Can 9.1 mount images saved to tape?

Discussion in 'Acronis True Image Product Line' started by Euser, Mar 28, 2006.

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  1. Euser

    Euser Registered Member

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    Well the title says it all. I have combed the users guide and could not find the answer. I know that you can make images to tape but can you explore (mount) those images made on tape without having to copy the whole image to a separate hard drive first?

    Thanks,

    Euser
     
  2. TheWeaz

    TheWeaz Registered Member

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  3. Euser

    Euser Registered Member

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    Thank you for the link. I had seen that previous post, which is why I asked since this is a new version.

    Thanks
     
  4. jeremyotten

    jeremyotten Registered Member

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    You cannot mount from tape but there is a restore wizzard where you can also select files and folders from tape ;-)
     
  5. Euser

    Euser Registered Member

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    Ok... Thanks for the clarification.
     
  6. Euser

    Euser Registered Member

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    Well just in case anyone wants to know.... This does not work. While the prompts are there the functionality (select files and folders) is not. You can select these options and wait for a while. Then when you get to the window that should show you a list of files and folders you will only see the tape listed without the ability to explore contents. The next prompt takes you through and gives you the option to exclude certain file types but you never get a chance to see what is backed up on the tape. This is a critical function that is broke. Acronis -- please fix this. I really want to recommend your software, but can not without essential functionality working.

    I was using Acronis True Image 9.1 for Windows Servers with an HP tape drive.
     
  7. Acronis Support

    Acronis Support Acronis Support Staff

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    Hello Euser,

    Thank you for choosing Acronis Server Disk Backup Software.

    We need some additional information to investigate your problem thoroughly and to provide you with a possible workaround.

    Please explain your step-by-step actions which you took to restore separate files/folders from the image archive.

    Please also find the instruction how to restore files and folders from image archives in the Chapter 6. "Restoring the backup data" of Acronis True Image 9.1 Server for Windows User's Guide.

    Thank you.
    --
    Aleksandr Isakov
     
    Last edited: May 10, 2006
  8. Euser

    Euser Registered Member

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    Well I figured I would give everyone an update in hope that this information will save others from grief and keep their company from going belly up in case a disaster were to occur. If you are like most companies and use tapes as your backup medium and use acronis as your backup software then you are at great risk come time to invoke your disaster recovery plan. I can't reenforce enough the importance of running periodic simulations of your disaster recovery plan instead of finding flaws after the fact. Most of the time we think "Well the job said it was successful so I guess we are safe."

    What I was trying to do:
    Use the most recent build (3567) of Acronis True Image for Windows Servers 9.1 to restore a specific file or folder that was contained within a full image done the night before to a different location. I need to also note that I followed Chp 6 instructions to the tee.

    A support representative from Acronis contacted me when I was evaluating the trial version of 9.1 Acronis True Image Server for Windows. (Paul Eberhard)
    He advised me that I should be able to mount images from tape. I advised him that according to his support forum (here at Wilders) that this was not possible with his software. I then advised him that according to the forum the restoral wizard should be able to be used to restore individual files and folders from an image stored to tape. (This info provided toward the top of this thread which acronis support has seen and not discounted). I advised him that this did not work. He assured me that he would call back shortly with a solution. In good faith we purchased the full version and are now stuck. I have since left two voice messages for him. And he has not responded to my emails.

    What happens when attempted.
    You get to the point in the restore wizard to select to restore files and folders to a different location and then select your image located on tape only to witness the program stall out and disappear. I need to also note that when selecting to restore to original location you see the tape drive with your listed folder directory (oh you can almost touch those files that you need access to in case of emergency... However this also times out). When choosing to restore to a different location you don't get the original folder directory.

    I opened up a support ticket (#564693), provided a system report with the acronis report utility, model number of the tape drive, and specific steps taken when using the restoral wizard, and the subsequent results. I received a response from Acronis simply stating that:
    "We regret to inform you that Acronis True Image 9.1 Server for Windows doesn't support restoring individual files/folders from tape drives."

    No where in the documentation does it state this information, in fact to the contrary the technical documentation states that backup and restore proceed in the same way as with other devices.

