Acronis TRUE IMAGE SERVER 7.0 User Manual
Acronis True Image Server 7.0
User’s Guide
www.acronis.com
Copyright © SWsoft, 2000-2003. All rights reserved.
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The Acronis True Image Server (the Software) is Copyright © SWsoft, 2000–2003. All rights
are reserved. The ORIGINAL PURCHASER is granted a LICENSE to use the software only,
subject to the following restrictions and limitations.
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Acronis True Image Server User’s Guide Contents
Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................ 4
1.1. WHAT IS ACRONIS TRUE IMAGE SERVER ...................................................................................................... 4
1.2. WHAT'S NEW IN ACRONIS TRUE IMAGE SERVER 7.0...................................................................................... 5
1.3. WHAT IS A DISK IMAGE.................................................................................................................................. 5
1.4. SOFTWARE USAGE TERMS AND CONDITIONS.................................................................................................. 6
CHAPTER 2. INSTALLATION AND RUNNING............................................................................................ 7
2.1. BUNDLE CONTENTS ....................................................................................................................................... 7
2.2. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS................................................................................................................................7
2.3. ACRONIS TRUE IMAGE SERVER INSTALLATION ............................................................................................. 7
2.4. RUNNING ACRONIS TRUE IMAGE SERVER ..................................................................................................... 8
2.5. REMOVING THE PROGRAM............................................................................................................................. 8
CHAPTER 3. GENERAL PROGRAM INFORMATION................................................................................ 9
3.1. MAIN PROGRAM WINDOW.............................................................................................................................. 9
3.2. ACRONIS SECURE ZONE .............................................................................................................................. 11
3.3. ACRONIS STARTUP RECOVERY MANAGER .................................................................................................. 15
3.4. INCREMENTAL IMAGES ................................................................................................................................16
3.5. USING DYNAMIC DISKS AND VOLUMES ........................................................................................................ 17
3.6. BACKING UP TO TAPE DRIVE........................................................................................................................ 17
CHAPTER 4. CREATING A PARTITION (DISK) IMAGE......................................................................... 19
CHAPTER 5. RESTORING A DISK (PARTITION) FROM AN IMAGE................................................... 26
CHAPTER 6. BROWSING AND RESTORING PARTICULAR FILES ..................................................... 34
6.1. CONNECTING A VIRTUAL DISK..................................................................................................................... 34
6.2. UNPLUGGING A VIRTUAL DISK..................................................................................................................... 35
CHAPTER 7. TRANSFERRING SYSTEM TO A NEW DISK..................................................................... 36
7.1. GENERAL INFORMATION.............................................................................................................................. 36
7.2. SECURITY.................................................................................................................................................... 37
7.3. EXECUTING TRANSFERS............................................................................................................................... 37
7.4. CLONING WITH MANUAL PARTITIONING ...................................................................................................... 45
CHAPTER 8. ADDING A NEW HARD DISK................................................................................................ 47
CHAPTER 9. SCRIPTING AND SCHEDULING........................................................................................... 49
9.1. CREATING SCHEDULED TASKS..................................................................................................................... 49
9.2. MANAGING SCHEDULED TASKS ................................................................................................................... 54
9.3. SCRIPTING ................................................................................................................................................... 55
9.3.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 55
9.3.2 Usage.................................................................................................................................................... 55
9.3.3 Structure of the script file...................................................................................................................... 55
9.3.4 Tag description:.................................................................................................................................... 56
CHAPTER 10. OTHER OPERATIONS.......................................................................................................... 57
10.1. CHECKING IMAGES .................................................................................................................................... 57
10.2. CREATING BOOTABLE MEDIA..................................................................................................................... 57
10.3. VIEWING LOGS .......................................................................................................................................... 58
CHAPTER 11. TROUBLESHOOTING........................................................................................................... 60
11.1. RECOVERING ACRONIS TRUE IMAGE SERVER ........................................................................................... 60
11.2. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ............................................................................................................... 60
11.3. TECHNICAL SUPPORT................................................................................................................................. 63
Introduction Acronis True Image Server User’s Guide
Chapter 1. Introduction
1.1. What is Acronis True Image Server
Acronis True Image Server 7.0 creates the exact disk image of your
complete backup providing the comprehensive and cost effecti ve server protection
solution.
