI tape drives
• IDE and SCSI RAID controllers of any level
• FTP servers*
• CD-R/RW, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW**
• USB 1.0 / 2.0, FireWire (IEEE-1394) and PC card storage devices
• ZIP®, Jaz® and other removable media
* - an FTP-server must allow passive mode for file transfers. Data recovery directly from
FTP-server requires the archive to consist of files no more than 2 Gb in size.
** - requires third-party DVD recording software to be installed.
1.5 Technical support
Users of legally purchased copies of Acronis True Image Workstation are entitled to free
technical support from Acronis. If you experience problems installing or using Acronis
products that you can’t solve yourself by using this guide, then please contact Acronis
Technical Support.
More information about contacting Acronis Technical Support is available at the following
link:
http://www.acronis.com/enterprise/support/
Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2006 11
Chapter 2. Acronis True Image Workstation
installation and starting
2.1 Installing Acronis True Image Workstation components
To install Acronis True Image Workstation components:
• run the Acronis True Image Workstation setup file
• in the Install Menu, select the program to install: Acronis True Image Management
Console, Acronis True Image Agent for Windows, Acronis Backup Server, Acronis True
Image Group Server or Acronis True Image Workstation (local version)
• follow the Install Wizard instructions on the screen.
Acronis True Image Workstation Install Menu Window
It is recommended that you install Acronis True Image Management Console first. After that
you will be able to install other components remotely to any networked computer.
For Acronis True Image Workstation and Acronis True Image Agent for Windows, Typical,
Custom and Complete installation is available. Having pressed Custom, you can choose to
install, besides the main component, Rescue Media Builder and Bart PE plug-in for
Acronis True Image Workstation, or Acronis Secure Zone manager for Acronis True
Image Agent.
With Rescue Media Builder you can create bootable rescue disks or RIS packages (see
details in
purchased a boxed product that contains a bootable CD. 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.
Well-known Bart PE utility is used to boot Windows-like environment from CD. 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 Workstation into Bart
PE plug-in tab. The plug-in files will be placed into the component installation folder along
with other program files.
Chapter 10. Creating bootable media
). You might not need this tool if you
12 Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2006
Acronis Secure Zone manager lets you create, delete and resize a special hidden
partition for storing backup archives (see
3 3 Acronis Secure Zone
.
).
When installing Acronis True Image Group Server, you will have to enter credentials, i.e.
user account that will be used for obtaining status of backup/restore tasks from networked
computers.
If a domain controller is present on the network, you can create for Acronis True Image
Group Server a domain user account with Guest rights and remot e access right to every
computer. If the network does not use domain, you can create accounts with Guests rights
on all computers accessed by Acronis True Image Group Server.
When installed, Acronis True Image Workstation (local version) 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 archives as virtual disks (see
Chapter 12. Mounting an image as a virtual drive
).
2.2 Extracting Acronis True Image Workstation components
During Acronis True Image Management Console installation, all Acronis True Image
Workstation components’ setup (.msi) files will be placed to C:\Program Files\Common
Files\Acronis\RemoteInstall folder. Thus, you will be able to remotely install, modify or repair
the components using Acronis True Image Management Console or msiexec.exe utility.
When installing Acronis True Image Workstation components on a local computer, you can
save setup files for each Acronis True Image Workstation component separately on a local or
network drive. It will help you modify or recover the existing component installation on a
local computer.
To save a component’s setup file:
• run the Acronis True Image Workstation setup file;
• in the Install Menu, right-click on the component name and select Extract;
• select location for setup file and click Save.
2.3 Setting up security parameters for Acronis True Image Workstation
2.3.1 Usernames and passwords
Acronis True Image Workstation fully supports all security standards used in Windows. The
remote access to networked computers is allowed according to the security policy set up in
the local network.
To have remote access to Acronis True Image Agent, installed on a computer running
Windows NT/2000/XP, you must be a member of the Administrators or Backup
operators group on this computer.
To install Acronis components on a computer running Windows NT/2000/XP, you must be a
member of the Administrators group on this computer.
Windows 98/Me do not have their own security systems. When installing Acronis True Image
Agent on computers, running Windows 98/Me, enter a username and a password that will be
used by Acronis True Image Management Console for remote access to the Agent.
It is highly recommended that you create an administrator’s or backup operator’s accounts
with the same username and password on all networked computers for remote access to the
Acronis True Image Agent.
Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2006 13
2.3.2 Firewall setup
Acronis True Image Workstation uses the following ports and IP addresses for remote
operation:
• server (Acronis True Image Agent) UDP port: 9876
• server (Acronis True Image Agent) TCP port: 9876, if busy chose port at
random
• client (Acronis True Image Management Console) UDP port: 9877, if busy
chose port at random
• IPv4 multicast address: 239.255.219.45
• IPv6 multicast address: FF05::fAA5:741E.
You might have to set the appropriate firewall access options. Options for the Windows
Firewall, included in Windows XP Service Pack 2 and Windows 2003 Server, are set
automatically during Acronis True Image Workstation components installation. However,
make sure that the option File and Printer Sharing in the Control panel -> Windows
Firewall -> Exceptions is enabled on the remote computer, b efore the remote operation
starts.
2.4 Running Acronis True Image Workstation components
2.4.1. Running Acronis True Image Workstation (local version)
You can run Acronis True Image Workstation in Windows by selecting Start -> Programs > Acronis -> Acronis True Image Workstation -> Acronis True Image Workstation
or clicking on the appropriate shortcut on the desktop.
If your operating system does not load for some reason, you can run Acronis Startup
Recovery Manager. However, this must be activated prior to use; see
Recovery Manager
workstation bootup, when you see a corresponding message that tells you to press that key.
Acronis True Image Workstation 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 Workstation
version from the bootable media (supplied with the retail box or created by you using
Rescue Media Builder) or RIS-server. Then you will be able to restore the disk from its
previously created image.
to learn more about this procedure. To run the program, press F11 during
2.4.2 Running Acronis True Image Management Console
To run Acronis True Image Management Console, select Start -> Programs -> Acronis -
> Acronis True Image Management Console -> Acronis True Image Management
Console.
3.4 Acronis Startup
2.5 Removing Acronis True Image Workstation components
You can remove any Acronis True Image Workstation component separately by selecting
Control panel -> Add or remove programs -> <The component name> ->
Remove. Then follow instructions on the screen. You may have to reboot your computer
afterwards to complete the task.
14 Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2006
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, are
compressed and stored.
Backing up disks and partitions is performed in a different way: Acronis True Image
Workstation stores a sector-by-sector 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 Workstation stores only those hard disk parts that contain data (for
supported file systems). Further, it does not back up swap file information (win386.swp
under Windows 98/Me and pagefile.sys under Windows NT/2000/XP) and hiberfil.sys (a file
that keeps RAM contents when the computer goes into hibernation). This r e duces 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) and root.
A disk image includes images of all disk partitions as well as the zero track with master boot
record (MBR).
By default, files in all Acronis True Image Workstation archives have a “.tib” extension.
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
Mounting an image as a virtual drive
specified files or folders.
) or start the image restoration and select Restore
Chapter 12.
3.2 Full, incremental and differential backups
Acronis True Image Workstation 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 file only contains data changed since the la st full or incremental
backup creation. Therefore, it is smaller and takes less time to create. But as it doesn’t
contain all data, all the previous incremental backups and the initial full backup are required
for restoration.
Unlike incremental backup, when every backup procedure creat es the next file in a “chain, ” a
differential backup creates an independent file, containing all changes against the initial
full archive. Generally, a differential backup will be restored faster than an incremental one,
as it does not have to process through a long chain of previous backups.
Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2006 15
A standalone full backup may be an optimal solution if you often roll back the system to the
initial state (like in a gaming club or Internet café, to undo changes, made by the guests). In
this case, you need not to 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 last 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.
The same is true for incremental backup. In addition, it is most useful when you need
frequent backups and and possibility to roll back to any of stored states. Having created a
full backup once, 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 nothing but examples for your
information. Feel free to make up your own backup policy in accordance with your specific
tasks and conditions. Acronis True Image Workstation 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 hidden partition for storing archives on the computer
system itself. For archive security purposes, ordinary applications cannot access it. In the
Acronis True Image Workstation Wizards’ windows the zone is listed along with all partitions
available for storing archives. Acronis Secure Zone is necessary for using Acronis Startup
Recovery Manager and Acronis Snap Restore features (see below).
Acronis Secure Zone is always available for archive creation as long as ther e is space for the
backup file. If there is not enough space, older archives will be deleted to create space.
Acronis True Image Workstation uses the following scheme to clean up 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.
