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  • Creating a Data Consistent, Space Efficient Data Backup Plan for a Small Business Server

In today's business environment, both large and small offices rely on computers and corporate servers for their core business activities. While this means greater efficiency for day-to-day business, it also means that your company's productivity depends more heavily on the reliability and accessibility of your data and applications. Quite often, the failure of a single business crucial server can result in catastrophic losses to the company. It is not uncommon for there to be a complete loss of productivity while the data and functionality of the system are restored. There are many ways to reduce the risk of catastrophic hardware failure. But the most tried and true safeguard against data loss is a regular data backup. Regularly backing up your company's data won't reduce the risk of hardware failure-but it will drastically mitigate the damage caused by a server or hard drive failure. Having a solid data backup plan in place makes it possible to restore a failed server to full operation in a matter of hours rather than a matter of days. This alone greatly reduces the costs of restoring business operations, both in terms of lost time for your employees and billable hours for data recovery IT services.

The benefits of a regular business data backup plan are obvious. Yet many business owners continue to be hesitant to invest the time and money into a proper backup plan. In past decades, small business owners may have been right to shy away from the costs of a robust, sophisticated backup system. A data backup plan is like insurance for your stored data-and with older systems and software, the "premiums" you pay have the potential to outweigh the value of the protection you receive. But with a modern network attached storage (NAS) device and an intuitive, professional backup program like R-Drive Image, establishing and executing a proper data backup plan is incredibly easy and inexpensive. This article will prove that by showing how to create a data-consistent backup plan for a small-size corporate server.

This example procedure shows the capabilities of R-Drive Image as well as the intuitive wizard-style interface. The backup plan established here is suitable for a small business IT system. After completing the steps, you should be able to easily adapt the same methodology to meet your own business backup needs.

Small Business Backup Plan Overview

Before we begin with the procedural steps, we'll briefly define the configuration of the system we are backing up and the parameters of our automated backup plan.

Disk setup on server being backed up

When creating a backup plan, it's important to consider the disk setup on the server or computer that is being backed up. A typical disk setup includes a system disk and a data disk. These may be comprised of two logical disks on a single physical hard drive, two separate physical hard drives, or separate volumes in a RAID setup (including RAID 0 for the system disk).

In any case, it is necessary to back up both the system disk and the data disk. For both disks, it is best to back up the volume on a disk level, rather than on an individual file basis. Backing up using an image of the entire disk is faster, more reliable, and preserves the entire file/folder structure on the volume. This is important not only for the system disk, which requires certain files to be in the proper folders, but also for data disks, since many databases have complex and meaningful file/folder structures.

In this example, we'll be backing up two logical disks on the same physical hard drive: the system disk (C:) and the data disk (D:).

Backup plan

In this example, we will schedule the backup to run unattended after hours and on weekends. This will ensure that the backup does not interfere with performance or data accessibility during business hours.

The system disk backup plan includes the following:

  • Monthly full backup run the first Sunday of the month at 2PM.
  • Weekly differential backup run every Sunday at 5PM.
  • Backups are stored for three months.

This backup plan makes it possible to roll the system back on a weekly basis for the last three months. For example, if there is a catastrophic system failure on Tuesday, you'll only need to redo any changes that have occurred since the last backup on Sunday at 5PM. This means you'll only lose about 2 days of work. The most you stand to lose is 7 days of system configuration changes. For example, if you have a system disk failure on Sunday before 5PM. Given that system changes occur infrequently, this is an acceptable level of risk.

The data disk backup plan includes the following:

  • Monthly full backup the first Saturday of the month at 5AM.
  • Weekly differential backup run every Saturday at 3PM.
  • Daily incremental backups run at 11PM on business days.
  • Backups are stored for three months.

This backup plan saves the current data state once a day, making it possible to the roll back the data on a daily basis for the last three months. The backup schedule is set for Saturday, rather than Sunday, so it does not overlap with the system disk backup schedule. With this backup plan, you will never lose more than a day's worth of data - if you save a file on Tuesday morning and there's a system crash that afternoon, you'll be able to roll back to the files you had on Monday night. If you save a file on Tuesday night before 11PM and there is a system crash the next morning, you won't lose anything.