The disk image file includes all the server disk data including system, programs,
databases, configurations, preferences, updates, security patches, and the like.
After a fatal failure, you can restore the complete server drive contents to a kn own
working state or simply replace lost or corrupted files and folders.
Based on the exclusive Acronis Drive Snapshot technology, Acronis True Image
Server 7.0 creates
interrupting server operations.
Fastest recovery
Acronis True Image Server 7.0 dramatically reduces your server downtime. Unlike
traditional file-by-file backup solutions, Acronis True Image Server 7.0 disk imaging
approach provides you with the fastest, bare-metal server recovery without timeconsuming reinstallations, configurations and alike.
Rapid ROI
live
server for
live
server disk image without shutting down a server and
Is server downtime costing you thousands dollars an hour? Acronis True Image
Server 7.0 dramatically reduces IT costs by providing an easy, fast, and reliable way
to return your server to its original state in minutes or to restore lost or damaged
files and folders.
Disk cloning and new disk deployment
Acronis True Image Server can be used to clone an image onto multiple servers. For
example, a company purchased several servers and need the similar environment
on each of them. Traditionally, IT manager should install operating system and
programs on each of them. Acronis True Image, however, allows to simplify the
process and save the IT manager time creating a disk image of the first system
deployed That image can then be duplicated on to multiple servers.
If you need to upgrade the server hard disk drive, Acronis True Image Server
simplifies the task to few mouse clicks creating the exact copy of you old disk to a
new one and adjusting partitions size to fit a new hard disk.
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Acronis True Image Server User’s Guide Introduction
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1.2. What's new in Acronis True Image Server 7.0
Acronis True Image Server 7.0 has the following new features:
• Incremental disk imaging;
• Built-in disk image verification tool;
• Dynamic volumes support;
• Disk cloning;
• New disk deployment;
• Acronis Secure Zone;
• Acronis Startup Recovery Manager;
• Tape drives support;
• All levels of IDE and SCSI RAID controllers support;
• Logs viewing;
• Two boot disk variants: complete and safe.
• Besides, the newer version has improved interface and performance.
1.3. What is a disk image
A disk (partition) image is a file that contains a copy of all information stored on a
disk. Image stores all the server data including operating system, databases, all
programs, data, and settings.
By backing up your information regularly you will completely protect yourself from
data losses in case of system failures and even PC malfunctions.
To restore your system after a failure it would be enough to restore information
from a previously created image.
By default Acronis True Image Server image files have “.tib” extension and can
contain images of several partitions or disks.
Images of large partition or several disks might have considerable size. In this
case it can be split into several files that together make an original image. A single
image can also be split for burning to removable media.
Acronis True Image Server can create incremental images than contain only thos e
disk parts that changed after image creation.
Acronis True Image Server stores only those hard disk parts that contain data (for supported
partition types). This reduces image size and speeds up image creation and restoration from.
A partition ima
and system files), boot record, FAT, and Root.
A disk ima
Record (MBR).
e includes all files and folders independently of their attributes (includ ing hidden
e includes images of all disk partitions as well as the zero track with Master Boot
Introduction Acronis True Image Server User’s Guide
1.4. Software usage terms and conditions
The conditions for Acronis True Image Server s oftware usage are described in the
«License agreement», included with this package. The supplied registration card is
the confirmation of your legal purchase and usage of Acronis True Image Server on
your system. Each registration card has its own unique registration number.
Under current legislation the «License agreement» is co nsidered a contract b etween
a user (you) and a software manufacturer (Acronis Inc.). The contract has legal
effect and its violation may entail a court examination.
Illegal use and/or distribution of this software will be prosecuted.