• Otherwise, (only one full backup left, and an incremental/differential backup is in
progress) you will get a message about space error. In that case you will have to either
re-create the full backup or increase Acronis Secure Zone.
Thus, you can back up data automatically on a schedule (see
Chapter 8. Scheduling tasks
and not worry about zone overflow issues. However, if you keep long chains of incremental
backups, it will be a good practice to periodically check the zone free space, indicated on the
second page of the Manage Acronis Secure Zone wizard.
),
How to create, resize or delete Acronis Secure Zone using this wizard, see in
Managing Acronis Secure Zone
16 Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2006
.
Chapter 9
.
3.4 Acronis Startup Recovery Manager
3.4.1 How it works
The Acronis Startup Recovery Manager enables starting Acronis True Image Workstation on
a local computer without loading the operating system. With this feature, if op erating system
won't load for some reason, you can run Acronis True Image Workstation by itself to restore
damaged partitions. As opposed to booting from Acronis rem ovable media or RIS ser ver, you
will not need a separate media or network connection to start Acronis True Image
Workstation. It is especially handy for traveling users.
3.4.2 How to use
To be able to use Acronis Startup Recovery Manager at boot time, prepare as follows (you
can do it either locally, using Acronis True Image Workstation local version, or remotely,
using Acronis True Image Management Console):
1. Install Acronis True Image Workstation local version or Acronis True Image Agent on a
local computer.
2. Create Acronis Secure Zone on the local computer hard disk (see
Acronis Secure Zone
3. Activate Acronis Startup Recovery Manager. To do so, click Activate Acronis Startup
Recovery Manager and follow the Wizard’s instructions.
If you try to activate Acronis Startup Recovery Manager while Acronis Se cure Zone is missing
from the system, you will be prompted to create the zone,
Manager will be activated. Otherwise, Acronis Startup Recovery Manager will be activated
immediately.
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.
If failure occurs on a local 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 Workstation that only slightly differs from the complete
version. For information on restoring damaged partitions, see
backup data
.
Be careful! Disk letters in standalone Acronis True Image Workstation 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.
).
then Acronis Startup Recovery
Chapter 9. Managing
Chapter 7. Restoring the
3.5 Acronis Backup Server
This software application, when installed on a networked computer, automatically manages
backup archives, stored on this computer, in accordance with the rules, set by an
administrator. Acronis Backup Server allows the administrator to set up a uniform backup
policy for the entire organization. It ensures optimal employment o f storage space, used for
backup archives. Outdated archives will be automatically deleted; at the same time, the
latest data recovery is always possible. In addition, Acronis Backup Server facilitates creation
and executing group backup tasks.
Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2006 17
3.5.1 Backup locations, their quotas and time limits
Backup server is a networked computer where Acronis Backup Server is installed. A backup
location is an automatically managed storage area for backups on a backup server. An
administrator can organize one or more backup locations and set the overall limitations to
size/storage time for every location, i.e. quotas and time limits. An administrator can Move,
Clear or Delete existing backup locations or edit their Quotas and time limits.
3.5.2 Quotas and time limits for computers and users
Individual quotas and time limits determine every computer’s or user’s quota on a backup
server. This include
1) maximum storage space, allocated to a user/computer, in Mb
2) maximum number of backups
3) maximum number of incremental backups for each full backup
4) maximum storage period for the user’s/computer’s archives.
These values define how Acronis Backup Server itself will handle the backup archives.
At first backup of the computer/user’s data to the backup server, a full backup will be
created. The next backups will be incremental, until the maximum number of incremental
backups is reached. Then again a full backup and a set of subsequent incremental backups is
created, then again a full backup and so on.
As appears from the above, when backing up to backup server, a user cannot select backup
mode (full, incremental, differential). The backup mode will be set by Acronis Backup Server.
Please be aware, that in fact maximum number of incremental backups includes one initial
full backup. For example, if this parameter is set to 5, Acronis Backup Server will create one
full backup, then four incremental backups, then again a full backup and so on. For this
reason, this parameter is also called “maximum number of backups in an archive”. Archive
here means a set of subsequent incrementals and the base full backup.
When number of backups or storage space exceeds the preset value, Acronis Backup Server
will combine the first full backup with the next incremental one into one full backup. Then, if
necessary, this backup will be combined with the next, until the occupied storage space (or
number of backups) decreases to the limitation. Thus, the archive integrity will not be
affected, in spite of the fact that one backup will disappear. This procedure is called
automatic consolidation
.