Backup Types: Pros and Cons

Full backup A file that contains a complete image of an entire disk.
Pros: This is the only file needed to recover an entire disk.
Cons: Large size.
Differential A file that contains the difference between the current disk data and the last full backup.
Pros: Smaller in size than a full disk backup.
Cons: Typically larger than an incremental backup. Requires one differential backup and one full backup image to restore a disk.
Incremental A file that contains the difference between the current disk data and the last backup (full, differential, or incremental).
Pros: Smallest size, compared to a differential or full backup.
Cons: May require multiple incremental/differential backup images in addition to one full backup to restore data. If any one of the incremental backup files becomes corrupted, data stored in later incremental backup files cannot be restored either.

Backup storage location

The safest place to store backup data is on a remote backup server that is physically located offsite. This removes the risk of both your operational server and your backup server being damaged by a fire or natural disaster in your building. The second best option is to store the backup data on separate hardware in the same building. This protects you from data loss caused by hardware failure - if you have a backup stored in the same physical disk as the disk that's used for day-to-day business, you'll lose both sets of data if the hard drive has a physical failure.
A recommended
          network setup for backup of a small-size corporate server
Fig.1. A recommended network setup for backup of a small-size corporate server
Click image to enlarge

For a remote backup server, it's not necessary to invest in a high end computer or server. An inexpensive, though reliable network attached storage (NAS) device will do. You can find a NAS device to meet your needs at practically any retailer that sells computers or business IT equipment.

Note that many NAS devices come with support for internal RAID volumes. For backup purposes, make sure you use a RAID level that incorporates redundancy or fault tolerance, such as RAID 1, RAID 4, RAID 5 or RAID 6. Avoid stripe sets (RAID 0)-if one disk in a stripe set fails, all data will be lost.

R-Drive Image is compatible with any backup server OS that supports the SMB network protocol. This includes, but is not limited to, Windows, Mac OS and Linux. Most NAS devices run a customized Linux OS distribution.

In this example, we will back up to a remote server on the network (BCK-UBUNTU).

Email notifications

After completing a scheduled backup, an email report of the backup operation results will be sent. For examples of email reports, see the Mail Notification Examples section at the end of this tutorial.

System Disk Backup

Monthly system disk full backup

The first part of the system disk backup is a monthly full backup that runs the first Sunday of the month at 2PM.

1. In the Action Selection panel, click Scheduler / Create a Script.
Monthly system disk full backup - Action Selection
          Panel
Fig. 2. Monthly system disk full backup - Action Selection Panel
Click image to enlarge

2. In the Scheduled Tasks panel, click the Create a task button.
Monthly system disk full backup - Scheduled Tasks
          Panel
Fig. 3. Monthly system disk full backup - Scheduled Tasks Panel
Click image to enlarge

3. In the Partition Selection panel, select the system partition that will be backed up. In this example, the system partition is C:.
Monthly system disk full backup - Partition Selection
          Panel
Fig. 4. Monthly system disk full backup - Partition Selection Panel
Click image to enlarge

When creating a system disk backup for Windows 7 and later, don't forget to select the small active partition for the system loader in addition to the system disk. Earlier Windows versions don't have such a partition.

4. In the Image Destination panel, select the image destination and file name.

In this example, we are choosing a network backup server BCK-UBUNTU and the Backups folder as the destination. You may be prompted for a username and password to access a folder on a network drive.
Monthly system disk full backup - Image Destination
          Panel
Fig. 5. Monthly system disk full backup - Image Destination Panel
Click image to enlarge

5. Specify the backup set parameters in the Imaging Mode panel as shown.
Monthly system disk full backup - Imaging Mode Panel
Fig. 6. Monthly system disk full backup - Imaging Mode Panel
Click image to enlarge

For Maximum number of backup sets, choose 3. Choose Create a new full image for the imaging mode. For more information on the rest of the parameters, see R-Drive Image online help topic: Backup Sets.

6. Specify the necessary parameters on the Image Options panel as shown.
Monthly system disk full backup - Image Options Panel
Fig. 7. Monthly system disk full backup - Image Options Panel
Click image to enlarge

For more information on the rest of the parameters, see R-Drive Image online help topic: Image Options.

7. Specify the required parameters on the Backup Options panel as shown.
Monthly system disk full backup - Backup Options Panel
Fig. 8. Monthly system disk full backup - Backup Options Panel
Click image to enlarge

For more information on the rest of the parameters, see R-Drive Image online help topic: Backup Options.

