User manual ACRONIS TRUE IMAGE SERVER 8.0 - LINUX

User's Guide Acronis True Image Server 8.0 for Linux Compute with confidence www.acronis.com Acronis True Image Server 8.0 for Linux. All rights reserved. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. UNIX is a registered trademark of The Open Group. Windows and MS-DOS are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. All other trademarks and copyrights referred to are the property of their respective owners. Distribution of substantively modified versions of this document is prohibited without the explicit permission of the copyright holder. Distribution of this work or derivative work in any standard (paper) book form for commercial purposes is prohibited unless prior permission is obtained from the copyright holder. DOCUMENTATION IS PROVIDED «AS IS» AND ALL EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED CONDITIONS, REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR NON-INFRINGEMENT, ARE DISCLAIMED, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT SUCH DISCLAIMERS ARE HELD TO BE LEGALLY INVALID. 2 Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2005 END-USER LICENSE AGREEMENT BY ACCEPTING, YOU (ORIGINAL PURCHASER) INDICATE YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THESE TERMS. IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO ACCEPT THE PRODUCT UNDER THESE TERMS, YOU MAY CHOOSE NOT TO ACCEPT BY SELECTING "I decline..." AND NOT INSTALLING THE SOFTWARE. The Acronis True Image Server 8.0 for Linux (the Software) is Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2005. All rights are reserved. The ORIGINAL PURCHASER is granted a LICENSE to use the software only, subject to the following restrictions and limitations. 1. 2. The license is to the original purchaser only, and is not transferable without prior written permission from Acronis. The original purchaser may use the software on a single computer owned or leased by the original purchaser. You may not use the software on more than a single machine, even if you own or lease all of them, without the written consent of Acronis. The original purchaser may not engage in, nor permit third parties to engage in, any of the following: Providing or permitting use of or disclosing the software to third parties. Providing use of the software in a computer service business, network, timesharing or multipleuser arrangement to users who are not individually licensed by Acronis. Making alterations or copies of any kind in the software (except as specifically permitted above). Attempting to un-assemble, de-compile or reverse engineer the software in any way. Granting sublicenses, leases or other rights in the software to others. Making copies or verbal or media translations of the users guide. Making telecommunication data transmission of the software. 3. A. B. C. D. E. F. G. Acronis has the right to terminate this license if there is a violation of its terms or default by the original purchaser. Upon termination for any reason, all copies of the software must be immediately returned to Acronis, and the original purchaser shall be liable to Acronis for any and all damages suffered as a result of the violation or default. ENTIRE RISK THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE SOFTWARE IS WITH YOU THE PURCHASER. ACRONIS DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE SOFTWARE OR ITS FUNCTIONS WILL MEET YOUR REQUIREMENTS OR THAT THE OPERATION OF THE SOFTWARE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR FREE OR THAT ANY DEFECTS WILL BE CORRECTED. NO LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES - IN NO EVENT SHALL ACRONIS OR ITS VENDORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES FOR THE LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, LOSS OF BUSINESS INFORMATION, OR ANY OTHER PECUNIARY LOSS) ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ACRONIS HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2005 3 Contents Table of Contents CHAPTER 1. 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................... 6 WHAT IS ACRONIS TRUE IMAGE SERVER 8.0 FOR LINUX?............................................................................................. 6 FASTEST RECOVERY ..................................................................................................................................................... 6 RAPID ROI .................................................................................................................................................................. 6 DISK DRIVE CLONING AND NEW DISK DRIVE DEPLOYMENT ............................................................................................ 6 FEATURES OF ACRONIS TRUE IMAGE SERVER 8.0 FOR LINUX ....................................................................................... 6 WHAT IS A DISK IMAGE?............................................................................................................................................... 7 SOFTWARE USAGE TERMS AND CONDITIONS.................................................................................................................. 8 INSTALLATION AND OPERATION ............................................................................... 9 CHAPTER 2. 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS............................................................................................................................................... 9 INSTALLING ACRONIS TRUE IMAGE SERVER 8.0 FOR LINUX ......................................................................................... 9 RUNNING ACRONIS TRUE IMAGE SERVER 8.0 FOR LINUX ............................................................................................. 9 REMOVING THE PROGRAM.......................................................................................................................................... 10 GENERAL PROGRAM INFORMATION ........................................................................ 11 CHAPTER 3. 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 MAIN PROGRAM INTERFACE UNDER X WINDOW SYSTEM............................................................................................ 