User guide

Validation of a file backup imitates recovery of all files from the backup to a dummy destination.

Validation of a disk backup calculates a checksum for every data block saved in the backup. Both

procedures are resource-intensive.

While the successful validation means a high probability of successful recovery, it does not check all

factors that influence the recovery process. If you back up the operating system, only a test recovery

under the bootable media to a spare hard drive can guarantee successful recovery in the future.

Vault

A place for storing backup archives (p. 238). A vault can be organized on a local or networked drive or

detachable media, such as an external USB drive. There are no settings for limiting a vault size or the

number of backups in a vault. You can limit the size of each archive using cleanup (p. 241), but the

total size of archives stored in the vault is limited by the storage size only.

Virtual machine

On Acronis Backup & Recovery 11.5 Management Server (p. 247), a machine (p. 247) is considered

virtual if it can be backed up from the virtualization host without installing an agent (p. 238) on the

machine. Such machine appears in the Virtual machines section. If an agent is installed into the guest

system, the machine appears in the Machines with agents section.

WinPE (Windows Preinstallation Environment)

A minimal Windows system based on any of the following kernels:

 Windows Vista (PE 2.0)

 Windows Vista SP1 and Windows Server 2008 (PE 2.1)

 Windows 7 (PE 3.0) with or without the supplement for Windows 7 SP1 (PE 3.1)

WinPE is commonly used by OEMs and corporations for deployment, test, diagnostic and system

repair purposes. A machine can be booted into WinPE via PXE, CD-ROM, USB flash drive or hard disk.

Acronis Plug-in for WinPE (p. 237) enables running the Acronis Backup & Recovery 11.5 Agent (p.

238) in the preinstallation environment.