BackupEDGE 01.01.08 - The Basics

`Will BackupEDGE work with my tape drive?'

BackupEDGE will support any tape drive that works with tar, cpio, etc.

In addition, most SCSI and ATAPI tape drives can be controlled through our (included) edge.tape program.  This enables you to query and modify the status of your tape device using an OS-independent command line.  If your tape drive supports it, BackupEDGE can be used to perform Fast File Restore operations in a fraction of the time normal restores take. BackupEDGE will even create databases of tape contents.

`Will BackupEDGE conflict with any of my software?'

BackupEDGE coexists with just about any software on the market. For example, before Backup EDGE performs a nightly backup, it can be set up to shut down databases or other applications, and then turn them back on after the backup and verify complete.

`I have a tape jukebox. Will BackupEDGE use it?'

Tape jukeboxes, which are tape drives that can automatically switch tapes, are useful if you are trying to backup a large amount of data.  Using the edge.changer command included with BackupEDGE, you can support any autochanger or tape library.  This feature is available on all platforms except IBM AIX .

Nightly backups can be configured to load tapes based on the day of the week, or just about any other criteria you want.

`How much will BackupEDGE compress my data?'

That depends entirely on the data. As a general rule, text files compress well, between 50% and 70% compression. Executables do not fare as well; they usually rate only 25% to 50% compression.

You may configure BackupEDGE via the EDGE.RESMGR program to automatically enable or disable hardware compression before backups through the EDGEMENU user interface, or during unattended nightly backups.

Using the edge.tape program (included with BackupEDGE ), you can also manually enable / disable hardware compression for your tape drive, assuming the hardware supports it.

`I have multiple machines, but only one of those has a tape drive. Can I backup the others?'

Yes. BackupEDGE will backup to local devices, just like tar, cpio, or any other backup program. BackupEDGE is also capable of transferring data across a network to or from another machine's tape drive.

This functionality extends to the low-level SCSI / ATAPI control (edge.tape), SCSI autochanger control (edge.changer), and fast file restore (edge.restore and EDGEMENU) as well.

A licensed copy of BackupEDGE is required on each machine to be protected, and the system with the tape drive.

What happens if I have a disaster?

Since BackupEDGE archives ALL file types, recovery is simple. Simply re-install the minimum operating system, make and mount your filesystems, and restore your Master Backup.

SCO OpenServer, Linux, and UnixWare 7.1 versions of BackupEDGE include RecoverEDGE , a tool for performing Crash Recovery from local or remote tape drives without resorting to re-installation of the operating system. Simply boot from the RecoverEDGE diskettes (or CD-ROM / bootable tape for Linux and UnixWare 7.1), re-configure your hard drives, restore your data, and re-boot.  The entire process is automatic; even changing hard drive sizes won't cause a problem!

The Linux and UnixWare 7.1 versions of RecoverEDGE support bootable CD-ROMs and HP-OBDR(tm) tapes.

`Is a demo of BackupEDGE available?'

Absolutely. Free sixty-day demos are available via:
ftp://ftp.microlite.com/demos  or from our Downloads page.

Or contact Microlite Corporation for the name and phone number of the BackupEDGE dealer nearest you.

Last Modified Friday, August 17, 2001
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