User's Guide Acronis True Image Server 8.0 for Linux Compute with confidence www.acronis.
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Contents Table of Contents CHAPTER 1. 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 WHAT IS ACRONIS TRUE IMAGE SERVER 8.0 FOR LINUX?............................................................................................. 6 FASTEST RECOVERY ..................................................................................................................................................... 6 RAPID ROI .........................................................................................................................
Contents 8.2 8.3 SECURITY .................................................................................................................................................................. 38 EXECUTING TRANSFERS ............................................................................................................................................. 38 8.3.1 8.3.2 8.3.3 8.3.4 8.3.5 8.3.6 8.3.7 8.3.8 8.3.9 8.3.10 8.3.11 8.4 Selecting transfer mode .......................................................
Introduction Chapter 1. 1.1 Introduction What is Acronis True Image Server 8.0 for Linux? Acronis True Image Server 8.0 for Linux is a unique product for complete data backup that enables you to create exact images of server hard disks or their partitions under Linux. Thanks to the proprietary Acronis Drive Snapshot technology the program creates server disk images in the operating mode without file system dismounting to provide complete data safety and avoid server downtimes.
Introduction • Support for a wide variety of IDE, SCSI, USB, FireWire, and PC Card (formerly PCMCIA) storage media. CD-R/RW and tape drives are supported as well (except for console mode) • Support for all hard disks, regardless of capacity • Support for all Linux and Windows file systems, including Linux Ext2/Ext3, ReiserFS, JFS, XFS, Linux Swap, FAT16, FAT32, NTFS; sector-based support for other file systems.
Introduction An incremental image only contains data changed since the last complete or incremental image creation. Therefore, it is smaller and takes less time to create. But as it doesn’t contain complete disk (partition) information, all the previous incremental images and the initial complete image are required for restoration. You can create incremental images frequently, as they need less space than complete ones and take less time to create.
Installation and operation Chapter 2. 2.1 Installation and operation System requirements Acronis True Image Server 8.0 for Linux requires the following hard-/software: • Pentium or compatible PC • 128 MB RAM • CD-RW drive for rescue CD creating • Mouse (recommended) • Linux 2.4.18 or later kernel (including 2.6.x kernels). • SuSE 8.0, 8.1, 8.2, 9.0, 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, RedHat 7.3, 8.0, 9.0, Advanced Server 2.1, Advanced Server 3.0, Advanced Server 4.
Installation and operation • To work in the console mode, use trueimagecmd and trueimagemnt tools, described in Chapter 6. See also man trueimagecmd or man trueimagemnt. 2.4 Removing the program To remove Acronis True Image Server 8.0 for Linux, issue the following command: # /usr/lib/Acronis/trueimage-setup --uninstall 10 Copyright © Acronis, Inc.
General program information Chapter 3. 3.1 General program information Main program interface under X Window System Acronis True Image Server 8.0 for Linux features a user-friendly interface under X Window System. The main program window features a menu line, toolbar and the main screen divided into two sections. Operation icons are located to the right, while rollout windows describing selected operations, their typical actions and additional tools are located to the left.
General program information • Add new disk — adds a new disk as data storage, leaving the operating system and applications where they were Program menu The menu contains the following submenus: Operations, View, Tools, Help. The Operations submenu has a Start now item that launches operations selected.
General program information 3.2 Working from a rescue CD In some situations (e.g. when restoring a system partition, or disk cloning or addition), you might have to work with Acronis True Image Server 8.0 for Linux without loading the OS. In those cases, you can use the Acronis rescue CD. It is highly recommended that you create it from an ISO-image, located in /var/lib/Acronis/TrueImage/rescue.iso. 3.
Creating images under X Window System Chapter 4. Creating images under X Window System This chapter describes creating disk or partition images using Acronis True Image Server 8.0 for Linux GUI under X Window System. See Chapter 6 for using console or Cron service. Under X Window System interface, Acronis True Image Server 8.0 for Linux offers userfriendly wizards. They simplify image creation and restoration operations, so even users not very familiar with Linux can work with them. 4.
