Alternatives to SP3(Shadow Protect 3)

I have used/still use BootIt NG (Bing) gem software for a couple of years now, never had 1 problem.

I have recently bought ShadowProtect because of its speed. It's working flawlessy on my rig.

Buying SP for time saving made sense to me. (Image BING 50 minutes; same image SP 10 minutes)

 

my experience too,both very reliable but if speed counts there's nothing compared to SP.

 

Yes there is -- see post #43 SP took me 44 seconds compared with 50 for Acronis. Unless 6 seconds really matters I would say that they were equal and that Acronis wins on cost grounds

 

you're talking about these very short times to take backups,make me wonder how big[GB] your disk is ?

 

Spot on-this isnt an accurate test at all-but even here SP is about 12% faster.
Imaging such a small backup isnt typical.
SP, much more so than TI,takes longer to accelerate.
For example,in my system, it starts off at 40mbps then ends at over 70mbps, if a larger image is made.
SP is to be preferred "over all the alternatives, because it does what it's designed to do with unparalleled speed and reliability"(PC MAG).
Virtually all users,who have had extensive experience and tested properly, would agree.

 

My system partitions are always small.

 

Drive Snapshot is just a mere 236K and can backup reliably and fast. It can use the VSS server technology which can also backup several partitions at the same time or use its own internal engine. It can be copied to any device, folder location, Dos, Windows or Recovery cd. Compare that to SP which is approximately 15mb of 30 files, lots of dlls and registry entries and a big exe largely due to the protection also. If they did a home version i'm sure it be a similar number of files.

 

Well congratulations-so what?

 

I was pointing that backing up small partitions is not so uncommon. I have no doubts on the speed of SP (as I've tested it myself)

 

Have to weigh in with my own support for DS also because for me it's proven to been a surprisingly reliable performer for such the enemic size it sits at. Just like to see a nice front end for it on the DOS side to give it that litle extra Umpph! yeah OK!

Fact remains in spite of my long history with PARAGON that i turn solely to DS for across partition backup imaging and restoring and occasionally the whole ball of wax, but i also do a Paragon Drive BackUp on complete drives just for that added measure of confidence.

 

I like SP3 and I like several several other imaging apps. It's a personal decision. I don't think speed is that important when images are done on a scheduled basis and you don't know they are happening anyway. Is 10% or even 50% important in this situation? Sometimes extra speed means extra processor usage, with a performance hit and slowdown elsewhere. In comparing speed you must remember to compare apples with apples. In actual usage we include verify time in the total imaging time so if you aren't verifying, this should be stated.

Over the years I've used most of the common imaging apps, without a backup or restore failure, so in forum terminology they are all "rock solid". My current favourite will most likely not be your favourite. Use whatever suits you.

 

@EASTER

To be fair SP is aimed at the corporate market and Drive Snapshot is for home users mainly. DS hasn't been updated in so long but has still great options to this day. The point is it can be easily copied from place to place as it only one file. I prefer IFD over DS when in Dos and thats mainly because i use raid and like that it can detect all storage devices easily including NTFS. The only restores i done lately have been for testing.


@Brian K

Yep plus gotta like the gui of SP too.

How about making a dual image backup. A batch file backing up using IFW and DS one after the other for double the security.

 

Mark, any idea how to stop DS asking me to click OK during a restore from a batch file?

https://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=200199 (see Post #1)

 

See other thread

 

As they should be. why would anyone want a larger than necessary C: ?
Glad to see that someone understands.

 

I currently have 7 machines with varying sizes for C:. The one I tested is 2.4 gig ( as already quoted in post #44) . I must admit it hadn't occurred to me that anyone here might deliberately vandalize a machine by keeping data on C: and had thought that many would be operating with sub 2 gig systems. Perhaps for overweight machines SP3 is better.

Anyway the thread is not "how much do you love SP3" or "how many ways can SP3 be described as the greatest" or "Is Sp3 a replacement for FD-ISR that we can all salivate over" BUT "Alternatives to SP3" and FWIW I think that for a properly configured C: Acronis 10 is an Alternative.

 

I agree. Apart from Programs, everything else in another partition. eg Email, data, Address book, Temp files, Office pst file, large games.

 

as quoted here and most agree upon,SP is on top of everything basically aimed at big server environments so development of SP more focussed on speed and bit crunching as is understandable where time is money,more so reliability is there of greatest concern so its obvious that storagecraft has to provide something which is an alternative to Veritas among others,and thats not easy.But its nice that we can enjoy the fruits of their efforts,we as home users.From the viewpoint of us their are many alternatives but i guess that in the proffessional market SP all the more will shining,its sad that the company as compared to the big names here is so small so they will have a hard time to survive. I wish them all the luck to manage that.

 

As previously pointed out by a wise man

"If really comparing features,the only alternative to SP at an affordable price,which has a type of HIR,may be Acronis True Image EchoWorkstation,plus Universal Restore."

A true alternative should be comparable in features and at least equal in other important qualities, including reliability and speed

If all these requirements arent met,then how can it be a true alternative-all it can be is an app.which meets some of the criteria.

All this rules out TI.10

Having used it for a long time,I am in a position to look at it objectively.

 

Hairy Coo,

Symantec call their Dissimilar Hardware Restore feature, Restore Anyware. It's present in the Backup Exec System Recovery range. This software is remarkably similar to SP. If you can use one, you can use the other. Single licenses are available.

 

Well,thats interesting-?



edit-Brian K-couldnt find that product -as a matter of interest,could you give a link please.

 

Please forgive me but the suggestion that one view is more objective than another I find highly amusing.

You are setting up a position which requires that all features need to be compared. I am arguing that the only features that matter are those that an end user actually uses. You believe that SP3 is best because it has a large number of options. I believe that Acronis may be just as good for many users who will not require some of these options. There is nothing objective about anything that written by either of us with the exception of timings and the like.

" A true Alternative" The mind boggles - OK So I give in. Acronis is a false alternative because it can't do things I don't want it to do. No good looking a Ghost because it's not called SP3. Forget about Paragon because......

 

But Longview-one day you may need all the features,they are very important.

Are you saying the end user doesnt want or use some unique SP features-??

Apps. like SP and Ti can be tested objectively,as can most other products.

They can be properly tested,by a reputable source,which as we know,has happened here.

Its not correct just to say"Well,its working OK for me,therefore its just as good as another app."

This unfortunately seems to be your approach,but its certainly not objective.You seem to be looking at things through your own subjective viewpoint.

EDIT; Your little quote in post 91 is a gem of tolerance and sweet reason- "I must admit it hadn't occurred to me that anyone here might deliberately vandalize a machine by keeping data on C:"

According to your implication,anyone with a larger than 2.4 gb drive has an overweight machine-also a logical and reasonable approach nowadays,no?.

 

Sorry Hairy - I don't claim to be objective, sweet, tolerant or reasonable - I just dispute that you are either - no offense meant.

So "one day I will need all the features" No I won't - I have tried the program and can see no benefit for me. Any benefits for others are not my concern. they will figure out what matters to them and act accordingly. Very different than there is a one best solution concept.

"Are you saying the end user doesn't want or use.....unique features" Yes for many that will be the case.

"You seem to be looking at things through your own subjective viewpoint."
Finally - My point exactly. It is the only way possible to view the world. Talk of objectivity beyond some very basic measures is naive.

 

Hairy Coo,

http://www.symantec.com/en/uk/business/products/overview.jsp?pcid=2244&pvid=1601_1

http://shop.symantecstore.com/DRHM/...US&ThemeID=106400&Env=BASE&productID=95776900

Symantec Backup Exec System Recovery 8 Desktop Edition