8. Specify the necessary parameters on the Time/Event panel as shown.
Monthly system disk full backup - Time/Event Panel
Fig. 9. Monthly system disk full backup - Time/Event Panel
Click image to enlarge

9. Specify the required parameters on the User/Password panel.
Monthly system disk full backup - User/Password Panel
Fig. 10. Monthly system disk full backup - User/Password Panel
Click image to enlarge

10. Specify email notification options on the Mail Notification/AUX Applications panel as shown.
Monthly system disk full backup - Mail Notification/AUX
          Applications Panel
Fig. 11. Monthly system disk full backup - Mail Notification/AUX Applications Panel
Click image to enlarge

Before proceeding, you can test your email settings by clicking the Test mail account… button. R-Drive Image will send a test email using the specified settings.

11. Verify the task parameters on the Processing panel and click the Save button.
Monthly system disk full backup - Processing Panel
Fig. 12. Monthly system disk full backup - Processing Panel
Click image to enlarge

To change a parameter, click the Back button to return to the necessary panel.

If you clicked Save, the scheduled task will appear on the Scheduled Tasks panel.
Monthly system disk full backup - Scheduled Tasks
          Panel
Fig. 13. Monthly system disk full backup - Scheduled Tasks Panel
Click image to enlarge

Weekly system disk differential backup

The next part of the backup plan is a weekly differential backup. This backs up only the data that has changed or been added since the last full backup. These backup files are smaller in size and do not take as long to process, which makes them more suitable for weekly backup operations.

1. Click the Create a task button on the Scheduled Tasks panel, select the system partition on the Partition Selection panel, and select the image destination with the same file name on the Image Destination panel, as you did for the full system disk backup.

2. Specify backup set parameters on the Imaging Mode panel.
Weekly system disk differential backup - Imaging Mode
          Panel
Fig. 14. Weekly system disk differential backup - Imaging Mode Panel
Click image to enlarge

Set the Maximum number of backup sets to 3, and select Append changes differentially to the last image in the backup set.
If you protected the full backup disk image with a password, R-Drive Image will ask you to enter it.

3. Specify the necessary parameters on the Image Options, and Backup Options panels, as you did for the full system disk backup.

4. Specify the necessary parameters on the Time/Event panel.
Weekly system disk differential backup - Time/Event
          Panel
Fig. 15. Weekly system disk differential backup - Time/Event Panel
Click image to enlarge

Ensure that the Start time does not overlap with the monthly system disk full backup. In this example, we have chosen 2PM for the monthly backup and 5PM for the weekly backup.

5. Specify the required parameters on the User/Password panel.

6. Specify the necessary parameters on the Mail Notifications/AUX Applications panel, as you did for the full system disk backup.
Weekly system disk differential backup - Mail
          Notification/AUX Applications Panel
Fig. 16. Weekly system disk differential backup - Mail Notification/AUX Applications Panel
Click image to enlarge

Change Custom subject: to Server1: differential system disk backup.

7. Verify the task parameters on the Processing panel and click the Save button.
Weekly system disk differential backup - Processing
          Panel
Fig. 17. Weekly system disk differential backup - Processing Panel
Click image to enlarge

The scheduled task will appear on the Scheduled Tasks panel.
Weekly system disk differential backup - Scheduled
          Tasks Panel
Fig. 18. Weekly system disk differential backup - Scheduled Tasks Panel
Click image to enlarge

Data Disk Backup

Monthly data disk full backup

The procedure is very similar to the full system disk backup, except it backs up the data partition (D:).

1. In the Scheduled Tasks panel, click the Create a task button.

2. Select the data partition (D:) on the Partition Selection panel.
Monthly data disk full backup - Partition Selection
          Panel
Fig. 19. Monthly data disk full backup - Partition Selection Panel
Click image to enlarge

3. Select the image destination and file name on the Image Destination panel.
Monthly data disk full backup - Image Destination
          Panel
Fig. 20. Monthly data disk full backup - Image Destination Panel
Click image to enlarge

4. Specify backup set parameters on the Imaging Mode panel.
Monthly data disk full backup - Imaging Mode Panel
Fig. 21. Monthly data disk full backup - Imaging Mode Panel
Click image to enlarge

Set the Maximum number of backup sets to 3, and select Create a new full image.