Creating images under X Window System • Network disk • Removable media drive, including tapes, CD-R/RW and other supported devices. Specifying image location In the drive tree, select a place to locate an image and enter its name in the File name field. You can store images of several partitions or disks in a single file, but you won’t be able to append images to an existing file. The program can automatically generate file names.
Creating images under X Window System Specifying image location on a network drive In addition to NFS, Acronis True Image Server 8.0 for Linux supports the SMBFS network file system. Please check, that the network backup node is accessible for Acronis True Image Server 8.0 for Linux Rescue CD Network Browser, otherwise you cannot restore images stored on this node. 4.3 Selecting image mode At this point you will select the complete or incremental image mode. 16 Copyright © Acronis, Inc.
Creating images under X Window System Selecting image mode The complete image contains all disk information, so it needs a lot of space. An incremental image only contains information changed since the last time an image was created, so it is usually smaller and takes less time to create. Thus, if you are creating an image of this disk or partition for the first time, or if you have made a lot of changes to the disk since your last image, the complete image is recommended.
Creating images under X Window System You can also select fixed image size by selecting Fixed size and entering or selecting the desired value. By default, the size is provided in bytes, but you can also use kilobytes or megabytes by appending respective units. The size of an image file, destined to removable media, is set automatically. It's a good idea to create fixed-size images on a hard disk if you plan to burn them onto a CD-R/RW or DVD+R/RW media later. 4.
Creating images under X Window System Protecting images with passwords When you try to restore a password-protected disk (partition) image, Acronis True Image Server 8.0 for Linux will ask you for a password and won’t continue with restoration until the password is verified by the software. 4.7 Comments about images You can supply additional information about the image. This could include information about the server, its users, hard disk, data, creation time or the like.
Creating images under X Window System The more details you provide in a comment, the more assured you will be of its contents when you need this image the next time. This can help prevent you from restoring the wrong image. 4.8 Image creation script In the next window, you will see an image creation script that will list all operations to be performed, along with their brief descriptions. Disk image creation script In Acronis True Image Server 8.
Restoring disks (partitions) from images under X Window System Chapter 5. Restoring disks (partitions) from images under X Window System This chapter describes restoring disk or partition images using Acronis True Image Server 8.0 for Linux GUI under X Window System. See Chapter 6 for using console. Note that a system partition can be restored only when Acronis True Image Server 8.0 for Linux is started from a bootable CD (see also 3.2 and 5.9). 5.
Restoring disks (partitions) from images under X Window System date/time of its creation. Thus, you can return the disk (partition) state to a certain moment, often called “a point of restore”. To restore data from an incremental image, you must have all previous incremental images and the initial full image. If any of successive images is missing, restoration is impossible. If you are to restore an image from removable media, e.g.
Restoring disks (partitions) from images under X Window System Select partition to which the image will be restored All the data stored on the restored partition will be replaced by the image data, so be careful and do not overwrite data that you might need but haven’t backed up yet. 5.4 Selecting partition type When restoring a partition, you can change its type, though it is not required in most cases.
Restoring disks (partitions) from images under X Window System Select partition type If you need only the data, you don't have to create another primary partition. In this case, you can restore the partition as logical to access the data only. But if you are to restore a system partition, you should select the Primary type for it. Finally, if you want to load an operating system from it, select Active as well.
Restoring disks (partitions) from images under X Window System Selecting a file system Acronis True Image Server 8.0 for Linux can make the following file system conversions: FAT 16 ↔ FAT 32, Ext2 ↔ Ext3. 5.6 Selecting restored partition size In some cases, you might need to change the partition configuration and size during the restoration. Acronis True Image Server 8.0 for Linux is flexible enough to do it.
Restoring disks (partitions) from images under X Window System You might need to resize and relocate a partition to redistribute the disk space among existing partitions. In this case, you will have to restore the partition to be reduced first. These changes might be useful if you are to clone a hard disk by creating its image and restoring it to a new disk with larger partitions. Such cloning is used if it’s impossible to connect the second hard disk to the server. 5.
