Terminology

Terminology
Describes the basic terms, which are used in this manual.

 

Click on a term:

 

  • Backup

    • We use the term backup to mean "make a separate copy of source files, compress them, and put them into a backup archive". There are two types of backups:

    1. Full: All source files will be added into a backup archive
    2. Incremental: Only new files, or those changed from a previous backup will be added into an archive. It saves time required for a backup.

  • Source files

    • a collection of the important files, folders, and registry entries you have selected to backup.

  • Backup archive

    • a file that contains your documents; files and special information to get an exact copy of backed up files any time you need them. Storage Manager uses a standard ZIP format for backup archives. Usually you have to store your backup archives offsite from the computer where your backup files are located.

  • Backup storage

    • a zip archive, removable disks, CD-R/CD-RW/DVD, FTP Servers, Amzon S3 account and tapes. In other words, backup storage is a place that you use to store your backup archives. Ideally it must be safe, fast and be outside of your computer location.

  • Backup session

    • Backup session includes a full backup and all sequential incremental backups until the next full backup.

  • Backup Set

    • a collection of source files, backup storage, and parameters, which control the backup process. After defining the Backup Set, you can run backup, restore, copy, or other processes.

  • Catalog file

    • A small file with a compressed list of files from associated backup archive. Each backup archive has such file. It's not encrypted, but the compression is not standard. That's why without special tools, nobody is able to read these files. A Catalog file has ".cat" extension.

  • Storage Manager information files

    • Files from this group contain information about Backup sets, your customized options, and so on. Here is a list of these file:

    1. DIRS.DAT - contains all Backup sets.
    2. FILETYPE.DAT - contains a list of all extensions
    3. HOTKEYS.DAT - contains hot keys to allow quick access to commands (shortcut keys)
    4. CONF.DAT - Storage Manager's encrypted configuration
    5. pubring.pkr and secring.skr - files with your PGP keys

  • Restore

    • Storage Manager uses the term restore to describe the process of coping files from a backup archive to a disk, and applying all file information (attributes, security, ...) to give an exact copy of source files.

  • Repair information

    • A compressed file in a special format that contains Storage Manager information files. It used to prepare Storage Manager to restore your files after disaster.

  • Tree of Backup Sets

    • The tree of all existing Backup Sets. You can find it at the left docked panel of Storage Manager Explorer window.

  • UNC Path

    • UNC (universal naming convention) path is a naming convention for folders and files which provides a machine-independent means of locating the folder or file. A UNC name will usually include a reference to a shared folder accessible over a network rather than specifying a drive letter and path. For example, to access a folder with Mark's images on a shared directory named "Images" on the computer called "MarkWorkStation", you could use the UNC name "\\MarkWorkStation\Images\". Storage Manager uses UNC paths to backup network (shared) files without mapping network drive.