I am still evaluating SP Desktop and have come across something I don't understand.

I have setup a backup job to run a full backup every night at 6:00 and incrimentals every 90 minutes from 8:00 am untill 4:0 pm.  I set retention to keep two backups but delete only incimentals.  The backup job seems to be working fine.  I came in and as expected, two previous full backups were there and one incrimental set.

The backups are saved to a Buffalo Linkstation NAS.

I wanted to test the restore function.  When I ran the restore wizard, I get a list of backups but the only backups I can see are two manual backups I did prior to the Incrimental backup job.  I can browse to the folder on the Linkstation in the Restore wizard (it is defined as a Destination in SP) but only the manual backkups are listed.  The incrimental backups are in fact on the drive (in the Destination location), and, I am able to mount any of the incrimentals and copy files.  But, the root backup jobs (.spf) are not listed.  The only difference between the Manual and Incrimental backups is the file name length.  Manula file name is: G150_C-b001.spf, the backup job base file name is: C_Drive_Test_Inc-b001.spf.

 Am I missing a fundamental issue here?  Why can't I see the Backup job files in Resotre?

Thanks

When you first run the restore wizard and select the location, it only shows base images (full backups). Most likely, one of the base images shown is the one from which incrementals were then created. If you select a base image and click Next, it will then show you a page listing all the incrementals that came after that base and allow you to select which particular one you want to restore to. Try it with each of the base images listed to see if one of them is the base of your incremental chain. Thanks, Kevin

Thanks for your reply.

The issue is that some of the full backups are not even showing up in the Destination content window.  They are in fact on the NAS drive when I browse to it, but not visible in the backup wizard.

 Thanks

 I did notice this yesterday, too.

Same scenario with same NAS (but I don't think this issue has anything to do with the Buffalo).

Once incrementals have been added, you will see them on the drive, but not available for restore in SP unless.... you restart your Windows.

Then they will magically appear there in SP.

This is weird, to say the least, and am starting to doubt I did a good purchase yesterday after reading some positive comments on WildersSecurity.

I should have actually tested it myself rather than rushing with the purchase.

This weird thing of the disappearing backups, together with the inability to backup directly to DVD disks as well, uhm....

Also, can you please confirm whether your backups can be successfully validated in SP?

In my case some of them are ok, some others fail with no apparent resons - CRC errors and such.

I am using Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 with an Intel Pro 1000 Desktop and a Gigabit Linkstation Live  connected through a Netgear switch.

Both the pc and the NAS have 9K Jumbo frames enabled so SP can do backups nicely fast (~40MB/sec), but the fact that not all backups/incrementals validate successfully is worrying me a little.

@staff, is there anything in my configuration which might explain corrupted images, CRC errors?

Apart from with SP, I have no problems at all with network transfers.

 

What you are seeing maybe be different than what I experienced, but while trying out SP I also sometimes found existing backups missing from the list.

This may sound wierd, but if I would then run the mouse pointer over the area where they should be, they would magically show up.  I guess there is a software bug, and the list box window is not being properly refreshed or redrawn or something.