Backup software

A wide variety of backup software exists.

MTF (Microsoft Tape Format)

MTF (Microsoft Tape Format) was developed following the merger of Conner with Arcada in 1996, forming Seagate Software after being acquired by Seagate Technology. This merger led to the development of a new specification for tape backup format: the Microsoft Tape Format (MTF).

Since 1998, MTF has been used in all subsequent versions of Backup Exec. Additionally, Microsoft has also adopted MTF in Windows NT for NTBackup and in later versions of Windows backup software.

The Microsoft Tape Format (MTF) is also integrated into Windows BKF files, providing extensive compatibility with backup and restore tools. Furthermore, the BackupAssist utility also uses the MTF format for its backup operations.

With the widespread use of MTF, users benefit from increased interoperability and compatibility between different backup and restore software that support this format. This facilitates sharing and recovery of tape data, ensuring efficient backup management and reliable protection of critical information for users and organizations.

MTF tape retrieval / indexing

Whether you have experienced a hardware failure, a software malfunction, or any other issue affecting your MTF tapes, our team of data recovery specialists is here to assist you throughout the recovery process.

Feel free to contact us if you need professional assistance with the recovery or indexing of your MTF tapes. We are here to help you retrieve your valuable data and optimize its usage, allowing you to make the most out of your MTF backup media.

Backup Exec

Backup Exec is a widely recognized and utilized backup software, currently published by Veritas. Veritas, formerly known as Symantec, is a company specialized in developing software solutions for data management and protection.

One of the key features of Backup Exec is its compatibility with magnetic tapes, making it a popular choice for businesses that use this storage medium. When paired with magnetic tapes, Backup Exec utilizes the MTF (Microsoft Tape Format) for data recording. This format has been widely adopted in the industry and is also used by other backup software, such as Microsoft's NTBackup.

Veritas Backup Exec has gained popularity due to its versatility, advanced features, and reliability. It offers a wide range of backup options, including incremental backup, differential backup, and full backup, allowing users to customize their backup strategies according to their specific needs.

In addition to its compatibility with magnetic tapes and support for the MTF format, Backup Exec also supports other backup media, such as external hard drives, virtual tape drives, and network storage devices. It also provides advanced features for scheduling, media management, and data restoration, providing a comprehensive solution for data protection and recovery.

Thanks to its well-established reputation and market-leading position, Veritas Backup Exec has become one of the most popular and widely used backup software by businesses of all sizes. Its user-friendly interface, reliability, and high performance make it a trusted choice for ensuring the protection of vital data for organizations.

Backup Exec versions

Versions of Backup Exec on which our company is able to provide you with a solution for retrieving or indexing magnetic tape content:

  • Arcada Software Backup Exec (1994 - 1997)
  • Logiciel Seagate Backup Exec (1997 - 1998)
  • VERITAS Backup Exec (1999 - 2005)
  • Symantec Backup Exec (2005 - 2015)
  • Veritas Backup Exec (> 2015)
Backup Exec - Image veritas

NTBackup

Microsoft's NTBackup is widely used backup software integrated into the Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server operating systems. It was introduced in 1997 to provide users with a reliable and user-friendly backup solution.

The NTBackup software uses the MTF (Microsoft Tape Format) backup format, which is also utilized by other backup solutions such as Veritas' Backup Exec. This format allows efficient and secure data storage on magnetic tapes, offering users a dependable backup solution.

However, with the introduction of Windows Vista, Microsoft made significant changes to its backup software. NTBackup was replaced by a new backup software that utilizes the VHD (Virtual Hard Disk) file format. The VHD format enables the creation of virtual disk image files, providing a more flexible and suitable backup method for virtual environments.

Despite the replacement of NTBackup with the VHD-based backup software, previous versions of Windows continue to use NTBackup for backup operations. This means that many users and organizations still need to support and manage backups created with NTBackup.

Recovery / indexing NTBackup tape

Our team of data recovery specialists is proficient in handling data recovery or indexing issues with NTBackup-created data. Whether you need to restore data from magnetic tapes created with NTBackup or are facing difficulties in reading and accessing those backups, we are here to assist you in resolving these problems and recovering your valuable data.

Please contact us to discuss your specific needs related to NTBackup and find the best solution for your situation. Our team is here to support you throughout the data recovery process and provide professional assistance in optimizing the use of your NTBackup-created backups.

