Amanda CDRW-Taper replaces the tape backup component of the Amanda backup system with a seamless transition.
Amanda is an excellent client/server application designed for remote backups for UNIX systems. It is a versatile software that supports backups of Windows machines via the smbclient utility. It is worth noting that developers are working on client software for other machines, which will further enhance its functionality.
The Amanda CDRW-Taper program is a fantastic drop-in replacement for the taper component of the Amanda backup system. With it, you can dump backups to CD-RW, DVD+RW, or DVD-RW rather than tape. CDRW-Taper is licensed under the GNU general public license (version 2), making it easy to implement while retaining its quality performance.
In the past, the original version of CDRW-Taper copied backed up data from Amanda's holding disk to an intermediate directory. The program would then create an ISO-9660 image and burn it to a CDRW when the backup process is complete. However, CDRW media were deemed too small for heavy-duty backups; hence, developers opted for better options.
The popular approach was to consider DVD+R or double-density CDRW, which requires no change to the software. Alternatively, another cheaper option was to change the software and emulate some kind of CDRW changer. This way, taper would copy backed-up data to several intermediate directories, representing each CDRW, and can be burnt one-by-one after the backup process.
The exciting thing about this approach is that it allows you to back up to hard disc space, which has become cheaper. This means that you can have all your backups available online, and still burn them to removable media for storing in a secure place.
Furthermore, the newer version of Amanda supports backup to DVD+R/+RW and DVD-R/-RW media, which provides a better alternative to the manual process involved with backup to multiple CDRWs. The current version has been extended to support this functionality using dvd+rw-tools.
In summary, Amanda is a robust software application that simplifies backups for remote devices while eliminating the need for physical tape storage. It has evolved over time to support different media types and modern platforms, making it an excellent choice for any business or individual looking to back up their critical data. However, it requires AMANDA as its requirement for optimal functionality.
The Amanda CDRW-Taper program is a fantastic drop-in replacement for the taper component of the Amanda backup system. With it, you can dump backups to CD-RW, DVD+RW, or DVD-RW rather than tape. CDRW-Taper is licensed under the GNU general public license (version 2), making it easy to implement while retaining its quality performance.
In the past, the original version of CDRW-Taper copied backed up data from Amanda's holding disk to an intermediate directory. The program would then create an ISO-9660 image and burn it to a CDRW when the backup process is complete. However, CDRW media were deemed too small for heavy-duty backups; hence, developers opted for better options.
The popular approach was to consider DVD+R or double-density CDRW, which requires no change to the software. Alternatively, another cheaper option was to change the software and emulate some kind of CDRW changer. This way, taper would copy backed-up data to several intermediate directories, representing each CDRW, and can be burnt one-by-one after the backup process.
The exciting thing about this approach is that it allows you to back up to hard disc space, which has become cheaper. This means that you can have all your backups available online, and still burn them to removable media for storing in a secure place.
Furthermore, the newer version of Amanda supports backup to DVD+R/+RW and DVD-R/-RW media, which provides a better alternative to the manual process involved with backup to multiple CDRWs. The current version has been extended to support this functionality using dvd+rw-tools.
In summary, Amanda is a robust software application that simplifies backups for remote devices while eliminating the need for physical tape storage. It has evolved over time to support different media types and modern platforms, making it an excellent choice for any business or individual looking to back up their critical data. However, it requires AMANDA as its requirement for optimal functionality.
What's New
Version 0.4: N/A