5. Specify the necessary parameters on the Image Options, and Backup Options panels, as you did for the full system disk backup.

6. Specify the necessary parameters on the Time/Event panel.
Monthly data disk full backup - Time/Event Panel
Fig. 22. Monthly data disk full backup - Time/Event Panel
Click image to enlarge

7. Specify the required parameters on the User/Password panel.

8. Specify mail options on the Mail Notification/AUX Applications panel.
Monthly data disk full backup - Mail Notification/AUX
          Applications Panel
Fig. 23. Monthly data disk full backup - Mail Notification/AUX Applications Panel
Click image to enlarge

9. Verify the task parameters on the Processing panel and click the Save button.
Monthly data disk full backup - Processing Panel
Fig. 24. Monthly data disk full backup - Processing Panel
Click image to enlarge

The scheduled task will appear on the Scheduled Tasks panel.
Monthly data disk full backup - Scheduled Tasks Panel
Fig. 25. Monthly data disk full backup - Scheduled Tasks Panel
Click image to enlarge

Weekly data disk differential backup

Again, this is similar to the system disk differential backup, except we are choosing the data partition (D:).

1. Click the Create a task button on the Scheduled Tasks panel, select the data partition (e.g. D:) on the Partition Selection panel, and select the image destination and file name (same as for the data disk full backup) on the Image Destination panel, as you did for the data disk full backup.

2. Specify backup set parameters on the Imaging Mode panel.
Weekly data disk differential backup - Imaging Mode
          Panel
Fig. 26. Weekly data disk differential backup - Imaging Mode Panel
Click image to enlarge

Set the Maximum number of backup sets to 3, and select Append changes differentially to the last image in the backup set.

3. Specify the necessary parameters on the Image Options, and Backup Options panels, as you did for the data disk full backup.

4. Specify the necessary parameters on the Time/Event panel.
Weekly data disk differential backup - Time/Event
          Panel
Fig. 27. Weekly data disk differential backup - Time/Event Panel
Click image to enlarge

5. Specify the required parameters on the User/Password panel.

6. Specify mail options on the Mail Notification/AUX Applications panel.
Weekly
          data disk differential backup - Mail Notification/AUX
          Applications Panel
Fig. 28. Weekly data disk differential backup - Mail Notification/AUX Applications Panel
Click image to enlarge

7. Verify the task parameters on the Processing panel and click the Save button.
Weekly data disk differential backup - Processing
          Panel
Fig. 29. Weekly data disk differential backup - Processing Panel
Click image to enlarge

The scheduled task will appear on the Scheduled Tasks panel.
Weekly data disk differential backup - Scheduled Tasks
          Panel
Fig. 30. Weekly data disk differential backup - Scheduled Tasks Panel
Click image to enlarge

Daily data disk incremental backup

An incremental backup includes the data that has changed or is new since the last full or partial (differential/incremental) backup. Individual incremental backup images are smaller in size than differential backups, which makes them more suitable for daily backups.

1. Click the Create a task button on the Scheduled Tasks panel, select the data partition on the Partition Selection panel, and select the image destination and file name (same as for the data disk full backup) on the Image Destination panel, as you did for the data disk full backup.

2. Specify backup set parameters on the Imaging Mode panel.
Daily data disk incremental backup - Imaging Mode
          Panel
Fig. 31. Daily data disk incremental backup - Imaging Mode Panel
Click image to enlarge

Set the Maximum number of backup sets to 3, and select Append changes incrementally to the last image in the backup set.

3. Specify the necessary parameters on the Image Options, and Backup Options panels, as you did for the data disk full backup.

4. Specify the necessary parameters on the Time/Event panel.
Daily data disk incremental backup - Time/Event Panel
Fig. 32. Daily data disk incremental backup - Time/Event Panel
Click image to enlarge

5. Specify the required parameters on the User/Password panel.

6. Specify mail options on the Mail Notification/AUX Applications panel
Daily
          data disk incremental backup - Mail Notification/AUX
          Applications Panel
Fig. 33. Daily data disk incremental backup - Mail Notification/AUX Applications Panel
Click image to enlarge

7. Verify the task parameters on the Processing panel and click the Save button.
Daily data disk incremental backup - Processing Panel
Fig. 34. Daily data disk incremental backup - Processing Panel
Click image to enlarge

The scheduled task will appear on the Scheduled Tasks panel.
Daily data disk incremental backup - Scheduled Tasks
          Panel
Fig. 35. Daily data disk incremental backup - Scheduled Tasks Panel
Click image to enlarge

Backup Plan File Structure

Your backup plan is now scheduled. You will now begin receiving notifications when backup operations complete. Read on for guidance on reading backup logs.

