mcntsh::long (_<long@mcntsh.dec.com>_) (02/02/89)
Recently I posted asking about backup programs. This is a summary of what I received. Many thanks to all who responded. --- begin summary --- Program # Recommendations ------- ----------------- Redux (MicroSeeds) 3 DiskFit (SuperMac) 3 P.S.B.U. (Shareware) 1 Total Responses.................7 Redux: Microseeds Publishing, Inc. / 4702 North Hesperides Ave. / Tampa FL 33614 [813] 878-2142 Selection capabilities are two-fold: through a graphical interface, where desired backup targets are checked/unchecked using the rat, and through a scripting language (didn't get too much info on that). "Backup sets" can also be created. You can select groups of files/folders such as "all", "all except...(system files, applications, documents)", and "none except...". Filter controls allow you to select all files that "(start, end) with...", "contain...", "modified (before, after) ...", or "of type...". You can use these group selections as a starting point for making further selections or exclusions of files and folders by individually selecting or unselecting them with a click of the mouse. The list window shows the entire contents of your selected volume (this can be printed), with subfiles and subfolders indented under their parent folder names. Little icons beside each file/folder name quickly indicate what type of file it is (application, document, or folder). Checkmarks that appear after selecting a file or folder appear beside the icon to let you quickly know what is selected for backup and what isn't. There are lots of other things you can configure, like whether you want the program to ask you about erasing disks, automatically select inserted disks, etc. You can preserve the entire folder structure of your hard disk if you are backing up to something that can hold everthing (like a tape, another hard disk, etc). In that case, everything is readable as-is. Plug and play. The manual is outstanding, and gives insights into backup strategies (how many backup sets, daily plus weekly backups, etc). The program doesn't care which disk drive you stick the disks into. (Tested on: Mac Plus with Apple external drive). That really can save a LOT of time if you have two drives. Redux is fast, and will overwrite previous versions of files. Redux will tell you in advance how many you will need. You can uncheck things until you get down to how many disks you have, if you have to. DiskFit: Diskfit makes Finder volumes, and writes a report file (Report.set_name) in the System folder. This is in text file format. Selection capabilities are virtually nil. You can choose to backup either "Applications" or "Files" (or "All") for file types. If you place square brackets around the name of a folder (i.e. [EMPTY FOLDER]), you can tell Diskfit to ignore that (those) folder(s). Diskfit does overwrite old files with the new files (better use of floppies), but that will prevent you from "Archiving" old copies. Not a bad tradeoff but something to consider. DiskFit doesn't care which drive(s) you use during backup. Diskfit is meant for full backups with easy incrementals. In effect, the SmartSet (SuperMac's term and trademark) becomes a current "clone" of the hard disk _every time you update it_. If you want to archive files, you must create a separate SmartSet and then stick it in a drawer somewhere. For an incremental, the first floppy of a "smartset" must be inserted, followed by floppies involving changed or deleted files. If new files are on the hard disk, they are added to the "smartset" filling holes left by deletions, but with a strong bend toward NOT splitting the file across floppies. A split file can be restored by dragging the pieces (1.file_name, 2.file_name,...) onto the HD, and using diskfit's join function to marry the pieces. Full restores are a matter of clicking "restore", followed by feeding in all your floppies. Diskfit depends on you to tell it when you are done (drawback of finder format floppies - there's no "last floppy") However, you can tell the last one from the report file, so that's easy. Diskfit is weak on selective dumps (other than incrementals which it does automatically), and selective restores. DiskFit doesn't use a "master directory disk" method, and thus you won't be completely out of luck if one disk in your SmartSet goes bad. During a backup, you can even tell DiskFit that a specific disk has been damaged, and ask it to figure out which files belong on that disk and to write a new version of that disk. If a disk I/O error occurs during a bacup, the same process takes place: DiskFit kicks out the bad disk, asks for a replacement, and recreates the contents of the disk. P.S.B.U: Basically, you tell it in advance what folders you want backed up and to what disks. You then use PSBU to create backup documents that describe what gets backed up where. When you double click on a document, it asks for the disk and does the backup. It uses a wild card system to describe what needs to be backed up, with a "back up if changed" option. Makes full use of internal/external floppies. It doesn't have a "graphical" way of backing up, but will help you build paths, by having you find your files through a normal file selection window. You can tell it to backup only changed files--but it does not keep a running log for you of what has been changed, and it always overwrites what was there previously. --- end summary ---