When storage period expires, Acronis Backup Server will delete the outdated archives
without notification.
An administrator can run a check of meeting the limitations on a schedule (once, daily,
weekly or monthly). All user’s/computers archives on the backup server will be checked and,
if some quotas and time limits are exceeded, the above processing will be executed.
3.5.3 Administrator profiles and User profiles
Profile is a set of parameters, assigned to each computer and user that backs up on the
backup server. Profile includes the backup location and the above limitations. When an
administrator adds a new computer or user to Acronis Backup Server database, they are
assigned the default backup location, quotas and time limits. An administrator then can
change these settings by editing the respective profile.
18 Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2006
Administrator profiles are used for managing backups, created by backup tasks, r emotely
controlled from Acronis True Image Management Console.
An administrator assigns a backup location and sets quotas and time limits for each
computer running Acronis True Image Agent. After that, when creating an individual or
group backup task, he will specify the backup server as the target storage place, and every
computer’s backup will be directed to the assigned location, which may differ from other
computers’ location or be the same.
So, Administrator profiles manage the backup server resources allocation by computers.
User profiles are used for managing backups, created by backup tasks, locally controlled
with Acronis True Image Workstation.
An administrator assigns a backup location and sets quotas and time limits for each user,
who back up their data running Acronis True Image Workstation (local version ). Later on, if
the user specifies the backup server as the target storage place, his backup will be directed
to the assigned backup location. If the user moves to another computer, his backup l ocation,
quotas and time limits remain the same.
So, User profiles manage the backup server resources allocation by users.
3.5.4 Operations with archives
Acronis Backup Server can display a list of backups, stored on the backup server, and sort
the list by Location or Owners (users and computers).
An administrator, if need be, can manually Consolidate any backup (except for the old est
one in the archive) with the preceding backup file. The resulting file will preserve all data
changes, contained in both files and have the latest backup date. Thus, the archive i ntegrity
will not be affected, in spite of the fact that one backup will disappear. Data recovery from
any of the remaining backups will be possible.
3.6 Acronis Snap Restore
With this feature you can boot the OS on the crashed computer before the system is
completely restored from an image, and start the work seconds after the restoration is
launched. The restoration will be continued in the background.
This feature is currently available for images, being restored from the Acronis Secure Zone
(see above). Naturally, Acronis Snap Restore cannot be used if the image contains no
operating system (a logical partition or disk image) or when restoring file archives. Also,
Snap Restore of Windows 98/Me systems is not supported.
3.6.1 How it works
When the restoration procedure is started, Acronis True Image Workstation:
1. Finds the sectors in the image, containing system files, and restores these sectors first.
Thus, the OS is restored and can be started in a very short timeframe. 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. Writes on the hard disk its own drivers, capable to intercept the system queries to the
files. When the user opens files or launches applications, the drivers receive the system
queries and restore the sectors that are necessary for the current operation.
3. At the same time, ATIES proceeds with the complete sector-by-sector image restoration in
the background. However, the system requested sectors have the highest priority.
Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2006 19
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 10-20 Gb image (most common image
size) takes about 10 minutes. The larger the image size, the more time you save.
3.6.2 How to use
To be able to use Acronis Snap Restore in case of system crash, prepare as follows (you can
do it either locally, using Acronis True Image Workstation local version, or remotely, using
Acronis True Image Management Console):
1. Install Acronis True Image Workstation local version or Acronis True Image Agent on a
local computer.
2. Create Acronis Secure Zone on the local computer hard disk (see
Acronis Secure Zone
3. Activate Acronis Startup Recovery manager (see
).
3 4 A c onis Startup Recovery Manager
. r
Chapter 9. Managing
)
and create bootable media or RIS package with Acronis True Image Workstation (see
Chapter 10. Creating bootable
4. Back up (image) the local computer’s system disk to Acronis Secure Zone (see
Backing up disks and partitions (image backup)
media).
6.2
). You can back up other disks/partitions as
well, but the system image is mandatory.
When performing Snap Restore, the current Acronis True Image Workstation version always
restores the entire system disk. Therefore, if your system disk consists of several partitions,
all of them must be included into the image. Otherwise partitions, missing in the image, will
be lost.
