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The Macrium Reflect X backend has been comprehensively overhauled, and we've added some great new functionality as well...

Resumable Images and Write Failure Retry

Experience uninterrupted backups with Reflect X, designed to conquer network issues and other transient errors effortlessly. It even resumes seamlessly after a system reboot ensuring your data is always secure, no matter what.

For more information see here

Reflect X is faster!

We've dramatically enhanced backup, restore and clone speeds, all while maintaining our unmatched reliability.

For more information see here

   

Our File Format is Now Open Source!

We've now opened up our .mrimgx & .mrbakx file format on GitHub, and provided the full source code for restoring all data
We enable our customers to access their data freely, eliminating the need for proprietary software and ensuring complete data independence. It's your data and you own it!

For more information see here

Filter files from Images

Reflect X enhances your backup efficiency by allowing you to exclude files and folders from Volume Shadow copies using customizable wildcard filters. Now, you can easily omit temporary files and other non-essential data from your disk images.

For more information see here

Windows Copilot+ ARM Support

Reflect X now extends full support to Windows CoPilot+ on ARM architecture. This update allows you to enjoy smooth, efficient backups and flawless recovery operations using the Windows RE rescue media on your ARM devices.

Reflect X is compatible v7.x and v8.x Image and File and Folder files. Image sets created with earlier version than Reflect X will not create image files with the new file layout. 

Resumable Images and Write Failure Retry


Note: Resume and Retry is only available for Reflect X .mrimx images. This functionality is not supported for v8 .mrimg images. 


Reflect X
now creates persistent VSS snapshots that can be used to resume Images in the event of transient or even catastrophic errors.  Images will automatically resume in the background.

To configure the settings, take 'Other Tasks' > 'Edit Defaults and Settings' > 'Advanced' > 'Advanced Error Handling'

Resumable Images

Flush Delay Settings

The flush delay settings control the frequency of saving metadata and index information. This process is detailed below.

Additional Files Created

When resumable images are enabled, several additional files are created in the destination folder for each image and volume:

  • .metadata file: Contains information related to the entire backup, such as the status of the backup, the number of volumes, and snapshot information.
  • .bitmap file: Stores volume bitmap information.
  • .block.table file: Stores index information.
  • .tmp file: Stores the actual backup data, similar to non-resumable backups.

Metadata and Index Information

  • Metadata and index information are periodically saved, a process controlled by the flush delay setting.
  • The .metadata file contains overall backup information.
  • The .block.table file contains index information for the volumes.
  • The .bitmap file contains bitmap information for the volumes.

Temporary Files and Backup Completion

Upon successful completion of the backup:

  • All temporary files are deleted.
  • The .tmp file is renamed to .mrimgx.
  • Index information is written into the .mrimgx file.

Handling Read/Write Errors

  • In case of read/write errors, the backup will be retried for the specified time as per the Failure (Read/Write error) retry setting.
  • Temporary files will be deleted at the end of the retry period, regardless of whether the backup completed successfully or failed.
  • Customers may want to increase the retry count to avoid premature deletion.
  • Retry delay: The period to wait before retrying.

Note: In the current version, the Failure (Read/Write error) retry and Retry delay settings are not used, meaning read/write errors are not retried.

Automatic Resumption of Failed Backups

  • Reflect service periodically checks (every 1 minute) and automatically resumes failed backups caused by Reflect crashes, system restarts, etc.
  • During the resumption, metadata, .block.table, and .bitmap files are validated against the data stored within the .tmp file to establish a restart point.
  • The validation process (hunting process) starts from the end of the .tmp file and moves backward to find verifiable data.
  • The .tmp file position is reset to a valid data point, and the backup resumes from that point.
  • If no verifiable data is found (e.g., if a failure occurred early in the backup), the backup will restart from the beginning.
  • Snapshot IDs are validated during resumption, and any missing snapshots will be recreated for that volume, restarting the backup from the beginning for that volume.

Scenarios Based on Volume Backup and Snapshot Availability

The following table describes various scenarios based on the state of the volume backup and snapshot availability:

ScenarioDescription
Backup SuccessAll temporary files are deleted, .tmp file is renamed to .mrimgx.
Backup Failure (Early Stage)Backup restarts from the beginning if no verifiable data is found.
Backup Failure (Later Stage)Resumes from the last valid data point after validating .tmp, .block.table, and .bitmap files.
Snapshot MissingMissing snapshots are recreated, and the backup restarts for that volume.

