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Frequently Asked Questions

Software - General Questions

  • What does iBac for Windows do?
  • iBac is a high speed Data Protection Software Application that backs up data in the native file format as it resides on the source server.
  • What is new in iBac 5.0?
  • Re-written from the ground up, iBac 5.0 adds support for Windows 2008 and Windows Vista.

    •New wizard driven management interface.
    •Remote management for multiple systems.
    •Support for 64 bit Operating systems.
    •New file system filter driver, does not require reboot for install/uninstalling or upgrading.
    •Option to use Microsoft VSS frame work or iBac Open Volume Sync for open file backup.
    •Backup Versioning Module is now part of the base license.
    •Ability to backup data over network Share.
    •Backup hardlinks as hardlinks.
    •Select network link for backup.
    •Control block size for checksum compare.
    •No limit on the number of versions of backups to keep.
    •Enhanced logging for troubleshooting.
    •Reduced pre-processing time.
    •Use of Virtual Volume for backup of open files.
    •Enhanced statistics
  • What is Backup Versioning Module (BVM)?
  • BVM is an integral component of iBac Data Protection Software. BVM uses virtualization and file differencing to allow you to create multiple full backups on a given removable disk or array by using only the space required to store the changes between the first full backup on that disk and all subsequent backups. In essence, BVM uses file de-duplication to allow you to get the most out of your disk space and store full backups using a fraction of the required space.
  • Do I have to pay to upgrade to iBac 5.0?
  • Customers who are current with maintenance or support contracts for previous versions of iBac can upgrade to iBac 5.0 at no additional charge. However, additional modules be charged separately.
  • Does IBac have reporting or log capabilities?
  • Yes, IBac does have detailed log and reporting capabilities. You can access this data through the iBac Management Interface. You can also set up iBac to email you the job status after each job is complete.
  • What applications does iBac support?
  • iBac works at the file-system level and any application that utilizes the NTFS file system is fully supported. Whether it be Microsoft Exchange, SQL Server, Oracle®, or any other third-party application, iBac will ensure that it’s data is accurately and efficiently backed up to the remote server.
  • What is Open Volume Snapshot (OVS)?
  • OVS is a value added module used to provide a stable point in time backup of open databases such as Microsoft SQL and Exchange. OVS is licensed per server and includes the base backup license of iBac. OVS uses the Microsoft VSS Framework to create a stable backup of databases without impacting system performance and provides relational integrity for live database backups.

Software - Technical Questions

  • How does iBac backup data?
  • iBac replicates data from source servers including file permissions to a target disk. In an ideal world we would only run full backups. iBac makes this a reality by allowing you to only backup the changed data and merge those changes into the last full backup. This gives you a full backup in the time and disk space required to backup the incremental changes server to the destination eliminating the need to schedule around a backup window.
  • What is the difference between Initial Backup and Compare?
  • When first deployed iBac backs up an initial copy of your data from the source onto the target disk. We call this the initial backup or baseline copy. Once you have the initial baseline backup, iBac will then compare data between the source and target allowing you to simply backup the changes since the last backup was run.
  • How does iBac compare the files?
  • iBac compares the data on the backup disk with the data on the production server using two methods:

    1. Date, Time and size – preferred method for files and data

    2. Block Checksum – this method only backs up changes within a file and is available only if you have Open Volume Snapshot or OVS license. This option should be used if backup is being performed over a WAN or if the selected data is a Database.
  • Does iBac copy the entire file when it is changed?
  • iBac will backup the entire file only when the default method or compare is used. If you don’t want to retransfer an entire file or if bandwidth is limited, we recommend you use the “Block Checksum”. Block Checksum allows you to backup just the changed data within a file rather than backing up the entire file. This provides much more efficient use of network resources where bandwidth may be limited.
  • Can I backup my entire system over the WAN?
  • Yes you can but it may affect throughput and backup speed. Because of this we recommend that backup just the database or the data instead of an entire server. iBac is an ideal solution for local or WAN backups. Because iBac only backs up changed files, backup speeds increase allowing for faster backups between local servers or those at remote locations. But backup windows are not only defined by the amount of data to be transferred, but also depend on the throughput of the WAN.
  • Does iBac have an Exchange or SQL Agent?
  • No. iBac does not require the use of proprietary agents or modules to backup any servers. The only additional optional agent that can be used with Ibac is our Open Volume Snapshotc (OVS) which is used to backup database files or files that are open and in use.
  • Can I backup System State?
  • System State can be backed up using the built in NT Backup which comes with Windows and iBac’s Pre/Post Commands. A batch file can be created to backup system state using ntbackup and can be run before the backup job under Pre command for source option in iBac.