Knowledge Base

Acronis products store backup data in proprietary TIB format using compression

This article applies to:

• Acronis Backup & Recovery 11
• Acronis Backup & Recovery 10
• Acronis Snap Deploy
• Acronis True Image Echo
• Acronis True Image 9.1
• Acronis True Image Home (All Editions)

Description

Acronis products save backup data in the proprietary TIB format using compression that reduces the amount of storage space needed for backups. Compression is used both in Windows and Linux operating systems and in Acronis Bootable Media.

Effective data compression level and resulting archive size depends on the type of files stored in the backup: even maximum compression cannot significantly reduce the backup size if the backup contains already compressed files, like .jpg, .pdf or .mp3. However, formats such as .doc or .xls will be compressed well.

You can choose the compression level for a backup in Backup options. For most products, the compression levels are:

• None - the data is copied without any compression, which may significantly increase the backup file size (especially with sector-by-sector backup);
• Normal - the recommended data compression level (set by default);
• High - higher backup file compression level, takes more time to create a backup;
• Maximum - maximum backup compression, but takes a long time to create a backup.

Acronis products use two libraries for compression: zlib and Acronis compression algorithm. Both libraries provide approximately the same ratios of compression.

Zlib is a third-party compression library. See Third Party Software Used in Acronis Products.

Compression ratio example

Example of compression ratio for different compression levels and different data types.

Acronis True Image Home 2011:

Acronis Backup & Recovery 10, Acronis Snap Deploy 3:

(!) Actual ratio of compression depends on data type and may be different on your system.

More information

See also Creating a Sector-By-Sector Backup with Acronis Products.