Restoring disks (partitions) from images under X Window System Restoration scenario After you click Proceed, Acronis True Image Server 8.0 for Linux will start image restoration, indicating the progress in the special window. If you click Cancel, no changes will be made to the disk(s). You can also stop the procedure by clicking Cancel. But note that the target partition will be deleted and its space unallocated. You'll get the same result if the restoration is unsuccessful.
Restoring disks (partitions) from images under X Window System Selecting a disk (partition) image to restore when booted from a rescue CD If you restore a system disk (partition), you might have to reactivate your boot manager. Please consult your boot loader manual pages to find out the appropriate information.
Console mode Chapter 6. Console mode Console is a natural part of Linux OS. Acronis True Image Server 8.0 for Linux supports it through the trueimagecmd command line tool. It provides a way to initiate image creation and restoration operations (with some limitations). Trueimagecmd also enables you to automate image creation with ‘cron’ service. Note that trueimagecmd doesn’t support partition resizing at image restoration neither creating images on CD-R/RW or tapes.
Console mode nfs://hostname/share name:/remote filename For example: trueimagecmd --list --filename:nfs://dhcp6223.acronis.com/sdb3/nfs_root:/mike/md1.tib shows contents of /mike/md1.tib archive. /mike/md1.tib is 223.acronis.com node in /sdb3/nfs_root directory exported by NFS.
Console mode --incremental Sets image type to incremental. If there is no a basic image file to append an incremental one, a complete image will be created. --split:size in MB With --create, states that the image must be split into multiple files of the specified size (in Mb). --raw Use this option to create an image of a disk (partition) with unrecognized or unsupported file system. This will copy disk/partition contents sector-by-sector.
Console mode Use --list to obtain the necessary partition number: Disk 1: 1-1 1-2 1-3 1-4 1-5 Disk 2: 2-1 (/1) 2-2 2-3 hda1 Table hda5 hda6 hda7 hda8 Pri,Act hdd1 Table hdd5 hdd6 Pri,Act 31.35 MB 26.67 MB 980.5 4.887 9.767 3.462 MB GB GB GB 135.9 MB 1.751 GB 1.3 GB 4.806 GB 4.627 GB 3 GB 3.906 GB 1.319 GB FAT16 Table Linux Swap Ext2 Ext2 Ext2 Ext3 Table Ext3 Ext3 You need to back up partition 2-1.
Console mode -h|--help Shows usage. -l|--list Lists already mounted user mode block devices. -m|--mount mountpoint Mounts the archive image specified by -f|--filename option into the folder specified by mountpoint option. The partition index should be specified by -i|--index option. Image file contents (partitions and their indices) may be listed by trueimagecmd --list -filename:filename command. To mount an incremental image, you must have all previous incremental images and the initial full image.
Console mode smb://hostname/share name/remote filename Hostname may be specified with username and password as: username:password@hostname For example: trueimagemnt -m /mnt/md1 -f smb://dhcp6223.acronis.com/sdb3/mike/md1.tib -i 2 mounts /mike/md1.tib archive, located on dhcp6-223.acronis.com node in /sdb3 directory exported by Samba. -i|--index partition index Index of the partition. -p|--password password Specifies the password to explore password protected images.
Database support Chapter 7. Database support Database servers, such as MySQL, prove to be troublesome to backup, partially due to open files and indexes and partially due to rapid data changes. Therefore many system administrators prefer to suspend the database at the backup moment (image file creation). 7.
Database support And here is an example of tils_freeze_hook. This assumes MySQL database is located on sdb1 partition. #!/bin/bash # Example of tils_freeze_hook # MYSQLDEV="/dev/sdb1" HOOKLOG="/var/log/tils_freeze_hook.log" MSQLCMD="/etc/init.d/mysqld" function set_fd { # prepare file descriptors 3-100 to be # closed before launch msql for i in `/usr/bin/seq 3 100` ; do FD="$FD $i>&-" done } function is_msql_running { ${MSQLCMD} status | grep "mysqld.
