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The Basics

BackupEDGE 2.3 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.

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.

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.)

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.

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

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.

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.

COMMON QUESTIONS

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?

Yes. 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 about Internet cloud storage backups?

BackupEDGE incorporates "Amazon S3" technology, allowing it to back up to the Amazon Web Services' "Simple Storage Service, or S3. It fully supports backups, restores, and disaster recovery to the Internet, at reasonable prices.

What other storage devices work with BackupEDGE

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.

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 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?

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 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?

Absolutely. Free sixty-day demos are available via:
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.

ADVANCED FEATURES

• File Locking - Multiple file-locking options ensure data integrity in various situations.
• Backup/Restore By Date - Archive or restore files that were created or modified before or after a given date.
• Longer Pathnames - Archive files with up to 5,000 character pathnames.
• Multi-Volume Unattended Backups - Background BackupEDGE tasks can be informed of tape changes.
• Backup Depth - Backup only to a given depth in the directory tree.
• Raw Device Backups - Backup an entire raw device or partition to tape, with optional start/stop shell script calls to shut down any process that is using the raw device.
• Exclusion - You may specifically exclude any number of files or directories from a backup or restore. Exclusions can also contain wildcards.
• Cataloging - Optionally create a complete transcript of any BackupEDGE Operation.
• Labelling - Optionally prefix an archive with creation date / size / block information / media usage counter.
• File Lists - Archive files enumerated in a list file.
• Group Tag - Restore files with a new group ID for easy reference.
• Pathname Stripping - Optionally restore files archived with a leading slash (/) relative to any directory. 
• Nondestructive Restore - Restore only files that do not exist currently. Optionally prompt user to rename files to be restored.

BackupEDGE, RecoverEDGE, Fast File Restore, Instant FIle Restore, One Touch Restore, and BootableBackups are trademarks of Microlite Corporation. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are those of their respective owners.