6 Copyright © SWsoft, 2000–2003
Acronis True Image Server User’s Guide Installation and running
Chapter 2. Installation and running
2.1. Bundle contents
Acronis True Image Server system package includes:
• an installation disc,
• this guide,
• license agreement,
• registration card,
• advertising materials.
2.2. System requirements
Acronis True Image Server requires the following hardware:
• Pentium or compatible PC,
• 32Mb RAM,
• FDD or CD-ROM drive,
• VGA monitor,
• Mouse (recommended),
• Free hard disk space for image files.
A CD-ROM is required to install Acronis True Image Server.
2.3. Acronis True Image Server installation
To install the Acronis True Image Server:
1. Insert the Acronis True Image Server installation CD into CD-ROM drive and
start the installation procedure.
2. Follow the installation program instructions on the screen.
3. After making your installation choices and copying of Acronis True Image Server
files onto your hard disk, you will be offered to create a bootable diskette or
CD-R/W (you may omit this step if you have purchased the boxed product that
contains a bootable CD). While True Image Server creates disk images in
Windows, it might be necessary to run restoration procedure from a bootable
diskette or CD-R/W. Therefore it is strongly recommended you create either of
them. However, you can create bootable media after the installation as well.
After installation of Acronis True Image Server is completed, you should restart your
computer.
Installation and running Acronis True Image Server User’s Guide
2.4. Running Acronis True Image Server
In normal mode you can run Acronis True Image Server from Windows by selecting
Acronis, TrueImage, Ac ronis True Image Server from Start → Programs. This will
bring the program window on the screen.
If your operating system doesn’t load for some reasons, you can run Acronis Startup
Recovery Manager (provided you’ve installed it before; see "Acronis Startup
Recovery Manager"). To do this press F11 during PC boot up, when you see a
corresponding message. Acronis True Image Server will be run i n the standalone mode
allowing you to restore disks from previously created images.
If disk data is totally corrupted and you can boot it (or if you haven’t installed
restoring manager), you should use bootable media created during the installation.
It will automatically load Acronis True Image Server allowing you to recover damaged
partitions.
2.5. Removing the program
To remove Acronis True Image Server from your PC, select Acronis → True Image
Server → Remove Acroni s True Image Server in the Programs menu. You will see a
dialog to confirm the program removal. Click Yes to confirm and Acronis True
Image Server will be completely removed.
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Acronis True Image Server User’s Guide General program information
Chapter 3. General program information
3.1. Main program window
The main program window contains the menu, toolbar, and the main part divided
into two areas. The right area contains op eration icons, the left one –corresponding
action descriptions, typical actions and additional tools.
The main program window
The menu, toolbar and menu items in the left area duplicate themselves providing
more comfort.
Having selected (clicked) the necessary operation, you can execute it in several
ways: by double-clicking its icon, by selecting Start Now in the Operations menu,
by selecting the same operation in the Operations window , or by clicking Start on
the toolbar.
The main window contains operation icons divided into three groups.
The Disk Imaging group contains disk image operations:
• Create Image – create a disk (partition) image.
• Restore Image – restore a disk (partition) from a previously created image.
• Explore Image – connect an image as a virtual drive.
• Unplug Image – disconnect connected virtual drive.
General program information Acronis True Image Server User’s Guide
The New Disk Deployment group includes operations required, when a new disk
is installed:
• Disk Clone – transfer OS, applications and data from the old disk to the new
one.
• Add New Disk – add the new disk for data storage leaving OS and applica tions
on the old one.
The Tasks group initially contains only one operation:
• Add New Task – create a scheduled disk (partition) image creation or
restoration task with specified time or periodicity.
After a scheduled task is created its icon is added to the group. The total number of
group icons depends on the amount of operations scheduled.
Program menu
The program menu line contains the Operations, Tools, View, and Help items.
The Operations menu changes when either an opera tion icon, or scheduled task is
selected. In the first case the menu contains only Start Now to execute the
selected operation. For information on managing scheduled tasks, see Chapter 9.