Backup files created by R-Drive Image follow these file name conventions:

  • Full backup: <filename>_<date_of_first_backup>_<time_of_first_backup>_1.rdr
  • Incremental and differential backups: <filename>_<date_of_first_backup>_<time_of_first_backup>_N+1.rdr

where N is the number of the previous incremental or differential backup.

When performing the backup plan from this example, R-Drive Image will create the following files:

System disk backup

Date/Weekday/Time
Files
Newly created files are in bold
Image type
Backup Set Number
Start of Backup Set 1
2013-09-01 /Sunday / 2:00PM
2013-09-01 /Sunday / 5:00PM
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_1.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_2.rdr
Full backup
Diff. backup


Backup Set 1


2013-09-08 /Sunday / 5:00PM
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_1.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_2.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_3.rdr
Full backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
2013-09-15 /Sunday / 5:00PM
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_1.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_2.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_3.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_4.rdr
Full backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
2013-09-22 /Sunday / 5:00PM
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_1.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_2.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_3.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_4.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_5.rdr
Full backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
2013-09-29 /Sunday / 5:00PM
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_1.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_2.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_3.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_4.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_5.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_6.rdr
Full backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Start of Backup Set 2
2013-10-06 /Sunday / 2:00PM
2013-10-06 /Sunday / 5:00PM
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_1.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_2.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_3.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_4.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_5.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_6.rdr
SystemDisk_20131006_020000PM_1.rdr
SystemDisk_20131006_020000PM_2.rdr
Full backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Full backup
Diff. backup
Backup Sets 1,2



2013-10-13 /Sunday / 5:00PM
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_1.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_2.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_3.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_4.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_5.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_6.rdr
SystemDisk_20131006_020000PM_1.rdr
SystemDisk_20131006_020000PM_2.rdr
SystemDisk_20131006_020000PM_3.rdr
Full backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Full backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
2013-10-20 /Sunday / 5:00PM
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_1.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_2.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_3.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_4.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_5.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_6.rdr
SystemDisk_20131006_020000PM_1.rdr
SystemDisk_20131006_020000PM_2.rdr
SystemDisk_20131006_020000PM_3.rdr
SystemDisk_20131006_020000PM_4.rdr
Full backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Full backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
2013-10-27 /Sunday / 5:00PM
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_1.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_2.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_3.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_4.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_5.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_6.rdr
SystemDisk_20131006_020000PM_1.rdr
SystemDisk_20131006_020000PM_2.rdr
SystemDisk_20131006_020000PM_3.rdr
SystemDisk_20131006_020000PM_4.rdr
SystemDisk_20131006_020000PM_5.rdr
Full backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Full backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Start of Backup Set 3
2013-11-03 /Sunday / 5:00PM
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_1.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_2.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_3.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_4.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_5.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_6.rdr
SystemDisk_20131006_020000PM_1.rdr
SystemDisk_20131006_020000PM_2.rdr
SystemDisk_20131006_020000PM_3.rdr
SystemDisk_20131006_020000PM_4.rdr
SystemDisk_20131006_020000PM_5.rdr
SystemDisk_20131103_020000PM_1.rdr
SystemDisk_20131103_020000PM_2.rdr
Full backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Full backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Full backup
Diff. backup
Backup Sets 1,2,3



