Re: Backup Software?

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From: Daniel Rudy (nospam_at_die.spammer.die)
Date: 01/28/05 

Date: Thu, 27 Jan 2005 18:16:52 -0800

"Al Dykes" <adykes@panix.com> wrote in message
news:ctb02s$r3a$1@panix3.panix.com...
> In article <uUtDUZEBFHA.2112@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl>,
> Daniel Rudy <nospam@die.spammer.die> wrote:
>>
>>"Al Dykes" <adykes@panix.com> wrote in message
>>news:ct8q7m$no2$1@panix5.panix.com...
>>> In article <uRnWi84AFHA.3368@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl>,
>>> Daniel Rudy <nospam@die.spammer.die> wrote:
>>>>What backup software is recommended for WinXP Pro? The Microsoft
>>>>provided software is so brain-dead as to be virtually useless. I
>>>>have
>>>>about 200GB of programs and data to backup. The target media is a
>>>>400GB
>>>>harddisk in the hot-swap bay. I want something that will compress
>>>>the
>>>>data. Any suggestions?
>>>>
>>>>Thanks.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ntbackup.exe is fine. I've used it for years. It will backup
>>> disk-to-disk and if the target disk has compression property set
>>> (NTFS, which you've got to use) you will get a compressed saveset.
>>
>>Really? Why do I have to compress the target disk to compress the
>>data
>>when the program should have an option for it internally without
>>relying
>>on the compression functions of the operating system?
>>
>>> NTbackup will do a full image backup of a running nt system.
>>
>>No it won't, and I can prove it. Show me where in WinXP Pro SP2 that
>>it
>>does images.
>>
>
>
>
> I can use ntbackup to backup a running server and resotore it after a
> disk crash in a production environment. Done it a bunch of times.
>
> Image ? if you mean a block-for-block duplicate of of a disk, no it
> doesn't work that way. ntbackup works fine as a filesystem backup.
>
>
>

But, I like to have that as an option though, especially on a large HD
that is more or less full.

>>> Restore
>>> is a bit of a PITA if you've never done it. It also won't write to
>>> CDR/DVD media or break a saveset into chunks that match your
>>> media. Since I don;t trust CD/DVD for important backups. this
>>> doesn;t
>>> bother me.
>>
>>Breaking the backup set into smaller chunks is not exactly a
>>requirement, but media spanning should be an option in any backup
>>software worth it's salt, which ntbackup.exe isn't.
>>
>
> I don't say ntbackup was convient, or claim it replaced all the other
> software out there.
>

I didn't say you did. I'm just saying that it doesn't really have some
of the features that are common in other backup solutions.

>>> A major plus is that backups done with ntbackup will be readable in
>>> future versions of windows.
>>
>>No they aren't. Backup sets from Win98 will not restore on WinXP. I
>>know, I've tried it. It doesn't work. And there is no garuntee that
>>Microsoft will not break backwards compatibility in the future again.
>
> I never said anything about w/98. I said ntbackup.
>
>
>>
>>> That's (IMO) a major shortcomming of lots
>>> of the low-end consumer backup software. If the company goes bust
>>> you're SOL. The same can be said about cheap tape drive formats.
>>
>>At least the low end backup software can be installed on just about
>>any
>>OS from Win95 to Win Server 2003 and work just fine. Because it's the
>>same program, it will restore just fine. Where as with ntbackup, you
>>are stuck with the version that was installed with the operating
>>system,
>>and the file formats tend to change between OS versions.
>>
>
>
> Are you claiming that a ntbackup saveset made in nt3.51 can't be read
> in XP ?
>

I don't know if it can or cannot because I have never used WinNT 3.51.
What I am claiming is that a backup set that was created with Win98
cannot be restored with ntbackup. I've tried it, it doesn't work. And
yes, you did not say anything about Win98, which is what I was refering
too.

> --
>
> a d y k e s @ p a n i x . c o m
>
> Don't blame me. I voted for Gore.

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