• Delete – deletes selected operation. Appears only when a scheduled task is
selected.
The Tools menu contains the following items:
• Manage Acronis Secure Zone – creates Acronis secure zone on a disk that is a
special hidden system partition for storing disk (partition) images.
• Activate Acronis Startup Recovery Manager – activates the boot restoration
manager.
• Check Image – runs disk (partition) integrity checking procedure.
• Create Bootable Rescue Media – runs bootable media creation procedure.
• Show Log – opens a window with logs.
The View menu contains items for managing the program window look:
• Toolbars – contains commands that control toolbar icons.
• Common Task Bar – enables/disables common task panel in the left area.
• Status Bar – enables/disables the status bar.
• Tiles Icons List – controls how operation icons look.
• Refresh – refreshes the main program window.
The Help menu allows to invoke help and information about Acronis True Image
Server .
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Acronis True Image Server User’s Guide General program information
Status bar
In the bottom of the main window there is a status bar divided i nto two parts. The
left part briefly describes the selected operation; the right one indicates image
operations progress and results.
A double-click on the operation progress line opens the operation progress window .
If you double-click on the operation results, you will see the logs window (see
"Viewing logs").
Taskbar notification area icon
During image creation operations a special indicator icon appears in the notification
area (right part of the taskbar with the clocks). If you hover the cursor over it, you
will see a tooltip indicating operation progress. This icon doesn’t depend on if the
main program window is opened. It’s present for background execution of
scheduled tasks as well.
Disk and partition information
You can change disk schemes and data representation in all schemes you see in
various wizards.
To the right over the scheme are three icons: Arrange Icons by , Choose Details
and Display the properties of the selected item (also duplicated in the context
menu invoked by double-clicking objects).
To sort messages by a particular column, click its header (another click will switch
order to the opposite) 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 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 one contains the properti es tree, and the
right 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 sys tem, free space,
assigned letter, etc.) parameters.
You can change columns width by dragging their borders with mouse.
3.2. Acronis Secure Zone
Acronis Secure Zone is a special hidden system partition for storing disk and
partition images. Usual applications can’t access it for image security purposes.
If you create an Acronis Secure Zone, it will be listed after all PC disks available for
image creation and restoration.
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The Acronis Secure Zone is primarily meant for working together with Acronis
Startup Recovery Manager (see below). It can be used to store both images, an d
data, considering its properties.
The Acronis Secure Zone is primarily made to safely manually and automatically
create and restore disk images. Therefore the Acronis Secure Zone is always
available for image creation as long as it has space for it. If there’s not enough
space, older images will be deleted to provide enough space.
This means you can easily create a scheduled task (see Chapter 9) to automa tically
create disk images in the given time intervals. At that you won’t be bothered by
zone overflow issues.
The Acronis Secure Zone can still be filled completely when creating incremental images (see
"Incremental images"). This happens because the program can't delete the first (full) ima
ht be required for restoration. Thus you should periodically check zone free space, when
it mi
creating incremental images, to increase it, if necessary, or re-create images from the first.
We don’t recommend you to create alternating incremental images. If you need to create
incremental images of several disks (partitions), you should combine these operations into one.
e, as
Acronis Secure Zone can be located on any local disk. It’s created at the expens e of
the unallocated space, if it’s available, or at the expense of partitions free spa ce. A
PC can have only one Acronis Secure Zone. To create it on another disk, you must
first delete the existing zone.
When you click Manage Acronis Secure Zone in the menu, the program searches
for such zone on all local drives. If a zone is found, the wizard will offer you to
delete or resize it. If such zone is absent, you’ll be prompted to create it.
Before you create the Acronis Secure Zone, estimate its size. To do this start image
creation and select disks and partitions to image into the Acronis Secure Zone. At
the compression level stage you will see estimated image size. Multiply this by
about 1.5. If you plan to install additional applications or create incremental images,
increase the zone size even more.
