Backup software

Backing Up Multiple Drives as Disk Images

A backup job creates images of exactly the disks and partitions you select. If you want to back up multiple hard drives, specify the scope for each job and then verify in the backup destination that an image exists for each drive.

How do I back up multiple drives as disk images?

Create a separate job for each hard drive. Each image then belongs to exactly one disk — and later you restore each disk individually.

How do you create the jobs?

In disk image backup, you first select the hard drive, then the scope on it:

  • For the system drive, select “Complete Windows operating system (system and Windows partition).” This selection backs up not only drive C: but also the hidden boot areas: the EFI system partition, the reserved boot partition, and the recovery partition. Windows needs them to boot. If one of them is missing, the restored system won't start.
  • For a data drive, select “Select partitions.” You then decide yourself which partitions go into the image.

Does every drive need an image?

  • System drive: yes. Only an image brings back a bootable Windows.
  • Drive with an application or database instance: usually yes. An image is worth it if reinstalling would take longer than restoring.
  • Data drives and archives: no. A file backup is enough here. It restores faster, and you can find individual files in a targeted way.

The benchmark is what you need back first on the day of the failure.

How much storage space do you need?

Keep at least two full versions per job. A new full backup replaces the old one while it's still being written. As long as it's running, only the second full version is a complete fallback point. Images need a lot of space — so add up the target storage across all image jobs.

Also put the temporary drive on a large disk. An image backup needs space for intermediate storage, by default on drive C:. On servers, C: is usually the smallest disk. That's why the message about insufficient storage space often appears with the first large data drive. You change the path under Options → Expert settings; run a test afterward.

“.lmbDisk” or “.lmbImage”?

“.lmbDisk” contains a complete hard drive including the partition scheme — that is, the entire layout of the disk. “.lmbImage” contains individual partitions.

You want to Use this
Restore a bootable Windows including all system partitions “.lmbDisk”
Write an entire hard drive to a disk of the same size or larger “.lmbDisk”
Restore a single data drive or a single partition “.lmbImage”
Restore to a smaller disk than the original “.lmbImage”, the partitions individually

A “.lmbDisk” file needs space on the target disk for the entire old layout. If the new disk is smaller, use the “.lmbImage” files instead and restore the partitions individually.

What will you face on the day of the failure?

Each image is restored individually. For example, four disks with two hours of restore time each add up to a full workday.

Also plan for someone to be on site. The operating system comes back via the rescue medium, and that starts directly on the device. Remote maintenance requires a running Windows.

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About the author
Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
Konstantin Stratigenas is Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Langmeier Software and is largely responsible for the further development of the aBusiness Suite. His goal is to support companies with modern, AI-supported solutions that simplify work, accelerate processes and save time and costs. With his passion for user-friendly technologies, he pursues the vision that everyone worldwide should benefit from the advantages of the aBusiness Suite.
 
Look it up further:
Disk Image, Scope of Coverage, Image backup, multiple hard drives, Server Backup, Data recovery, Rescue medium, temporary drive, Langmeier Backup 15, Partitions, System Drive, File backup, Storage, Emergency Planning, Bare Metal Recovery
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