Transferring the system to a new disk Chapter 8. 8.1 Transferring the system to a new disk General information Sooner or later, most server administrators discover that they are out of free disk space. If just more data storage space is needed, you can add a new disk, following instructions in the next chapter. Sometimes your hard disk can't provide enough space for the operating system and installed applications, preventing you from updating your software.
Transferring the system to a new disk On all screenshots below, damaged partitions are marked with a red circle with a white cross inside in the upper left corner. Before you start cloning, you should check such disks for errors using corresponding OS tools. 8.2 Security Note the following: if the power goes out or you accidentally press RESET during the transfer, the procedure will be incomplete and you will have to partition and format or clone the hard disk again.
Transferring the system to a new disk You can determine the source and destination using the information provided in this window (disk number, capacity, label, partition and file system information). 8.3.3 Selecting the destination disk After you select the source disk, you have to select the destination to clone to. The previously selected source becomes grayed-out and disabled for selection.
Transferring the system to a new disk 8.3.4 Partitioned destination disk At this point, the program checks if the destination disk is free of partitions. If not, you will be prompted by the Partitioned destination disk window stating that the destination disk contains partitions, perhaps with data.
Transferring the system to a new disk 8.3.6 Old disk data If you selected the manual mode, the program will ask you what to do with the old disk: • Create a new partition layout — create a new partition layout.
Transferring the system to a new disk The second method takes more time, but makes it impossible to recover data afterwards, even with special equipment. The first method is less secure but is still suitable for most cases. 8.3.8 Selecting partition transfer method Acronis True Image Server 8.
Transferring the system to a new disk If you decide to transfer information "as is," a new partition will be created for every old one with the same size and type, file system and label. The unused space will become unallocated. Further you will be able to use it to create new partitions or to enlarge the existing partitions with special tools (e.g. Acronis Disk Director Suite.) As a rule, "as is" transfers are discouraged, as they leave a lot of unallocated space on the new disk.
Transferring the system to a new disk After you create the necessary partitions, uncheck the Create new partition in unallocated space box and click Next. 8.3.10 Old and new disk partition layouts In the next window, you will see rectangles indicating the source hard disk, including its partitions and unallocated space, as well as the new disk layout. Along with the hard disk number, you will see its capacity, label, partition and file system information.
Transferring the system to a new disk In the next window, you will see rectangles indicating the source hard disk, including its partitions and unallocated space, as well as the new disk layout. Along with the hard disk number, you will see its capacity, label, partition and file system information. Different partition types, including primary, logical, and unallocated space, are all colored differently. To resize either partition, check the Proceed Relayout box.
Adding a new hard disk Chapter 9. Adding a new hard disk If you don't have enough space for your data (e.g. family photos and videos), you can replace the old disk with a higher-capacity one (data transfers to new disks are described in the previous chapter). But you can also add a new disk only to store data, leaving the system on the old disk. If the server has space for another disk, it would be easier to add it, then clone. To add a new disk, you must first install it on your server.
Adding a new hard disk To create a partition in the unallocated space, select Create new partition in unallocated space and click Next to perform steps required by the partition creation wizard. If you make a mistake at partitioning, click Back to redo the operation. After you create the necessary partition layout, uncheck the Create new partition in unallocated space box and click Next. 9.
Other operations Chapter 10. Other operations 10.1 Checking images To make sure created images are not corrupted, you can check their integrity with Acronis True Image Server 8.0 for Linux. To do this, select Tools -> Check Image (roll out the group if needed) or click Check Image on the toolbar. This will invoke the Image checking wizard. Click Next to continue. This window will list all storage devices connected to your PC, including hard disks. Locate and select the image you need to check.
Technical support Technical support Users of legally purchased copies of Acronis True Image Server 8.0 for Linux can use free technical support provided by Acronis. If you have any installation or working problems that you can’t solve by yourself using this manual and readme.txt, e-mail the technical support. Acronis also offers free fax support and paid priority support options. Before you do this, you will have http://www.acronis.com/registration/ or by mail.
