Backing-up to DVD media. Some questions to my concept.

What is the best way to write the images on DVD media.
[1] To let ATI to do it while creating the backup
or to first create the image on HDD and then to transfer to DVD
using any of 3rd party burning software ?

[2] Does ATI need the write or read-only access to the antecedent
image while creating incremental/differential one ?
My concept is to keep three DVD-media for each partition to
be backed-up. One for full image (Base), two remaining (A and B) used
interchangeably for differentials images.
This way medium containing base image is not used
while creating the differential one - full security of old backup.
I will avoid this manner the main disadvantage of single HDD
used for storing images - if any disaster occurs while creating
backup both the old and the new one are destroyed.
ATI is however allowed to do read-only accesses only to media
with base image for purpose my concept can work.
The medium with Base image will be updated with fresh full images
on regular basis (e.g. every 6 differential images).
The A/B pair will then start from scratch as well.
I will use the + or - RW medium to avoid huge stacks of +/- DVD disks
after some months (problem of recycling disks with sensitive data).
Therefore I have first to find out reliable + or -RW media.

[3] How do you think about above concept ?

[4] Is such process possible using single DVD drive ?

My ATI is 9.0 Home.

 

What you say in your #1 is the better way to do it including for differentials.

 

Will following work ?

Using the TI 9.0's ability to write direct to DVD+RW media.
Two DVD media A and B.
Disk A with full image.
Disk B for differential image.
Only one DVD burner.
Collecting data for creation of differential backup.
Presenting the TI disk A with full image.
Letting TI to create differential, based on this full one.
Directly before starting backup process (summary dialog),
removing from burner disk A and inserting disk B.
Starting backup process.

This way I want to ensure, previous backup stays untouched
in case of any crash during making the differential backup -
basic rule for backups.

 

Sorry, let me modify .... what you said in the second part of your #1 is the way to do it - called here the 2 step method. The reason being that backing up directly to optical media is very slow. So if you have a hard drive to put the backups, that's the way to go first. If you want to burn the images to dvd afterwards, many here recommend that you let TI create split images of 1492 mb sizes. Three of these fit nicely on a dvd with little waste.

 

Hello chrizio,

Thank you for choosing Acronis Disk Backup Software.

Please accept our apologies for the delay with the response.

Please have a look at this post for the explanation on storing backups on DVDs.

Please note that if the full backup is stored on the CD/DVD discs and you create the incremental/differential backup you will need to insert the last volume first (with the initial full backup) and then follow the instruction of the program. If there is no space on that disc, you will be asked to insert another empty disc.

Please also note that it is not recommended to constantly rewrite DVD disks, as degrade rate of any optical rewritable media is much faster than that of hard disks.

Thank you.
--
Marat Setdikov

 

Thanks for your all answers.

I see, the simplest and most reliable way will be
to let TI create image on HDD and then transport them
to DVD using my burning application.

DVD disk #1 should be used for full backup only.
Disks #2 and #3 should be used for differential backups -
one week #2, next week #3, next next week once again #2
and so on.
I hope TI won't get any problems while recovering from image
if differential one is on other dvd media then the full backup
- if run in dedicated mode - TI startup cd.

 

Can you confirm following please ?

media #1 contains full backup only, even if there is some free space for
more images available
media #2 contains one differential image only, even if there is some free
space for more differentials.
Both medias burned with 3rd party burning solution.