BackupEDGE 2.2 is a complete backup solution for Unix and Linux. Here is a list of its core features. Below that is a list of common questions.
Complete Backup Solution
BackupEDGE is a dependable backup system that is both easy to use and inexpensive. It has all the features you'll need to safeguard your system's data.
Robust Backups
BackupEDGE
can safely archive every file, directory, device node, and special file on your filesystems. Unlike standard UNIX tar, which ignores many important files on your hard drives, BackupEDGE protects them all! And BackupEDGE
doesn't have limits on things like pathnames that give tar and most commercial products problems.
Full Data Verification
BackupEDGE
can verify every byte of data on an archive against the original, to ensure the archive is an accurate reflection of your data. It also has full-file checksum verification to ensure that archives are readable months or even years later.
Data Compression
To fit as much data as possible onto the archive medium, BackupEDGE has the best software data compression system available in any product in its class.
Encryption
Data protection and security are major concerns. BackupEDGE delivers the most flexible and robust encryption system ever devised for a backup product. (Encryption is a chargeable option.)
Menu Interface
Every major function of BackupEDGE
can be accessed through an intuitive menu system. This includes device configuration, manual operation, and unattended cron (nightly) backup setup.
Remote Device Support
If you have more networked computers than archive devices (tape drives, DVD drives, etc.), even those computers without archive devices can be backed up across the network by BackupEDGE
High Performance
With its advanced write techniques, BackupEDGE
can get the maximum performance from your hardware!
Virtual File Support
BackupEDGE can backup and restore virtual files (also called sparse files), which are common to many database applications. When restoring a sparse file, BackupEDGE will automatically "re-virtualize" it to its original state.
Multi-Volume
BackupEDGE will automatically span multiple volumes if necessary while performing a backup.
In the case of unattended (scheduled) backups, BackupEDGE can be configured to send e-mail notification when a new volume is needed.
Wildcard Support
BackupEDGE allows extensive use of wildcarding to specify files for backup or restore. Plus, wildcards can be used to exclude files from backup or compression.
Raw Device Backups
BackupEDGE
can archive an entire raw device/partition. Optionally, external (user-defined) shell scripts may be called to shutdown/restart any application that uses the raw partition.
Master / Differential / Incremental Backups
BackupEDGE
can perform a Master Backup of your entire system, or a Differential Backup of only those files which have been created or changed since the previous Master Backup. For those that require very small backup windows, BackupEDGE's Incremental Backups back up only those files which have changed since the last Differential or Incremental Backup.
Unattended Operation
With BackupEDGE
you never have to worry about the routine details of system backups. BackupEDGE will automatically backup your data every night, verify the archive, mail the results to the user of your choice, and print a comprehensive summary.
BackupEDGE advanced notification system allows for plain text, HTML, numeric pager, and alphanumeric pager messages to one or more recipients. BackupEDGE
also provides a "failures only" option to alert additional personnel in the event of a failed nightly backup.
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Will BackupEDGE work with my tape drive?
BackupEDGE will support any tape drive that works with tar, cpio, etc. In addition, advanced device control is available with most common SCSI, ATAPI, SATA and USB tape
drives. This enables BackupEDGE
to query and modify the status of your tape device. If your tape drive supports it, BackupEDGE can perform Fast File Restore operations in a fraction of the time normal restores take. BackupEDGE will even create databases of tape contents.
Will BackupEDGE work with my DVD or CD Writer?
BackupEDGE
can use almost any DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD-R, DVD+RW, DVD+R, DVD+R DL, CD-R, or CD-RW drive for backups. On supported operating systems, these backups can be used for Disaster Recovery as well.
Can BackupEDGE
use removable hard drives?
BackupEDGE
has complete support for removable hard drives under Linux, including mounting and unmounting them as necessary. Multiple generations of backups can be stored. Archives are segmented to avoid file size and ulimit issues.
What about network and Internet backups?
BackupEDGE
incorporates "FTP Backup" technology, allowing it to back up to any server, device, or appliance that has an FTP or FTPS server. It fully supports backups, restores, and disaster recovery over the network or Internet.
What other storage devices work with BackupEDGE
has complete support for the Iomega REV, providing high performance backup, restore and disaster recovery using Removable Rigid Disk technology.
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 have completed.
I have a tape jukebox. Will BackupEDGE use it?
Tape and REV jukeboxes, also known as autoloaders, changers, and libraries, are useful whether you are trying to backup very large amounts of data, or simplifying unattended backups by having tapes
changed automatically. BackupEDGE
supports all common jukeboxes on all platforms except IBM AIX.
How much will BackupEDGE
compress my data?
That depends entirely on the data. As a general rule, text files compress well, between 60% and 80% compression. Executables do not fare as well; they usually rate only 35% to 60% compression.
Using the Calgary Corpus data suite, a common measure of the effectiveness of compression algorithms, BackupEDGE
achieves a default compression ratio of 2.9:1. This is one of the highest ratios available.
I have multiple machines, but only one of those has a tape drive (or other archive device). Can I backup the others?
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 archive device, just by specifying the destination machine as part of the device name. From the menu system, BackupEDGE allows you to browse the network devices simply by providing the name of the machine which has the devices you're interested in. Additionally, FTP Backups allow any remote system to be used as a data repository, as long as it has an FTP Server and sufficient storage space.
What happens if I have a disaster?
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 6, OpenServer 5, UnixWare 7.1 and Linux versions of BackupEDGE include RecoverEDGE, a tool for performing boot recovery from local or remote tape drives without resorting to re-installation of the operating
system. Simply boot from the RecoverEDGE media or network images, re-configure your hard drives, restore your data, and re-boot.
Is a demo of BackupEDGE available?
ftp://ftp.microlite.com/demos
http://www.microlite.com
Or contact Microlite Corporation for the name and phone number of the
BackupEDGE dealer nearest you! Naturally, you may also install the demos on the CD-ROM, but it is always suggested that you check our
website in case a newer version is available.
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