Backing Up Your Stuff Part 3: Software

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All right, now you need to consider what software you will use to back upyour data.Do it by hand - One possible method (which will not work if you are using atape drive) is to simply copy files to you All right, now you need to consider what software you will use to back upyour data.Do it by hand - One possible method (which will not work if you are using atape drive) is to simply copy files to your backup media by hand.
This doeshave some advantages:- It does not cost anything. And after spending the money to buy some backuphardware this may be the best solution.- It's very easy.
Just drag and drop (assuming you are not using a tapedrive).The disadvantages are numerous:- You must be present to do the backup. However, you could just drag anddrop before going to bed.- Since it requires you to actually perform the backup yourself, you mayhave a greater tendency to allow backups to slip.- Your system will be very busy while the backup is being performed, sinceit is done "in the foreground".Second Copy - Possibly the best all-around product that I've found forsimple backup operations is called Second Copy (this is not an affiliatelink - this is an honest recommendation and we will not make any money ifyou purchase the product).
Second Copy is inexpensive (less than thirtydollars for a one user license) and extremely simple to use.The program sits in your system tray whenever you are logged in. You createprofiles (this is very easy) which specify which files to back up, where youwant them to go and when you want the backup to occur.
The entire process ofsetting up a profile generally requires a couple of minutes.What I've done on my own system is create a series of profiles to back updifferent things.- I created one profile to back up my Outlook stationary. This is not set togo at any particular time - I must manually start it up when I want thisdirectly backed up.
This is because I have set the output to my writeable CDunit, so I only want it to run when I have the proper CD inserted.- I created a similar profile for my desktop themes, ICQ skins, wallpaperand screen savers.- I created an automatic profile to perform a disk-to-disk backup of all ofmy data very few hours. Second Copy only copies those files that havechanged since the last run.
This gives me a very up-to-date backup in case Ihave a system failure.InSync - Another great product is called InSync (again, this is not anaffiliate link and we will make no money if you purchase the product). Thisis similar to Second Copy, although with not as many options.
InSync isgreat for making copies of directories or entire disks very quickly. LikeSecond Copy, it is very inexpensive - around twenty dollars.Backup Exec - If you choose to use tape as your backup media, then you arestuck with Backup Exec or a similar product.
I have used Backup Exec in bothmy work (to back up over 100 servers) and at home, and to tell you the truthI have found it to be lacking in numerous regards. The product will do thejob, but it tends to be fickle and full of bugs.
Add to that the problemsassociated with tape drives (bad media, no random access) and you've got abackup scheme which is the bare minimum.Whatever comes with the hardware - Virtually all backup hardware will comewith some software which performs backups. If you are strapped for cash, youcan use this software.
It will perform the job, although perhaps not as wellas you would like.Recommendations - Personally, I use both Second Copy and InSync. Second Copyis better for backing up things like my Outlook Stationary, Desktop themesand ICQ skins.
InSync is great for making mass copies of large directoriesand entire disks (it is faster than Second Copy but not as flexible.) Article Tags: Second Copy Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com .