11 WORKING FROM A RESCUE CD................................................................................................................................... 13 WORKING FROM A REMOTE TERMINAL ....................................................................................................................... 13 BACKING UP SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE RAID ARRAYS ........................................................................................... 13 CREATING IMAGES UNDER X WINDOW SYSTEM ..................................................... 14 CHAPTER 4. 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 SELECTING DISKS/PARTITIONS.................................................................................................................................... 14 SPECIFYING IMAGE LOCATION .................................................................................................................................... 14 SELECTING IMAGE MODE............................................................................................................................................ 16 SELECTING IMAGE SIZE .............................................................................................................................................. 17 SELECTING COMPRESSION LEVEL................................................................................................................................ 18 PROTECTING IMAGES WITH PASSWORDS...................................................................................................................... 18 COMMENTS ABOUT IMAGES........................................................................................................................................ 19 IMAGE CREATION SCRIPT............................................................................................................................................ 20 RESTORING DISKS (PARTITIONS) FROM IMAGES UNDER X WINDOW SYSTEM..... 21 CHAPTER 5. 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 5.9 SELECTING IMAGES TO RESTORE................................................................................................................................. 21 SELECTING A PARTITION TO RESTORE ......................................................................................................................... 22 SELECTING A LOCATION TO RESTORE TO ..................................................................................................................... 22 SELECTING PARTITION TYPE ....................................................................................................................................... 23 SELECTING A FILE SYSTEM ......................................................................................................................................... 24 SELECTING RESTORED PARTITION SIZE........................................................................................................................ 25 RESTORING SEVERAL PARTITIONS AT ONCE................................................................................................................. 26 RESTORATION SCRIPT................................................................................................................................................. 26 RESTORING A DISK (PARTITION) FROM A RESCUE CD .................................................................................................. 27 CONSOLE MODE ........................................................................................................ 29 CHAPTER 6. 6.1 CREATING AND RESTORING IMAGES IN THE CONSOLE MODE (TRUEIMAGECMD)............................................................ 29 6.1.1 6.1.2 6.2 6.3 Supported commands ...................................................................................................................... 29 Trueimagecmd usage examples ....................................................................................................... 31 Supported commands ...................................................................................................................... 32 Trueimagemnt usage examples........................................................................................................ 34 DATABASE SUPPORT ................................................................................................ 35 AUTOMATIC IMAGE CREATION USING CRON SERVICE .................................................................................................. 31 RESTORING FILES WITH TRUEIMAGEMNT .................................................................................................................... 32 6.3.1 6.3.2 CHAPTER 7. 7.1 7.2 7.3 DATABASE START/STOP WHEN CREATING IMAGE UNDER X WINDOW .......................................................................... 35 SCHEDULING DATABASE START/STOP FOR AUTOMATIC BACKUP .................................................................................. 35 AUTOMATIC DATABASE START/STOP INSIDE TILS_FREEZE_HOOK SCRIPT ..................................................................... 35 TRANSFERRING THE SYSTEM TO A NEW DISK......................................................... 37 CHAPTER 8. 8.1 4 GENERAL INFORMATION ............................................................................................................................................ 37 Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2005 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 ................................................................................................................... 38 Selecting the source disk ................................................................................................................. 38 Selecting the destination disk .......................................................................................................... 39 Partitioned destination disk.............................................................................................................. 40 Old and new disk partition layout.................................................................................................... 