Macrium Reflect

Discussion in 'backup, imaging & disk mgmt' started by Stigg, Nov 23, 2013.

  1. cloggy49

    cloggy49 Registered Member

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    IMHO, if they include Incremental Image backups in the free version, there is (almost) no need anymore to pay for the full version...
     
  2. Arvy

    Arvy Registered Member

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    Yes, thanks Froggie. I should have seen that, but I guess my interest (such as it is) didn't take me past that first MIG "File Type Filter" diagram. At 3228 KB that add-on installation option shouldn't be too hard for me to say "no thanks". I'll manage my own anti-ransomware strategy, at least until the W10 "Fall Creators Update" hands me much broader options than just protecting backup images alone. That listing of "EVT_MIG_ERROR_BAD_EVENT" and other 500 series errors also looks very interesting.
     
  3. Gorkster

    Gorkster Registered Member

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    In thinking more and re-reading the articles related to the new MIG enhancement announced for v7.1 it appears even READING image files is blocked by programs outside the scope of Reflect... This could make it difficult to, say, copy your image backup files from an internal or network file share to an external removable drive for offsite storage... I guess you'd have to turn off the MIG feature (if this will even be possible) each and every time you wanted to do this or anything similar. That seems kind of clunky. Curious...

    EDIT:
    I posted in the Reflect forums requesting elaboration.
    https://forum.macrium.com/Topic16800.aspx
     
    Last edited: Sep 2, 2017
  4. Arvy

    Arvy Registered Member

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    It will also be interesting to see how it will be handled by Reflect's rescue media "wizard" WinPE building process, if its included there at all. My own WinPE "customization" experience suggests that there could be plenty of opportunities for problems to arise in that area, especially if it involves a device class filter driver and service. But its interactions with Microsoft's own forthcoming much broader anti-malware protection will be the major test of Macrium's anticipatory acumen.
     
  5. TheRollbackFrog

    TheRollbackFrog Imaging Specialist

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    It clearly states on the MIG description page... "Macrium Image Guardian protects your backup files from unauthorised modification." The operative word here is "modification."

    The statement about the COPY function below on that page, I believe, is in error... "Delete/Modify/Write" makes much more sense. To restrict the COPY function to Reflect only would be foolish since Reflect has no internal copy function of its own. Everybody's backup of the backup (which most of us do) would fail immediately.

    ...and as @Arvy said, in the PE environment, the PE would need the same MIG file protection and a COPY function would have to be done somehow...
     
    Last edited: Sep 2, 2017
  6. Peter2150

    Peter2150 Global Moderator

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    Why would it need it in any PE environment??
     
  7. Arvy

    Arvy Registered Member

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    Not sure that they would actually need to include it in the Reflect "wizard's" WinPE builds, although they are mostly WAN capable, but not WiFi. That's why I said "if it's included there at all."

    If they do include it in some or all of their WinPE builds, however, I'm wondering if they might skip the PE base version based on the W10.1703 WAIK altogether and move straight to the one corresponding to whatever the "Fall Creators Update" turns out to be. For that matter, one doesn't yet know whether MS will include their own anti-malware as a component of any WAIK version, optionally or otherwise.
     
  8. kronckew

    kronckew Registered Member

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    macrium DOES have a 'copy' facility built in to sync your backups to another diectory on another drive. see 'options-scripts', there are 'duplicate' options there for scripts and powershell. may not exist in the free version, if not, it's another incentive to buy the full version.


    however, i use a file syncing program to do it that gives me more control.
     

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  9. Arvy

    Arvy Registered Member

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    You raise an interesting point about the scripting of Reflect operations in general. One would assume that the MIG protection for Reflect's backup files would apply equally to scripted actions. It seems quite unlikely that the PowerShell and/or VBScript engines would be granted anything like the same special access status as Reflect itself.
     
  10. TheRollbackFrog

    TheRollbackFrog Imaging Specialist

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    You are correct... a MIG function is not needed in Reflect's RECOVERY MEDIA for any particular purpose unless you are trying to keep users from accidentally deleting backup images using the Recovery Media's tools other than Reflect itself.

    All the image files are at risk outside of the main OS which is the only place MIG is actually functioning.
     
  11. TheRollbackFrog

    TheRollbackFrog Imaging Specialist

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    Thanks, @kronckew ... I forgot all about those VBS/Powershell script duplication features. I've never used them due to the same reasons you haven't (Bvckup2 in use in my case).

