SCS KB 1085: How to create a bootable media

1. On the machine where Acronis Management Server is installed, click Start and type "bootable" or "media" in the Search box.
2. Click Run Bootable Media Builder:
   
3. Acronis Media Builder starts. Click Next.
4. Specify the license key(s). It determines which functionality to enable for the created media. Without the license keys, you can create media only for recovery.
   The licenses are not automatically obtained from the management server, you need to specify them manually. The bootable media does not revoke the already assigned licenses from the machines.
   
5. Select Bootable media type: Default (Linux-based media).
   

   Select the way volumes and network resources will be handled—called the media style:

   • A media with Linux-style volume handling displays the volumes as, for example, hda1 and sdb2. It tries to reconstruct MD devices and logical (LVM) volumes before starting a recovery.
   • A media with Windows-style volume handling displays the volumes as, for example, C: and D:. It provides access to dynamic (LDM) volumes.
6. [Optional] Specify the parameters of the Linux kernel. Separate multiple parameters with spaces.
   

   For example, to be able to select a display mode for the bootable agent each time the media starts, type: vga=ask; to specify the keyboard layouts that can be used in bootable media interface, type LAYOUTS=en-US, de-DE, fr-FR,..

   For a list of available parameters, see Kernel parameters.

7. In Select the components to be placed on the media, select Acronis Cyber Backup:
   
   You can also select Acronis Universal Restore, if you plan on restoring/migrating the system on dissimilar hardware. Otherwise, you will need to create a separate universal restore media later.
8. [Optional] Specify the timeout interval for the boot menu plus the component that will automatically start on timeout.
   

   If not configured, the loader waits for someone to select whether to boot the operating system (if present) or the component. If you set, say, 10 sec. for the bootable agent, the agent will launch 10 seconds after the menu is displayed. This enables unattended onsite operation when booting from WDS/RIS.

9. [Optional] Specify the remote logon settings: the user name and password to be specified in a command string if the acrocmd utility is running on a different machine. If you leave these boxes empty, the command does not need to contain credentials.
   

   These credentials are also required when you register the media on the management server from the backup console.

10. [Optional] Select how to register the media on the management server on booting up. For more information about the registration settings, see "Management server".
11. [Optional] Specify network settings: TCP/IP settings to be assigned to the machine network adapters.
12. [Optional] Specify a network port: The TCP port that the bootable agent listens for incoming connection.
13. [Optional] If a proxy server is enabled in your network, specify its host name/IP address and port.
14. Select the type of media to create. You can:
    
    • Create CD, DVD, or other bootable media such as removable USB flash drives if the hardware BIOS allows for boot from such media.
    • Build an ISO image to burn it later on a blank disc or to connect it to a virtual machine.
    • Upload the selected components to Acronis PXE Server.
    • Upload the selected components to a WDS/RIS.
15. If prompted, specify the host name/IP address and credentials for WDS/RIS, or a path to the media ISO file.
16. Check your settings in the summary screen and click Proceed.

1. On the machine where Acronis Management Server is installed, open Terminal and start the media builder: mediabuilder
   If you are not root, issue sudo mediabuilder; provide root password when prompted.
2. Acronis Media Builder starts. Click Next.
3. Specify the license key(s). It determines which functionality to enable for the created media. Without the license keys, you can create media only for recovery.
   The licenses are not automatically obtained from the management server, you need to specify them manually. The already assigned licenses will not get revoked from the machines and assigned to the media.
   
4. Select the way volumes and network resources will be handled—called the media style:
   
   • A media with Linux-style volume handling displays the volumes as, for example, hda1 and sdb2. It tries to reconstruct MD devices and logical (LVM) volumes before starting a recovery.
   • A media with Windows-style volume handling displays the volumes as, for example, C: and D:. It provides access to dynamic (LDM) volumes.
5. [Optional] Specify the parameters of the Linux kernel. Separate multiple parameters with spaces.
   

   For example, to be able to select a display mode for the bootable agent each time the media starts, type: vga=ask
   For a list of parameters, see Kernel parameters.

6. In Select the components to be placed on the media, select Acronis Cyber Backup.
7. [Optional] Specify the remote logon settings: the user name and password to be specified in a command string if the acrocmd utility is running on a different machine. If you leave these boxes empty, the command does not need to contain credentials.
   

   These credentials are also required when you register the media on the management server from the backup console.

8. [Optional] Select how to register the media on the management server on booting up. For more information about the registration settings, see "Management server".
9. [Optional] Specify network settings: TCP/IP settings to be assigned to the machine network adapters.
10. [Optional] Specify a network port: The TCP port that the bootable agent listens for incoming connection.
11. [Optional] If a proxy server is enabled in your network, specify its host name/IP address and port.
12. Select the type of media to create.
13. If prompted, specify the host name/IP address and credentials for WDS/RIS, or a path to the media ISO file.
14. Check your settings in the summary screen and click Proceed.

(!) If media builder is installed on a machine with 64-bit CPU, this media will only be able to boot on machines with 64-bit CPU.

If you see the following message on media boot, then you need to install media builder on a machine with 32-bit CPU and create a new bootmedia for machines with 32-bit CPU:

This Kernel requires an x86-64 CPU, but only detected an i686 CPU. Unable to boot - please use a kernel appropriate for your CPU

Alternatively, you can download an ISO image of the bootable media from the management console or from your account at https://account.acronis.com

How to download the bootable media from the management console

1. Open the management console.
2. Click the Account icon.
3. Click Downloads:
   
4. Select Bootable media:
   
5. Burn the downloaded ISO image to a CD/DVD: see Burning an ISO Image

How to download the bootable media from your Acronis account

If the management server and thus the management console is no longer available, you can download the bootable media from your Acronis account.

1. Openhttps://account.acronis.com
2. Locate Acronis Cyber Backup 12.5 (Advanced) and click Downloads:
   
3. Acronis Cyber Backup 12.5 download page opens. In Additional downloads, click Bootable Media ISO (for Windows and Linux).
4. Burn the downloaded ISO image to a CD/DVD: see Burning an ISO Image

Universal Restore enables you to boot an operating system recovered to dissimilar hardware or to a virtual machine if the system bootability issues occur. The tool finds and installs drivers for devices that are critical for the operating system start, such as storage controllers, motherboard, or chipset.

To create a bootable media with Acronis Universal Restore:

1. On a machine where Acronis Management Server is installed, click Start and type "bootable" or "media" in the Search box.
2. Click Run Bootable Media Builder.
3. Acronis Media Builder starts. Click Next and follow the on-screen instructions.
4. In Select the components to be placed on the media, select Acronis Universal Restore:
   
5. [Optional] Add Windows system drivers to be used by Universal Restore. This window appears if Universal Restore is added to media and media other than WDS/RIS is selected.
6. Complete the following steps, check your settings in the summary screen, and click Proceed.