If failure occurs, boot the local computer from the bootable media, or RIS server, or using
F11. Start the recovery procedure (see
7.3 Restoring disks partitions or files from images
/
),
select the system disk image from Acronis Secure Zone, choose Use Snap Restore and in
the next window click Proceed. In a few seconds the computer will reboot to the restored
system. Log in and work – no more reboots or other actions required.
You can perform Snap Restore running Acronis True Image Workstation in Windows
operating systems as well. However, it is mandatory to have a bootable media in case of
Windows cannot boot.
3.7 Acronis Universal Restore
One of the fastest ways of cloning a Windows system is to deploy its image to a different
computer.
However, the deployment will not be a success if the target hardware is incompatible with
the most critical drivers included in the image. The restored system may be unbootable
because startup drivers and components, used by the source system, cannot operate on a
different motherboard, processor etc.
Using Microsoft System Preparation Tool (sysprep) does not solve this problem, because
Sysprep allows replacing drivers only for Plug-and-Play devices (sound cards, network
adapters, video cards etc.). As for system HAL and boot device driver, they must be identical
in the source and target computers (see Microsoft Knowledge Base, articles 302577 and
216915).
Acronis Universal Restore technology provides an ef ficient s olution f or hardware -ind epende nt
system restoration by replacing the crucial HAL and hard disk controller drivers.
20 Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2006
Acronis Universal Restore does not conflict with Microsoft System Preparation Tool
(sysprep). If you got accustomed to using Sysprep, you can use both tools on the same
system.
Acronis Universal Restore is an optional program feature. It should be purchased separately
and installed from a separate .msi setup file. Acronis Universal Restore can only be installed
on a computer where at least one of the following Acronis components is installed:
Acronis True Image Agent for Windows
Acronis True Image Workstation (local version)
Acronis Bootable Media Builder.
3.7.1 How to use
You can perform the following procedure either locally or remotely, using Acronis True
Image Management Console.
1. Boot the target computer into Acronis recovery environment from th e bootable media, or
RIS server, or using F11.
2. Start the recovery procedure (see
7.3 Restoring disks/partitions or files from images
) and
select the image of the source computer for restoration.
3. You can specify Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) and hard disk controller drivers to be
used by the restored system and/or provide a path to a driver repository on the network.
Hence, Acronis Universal Restore uses three sources for drivers search: the list of userspecified (enforced) drivers, driver repository, and the Windows default driver storage
folders (in the image being restored). The program will find the most suitable drivers of all
available and install them into the restored system. However, the user-defined drivers will
have the priority. They will be installed, with appropriate warning, even if the program finds
the better driver.
The Windows default driver storage folders are determined in the registry key SOFTWARE > Microsoft -> Windows -> Current version -> DevicePath. Generally, it is WINDOWS/inf
folder.
4. When the restore process runs Acronis True Image Workstation will:
- detect the machine type and install appropriate driver for HAL
- detect IDE and SCSI controllers and install appropriate drivers. If no appropriate drivers are
found in all three above sources, the user will be prompted to browse the following locations
for the drivers:
Network share drive
Floppy disk
CD drive
5. The machine reboots.
6. Windows takes control and initiates the usual first-start process.
The recovery procedure can proceed under Windows as well (for example, if the operating
system is loaded from the C: drive, the system partition of the other computer can be
restored from an image to the D: drive). In this case, the user prompt for driver search on
Network-Floppy-CD will not be issued. If a compatible driver cannot be found, Windows will
suggest to ignore it or cancel restoration.
Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2006 21
3.7.2 Using Acronis Universal Restore in virtual environment
Virtual machine technologies provide a powerful tool to help accelerate the development,
testing, deployment and support of PC applications. Using Acronis True Image Workstation
with Acronis Universal Restore you can perform real-to-virt ual and virtual-to-real computer
migration in the same way as with real systems.
If the virtual hard drive uses SCSI controller, you should provide appropriate drivers while
performing system restore to the virtual machine. For example, the widespread VMware
environment requires Buslogic or LSI logic drivers. Use drivers bundled with your virtual
machine software or download the latest drivers versions from the software manufacturer
website.
3.7.3 Hints on using Acronis Universal Restore
1. The system recovered by Acronis Universal Restore may not start if the partition structure
in the image or the target disk partitioning does not coincide with that of th e 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 not the entire source disk, but only the selected partitions
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 other than the first partition, this can confuse th e loader
and prevent the restored system from startup
- image the system residing on the RAID array and restore t he system to a RAID array with
different configuration.