2013-11-10 /Sunday / 5:00PM
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_1.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_2.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_3.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_4.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_5.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_6.rdr
SystemDisk_20131006_020000PM_1.rdr
SystemDisk_20131006_020000PM_2.rdr
SystemDisk_20131006_020000PM_3.rdr
SystemDisk_20131006_020000PM_4.rdr
SystemDisk_20131006_020000PM_5.rdr
SystemDisk_20131103_020000PM_1.rdr
SystemDisk_20131103_020000PM_2.rdr
SystemDisk_20131103_020000PM_3.rdr
Full backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Full backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Full backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
2013-11-17 /Sunday / 5:00PM
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_1.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_2.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_3.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_4.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_5.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_6.rdr
SystemDisk_20131006_020000PM_1.rdr
SystemDisk_20131006_020000PM_2.rdr
SystemDisk_20131006_020000PM_3.rdr
SystemDisk_20131006_020000PM_4.rdr
SystemDisk_20131006_020000PM_5.rdr
SystemDisk_20131103_020000PM_1.rdr
SystemDisk_20131103_020000PM_2.rdr
SystemDisk_20131103_020000PM_3.rdr
SystemDisk_20131103_020000PM_4.rdr
Full backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Full backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Full backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
2013-11-24 /Sunday / 5:00PM
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_1.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_2.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_3.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_4.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_5.rdr
SystemDisk_20130901_020000PM_6.rdr
SystemDisk_20131006_020000PM_1.rdr
SystemDisk_20131006_020000PM_2.rdr
SystemDisk_20131006_020000PM_3.rdr
SystemDisk_20131006_020000PM_4.rdr
SystemDisk_20131006_020000PM_5.rdr
SystemDisk_20131103_020000PM_1.rdr
SystemDisk_20131103_020000PM_2.rdr
SystemDisk_20131103_020000PM_3.rdr
SystemDisk_20131103_020000PM_4.rdr
SystemDisk_20131103_020000PM_5.rdr
Full backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Full backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Full backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Start of Backup Set 4. Backup Set 1 is deleted.
2013-12-01 /Sunday / 5:00PM
SystemDisk_20131006_020000PM_1.rdr
SystemDisk_20131006_020000PM_2.rdr
SystemDisk_20131006_020000PM_3.rdr
SystemDisk_20131006_020000PM_4.rdr
SystemDisk_20131006_020000PM_5.rdr
SystemDisk_20131103_020000PM_1.rdr
SystemDisk_20131103_020000PM_2.rdr
SystemDisk_20131103_020000PM_3.rdr
SystemDisk_20131103_020000PM_4.rdr
SystemDisk_20131103_020000PM_5.rdr
SystemDisk_20131201_020000PM_1.rdr
SystemDisk_20131201_020000PM_2.rdr
Full backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Full backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Full backup
Diff. backup
Backup Sets 2,3,4
2013-12-08 /Sunday / 5:00PM
SystemDisk_20131006_020000PM_1.rdr
SystemDisk_20131006_020000PM_2.rdr
SystemDisk_20131006_020000PM_3.rdr
SystemDisk_20131006_020000PM_4.rdr
SystemDisk_20131006_020000PM_5.rdr
SystemDisk_20131103_020000PM_1.rdr
SystemDisk_20131103_020000PM_2.rdr
SystemDisk_20131103_020000PM_3.rdr
SystemDisk_20131103_020000PM_4.rdr
SystemDisk_20131103_020000PM_5.rdr
SystemDisk_20131201_020000PM_1.rdr
SystemDisk_20131201_020000PM_2.rdr
SystemDisk_20131201_020000PM_3.rdr
Full backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Full backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup
Full backup
Diff. backup
Diff. backup

Data disk backup

This is an example of the file structure from one backup set. The beginning of Backup Set 2 is shown for context.