    My response was as follows:
    If your product does not support this than you (acronis) have falsely advertised it and as such, we are due a refund. Section 3.8 of your product documentation states that it can restore data from tape. "Backup and restore on the tape proceed in the same way as with other devices, with the following exceptions."
    None of these exceptions below indicate a problem with restoring individual files and folders.

    3.8 Backing up to tape drive
    Acronis True Image Server for Windows 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 server, the list of devices available for backup storage will be extended with a name corresponding to the drive type.
    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 incremental backup mode when creating initial full backup for the second disk. In other situations, incremental backup is used for appending changes to the previously created archive.
    3. You do not have to provide filenames for backups.
    You might experience short pauses that are required to rewind the tape.

    I would prefer to be able to use True image but if the response from acronis is final then we need a refund. I look forward to responses from Acronis.
     
  9. Acronis Support

    Acronis Support Acronis Support Staff

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    Hello Euser,

    Please accept our apologies for the delay with the response.

    First of all, I would like to confirm the fact that it is not possible to restore individual files and folders from the image archives located on the tape drives (obviously, you still can restore disk\partitions from such images). This fact will certainly be reflected in the documentation as soon as possible. We are very sorry for your inconvenience.

    As for obtaining a refund, I've informed Paul Eberhard (who is by the way a sales representative but not a support engineer) about your wish and he will contact you as soon as possible.

    Thank you.
    --
    Alexey Popov
     
  10. Acronis Support

    Acronis Support Acronis Support Staff

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    Hello everyone,

    I have just been contacted by the respective person from our Development Team and he assured me that the restoration of the individual files and folders from the images saved to tape drives is in fact possible. Such images can not be mounted, however, selecting the "restore individual files and folders" option in the Restore Data Wizard should work. I'm very sorry for misleading you with my previous post.

    At the moment, individual files and folders can not be restored from the images located on tape drives. This issue is known and will certainly be fixed in the future builds of Acronis True Image 9.1 Sever for Windows and Acronis True Image 9.1 Enterprise Server for Windows. I'll let you know when the fixed builds will be available. We are sorry for your inconvenience.

    Thank you.
    --
    Alexey Popov
     
    Last edited: May 10, 2006
  11. Euser

    Euser Registered Member

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    Alexey,

    Thank you for taking time to dive into my issue instead of just passing it off. I really appreciate it. If this can be fixed then we can be happy with our original purchase.

    Let me know when you all have a beta and I will be happy to test this functionality. Let me also add that when using the "Restore Wizard" and choosing to "restore to original location" you see the tape drive with your imaged directory of files and folders (these of course do not restore at this time, but you get a little further). When you try to restore to a different location you only see the tape drive without a directory of files of folder (that you would you used to select specified folders to restore)

    Best regards,

    Euser
     
  12. Acronis Support

    Acronis Support Acronis Support Staff

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    Hello Euser,

    I've just been contacted by the respective person from our Development Team and he informed me that this issue appears to be non-typical. We therefore need an additional information in order to investigate and fix this issue as soon as possible.

    Could you please do the following?

    - Press 'Start' button, choose 'Run', type "drwtsn32" and press 'Enter';

    - In the dialog that appears check the Log File and Crash Dump paths, then press the OK button;

    - Run the latest build (3567) of Acronis True Image 9.1 Server for Windows and reproduce the problem when the program unexpectedly "disappears";

    - Pick up the user.dmp and drwtsn32.log files in the directory specified at step 2;

    Please also provide us with the following information:

    - Create Windows System Information as it is described in Acronis Help Post;

    - Reproduce the problem and collect Acronis True Image log which can be saved from Tools -> Show Log -> Diskette icon;

    - Let us know the exact vendor and model of the tape drive you use;

    - Try restoring individual files\folders from the image archive located on a tape drive when your server is booted from Bootable Rescue CD created with the latest build (3567) of Acronis True Image 9.1 Server for Windows and inform us about the result.

    Please submit a request for technical support with the subject indicating that you want to contact Alexey Popov. Provide the files and information collected in your request along with the step-by-step description of the actions taken before the problem appears and the link to this thread. I'll forward this information to our Testing and Development Teams and they will certainly do their best in order to investigate and fix this issue as soon as possible.

    P.S. I've sent you a copy of the above instructions via e-mail as well so that you can send us the information requested as a reply to my letter.

    Thank you.
    --
    Alexey Popov
     
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