To avoid the problem, we recommend that you image and restore the entire system disk and
use the identical RAID configuration on the source and the target computer.
2. As appears from the above, a bootable system migration from RAID to HDD and vise
versa is impossible.
3. When migrating from RAID to RAID, be sure to provide an app ropriat e driver for the RAID
controller, otherwise a basic HDD driver will be installed.
4. Acronis Universal Restore option is not available when restoring dynamic disks and
volumes.
3.7.4 Benefits
1. Acronis Universal Restore can be used “after the fact”: it is not necessary to create an
image with the option, you can restore any image to different hardware.
2. Acronis Universal Restore allows the user to exactly specify drivers during restore,
enabling their maximum compatibility with the hardware.
3. Acronis Universal Restore does not strip security identifier (SID) and user profile settings .
This means that you will not need to re-join your domain or re-map network user profiles
after a restore.
4. Acronis Universal Restore supports a driver repository to centrally store all drivers so users
don’t need to go looking for them.
22 Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2006
3.8 Backing up to tape drive
Acronis True Image Workstation supports SCSI tape drives. It can store backups on the tape
and restore data from the tape, store large backups to multiple tapes, and append
incremental/differential changes to a tape with the existing archives.
If a SCSI tape drive is connected to the computer, controlling the backup process (i.e. where
you are running Acronis True Image Workstation local version or Acronis True Image
Management Console) the list of devices available for backup storage will be extended with a
name corresponding to the drive type.
To place backup archives on a tape drive, connected to another network computer, install
Acronis Backup Server on that computer. Then a new device type Acronis Backup Server will
appear in the list of devices, and you will be able to access the tape under this device.
Backup and restore on the tape proceed in the same way as with other devices, with the
following exceptions.
1. A full backup can be stored on an empty tape only. If you use tape that already contains
data, its contents will be overwritten.
2. In case you want to keep more than one archive on the tape, for example, back up two
disks separately, choose
second disk. In other situations, incremental backup is used for appending changes to the
previously created archive.
incremental
backup mode when creating initial
full
backup for the
3. You do not have to provide filenames for backups.
You might experience short pauses that are required to rewind the tape.
Low-quality or old tape, as well as dirt on the magnetic head, might lead to pauses that can
last up to several minutes.
3.9 Viewing disk and partition information
You can change the way of data representation in all schemes you see in various wizards.
To the right are three icons: Arrange Icons by, Choose Details and i (Display the
properties of the selected item), the last duplicated in the context menu invoked by
right-clicking objects.
To sort messages by a particular column, click the header (another click will switch the
messages to the opposite order) or Arrange Icons by button and select the column.
To select columns to view, right-click the headers line or left-click the Choose Details
button. Then flag the columns you want to display.
If you click the i (Display the properties of the selected item) button, you will see the
selected partition or disk properties window.
This window contains two panels. The left panel contains the properties tree and the rig ht
describes the selected property in detail. The disk information includes its physical
parameters (connection type, device type, size, etc.); partition information includes both
physical (sectors, location, etc.), and logical (file system, free space, assigned letter, etc.)
parameters.
You can change the width of columns by dragging their borders with the mouse.
Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2006 23
Chapter 4. Using Acronis True Image Management Console
4.1 General information
Acronis True Image Management Console is the primary tool for managing data
backup/restore on remote computers where Acronis True Image Agent is installed. The
Console allows managing computer groups and corporate backup archives via Group and
Backup Servers, as well as managing individual backup/restore tasks for every computer.
Acronis True Image Management Console main window with the Network pane activ e
4.2 Installing/updating Acronis components on a remote machine
Acronis True Image Management Console allows installing, updating or removing Acronis
True Image Workstation components on remote computers. To perform any of these
operations you will need administrator rights on the target machine.
If the remote computer runs Windows XP, the option Control panel -> Folder options ->
View -> Use simple file sharing must be disabled on that computer.
If the remote computer runs Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or Windows 2003 Server, the
option Control panel -> Windows Firewall -> Exceptions -> File and Printer
Sharing must be enabled on that computer.
The remote installation of Acronis components onto machines running Windows 98/Me is
impossible. You will have to install the components locally on such computers.
To install Acronis components:
1. Click Install Acronis components to a remote computer in the center of Acronis
True Image Management Console main window, on the toolbar or the sidebar, or select th e
same item from the Tools menu.