Date/Weekday/Time
File
Backup type
2013-08-31 /Saturday /5:00AM
2013-08-31 /Saturday /3:00PM
DataDisk_20130831_050000AM_1.rdr
DataDisk_20130831_050000PM_2.rdr
Full
Diff
2013-09-02 /Monday /11:00PM
DataDisk_20130831_050000AM_3.rdr
Inc.
2013-09-03 /Tuesday /11:00PM
DataDisk_20130831_050000AM_4.rdr
Inc.
2013-09-04 /Wednesday /11:00PM
DataDisk_20130831_050000AM_5.rdr
Inc.
2013-09-05 /Thursday /11:00PM
DataDisk_20130831_050000AM_6.rdr
Inc.
2013-09-06 /Friday /11:00PM
DataDisk_20130831_050000AM_7.rdr
Inc.
2013-09-07 /Saturday /3:00PM
DataDisk_20130831_050000AM_8.rdr
Diff.
2013-09-09 /Monday /11:00PM
DataDisk_20130831_050000AM_9.rdr Inc.
2013-09-10 /Tuesday / 11:00PM
DataDisk_20130831_050000AM_10.rdr
Inc.
2013-09-11 /Wednesday /11:00PM
DataDisk_20130831_050000AM_11.rdr
Inc.
2013-09-12 /Thursday /11:00PM
DataDisk_20130831_050000AM_12.rdr
Inc.
2013-09-13 /Friday /11:00PM
DataDisk_20130831_050000AM_13.rdr   Inc.
2013-09-14 /Saturday /3:00PM
DataDisk_20130831_050000AM_14.rdr
Diff.
2013-09-16 /Monday /11:00PM
DataDisk_20130831_050000AM_15.rdr
Inc.
2013-09-17 /Tuesday /11:00PM
DataDisk_20130831_050000AM_16.rdr
Inc.
2013-09-18 /Wednesday /11:00PM
DataDisk_20130831_050000AM_17.rdr
Inc.
2013-09-19 /Thursday /11:00PM
DataDisk_20130831_050000AM_18.rdr
Inc.
2013-09-20 /Friday /11:00PM
DataDisk_20130831_050000AM_19.rdr
Inc.
2013-09-21 /Saturday /3:00PM
DataDisk_20130831_050000AM_20.rdr
Diff.
2013-09-23 /Monday /11:00PM
DataDisk_20130831_050000AM_21.rdr
Inc.
2013-09-24 /Tuesday /11:00PM
DataDisk_20130831_050000AM_22.rdr
Inc.
2013-09-25 /Wednesday /11:00PM
DataDisk_20130831_050000AM_23.rdr
Inc.
2013-09-26 /Thursday /11:00PM
DataDisk_20130831_050000AM_24.rdr
Inc.
2013-09-27 /Friday /11:00PM
DataDisk_20130831_050000AM_25.rdr
Inc.
2013-09-28 /Saturday /3:00PM
DataDisk_20130831_050000AM_26.rdr
Diff.
2013-09-30 /Monday /11:00PM
DataDisk_20130831_050000AM_27.rdr
Inc.
2013-10-01 /Tuesday /11:00PM
DataDisk_20130831_050000AM_28.rdr
Inc.
2013-10-02 /Wednesday /11:00PM
DataDisk_20130831_050000AM_29.rdr
Inc.
2013-10-03 /Thursday /11:00PM
DataDisk_20130831_050000AM_30.rdr
Inc.
2013-10-04 /Friday /11:00PM
DataDisk_20130831_050000AM_31.rdr
Inc.
Start of Backup Set 2
2013-10-05 /Saturday /5:00AM
2013-10-05 /Saturday /3:00PM
DataDisk_20131005_050000AM_1.rdr
DataDisk_20131005_050000AM_2.rdr
Full
Diff.

You may delete daily incremental backups that were created between a full and differential backups without loss of data consistency. For example, after DataDisk_20130831_050000AM_8.rdr is created, you can delete DataDisk_20130831_050000AM_3.rdr through DataDisk_20130831_050000AM_7.rdr.

Logging

You can save a log file of R-Drive Image operations. To start logging, click the About button on the Action Selection panel, select Logging, and specify the file name and path.
R-Drive Image: Logging
Fig. 36. R-Drive Image: Logging
Click image to enlarge

Mail notification examples

When a backup operation completes, R-Drive Image will send a mail notification.

For Successful operations, the notification will look like the following:

R-Drive Image 5.1 (Build 5100)
Command: create /a /o -s="hdd_size=640135028736+part_num=1+hdd_num=1+hdd_target_id=0+hdd_bus_type=sata2
+part_ofs=1048576+hdd_name=SAMSUNG&#32;HD642JJ1AA01110+part_size=367001600+hdd_port_num=2
+hdd_serial=S1AFJ1MQ400283+part_fs=ntfs+hdd_vtype=real,hdd_size=640135028736+part_num=2
+hdd_num=1+hdd_target_id=0+hdd_bus_type=sata2+part_label=System+part_ofs=368050176
+part_mounted=C:\+hdd_name=SAMSUNG&#32;HD642JJ1AA01110+part_size=209348198400
+hdd_port_num=2+hdd_serial=S1AFJ1MQ400283+part_fs=ntfs+hdd_vtype=real"
-a="\\BCK-UBUNTU\Net_Drive\Backups\SystemDisk.rdr" -p="******" -r="Full backup image of the system disk."
-c="6" -u -check -bs -bs-num-b="3" -ms="mail.example.com:25" -ml="******" -ma="server1@example.com"
-mr="sysadmin_of_server1@example.com" -mc="Server 1: full system disk backup" -mx -me
Start at: Sun, 01 Sep 2013 14:00:00 -0500
Finish at: Sun, 01 Sep 2013 15:08:39 -0500
Success

