Acronis True Image for MS SBS Server - User Guide User Manual

Page 37

metadata saved on the tape and the database will be recreated on the new host using the
new host RSM. This operation is performed at first access to the tape device while setting
up a backup, recovery or validation task. Therefore, under Windows the program knows
which tape should be mounted even if the data is recovered on another machine.
When booted from Acronis rescue media, Acronis True Image for Microsoft Small Business
Server uses another mechanism for access to tape devices since RSM is not available.
Moving tapes between tape devices
A tape that already has backups can be added to a tape device. When the tape device is
selected in the recovery or validation wizard, the newly added tape is scanned by the RSM
and then by Acronis and added to the Acronis database and the Acronis pool. The access
to the archives on the tape becomes available.
However, Acronis will not scan the added tape for changes if the tape already is in the
Acronis database. If you eject a tape, back up another machine on this tape and take the
tape back to the first tape device, the second machine archive will not be discovered by
Acronis and therefore cannot be restored by the first tape device. Please be aware of this
limitation when using tapes between multiple computers.
Using RSM pools
At first backup to the tape device, Acronis True Image for Microsoft Small Business Server
takes a tape from the Free pool. The program creates the Acronis pool and puts the 1st
tape in the pool. The tape stays mounted after writing a backup is completed. The next
backups, regardless of their contents, will be placed on the same tape, unless the tape
free space runs out.
When the 1st tape is full, the program looks for another cartridge in the Free pool and
uses it without user intervention. If the Free pool is empty, a cartridge from the Import
media pool is used through a prompt. (You have an option to disable prompts, see

6.3.14 Additional settings

So, to fully automate changing tapes at backup, you must always have at least one tape
in the Free pool (or a tape in the Import media pool and the prompt disabled.)
Overwriting old archives
You can move tapes with outdated archives from the Acronis pool to the Free pool
periodically using the Removable storage snap-in. To do so:
1. Select Control panel -> Administrative tools -> Computer management -> Removable
storage -> Media pools -> Acronis.
2. Right click on the tape in the Acronis pool, deallocate the tape if it is mounted and
select Free from the context menu. The tape will be moved to the Free pool. After
putting a tape in the Free pool RSM and then Acronis will rescan it and record it to the
database with a new GUID.

A deleted archive is not necessarily deleted from the tape, it can be just marked as
deleted in the catalogue.

Saving a full backup to a new tape
You can enable saving a full backup on a new tape even if the currently mounted tape is
not full. To do so, deallocate the current tape and eject it, add a new tape and move the
tape to the Free pool using RSM. Incremental or differential backups cannot be
performed in this way because access to the previous backups is required.