2. Select the installer location from the list (Registered Components, Search removable
media or Specify location). The default selection Registered Components will use
setup files from the default C:\Program Files\Common Files\Acronis\RemoteInstall folder.
24 Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2006
3. Select the Acronis component and specify the comp onent features you wa nt to install (for
custom component features see
components
).
2.1 Installing Acronis True Image Workstation
4. Specify network name or IP addr ess of the machine on which A cronis component is t o be
installed. You can also select the machine from the list of available using Browse… button.
At that point you will have to provide administrator username and password.
Acronis True Image Agent and Acronis True Image Workstation installation requires the
system restart. To allow immediate remote computer reboot, check the Reboot the
remote computer box.
5. The Acronis component then will be installed on the remote computer. If system restart is
necessary, the remote machine will reboot or the program will prompt you to restart the
remote machine, depending on your choice on the previous step.
To update, repair, modify or remove an Acronis component on a remote computer, start th e
same procedure and select the desired action in appearing windows.
4.3 Managing a single remote computer
To perform any operation on a single remote computer, you must first connect to it.
4.3.1 Connecting to a remote computer
To establish a remote connection:
1. Click Connect to a remote computer in the center of Acronis True Image Management
Console main window or on the toolbar, or select New connection from the sidebar or the
Connect menu.
2. Enter the computer network name or select it using Browse… button. Browse… will
open a list, including all computers controllable with Acronis True Image Management
Console.
3. Enter administrator or backup operator username and password.
After connection is established, in the central part of Acronis True Image Management
Console main window you will see a list of operations available:
Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2006 25
Main window of Acronis True Image Management Console when connected to a remote
computer
The task list content depends on the programs installed on the connected computer. The
most populated list will include managing Backup and Recovery Tasks (via Acronis True
Image Agent), Group Tasks Management (via Acronis True Image Group Server) and
Backup Server Management (via Acronis Backup Server).
If a remote PC is running Windows 98/Me and the PC user has not logged in the network,
then tasks, requiring network access, cannot be selected for this PC. For example, it is not
possible to backup the PC data on a network drive.
4.3.2 Backup and recovery tasks
After clicking on Backup and Recovery Tasks the program window turns to the following
appearance:
You can perform the following operations on the remote computer.
• Backup and restore data, including system disks/partitions
26 Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2006
Click Backup or Recovery, then follow the Wizard’s instructions. See details in
Creating backup archives
• Schedule backup operations
Click Show tasks -> Manage, then foll ow the Wizard’s instructions. See details in
8. Scheduling tasks
• Set up backup/restore options, such as system/network resources usage,
before/after backup commands etc.
Click Remote Computer Options, select Default backup options or Default
restoration options and make settings. See details in
Setting restore options.
• Validate backup archives wherever they reside, be it local, network or
removable media
Click Validate Backup Archive, then follow the Wizard’s instructions. See details in
Validating backup archives
• Set up sending notifications about Acronis True Image Agent operation and
tracing this operation in Windows Application Event Log
Click Remote Computer Options, select Notifications or Event tracing and make
settings. See details in
and
Chapter 7. Restoring the backup data.
.
.
11.2 Operation results notification
.
6 3 Setting backup options
and
11.4 Event tracing
Chapter 6
Chapter
and
7.4
11.1
.
.
• Browse logs of Acronis True Image Agent operation
Click Show log. See details in
• Manage Acronis Secure Zone
Click Manage Acronis Secure Zone, then follow the Wizard’s instructions. See details in
Chapter 9. Managing Acronis Secure Zone
• Activate Acronis Startup Recovery Manager
Click Activate Acronis Startup Recovery Manager, then follow the Wizard’s instructi ons.
See details in
• Update the remote agent
Click Update the remote agent, then follow the Wizard’s instructions. The procedure is
the same as described in
After you perform all necessary operations on the remote computer, select Disconnect or
New connection on the toolbar, sidebar or the Connect menu.
3.4 Acronis Startup Recovery Manager
11.3 Viewing logs
.
4.2 Installing/updating Acronis components on a remote machine
.
.
4.4 Managing groups of computers
4.4.1 Group server management
When connected to a remote computer, where Acronis True Image Group Server is installed,
click Acronis True Image Group Server management to display the following window.
Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2006 27
Here you can monitor states of Acronis True Image Workstation tasks (backup, restore,
validating backup archives) on all networked computers:
Ready – the remote computer is available for the next task
Prepare - preparations are being made on a remote machine for the task execution
(analyzing partitions, preparing backup scripts, etc.)
Running – a task is being executed on the remote computer
Paused – the task is paused and waiting for user input on the remote computer
Failed – the task could not be completed because of an error
Finished – the task has been completed successfully
Cancelled – the task has been cancelled on the remote computer
Offline - the remote computer is not connected to the network, or switched off
Inaccessible - the remote computer is not accessible due to lack of access rights, firewall
and security settings, etc.
Unmanaged - the Acronis True Image Agent is not installed on a remote machine.
To see details of the computer in brief (the computer role, operating system and IP-
address), click on the computer name. The details are displayed on the sidebar.
To see details of the group task being executed on a remote computer, mouse over the
computer.
In this window you can also:
1. Filter out from the list offline, inaccessible or unmanaged computers and vice versa, filter
out online computers to see those that cannot be managed (use buttons in the Filter
group).
2. Input and test credentials for access to each computer. To do so, click on the key icon,
enter username and password and click Test connection. The program will issue a
message displaying the test result. Key icons for successfully tested connections are colored
gold.
28 Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2006
3. Create a disk/partition backup task for several remote computers at once (see
Crea ing new g oup backup tasks
t r
4. Connect to a remote computer to see the operation log, start or edit tasks for this
computer etc. (see
and click Connect.
5. Invoke Group tasks management window for viewing, deleting or rescheduling group
tasks.
4.3 Managing a single remote computer
).
). To do so, select a computer
4.4 2
.
4.4.2 Creating new group backup tasks
You can create a disk/partition backup task for several remote com puters at once. File-level
backup for groups of computers is unavailable.
1. In Group status or Group tasks management window, select New Group Task on
the toolbar. Create Group Task Wizard window appears to guide you through the task
creation procedure.
2. Form a group for the current task: check computers in the list of remote computers.
3. Select disks/partitions to backup. You can select any combination of hard disks (by
number, according to Windows numeration) and partitions (by letter); or All hard disks.
This setting is applied to every computer in the group, so having a standard (similar)
disks/partitions layout on remote computers would be a plus.
Select disk/partitions to backup
4. Specify a path to backup archive. To place every archive on its local computer, input
Local path or select Acronis Secure Zone, if there is such zone on every remote
computer. For more information about Acronis Secure Zone see
place backups on the network, check Network path, select the target folder and specify
the username and password for access to the network drive. When backin g up to a backup
server, choose Personal Backup Location or tape drive and enter backup server
administrator’s credentials. For more information about backup servers see
Backup Server
Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2006 29
.
3.3 Acronis Secure Zone
3.5 Acronis
. To
You should also provide the archive name for each computer, unless the archives are
targeted to Acronis Secure Zones or a backup server. Pressing the button to the right of
name input field will assign to each archive the respective computer’s name.
5. Specify usual backup settings: backup mode (full, incremental or differen tial), a password
to backup archive (if necessary), default or custom backup options and comment. For more
information see
Chapter 6. Cr eating backup archives
.
6. Provide a name for the group task. The name will be displayed in the Group Tasks
Management window (see below) to allow quick task identification.
7. Select when you would like the task to be started. The scheduling procedure is almost the
same for individual and group tasks, see
Chapter 8. Scheduling tasks
for details.
8. If, for any reason (traffic limitation, for example), you do not want the task to start on all
computers simultaneously, set Start time shift parameter. The task will start on all
computers in turn, with time shift you specify. As soon as you select time shift, the resulting
task start time for the first and the last computer will be displayed.
9. Now enter the username and password. It is supposed, that accounts with same
username and password exist on all computers of the group. In this case, the task will be
automatically distributed to computers. Otherwise, you will be asked for username/password
to every computer in process of distribution.
10. At the final step, group task script is displayed. Up to this point, you can click Back to
make changes in the created task.
Group task script
11. After you click Proceed, Acronis True Image Management Console connects to every
computer of the group in turn to distribute the task. If a remote computer is inaccessible
(shut down, for example), a dialog box appears. In this box, choose Ignore to exclude the
computer from the group or Cancel to cancel the entire task.
When distribution is completed, the group task appears in Group Tasks Management
window. If you connect to any computer included into the group, you will see its individual
task, based on the group task you successfully created.
30 Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2006
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