Operations:
Create an Image: \\BCK-UBUNTU\Net_Drive\Backups\SystemDisk.rdr
Backup partition [SAMSUNG HD642JJ1AA01110 (596GB #1)]
Active Partition #1 (NTFS 350MB)
C: System (NTFS 194GB #2)
Backup disk partition structure
SAMSUNG HD642JJ1AA01110 (596GB #1)
Check an Image File

Execution log:
* Create an Image: \\BCK-UBUNTU\Net_Drive\Backups\SystemDisk.rdr
Backup partition [SAMSUNG HD642JJ1AA01110 (596GB #1)]
Active Partition #1 (NTFS 350MB)
C: System (NTFS 194GB #2)
Backup disk partition structure
SAMSUNG HD642JJ1AA01110 (596GB #1)
Check an Image File
* Operation completed successfully

If there was a failed operation, the mail notification will appear similar to below:

R-Drive Image 5.1 (Build 5100)
Command: create /a /o -s="hdd_size=522713088+part_num=1+hdd_num=2+hdd_target_id=0
+hdd_bus_type=usb+part_label=RS+part_ofs=65536+hdd_name=Flash&#32;Disk4.00
+part_size=522647552+hdd_port_num=0+hdd_serial=078163578514+part_fs=fat16+hdd_vtype=real"
-a="D:\Backups\HDD2_2-image.rdr" -u -check -ms="smtp.example.com:25"
-ml="******" -ma="sender@example.com" -mr="receiver@example.com"
-mc=" Flash backup" -mx -me
Start at: Sun, 01 Sep 2013 18:06:47 -0500
Finish at: Sun, 01 Sep 2013 18:06:49 -0500
ERROR: Internal error (error #0:3831)

Operations:
Create an Image: D:\Backups\HDD2_2-image.rdr
Backup partition [KingstonDataTraveler 400PMAP (3.74GB #2)]
Active Partition #1 NEW VOLUME (FAT32 3.73GB)
Backup disk partition structure
KingstonDataTraveler 400PMAP (3.74GB #2)
Check an Image File

Execution log:
! KingstonDataTraveler 400PMAP: Partition at 32 extends beyond disk bounds
! KingstonDataTraveler 400PMAP: Partition at 32 extends beyond disk bounds
* Create an Image: D:\Backups\HDD2_2-image.rdr
Backup partition [KingstonDataTraveler 400PMAP (3.74GB #2)]
Active Partition #1 NEW VOLUME (FAT32 3.73GB)
Backup disk partition structure
KingstonDataTraveler 400PMAP (3.74GB #2)
Check an Image File
! Read disk KingstonDataTraveler 400PMAP at position 16896 failed after 2 attempts. The handle is invalid (6)
! Read disk KingstonDataTraveler 400PMAP at position 16896 failed after 2 attempts. The handle is invalid (6)
! Read disk at position 2671616 failed after 2 attempts. The handle is invalid (6)
! Operation failed: Internal error (error #0:3831)

Conclusion

Creating a backup plan with R-Drive Image is quick, easy and cost-effective. With R-Drive Image, a dedicated backup NAS and some basic planning, you can easily protect yourself from the crippling expense and inconvenience of a catastrophic data loss. This example shows you how simple it is to create a proper backup plan. To customize a backup plan to suit your business needs, see the R-Drive Image online help for more details about all of the backup parameters available.

Drive Image Feedback
68 feedbacks
Rating: 4.6 / 5
I played with the free trial little realising that my saved image would come to the rescue several months later. I immediately purchased some licences and restored my system with ease. I am most satisfied with R-Drive. I like its clean and simple interface - it makes things easy.
I have been using R-Drive for many years, I trust my data to nothing else. The latest version has enabled me to do things I didn`t think possible in just a couple of clicks. Thanks r-tools!
Is there an ISO available for download so we can restore even though we no longer have a working Windows 10 machine anywhere in the building?
R-Drive Image is an awesome product that works flawlessly, every time.
Thanks
tried many backup products all failed and crashed. this backup made it easy and trouble free highly recomend it for simple easy use