Questions concerning Backup over LAN

[Lutz]

Hello!

I'm currently testing Syncback SE V6 und like it very much. I will buy it after testing, or even the Pro-Version (SFTP-Save is an argument, not sure if I need any of the other pro-features).

Some questions occurred during testing:

1. I backup my files over Gigabit-LAN to a Synology NAS. What is faster -> FTP or Network connection? I choose Network Connection because I imagine it is faster esp. for many small files, but I don't know.

2. Safe Copying: This prevents faulty backups as I understand. But it also slows down the network backup process. So my question being: If I turn this option off for speed reasons and something actually goes wrong, will I get a error report from syncback afterwards or will I just not notice it when it messes up data through the unsafe copying process?

[Dave Wilkins]

1) Test and find out?

2) Depends what the error is. But the damage may already have been done, even so. Imagine a file is damaged on your Source (so that it cannot be read completely) and you run a backup that includes it (without using Safe Copy) to a Destination with a backup copy already. Windows (we call Windows APIs to do the copying) will in that case immediately delete that backup copy and try to copy the Source file over it. When it gets to the part with the error (caanot read the end of the Source file), the klaxons go off (metaphorically...). But your previous copy is now gone (and partially overwritten, so good luck with any undelete program...), and your Source copy is unreadable. Oops...(note: this is exactly how Explorer does it - always...)

Whereas with Safe Copy, it only overwrites the target file after the Safe Copy (to a temp file) has succeeded. Up to you...

Many other processes depend on Safe Copy, such as Versioning and Resume over FTP, for reasons you can maybe work out with the aid of the Help. You cannot switch off Safe Copy if Versioning is in force (and if you try to switch off Safe Copy first, selecting Versioning thereafter will silently turn it back on). You can turn off Safe Copy while using FTP without any interlocks - Resume simply won't happen if you do. (Note that not all FTP servers support Resume anyway)


Note: this is a holiday weekend here (Monday/Tuesday 4/5 June are Public Holidays here), and this forum is not checked throughout. There may be no further responses until at least GMT office hours Wednesday 6 June

[Lutz]

Hello!

Ok no worries concern. holidays. I could as well wait a bit for an answer.
Thx for what u have written, but it doesnt really answer my questions.

1. Speed comparison FTP / Network connection: I can test it but I thought there might have been a lot of ppl testing it so I don't need to set up a test.

2. The core of my question was: Does Syncback notify me when I copy something unsafe and it goes wrong or not. I'd just don't like to have slower backup when I don't really get something in return (or until now at least something that I understand). I'll do a periodic backup of my backup anyway so I don't care if there happens to be an error -> I just need to be informed about it. Thats why I was asking that question.