    @Arvy mentions of the script engines (VBS uses RoboCooy or X copy for its function) is one of the reasons why I don't believe the COPY function will be inhibited in the MIG implementation. The other is personal file management as used by both Wayne, myself and many others... it would be a serious error to eliminate that option.
     
  12. Gorkster

    Gorkster Registered Member

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    While true, this doesn't provide a huge advantage to using removable media for offsite storage. Perhaps it'd work for some since it would sync after a backup process without further user intervention, but I'd rather be there at the end of a backup anyway so I could unplug the removable media device as quickly as possible. But even so, yeah, it does make it more feasible (however unlikely, I hope) that MIG could block the reading of its backup data files.
     
  13. Arvy

    Arvy Registered Member

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    I don't quite understand that conclusion, @Gorkster . As I see it, any such additional feasibility would involve some very convoluted arrangement of special permissions available for scripted actions that aren't available to those same actions when attempted manually.

    Anyhow, as I said in another thread, I'll only reach my own conclusions based on what I'm able to see and test when it's actually available. As you've discovered for yourself, any attempts to get firm clear answers from "official" Macrium reps in their own forums these days is an exercise in futility for long-time users and most other people ... with the one singular notable "exception", of course.
     
  14. stapp

    stapp Global Moderator

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    At the moment for me the Macrium forum isn't loading for me. Just wondering if it's an issue at my end.
     
  15. paulderdash

    paulderdash Registered Member

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    Same here.
     
  16. Gorkster

    Gorkster Registered Member

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    Same - and it was down yesterday (05 Sept) morning as well - leading me to believe it's been down for near 24 hours now.
     
  17. Arvy

    Arvy Registered Member

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    Yes, it has been down for almost 24 hours now. I pointed out to Stephen (their site admin) some time ago that some residual vulnerability problems and certification issues remained following his HTTPS changeover and he said that he'd fix them that same weekend. But I'm not sure whether he actually got them all as I never did get around to rechecking afterward.
     
  18. Gorkster

    Gorkster Registered Member

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    No mention of the problem on Twitter or FB either the last time I checked a few hours back.

    @Arvy
    Interesting. Interesting indeed.
     
  19. AlphaOne

    AlphaOne Registered Member

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    The Macrium forum is available right now, from here in Canada if that could possibly make any difference.
     
  20. stapp

    stapp Global Moderator

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    It's back up for me too now.
     
  21. Arvy

    Arvy Registered Member

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  22. SanyaIV

    SanyaIV Registered Member

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    Okay so I'm confused. I only have Macrium Reflect 6 and now I've had to reinstall Windows... Where that hell can I download Macrium Reflect 6?! I don't understand, I use their tool but it says my license is invalid, probably because it's for v6 and not v7?

    Edit: Nevermind, for some reason it didn't copy the license key correctly meaning I pasted a license key for another program. Seems to be working correctly with their download tool using the correct license key. :)
     
  23. Rainwalker

    Rainwalker Registered Member

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    Write them. They will take care of it.
     
  24. SanyaIV

    SanyaIV Registered Member

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    It's working fine now when actually using the right license in their download tool :p Got it installed and currently making a full backup.

    I'm guessing Macrium doesn't do student discounts for v6 to v7 upgrades? ^-^'' Got V6 around when it released, don't really know how much a v7 upgrade would cost, just know it's more than my budget, and I know that because if it costs anything at all it would be above my budget as it currently is. >_<

    Something I didn't think about when getting this new system (Got Windows 10 home running on an AMD Ryzen 1600) is that Hyper-V doesn't run on Home computers (right?) and as such I can't use Macrium ViBoot. =( Does anyone know if it's possible to launch Macrium Reflect snapshots in another Virtual Machine that is capable to run on an AMD Ryzen? Of course the absolutely best would be if Hyper-V was available for Home version, but it isn't as far as I know. I think I read somewhere that Macrium wanted ViBoot to also work with a third-party virtual machine? I don't know if that's true or if it's something I made up in my head just now though.
     
  25. Arvy

    Arvy Registered Member

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    @SanyaIV -- At present, Macrium ViBoot only works with Hyper-V. You are correct in your recollection of some discussion about making it work with other hypervisors such as VMware, but Macrium's "under consideration" responses to such requests have produced no concrete results to date. More details in this KB article if wanted.
     
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