Backup Software
The Mac has a number of backup applications available. Some are free and some are commercial products. In a backup strategy there are a few paths.
- Cloning
- Versioning
Cloning
Cloning is the process of making an exact copy from one hard drive to another. This is a snapshot in time and is best to make a bootable hard drive as a backup of your entire system. The idea is that if you main hard drive fails, you can boot into your cloned drive and be up and running in minutes.
| Application | Publisher |
|---|---|
| SuperDuper | http://www.shirt-pocket.com |
| Carbon Copy Cloner | http://www.bombich.com |
Versioning
Versioning is different in that it generally does not make a bootable drive instead it makes a full copy of your files and then after makes copies of only the changed files or versions. These are kept in serialized backup sets that allow you to go back in time and retrieve an older item or deleted item that may no longer be on your drive. So instead of only one snapshot at one point in time, it keeps track of items over time.
| Application | Publisher |
|---|---|
| Time Machine | http://www.apple.com |
| Data Backup | http://www.prosofteng.com |
| Silverkeeper | http://www.lacie.com/silverkeeper/ |
| Backup 3 | http://www.apple.com |
| Restrospect | http://www.retrospect.com |