40 Old disk data.................................................................................................................................... 41 Destroying the old disk data ............................................................................................................ 41 Selecting partition transfer method.................................................................................................. 42 Partitioning the old disk................................................................................................................... 43 Old and new disk partition layouts............................................................................................... 44 Cloning script............................................................................................................................... 44 Old and new disk partition layouts .................................................................................................. 44 ADDING A NEW HARD DISK ..................................................................................... 46 CLONING WITH MANUAL PARTITIONING...................................................................................................................... 44 8.4.1 CHAPTER 9. 9.1 9.2 9.3 SELECTING A HARD DISK ............................................................................................................................................ 46 CREATING A NEW PARTITION ...................................................................................................................................... 46 DISK ADDING SCRIPT.................................................................................................................................................. 47 OTHER OPERATIONS .............................................................................................. 48 CHAPTER 10. 10.1 CHECKING IMAGES................................................................................................................................................. 48 TECHNICAL SUPPORT ............................................................................................................................................................. 49 Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2005 5 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. An image, including all disk data, applications and operating systems, can be restored to a hard disk if the old disk or any other hardware or software fails and other recovery means don't work. In addition, you can easily extract files, deleted by mistake, from the disk image and copy them to the disk. 1.2 Fastest recovery Acronis True Image Server 8.0 for Linux dramatically reduces your server downtime. Unlike traditional file-by-file backup solutions, the Acronis disk imaging approach provides you with the fastest, bare-metal server recovery (recovery starting with an unformatted disk drive) without time-consuming reinstallations, configurations and the like. 1.3 Rapid ROI Is server downtime costing you thousands of dollars an hour? Acronis True Image Server 8.0 for Linux dramatically reduces IT costs by providing an easy, fast and reliable way to return your server to its original working state in minutes or to restore lost or damaged files and folders. 1.4 Disk drive cloning and new disk drive deployment Acronis True Image Server 8.0 for Linux can be used to clone an image onto multiple servers. For example, a company purchases several servers and needs a similar environment on each of them. Traditionally, the IT manager would install an operating system and programs on each of them. Acronis True Image Server 8.0 for Linux simplifies the process and saves the IT manager time by creating a disk image of the first system deployed. That image can then be duplicated onto multiple servers. If you need to upgrade the server hard disk drive, Acronis True Image Server 8.0 for Linux simplifies the task to a few mouse clicks, creating an exact copy of your old disk to a new one and adjusting partition size to fit a new hard disk. 1.5 Features of Acronis True Image Server 8.0 for Linux · Image creation without system shutdown · Acronis True Image Server 8.0 for Linux images only the sectors that contain data, so images are created in just a few minutes 6 Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2005 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. JFS and XFS are supported without resize while restore · Backup and restore software RAIDs (md devices) both on running system and from rescue CD · Complete and incremental backups · Scheduled and periodical image creation using cron jobs utility · Restore of individual files and directories (by mounting image archives as if they were kernel space block devices) · Transparent NFS and Samba network drives access (in X Windows mode NFS and Samba appear among available devices, in console mode a path to the network drive may be specified) · OS-independent operation of Acronis True Image Server 8.0 for Linux from the bootable CD, including restore over NFS or Samba Network · Comprehensive wizards simplify even the most complex operations ADDITIONAL FEATURES · Control of data compression level, image volume splitting and password protection · The ability to change a partition type, file system, size and location during recovery or disk cloning · The ability to clone a disk drive so that multiple systems will have the exact same base disk drive configuration and software · The ability to migrate data from one drive to another 1.6 What is a disk image? A disk (partition) image is a file that contains a copy of all information stored on a disk. The image stores all the server data, including operating system, databases, applications, data and settings. By backing up your information regularly, you will completely protect yourself from data losses in case of server failure or malfunction. To reover your system after a failure, simply restore your disk data from a previously created image. By default, Acronis True Image Server 8.0 for Linux image files have ".tib" extension and can contain images of several partitions or disks. Images of large partitions or several disks could be sizeable. In that case, an image can be split into several files that together make the original image. A single image can also be split for burning to removable media. Acronis True Image Server 8.0 for Linux can create incremental images. Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2005 7 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. An incremental image set enables you to restore a disk to any of the states stored in these images. Having created a complete image once and then creating an incremental image each day of a month, you will get the same result as if you created complete images every day. But the cost in time and disk space (or the removable media usage) will be as little as one tenth as much. Acronis True Image Server 8.0 for Linux stores only those hard disk sectors that contain data (for supported file systems). This reduces image size and speeds up image creation and restoration from an image. A partition image contains all its files and folders independently of their attributes (including system files), a boot record and file system super block. A disk image includes images of all disk partitions as well as the zero track with master boot record (MBR). 1.7 Software usage terms and conditions The conditions for Acronis True Image Server 8.0 for Linux software usage are described in the «License agreement» (page 3 of this guide). The unique serial number is the confirmation of your legal purchase and use of Acronis True Image Server 8.0 for Linux on your system. Under current law, the «License agreement» is considered a legal contract between a user (you) and a software manufacturer (Acronis Inc.,). Violation of the contract, or illegal use and/or distribution of this software, will be prosecuted. 8 Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2005 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 4.0, Fedora Core 1, Fedora Core 2, Fedora Core 3, Fedora Core 4, Enterprise Server 3.0, Mandrake 8.0, 9.2, 10.0, 10.1, Slackware 10, Debian stable and unstable (sarge), ASPLinux 9.2, ASPLinux 10, ASPLinux Server II, Virtuozzo 2.6.x, Gentoo, UnitedLinux 1.0, Ubuntu 4.10, TurboLinux 8.0, TurboLinux 10.0 and some others Linux distributions are supported. To obtain the up-to-date information about distributions, supported by your copy of Acronis True Image Server 8.0 for Linux, see readme.txt file supplied with the program. 2.2 Installing Acronis True Image Server 8.0 for Linux To install Acronis True Image Server 8.0 for Linux: · · · · Extract the file trueimagelinuxserver8.0_s_e.tar.gz Go to the directory where archive content was extracted Run ./trueimage-setup Follow setup program instructions. If the setup could not compile the necessary module for your Linux distribution, please refer to the file HOWTO.INSTALL. When you're finished installation, please issue the following command in console: trueimagecmd --serial-key:[your serial number] --list This will activate your serial number. If you first run Acronis True Image Server 8.0 for Linux under the X Window System interface, type in the serial number to the appearing form. 2.3 Running Acronis True Image Server 8.0 for Linux · To run the program under the X Window System interface, use the trueimage command. Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2005 9 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., 2000-2005 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. Main program window The menu, toolbar and menu items to the left duplicate each other, letting you use the software in the way that suits you best. Having selected an operation by clicking it, you can run it as follows: by double-clicking its icon, by selecting Start now in the Operations menu, or by clicking Start now on the toolbar. The main window contains two groups of icons. Disk Imaging features disk image operations: · Create image ­ create a disk (partition) image · Restore image ­ restore a disk (partition) from a previously created image. New Disk Deployment features operations performed when a new disk is added: · Disk clone -- transfers the operating system, installed applications and data from the old disk to the new one Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2005 11 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. The Tools submenu contains: · Check image -- checks disk (partition) integrity The View submenu contains: · Toolbars -- sets icon representation on the toolbar · Common tasks bar -- enables and disables the typical actions panel in the left part of the program window · Status bar -- enables and disables the status bar · Refresh -- refreshes the main program window · Help submenu is used to invoke built-in help, as well as information about Acronis True Image Server 8.0 for Linux Status bar A status bar in the lower part of the main window briefly describes the selected operation. Disk and partition information In all disk configurations provided by wizards, you will be able to change the way they are represented. To the right, there are three icons: Arrange Icons by..., Choose details and Properties (the last duplicated in the context menu invoked by a right-click on the object). To enable sorting by selected column, click its header (click again to reverse) or click Arrange Icons by ... and select the sorting parameter. To select columns to display, right-click on column headers or click Choose details and check the columns that will be displayed. Click Properties to invoke the properties window of the selected partition or disk. This window has two panels. The left contains the properties tree, while the right describes the property selected. Disk information includes its physical parameters (connection, type, capacity, etc.). Partition information includes both physical (sectors, location on disk, etc.) and logical parameters (file system, free space, etc.). You can resize columns by dragging their borders with a mouse. 12 Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2005 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. 