NT Backup - Image microsoft

Linux TAR backup

The TAR backup software, short for Tape Archiver, is a standard program in Unix/Linux. It was created in the first version of Unix and is widely used for data archiving and backup.

Although private users use it less frequently nowadays, in the Unix/Linux environment, the TAR program remains the most popular archiving tool due to its simplicity and flexibility. It allows for grouping multiple files and directories into a single archive, thereby preserving the structure of the original data.

A TAR archive file is not compressed by default, unlike ZIP files. Therefore, it is common to compress a TAR file using another compression program to reduce the size of the archive and save storage space. This is why we often encounter files with the .tar.gz extension, indicating that the TAR file has been compressed using the gzip program, which uses the GNU compression algorithm.

Compressing the TAR file with gzip offers many advantages, including significant reduction in archive size, faster data transmission, and storage space savings. It also makes handling compressed files easier as they can be extracted and restored quickly.

It is worth noting that besides gzip, there are other commonly used compression programs with TAR, such as bzip2 and xz, which offer higher compression rates but require more processing resources.

In summary, TAR is an essential backup software in the Unix/Linux environment, providing a convenient method for grouping and archiving files and directories. When combined with a compression program like gzip, it allows for creating compressed TAR archives (.tar.gz), offering an efficient solution for data backup and transmission.

Recovery / indexing on TAR tapes

When it comes to retrieving data from TAR-formatted backup tapes, it is essential to understand how this specific format works. In general, the TAR format employs a simple approach where the contents of files are simply concatenated one after another. Each file is preceded by a 512-byte header that contains information such as the file name, permissions, modification dates, and other metadata.

However, despite its simplicity, retrieving data from TAR tapes can sometimes present challenges. There can be several reasons for this, including tape reading errors, data corruption issues, or errors during the initial backup process.

This is where our company comes in to provide you with comprehensive assistance in recovering and/or indexing your TAR-formatted backup tapes. Our experts are highly qualified and experienced in handling and recovering data from this specific format.

Trust us to offer you top-notch expertise in TAR tape recovery and indexing. We make every effort to solve your backup issues and help you retrieve your important data. Feel free to contact us to discuss your specific needs and find the best solution for your situation. Our team is here to support you throughout the process and provide professional and reliable assistance.

Veeam Backup & Replication

Veeam Backup & Replication is a widely used backup and replication solution in the industry. It offers comprehensive and reliable data protection for virtual environments. Veeam uses the MTF (Microsoft Tape Format) to store backup data, a format also utilized by other popular backup software such as Microsoft's NTBackup, BackupAssist, and Veritas Backup Exec.

Thanks to its compatibility with major virtualization platforms, Veeam was one of the first providers to develop backup software specifically designed for virtual machines. It supports VMWare vSphere and Microsoft Hyper-V environments, providing maximum flexibility and adaptability for businesses utilizing these virtualization technologies.

With Veeam Backup & Replication, system administrators can perform regular backups of their virtual machines, ensuring data protection and the ability to restore them when needed. The solution offers a variety of backup options, including full, incremental, and differential backups, allowing businesses to choose the most suitable method for their needs.

In addition to backup, Veeam Backup & Replication also offers data replication features, enabling the creation of exact copies of virtual machines at disaster recovery sites or in the cloud. This replication functionality ensures optimal business continuity and rapid disaster recovery in the event of a primary system failure.

In conclusion, Veeam Backup & Replication is a leading backup and replication software that utilizes the MTF format and provides comprehensive data protection for virtual environments. With its compatibility with VMWare vSphere and Microsoft Hyper-V, it meets the needs of modern businesses in terms of backup and disaster recovery. With Veeam, businesses can be assured of the security of their data and their ability to restore it quickly when needed.

Recovery / indexing on Veeam tapes

When it comes to recovering data from tapes backed up with Veeam Backup & Replication, it is essential to understand the specific recovery and indexing process of this software.

Our experts are highly skilled and experienced in using Veeam software and are familiar with best practices for data recovery from backup tapes. Whether it's restoring individual files, entire virtual machines, or complete environments, our team will guide you through the recovery process to ensure successful retrieval of your valuable data.

Feel free to reach out to our company for professional assistance in the recovery and indexing of your tapes backed up with Veeam Backup & Replication. We understand the importance of your data and will make every effort to help you recover and restore it as quickly as possible.

Veeam Backup - Image veeam