Creating Acronis Secure Zone
If there are several disks installed, select one to create Acronis Secure Zone on.
Select partitions, which space will be used to create Acronis Secure Zone.
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Acronis True Image Server User’s Guide General program information
Enter the size of Acronis Secure Zone or drag the slider.
In the next window you will see secure zone creation script containing the list of briefly
described operations to be performed on partitions (disks).
After you click Proceed Acronis True Image Server will start creating the Acronis
Secure Zone. Progress will be reflected in the opened window. If needed, you can
stop zone creation by clicking Cancel. However, the script will be cancelled only
after the current operation is finished.
Acronis Secure Zone creation might take several minutes or more. Please, wait until
the whole procedure is finished.
Resizing Acronis Secure Zone
When prompted by the wizard, select Manage Acronis Secure Zone.
Then select to increase or reduce the Acronis Secure Zone. You might need to
increase it to provide more space for images. The opposite situation might arise if
either partition lacks free space.
After this select partitions, which free space will be used to increase Acronis Secure
Zone or to add free space to after zone is reduced.
General program information Acronis True Image Server User’s Guide
Set the new size for Acronis Secure Zone.
In the next window you will see an Acronis Secure Zone resize script containing a list of
briefly described operations to be performed on partitions (disks).
After you click Proceed Acronis True Image Server will start resizing the secure
zone. Progress will be reflected in the opened window. If needed, you can stop zone
creation by clicking Cancel. However, the script will be cancelled only after the
current operation is finished.
Secure zone resizing might take several minutes or more. Please, wait until the
whole procedure is finished.
Deleting Acronis Secure Zone
When prompted by the wizard, select Remove Acronis Secure Zone.
Select partitions to add space freed from Acronis Secure Zone to.
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Acronis True Image Server User’s Guide General program information
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In the next window you will see an Acronis Secure Zone deletion script containing a list
of briefly described operations to be performed on partitions (disks).
After you click Proceed Acronis True Image Server will start deleting the Acronis
Secure Zone. Progress will be reflected in the opened window. If needed, you can
stop zone creation by clicking Cancel. However, the script will be cancelled only
after the current operation is finished.
Acronis Secure Zone deletion might take several minutes or more. Please, wait until
the whole procedure is finished.
Acronis Secure Zone deletion will automatically disable Acronis Startup Recovery Manager if it 's
activated and destroy all images stored in the zone.
Acronis Secure Zone can be located on basic disks only. (A basic disk is a physical disk without
any dynamic disks.) If a PC has only dynamic disks, you won’t be able to create the Acronis
Secure Zone.
To run Acronis True Image Server in standalone mode and quickly restore system partitions
from images, we recommend that you install the system to a basic disk, creating the Acronis
Secure Zone on the same or another disk that does not contain dynamic disks.
Upgrading a disk with an Acronis Secure Zone from basic to dynamic will prevent access to the
Acronis Secure Zone and disable the Acronis Startup Recovery Manager. Therefore, we su
that you delete the Acronis Secure Zone before performing such an operation.
est
3.3. Acronis Startup Recovery Manager
Acronis True Image Server provides Acronis Startup Recovery Manager that enables
to run the program without loading the operating system. This feature is useful if
Windows doesn't load for some reasons. Using this manager, you can run Acronis
True Image Server standalone to restore damaged partitions from images.
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To use Acronis Startup Recovery Manager (it must be activated), turn on your PC
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 Server that only
slightly differs from the Windows version. For information on restoring damaged
partitions see Chapter 5.
Be careful! Disk letters in standalone Acronis True Image Server mi
Windows notation.
ht sometimes differ from
To activate Acronis Startup Recovery Manager, click Activate Acronis Startup
Recovery Manager.
This boot manager requires Acronis Secure Zone to work. If it's absent, secure zone
creation wizard will be run (see above). The restoration manager will be installed
during this procedure as well.
If there is Acronis Secure Zone on your PC, the boot manager will be activated
immediately.
