hellerst@hellerst.almaden.ibm.com (Joe Hellerstein) (01/16/91)
I've been toying for a while with the idea of getting a backup program, and I recently noticed that SUM II (which is probably worth getting, anyway) contains some form of Redux. So, anyone willing to give their opinion on how this backup utility performs? E-mail responses, and I'll forward results to anyone interested. Joe Hellerstein hellerst@ibm.com, hellerst@ibmarc.UUCP
Mike_Dustan@ucs.sfu.ca (Mike Dustan) (01/18/91)
In article <427@rufus.UUCP> hellerst@hellerst.almaden.ibm.com (Joe Hellerstein) writes: > I recently noticed that SUM II (which is probably worth getting, anyway) > contains some form of Redux. So, anyone willing to give their opinion > on how this backup utility performs? I've used DiskFit and SUM Backup and prefer DiskFit by far. I expostulated at length about this very comparison in this very newsgroup some time ago and won't repeat myself. However, my main points were: * DiskFit backs up in Finder format; you don't need the application to restore a file. * Trashed DiskFit disks (even the first of the set) can be rebuilt automatically. You can still restore from all other disks. With SUM you *must* have the first disk of the set, or your entire set is toast. * Clobbering a file on a DiskFit backup disk usually wipes only that file. Clobbering a file on a SUM backup disk often means wiping every file on that disk, because SUM compresses many files into one big one. * DiskFit recovers from stupid but common errors much more gracefully than SUM does (i.e. it doesn't roll over and bomb). I could go on but you get the idea.
aslakson@cs.umn.edu (Brian Aslakson) (01/21/91)
umh@vax5.cit.cornell.edu writes: >hellerst@hellerst.almaden.ibm.com (Joe Hellerstein) writes: >>[deleted] >I have a major gripe with the SUMII backup utility, namely that it will not >recover space from deleted files. What I mean is that if I delete a file on my >hard drive and then backup, that space is not reclaimed from the backup >floppies. Some people might think this is an advantage to backup software, but >I think it sucks that everytime I backup I have to use a new floppy. At least >this should be user configurable. This is one of the points of having backup software. Recovery of things deleted (accidentally). And if you want it to prompt you to insert disk 14 of 30 so that it can erase 4K, then put part of another file in that space, -- no couldn't be. Maybe I don't understand what you're saying. Hope- fully the software tries to append changes to the end of the disk set. >A less serious gripe, but something for symantec to work on is that the >programs estimate of how many floppies will be needed is always off by one or >two floppies- come on guys- is it so difficult to get that code right? That's not bad. Unless it only tars, and doesn't compress. Unless of course you want the backup to take longer (noticably, I'll bet) so that it can estimate slightly better. Of all the programs for backup I've used, this is average or above (out of 30 disks worth, yes?). >A wish- I don't know if any backup software does this. I'd like the program to >monitor my backup pattern so that all the files I continually change are on on >the floppies at the beginning or end of the set so that I don't have to insert >all 30 to backup when I change the contents of my system folder. What, are you always doing a full backup? Won't it let you do an incremental? If it does, then it will just want to append the changes to the end of the disk set. Does it want to see all 30 before putting a small addition to number 30? I think I've got a good handle on backing up and the schemes to emphasize certain things (speed or safety or...), feel free to contact me regarding your backups. Also there are programs and other ways of backing up if you don't like your current program. If I've completely misunderstood you, set me to rights! Backing up is one of the most important things I do (I backup an entire office, and more). >Cornell A very fine Jr. College I'm sure. Brian Aslakson <-= :-) aslakson@cs.umn.edu <-= Knows nothing at all about amino acids mac-admin@cs.umn.edu <-= Macintosh related
aldrich@cod.NOSC.MIL (Timothy M. Aldrich) (01/30/91)
Personally I like the backup utility from Central Point. It is fast, easy to use, and creates a compact backup. IMHO.:) - Tim