Virtos

S.O.S Backup is an efficient and easy-to-use program. The Database version stores backups in Zip format, on tapes, through direct file copies, on CD/DVD, and through FTP. Each backup will contain the files you requested and can be restored when needed.

  About the program
  Creating and editing jobs
  Restoring files
  Configurations
  Important information

 

  About the program

S.O.S Backup opens automatically when Windows starts and keeps running. To access it, double-click the program icon on the Windows toolbar.

Enlarge

For every group of data to be backed up there should be a job, which will be listed in the program's main window.
You can create as many jobs as you like, and each one can be carefully defined, with specifications such as the data source, the backup schedule, the backup type, and what to do in case of errors.

Automatic backup: The program creates backups automatically according to the schedule you specify. If need be, you can also spontaneously create a backup, regardless of the schedule, by clicking on the job and selecting "Perform Backup" in the toolbar.

Top

  Creating and editing jobs

The job list is shown in the central part of S.O.S Backup's main window. Each backup job is represented visually by an object – an icon or a line – in the same way that Windows Explorer shows files. You can define how the jobs are shown and their order in the View menu.
The toolbar, with the most used commands, is in the upper part of the window (just below the menu):

New: creates a new backup job, adds it to the job list, and opens the work creation assistant.
Edit: edits the selected backup jobs;
Delete: deletes the selected backup tasks;
Perform backup: generates the backups of the selected jobs. It shows the possible types of backup (complete, incremental, and/or differential) in the selected jobs. If the selected jobs are set to create backups automatically, a fourth option will be shown, "Perform next programmed backups." This option will make the selected jobs immediately perform the programmed backup;
Restore: restores a backup created by S.O.S Backup;
History: displays the S.O.S Backup history;
Configuration: lets you configure S.O.S Backup;
Close: minimizes the S.O.S Backup program to an icon, represented by a red cross, next to the clock. Even minimized, S.O.S Backup will continue running and automatically carrying out the programmed backups.

S.O.S Backup's system of creating and editing jobs makes it an easy-to-use program. When creating a new job you give the necessary information to carry out a backup. The creation assistant makes things even easier:

Enlarge

Title - Anything that will identify the job. The title will be displayed on the program item list.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enlarge

Sources - This list displays all the folders and/or files that will be backed up for that job. With each folder, you can decide whether or not to include its subfolders.

The backup, if in .zip file, on a tape, or a direct copy, will contain the files that were specified in the Sources section.

Folders/files excluded from the backup: files specified in this list will not be backed up..

Full path: You have the option of creating backups using the full file path name, so that you can later restore the backup to the same location. For example, ""C:\Database\Customers.mdb". If you choose more than one source, this option will be turned on automatically to avoid conflicts between the files in the backup.

 

 

Enlarge

Destiny - Where the backup will be stored (image to the left). If you choose to create a .zip file, you will have to provide a name for it. You can send a copy of this .zip file to another folder or even to a FTP server.

If you choose the "Copy files directly" option, you will have to specify a folder in which to store the copied files. For example: "\\SERVER\BACKUPS\".

 

Enlarge

The "Copy to FTP" option requires a FTP address.

 

 

 

 

Enlarge

To create a backup on tape or CD/DVD, or to copy to FTP, the corresponding options should be chosen. In the image to the right, the Tape option is checked.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enlarge

Recurrence - This configuration controls the frequency of automatic backups. You can define the execution criteria (automatic or not) of the corresponding backup type (complete, incremental, or differential). The possible frequencies are: At program start, Before logging off, Only manual, Daily, Weekly, and Monthly (image to the right).

 

 

 

 

Enlarge

Backup Versions - The .zip file name can include the date (year, month, and day) or the complete date (year, month, day, and hour). With this option, you can generate several versions for the same backup. If this option is not turned on, the file will be rewritten every time the backup is performed.

 

 

Enlarge

Backup Types - This version offers three backup types: Full Backup, Incremental Backup, and Differential Backup. Incremental Backup includes only the files that have been modified in the past "n" days or that have the "archive" attribute turned on. The Differential option backs up only modified files that have the "archive" attribute turned on, or that were changed after the last Full Backup. Differential Backup always places the changes in the same file, unlike Incremental Backup, which allows for different backed up versions.

 

 

 

Enlarge

History - a list of the tasks already completed. There are two kinds of History, the System History and the Task History, both of which can be viewed inside the program itself or exported to a .txt file. The events can be reported in a Summarized or Complete form, or not at all. The History is also printable.

 

 

 

 

 

Enlarge

Options: You can configure several advanced options for every backup job, depending on your needs. The options are:

Ignore errors while performing backup - defines how S.O.S Backup will respond to errors while executing a job. Example: one of the files is already open in another program.
If you select the option to back up files that are being used by another program, S.O.S Backup will try to copy it anyway.
You can decide which applications to execute before and after the job is carried out.

Clean the tape before each job. If the tape is not cleaned, a new volume will be made on it. By choosing "Confirm tape cleanup", the software will open a window asking for user confirmation before continuing.

Data compression on tape: none, by hardware, or by software. If by software, you can choose a low, normal, or high compresion rate.

Setting a password for the file sent to Tape.

Top

 

  Restoring files

Enlarge

Restoring a backup (or part of it) is easy. Open S.O.S Backup Restore and select the .zip file to be stored (image to the left).

The volume(s) on the backup tape will be shown and, by selecting a volume, you can choose to restore the whole volume or specific files.

Enlarge

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enlarge

After checking "Select files to be restored", the selection screen will appear, letting you decide which files to restore. It will be organized in a tree format (like Windows Explorer).

 

 

 

 

 

Enlarge

After selecting which files to restore, the program will ask you where to place the restored folders and files. If the backup was created with the "Full Path" option turned on (see "Choosing Destinies"), you can ask to restore the backup to its original location.

The program restores only the .zip files created by S.O.S Backup software.
S.O.S Backup will restore only tapes created by S.O.S itself.

Top

 

  Configurations

Enlarge

The S.O.S Backup configuration window also includes the “Task and configuration backup” tab, where you can specify a job to back up the program's configurations and job settings.

 

 

 

Top

 

  Important information

S.O.S Backup is a powerful tool that, when used right, solves all your backup problems. However, it is important to carefully plan out your backup procedure: which files, how frequently, and what media to store the backups on. Once you've planned out your backup procedure, S.O.S Backup is the ideal software to carry it out.

If it's possible, you should always make multiple copies of the same data and store them in different locations. If you are storing your backups on tape, use two or more tapes (one for each weekday, for example). If you are storing your backups on disk (.ZIP files), create two items for the same group of files and select a different destination for each one. For example, send them to two different network directories (on different PCs), or one to a removable disk (CD-ROM, Zip Drive®, floppy disk, etc.) and the other to a network directory (on another PC).or one to a removable disk (CD-ROM, Zip Drive®, floppy disk, etc.) and the other to a network directory (on another PC).