3.4. Incremental images
An incremental image contains only data from those hard disk parts that changed
after the previous disk image (full or incremental) was created. Thus such images
are significantly smaller and are faster to create. However, as it doesn't contain all
the necessary information about disks (partitions), it requires more than one image
for restoration, including the current incremental image and at least one previous
image or (ideally) all the previous incremental images and the initial full image. You
can't foresee the exact amount of images required for particular restoration, as it
depends on how data changed between image creations.
Note that you can create incremental images more often, as they are far smaller
than full images and are significantly faster to create. If you create such images
often, you'll be able to restore disks (partitions) relatively easily and fast. In case of
full images this will require far more time and space (up to ten times more).
An incremental image created after a disk is defragmented mi
usually. This is happened because the defra
making incremental image reflect these changes.
mentation program changes files locations on disk
ht be considerably larger than
A number of incremental images enables to restore a disk into any of states
incremental images are available for. E.g. one full image in the beginning of the
month along with daily incremental images will provide you with the same result as
daily full images. At that time and space expenses will be up to 10 times smaller
than in case of full images.
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3.5. Using dynamic disks and volumes
Acronis True Image Server works with dynamic disk images as easy as with basic
disk images under Windows. However, as dynamic disks are organized differently
than basic, physical disk drives, there are several issues that will impact how you
store an image.
You can not create an image of the entire dynamic disk, but only of on e or more
dynamic volumes. This is because a dynamic volume is located on several dynami c
disks, so a partial backup would not create a usable image.
The current version of the software is not capable of changing the size and file
system of an image being restored to a dynamic volume. However, this is possible
when you restore a dynamic volume to a basic disk partition.
When you create a dynamic volume image, its type information (simple, mirror, and
the like) is lost, so the restoration is performed independently. In each case, the
program stores and restores volume contents only.
If a basic disk image is restored to a dynamic disk, it will destroy the dynamic disk’s
contents. As a result, you will end up with a basic disk.
You can also create and restore an image of a system partition stored on a dynamic
disk.
In standalone mode, Acronis True Image Server can not access dynamic disks. To be able to
restore a system partition, you must keep its image on a base, network, or removable disk. Do
not store the image on a tape drive.
3.6. Backing up to tape drive
The current version of Acronis True Image Server supports SCSI tape drives. It can
store images on and restore them from tape, store l arge images to multiple tapes,
and append incremental images on to a tape with the existing images.
If you have a SCSI tape drive connected to your PC, the list of devices available for
image storage and restoration will be extended with a name corresponding to the
drive type.
Images are created on and restored from tapes in the same way as from other
devices, with the following exceptions.
1. If you ar e to use data tapes previously used by other programs, their contents
will be cleared
2. A new, full i mage can be stored on an empty tape only. If you use tapes that
already contain data, their contents will be cleared and overwritten
3. Incr emental images can be appended to the tape containing the previou s image,
either full, or incremental
General program information Acronis True Image Server User’s Guide
4. You don't have to provide a filename to store an ima ge on or restore it from a
tape
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 ca n last
up to several minutes long.
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Acronis True Image Server User’s Guide Creating a partition (disk) image
Chapter 4. Creating a partition (disk) image
Disk (partition) image creation means backing up all data stored on your PC. Havin g
these images you can restore your PC after failures and protect yourself from hard
disk data losses.
Selecting partitions
In the Select partitions for backup window you will see the hard disk l ayout of your
PC. Flag a partition to select it. Flag a whole disk to select all its partitions. You can
select one or more hard disks or any combination of partitions and hard disks.
Disk and partition layout
Having selected partitions and/or disks, click Next. Note that this button is disabled
as far as no partitions or disks are selected.
Selecting image location
If you need to create a full image, you must specify its location on almost any
storage devices (in particular, those that can record):
• Acronis Secure Zone (see "Acronis Secure Zone");
• Hard disk;
• Network disk;
• Removable media drive, including tapes, CD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, Iomega Zip,
Iomega Jaz, magneto-optical drives and such.
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