Backup software

Backup software are computer programs used to perform backup; they create supplementary exact copies of files, databases or entire computers. These programs may later use the supplementary copies to restore the original contents in the event of data loss.

Key features

There are several features of backup software that make it more effective in backing up data.

Volumes

Voluming allows the ability to compress and split backup data into separate parts for storage on smaller, removable media such as CDs. It was often used because CDs were easy to transport off-site and inexpensive compared to hard drives or servers.

However, the recent increase in hard drive capacity and decrease in drive cost has made voluming a far less popular solution. The introduction of small, portable, durable USB drives, and the increase in broadband capacity has provided easier and more secure methods of transporting backup data off-site.

Data compression

Since hard drive space has cost, compressing the data will reduce the size allowing for less drive space to be used to save money.

Backup (software)

Backup is a backup utility made by Apple for Mac OS X. It is available through Apple's MobileMe (formerly .Mac) collection of Internet services. Backup can be used in connection with either a user's online MobileMe iDisk or the Macintosh's CD-RW or DVD-R drive to make safe, archival copies of critical files and folders.

Versions

Backup 2

The initial versions of Backup were regarded as feature-sparse and frequently unstable. However, on November 5, 2003 Apple released Backup 2.0, which added new features and offered greater reliability than its predecessors.

While Backup 2 allowed for the creation of archive copies of important data, overall it only had a basic feature set for backup software.

Backup 3

Apple introduced Backup 3 at the Paris Expo on September 20, 2005 along with other upgrades to .Mac. This version offered more backup settings, such as the ability to back up your mail database.

Time Machine

At the 2006 Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple announced the development of Time Machine, a new backup application which is included in Mac OS X v10.5 "Leopard".