3.3 Working from a remote terminal You can control the image creation or restoration process remotely from any computer in the local network or Internet, operating under Windows, Mac OS or any UNIX clone. To act as a remote terminal, this computer must have X Server software installed. Start the X Server and log on to the server using SSH-enabled software. For example, Putty is one of the most popular Windows programs of that type. Then you can invoke Acronis True Image Server 8.0 for Linux GUI with the trueimage command or use trueimagecmd command line tool. 3.4 Backing up software and hardware RAID arrays Acronis True Image Server 8.0 for Linux supports software and hardware RAID arrays as if these were simple single hard drives. However, as such arrays have a structure different from typical hard disks, there are peculiarities affecting the way data is stored. Software RAID arrays under Linux OS combine several hard disks partitions and make solid block devices (/dev/md0, ... /dev/md31), information of which is stored in /etc/raidtab or in dedicated areas of that partitions. Acronis True Image Server 8.0 for Linux enables you to create images of active (mounted) software arrays similar to typical hard disk images. Partitions that are part of software arrays are listed alongside other available partitions as if they had a corrupted file system or without a file system at all. There's no sense in creating images of such partitions when a software array is mounted, as it won't be possible to restore them. Parameters of software disk arrays are not stored in images, so they can only be restored to a normal partition, or unallocated space, or previously configured array. Operating from a rescue CD, Acronis True Image Server 8.0 for Linux tries to access parameters of a software disk array and configure it. However, if the necessary information is lost, the array cannot be configured automatically. In this case, create a software array manually and restart the restoration procedure. Hardware RAID arrays under Linux combine several physical drives to create a single partitionable disk (block device). The special file related to a hardware disk array is usually located in /dev/ataraid. Acronis True Image Server 8.0 for Linux enables you to create images of hardware disk arrays similar to images of typical disks and partitions. Physical drives that are part of hardware disk arrays are listed alongside other available drives as if they had a bad partition table or no partition table at all. There's no sense in creating images of such drives, as it won't be possible to restore them. Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2005 13 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. 4.1 Selecting disks/partitions In the Selecting Partitions To Image window, you will see the hard disk structure of your server. Flag a partition to select it. Flag a whole disk to select all its partitions. You can select a random set of disks and partitions. Disk and partition structure Having selected partitions and/or disks, click Next. Note that this button will be disabled until at least one partition or disk is selected. 4.2 Specifying image location Specify image file location on a storage device: · Local hard disk 14 Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2005 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. To do this, click the Generate file name for a new file button located to the right of the file name field. You can create a disk (partition) image on the same disk (partition), if there is enough space for it, but do not leave it there. Having created an image, burn it onto a CD, DVD or ZIP media, or copy to another local or network hard disk. Though Acronis True Image Server 8.0 for Linux can store images on both local and network drives, the latter way is preferable, as it provides higher image safety and therefore restoration possibility after a software or hardware failure. Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2005 15 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., 2000-2005 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. If you recently created a complete image, we recommend that you create incremental images. If image archive is stored on removable media, e.g. CD, insert the last CD and then follow instructions of the Create Image Wizard. 4.4 Selecting image size On this stage, you can specify whether the program should create a single image file or split it into several files. If you select Automatic, Acronis True Image Server 8.0 for Linux will try to determine image size itself. If there's enough space on the hard disk you specified, a single file will be created. Otherwise the program will warn you about space limitations and await your decision. You can free some space on a partition and continue image creation, or stop Acronis True Image Server 8.0 for Linux, free enough space and begin the image creation again. Selecting image size Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2005 17 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. 4.5 Selecting compression level On this stage, you need to select the desired compression level. If you select None, the data will be imaged without any compression, which will significantly increase image size. However, if you select maximum compression, the image will take longer to create. Selecting compression level Optimal compression level depends on the type of files stored on the disk (partition), so you can determine it empirically. Generally, it is recommended that you use the default Normal compression level. You may want to select Maximum compression for removable media to reduce the number of blank disks required. 4.6 Protecting images with passwords You can protect images you create with a password by entering the password into the respective field and confirming it in the Image Archive Protection window. 18 Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2005 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. Adding comments to an image Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2005 19 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 8.0 for Linux, all disk image creation operations are pending until you tell the software to execute the commands. After you click Proceed, the program will start creating an image, indicating progress in the special window. To cancel image creation, click Cancel. When an image is ready, you can check its integrity with Check Image operation (see Section 10.1 «Checking images» of this guide). 20 Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2005