Verify Backup Images

The ImageManager verification service can periodically test the integrity of your backup image files. This verification of file integrity is similar to the manual process provided by ShadowProtect (see Verifying Backup Image Files in the ShadowProtect User Guide). While the Verification service is enabled by default, you can configure specific verification behavior for each managed folder.

Verification options include

• Basic Verification
• Advanced Verification using VirtualBoot
• Advanced Verification using chkdsk

To configure the verification service

1. In the ImageManager console, select the ImageManager agent and expand the managed folder.
2. Below the managed folder, double-click Verification (or right-click Verification and select Properties).
3. On the Verification tab of the Managed Folder Settings dialog, choose your verification options, then click Save.

Override Verification settings for this managed folder

(Only available on subfolders.) Instructs ImageManager to override the Backup Store level verification policy and use this policy instead.

Basic

• Immediately verify newly created image files - (Default: Enabled) Instructs ImageManager to verify each backup image file immediately following its creation.
• Periodically re-verify existing image files - (Default: Reverify every seven days) Instructs ImageManager to re-verify backup image files in the managed folder on a regular basis. You can re-verify the backup image files every 1 - 30 days, as specified in the Days field.
• Override default performance impact for image file verification - (Default: Disabled) Lets you manage how the ImageManager agent uses processing resources during the verification process. More processing resources result in faster verification, but can impact other system operations.
• When this setting is disabled, the agent uses the throttling setting in Agent Settings to manage I/O usage by ImageManager.
• See the General tab in Agent Settings.

Advanced Verification using VirtualBoot

Note: ImageManager must be installed on a physical machine to run advanced verification.

Automatically boot via integrated Arcserve VirtualBoot™ technology, providing an email with attached screenshot of the System Login Screen. Arcserve VirtualBoot requires that the Hyper-V role is enabled, or that Oracle VirtualBox be installed.

See Supported Hypervisors for Advanced Verification for supported versions.

Advanced Verification Key Points:

• Advanced verification can only VirtualBoot an operating system (OS) volume.
• VMs are created with 1 CPU core, 2 GB RAM, and without a NIC.
• ImageManager matches the minimum VirtualBox system requirements for memory. There are no options to allocate extra memory to the VM.
• The number of VirtualBoot machines concurrently being processed is determined by the “Maximum managed folders processed simultaneously” setting in the Agent Settings Performance tab (the default is 1).
• Advanced Verification runs sequentially across the managed folders after Consolidation has completed.
• Backups of 4K/Advanced Format drives need to be a 512e disk for Advanced Verification VirtualBoot to work. Backups of 4Kn volumes won’t successfully VirtualBoot with Advanced Verification.
• Important: Advanced Verification requires the Hyper-V role and the Arcserve VirtualBoot Hyper-V Plugin.

Ensure new consolidated image files successfully boot

(Default: Disabled)

Instructs ImageManager to automatically verify newly created consolidated images using VirtualBoot.

This can be accomplished using consolidated Daily image files, consolidated Weekly image files, or consolidated Monthly image files.

When this option is first selected the following prompt appears with a link to the Arcserve VirtualBoot Hyper-V Plugin, or the most recent VirtualBox version compatible with ImageManager.

See Supported Hypervisors for Advanced Verification for more information.

Wait to capture a screenshot of the booted image:

(Default: 5 minutes) Specify how long to wait, after images have been booted using VirtualBoot, to capture a screenshot. (1-30 minutes)

Advanced Verification using chkdsk

Check volume integrity of new consolidated image files - (Default: Disabled) Instructs ImageManager to automatically scan newly created consolidated images using chkdsk.

The volume integrity can be checked for consolidated Daily image files, consolidated Weekly image files, or consolidated Monthly image files.

To monitor for failure, check the Windows Event log or ImageManager Managed Folder log for chkdsk events.

For additional information see the ImageManager Advanced Verification video.