These procedures ensure data integrity and minimize the risk of data loss during backup operations.


The following table describes various scenarios based on the state of the volume backup and snapshot availability.

File System

Reflect Crash

System Restart

Unformatted or no volume drive letter

No snapshot

Resume backup for incomplete volume

No snapshot

Resume backup for incomplete volume

FAT32

If snapshot id still valid, resume from where it left. Otherwise resume from the beginning.

Recreate snapshot and resume from the beginning

exFAT

If snapshot id still valid, resume from where it left. Otherwise resume from the beginning.

Recreate snapshot and resume from the beginning

ReFS

If snapshot id still valid, resume from where it left. Otherwise resume from the beginning.

Recreate snapshot and resume from the beginning

NTFS

If snapshot id still valid, resume from where it left. Otherwise resume from the beginning.

If snapshot id still valid, resume from where it left. Otherwise resume from the beginning.

Other recognised by Reflect

If snapshot id still valid, resume from where it left. Otherwise resume from the beginning.

Recreate snapshot and resume from the beginning

Please note that the above table is for volumes where backup was in progress. Any completed and validated volumes will be skipped.  Any volumes which are still waiting to be backed up will be backed up from the beginning.


Faster Images and Restores


Note: Faster restore times are only available for Reflect X .mrimx images. This functionality is not supported for v8 .mrimg images. 


Overview

This table compares the performance of Reflect X and Macrium Reflect v8 based on the time taken to create full image backups. The source drive was a SATA SSD, and the destination was an internally connected NVMe SSD. Tests were conducted across three data sizes (100GB, 500GB, 900GB) and three compression levels (None, Medium, and High).

Summary

The results show significant improvements in backup creation times for Reflect X compared to the release version (v8), for scenarios involving compression. Reflect X consistently outperforms the release version, making it a more efficient option for users who utilize compression in their backup workflows.

Performance Comparison Table

Compression TypeData SizeReflect X Timev8 TimeReflect X Improvement
None100GB00:03:5900:03:580%

500GB00:24:2800:23:210%

900GB01:03:4701:04:070%
Medium100GB00:02:1100:04:2750.94%

500GB00:11:5900:25:2452.82%

900GB00:19:5500:40:1950.60%
High 100GB00:03:5000:08:0952.97%

500GB00:21:1600:34:3338.45%

900GB00:27:4600:57:3151.72%


Open Source

We're excited to announce that we've created an Open Source GitHub repository that provides a comprehensive guide to the format and layout of Macrium Reflect Image, as well as File and Folder backup files. Our aim is to enable our customers to access their data independently, without the need for proprietary software tools.

We've also provided a pre-built demo, img_to_vhdx.exe, bundled with a Reflect X image file and a batch file named demo.bat

See: https://github.com/macrium/mrimgx_file_layout


Excluding files from Images

We've created a new Macrium VSS writer that enables exclusion of unwanted files from VSS Snapshots. Using this filter, you can exclude various standard file categories, specific files, or apply wildcard filters recursively to selected folders. 

Take the 'Other Tasks' > 'Edit Defaults and Settings...' menu option, select 'Backup Defaults', then click 'Exclude Files'

Exclude files matching the criteria belowEnables/Disables all file filtering
Downloads folderFiles downloaded from the Internet, such as those obtained via web browsers
Temp foldersTemp folders are used to store short-term files created by the operating system and applications
Temporary Internet filesThese are cached files used to speed up web browsing
Windows software distribution filesDownloaded updates from Microsoft
Recycle binFiles you have deleted and can potentially recover. Note: Excluding the Recycle Bin will prevent recovery of deleted files after a restore, so use this option with caution
Advanced Exclusions buttonOpens the Advanced Exclusions dialog for more granular control over file exclusions

Advanced Exclusions dialog

Add File...Opens a browse dialog to select a single file for exclusion
Add Wildcard..Opens the 'Wildcard dialog'
RemoveRemoves the selected filter from the filter list


Wildcard dialog


Select Folder...Opens a folder browse dialog to select the folder to apply the filter
WildcardEnter a wildcard filter. E.g. in the form of  *. * or *.temp
Include subfoldersSelect to also recursively exclude files that match the wildcard filter in subfolders

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