New Drive Snapshot build released.

I don't know if these "updates" are actually qualitative updates to the app itself or merely updates insofar as the allotted trial periods permitted those who want to test drive the app.

I wish Tom would update the site more regularly but I'm just happy that the program is as good as it is. It has saved my bacon a couple of times.

(And though I don't know you, Aaron, I wish you good health. )

 

Aaron,

Welcome back. I have been concerned and I'm glad my worst fears were wrong.

 

Hey guys,

Thanks for the well wishes! Blues, as far as DS' seemingly monthly updates I really believe Tom is consistenly debugging and/or tweaking the program (the program size usually changes somewhat with each release). But I do agree that it's hard to understand the lack of release notes.

Aaron

 

I hope you're right, Aaron, but either way it's just a wonderfully elegant little app that does what it says it will do. That means a lot to me as I've come to rely on its dependability.

 

I couldn't have said it better.

 

A new version of DS has been posted... v1.40.0.16084. Thanks!

 

For those of us wondering whether it is necessary to update their (recent) versions of DS, here's an excerpt from an email reply I received this morning in regard to the recent changes:

Hope you find this info useful.

 

Thanks for the info!

 

You're very welcome.

 

Another new version posted yesterday...1.40.16086

 

Thanks for the 'heads-up' napoleon. This was sooner than expected (considering that the prior build was released on May 22nd)!

Scott

 

I was thinking that as well...assume it was a bug fix but we might never know.

 

I have a feeling these are more related to resetting the trial periods for those wanting to test out the app...but this is merely based upon my prior correspondence, a portion of which is quoted earlier in this thread.

I know I've had a few occasions to restore an image of late and have had no known issues, for what it's worth.

Great software.

 

I would agree that it seems like a bug was found and fixed - and you are right in that we will never know.

Seems to me that's a strange way to extend a software trial period.

 

It most likely is just a build that extends the trial period. Keep is mind that Drive Snapshot is completely portable and does not require installation. There are no dependencies, so releasing a new .exe build is the only way to extend the trial.

 

If I were running their business and felt that potential customers might need more time to evaluate the software I'd simply extend the trial-period from 30-days to 60/90 days. Any trial-user should know whether or not the program is for him/her within that time-frame.

I would also do a much better job marketing the product. It's truly a hidden gem!

Scott

 

I couldn't agree more.

(Maybe he's a closet billionaire and just does this for laughs. )

 

....well that's always possible, but I've heard that Tom derives a solid revenue-stream licensing DS to several European companies. He sure doesn't seem to care much about the sales potential of DS throughout the US & UK.

Scott

 

Since drive snapshot has new builds all the time, it's not that hard to do an extensive trial.

Also, hard work is being done on version 1.41 - I'm not sure if all the goodies can be shared here, but full VSS writer integration? YES!

 

Well, actually, that filename is valid. Actually, you have used NTFS streams this way, unknowingly. File hidden behind files: read all about it here:

http://www.irongeek.com/i.php?page=security/altds

You now have a file T233-HD1 which contains probably nothing, and a file called "5.SNA" connected to it, as a NTFS stream. You can't find it in the directory listing, but keying it in manually (T233-HD1:5.SNA), it should still be there.

 

Hi Tonio,

Can you please explain what that is all about in lay-terms?

Wendi

 

VSS is the "shadow copy" service in windows. Drive Snapshot can use this instead of its own engine to make snapshots.

The new version will have the ability to specifically use certain "writers" in this technology.

So if you are running Exchange for example, exchange will be "told" that it's about to be backed up. Exchange will freeze/thaw the database and bring it into a state to have a 100% perfect backup. On top of that, databases have "transaction logs" which give you the possibility to not only restore to "last night's backup", but also to "replay" the last log files to get back to the current situation. Typically of course, the backups & transaction logs are on different disks.

VSS+drive snapshot will now be able to make correct backups of this environment (exchange, SQL, hyperv, ADDS...) but restoring them correctly still requires some specific knowledge.

Another new function is merging full+diff backups into a new, synthetic full. This opens up possibilities for offsite backup (never needing to transfer a full backup)

 

Dearest Tony,

You are one of the kindest person.

God Bless You!

Best regards,

Mohamed

 

Tony, thank you for the explanation. Drive Snapshot already provides the option for using VSS for all backups, so if I fully understand what you have said it seems to me that those future enhancements are aimed at the business (corporate) community rather than the individual home user who doesn't use Exchange, etc. Am I interpreting this correctly?

Wendi

 

Wow, merging diff+full backup available soon ? That would be great !