Ghost vs. Others [Archive]

wmbjr

01-03-2004, 10:20 PM

I was wondering if people believe Ghost is the best backup program or if something like Acronis True Image or PowerQuest Drive Image is a better choice. I have never used any of them so I am not stuck to one brand etc. Just looking for the best option that will allow me to make periodic backups of my C: drive for recovery purposes. Thanks in advance for the info.

WB

wmbjr

01-03-2004, 10:43 PM

OldMX

01-03-2004, 10:57 PM

I´ve use drive image and i´m very pleased with it, nice backup times, small size images, very fast restoration, etc.

OldMX

wmbjr

01-03-2004, 11:03 PM

Does drive image allow scheduling for multiple backups? For example, I would like to backup my operating system and applications to a hard drive periodically. But I would also like to back up a hard drive used for image and video editing whenever I have outstnading work to either CD or if I ever get a DVD writer then to DVD. The operating system, I would like to do periodically without having to think about . . . therefore the scheduling. The other would only be done as needed.

WB

Tiny

01-04-2004, 05:59 AM

Can't comment on Ghost since I have never used it, but I do use Drive Image and never had any problems with it. Sorry.

Ice Czar

01-04-2004, 11:21 AM

cross posting isnt allowed ;)
(moved and merged)

if you like we can move this to Data Storage later

Symantec's Ghost (Corporate) is an extremely powerful ap that blows the rest out of the water, but its considered advanced

Norton Ghost by Symantec is very similar, but with fewer advanced features, and with the latest addition has a Windows based interface

Symantec's Drive Image (Formerly PowerQuest) is a Window interface as well, and the two will probably merge into a single product if I was guessing

I havent use Acronis

there are a few other Win32 clone aps as well

but what is interesting is the opensource \ GNU \ freeware aps out there

like
g4u (http://www.feyrer.de/g4u/)
(Ghost for Unix) only it isnt just for Unix
it employs NetBSD intead or DOS (like the original and most subsequent versions of Ghost)
and while its optimized to clone via FTP it will also do local disks or just partitions

most "freeware" aps are limited versions of paid programs
not offering the more advanced features (HDClone), or HDD manufacturers Utilities like
Western Digital's LifeGuard or Maxtor's PowerMax allowing rudimentary cloning

then there are some really trick Linux aps like
Mondo (http://www.microwerks.net/~hugo/)
which while it will image Windows, requires that Linux is also installed, or pure Linux imaging (no windows filsystem support)
like mkcrec (http://mkcdrec.ota.be/)

Im currently interested in a n00b tutorial for a disaster & recovery
partition strategy \ OS installs and opensource apps combination
that can replace the typical W2K\XP\NT dual boot & recovery console strategy, using opensource software like Knoppix (http://www.knoppix.org/), Mondo, ect.

regarding "schedualing" automatic backups w\ Ghost
not that Im aware of, some sort of script or bat file could be developed I guess, Veritas had the automatic backup market and Stomp Backup MyPC (http://www.stompinc.com/index.phtml?stp) (Formerly Backup Exec Desktop by Veritas)
would be the first commercial package that comes to mind

Though there is probably opensource software available as well

wmbjr

01-04-2004, 10:51 PM

Thanks Ice for the great information. I think I will wait and see if Symantec takes advantage of the combination of Ghost and Drive Image. I too would love to see a tutorial done on data recovery/security. I keep having to knock on wood that I never lose a drive. My Father lost one and had a time recreating everything.

Also, sorry about the cross-post.

WB

Ice Czar

01-05-2004, 08:45 AM

well as of right now, there isnt much difference between Ghost v2003 and Drive Image (for "typical" use), since both are employing a Windows Interface (there are still a few tasks they need to drop to DOS to accomplish, which they do with a reboot) Drive Image is a bit more user friendly (duh gee interface), Norton Ghost a bit more powerful and customizable, but w\ cryptic commandline switches, it takes a while to understand. The corporate edition really adds alot of networking options (installing images\clones throughout an enterprise)

here is a good
Ghost Guide (http://ghost.radified.com/ghost_1.htm#ggviewer-offsite-nav-12464704) @ Radified.com (http://radified.com/index2.html)

and reference to Ghost Switches (http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/ghost.nsf/docid/1998082612540625?Open&src=&docid=1998082609155625&nsf=ghost.nsf&view=docid&dtype=&prod=&ver=&osv=&osv_lvl=) which if you review them, will give you a good idea of the added functionality that youd get over Drive Image (but that you more than likely wont need for "typical" use)

more
Switches: Bad Disks (http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/ghost.nsf/docid/1998082609405925?Open&src=&docid=1998082612540625&nsf=ghost.nsf&view=docid&dtype=&prod=&ver=&osv=&osv_lvl=)
Switches: Cloning (http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/ghost.nsf/docid/1998082413392025?Open&src=&docid=1998082612540625&nsf=ghost.nsf&view=docid&dtype=&prod=&ver=&osv=&osv_lvl=)
Switches: CRC32 (http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/ghost.nsf/docid/1998082609442125?Open&src=&docid=1998082612540625&nsf=ghost.nsf&view=docid&dtype=&prod=&ver=&osv=&osv_lvl=)
Switches: Diagnostic (http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/ghost.nsf/docid/1998082609465125?Open&src=&docid=1998082612540625&nsf=ghost.nsf&view=docid&dtype=&prod=&ver=&osv=&osv_lvl=)
Switches: Drive Detection (http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/ghost.nsf/docid/1998082609375125?Open&src=&docid=1998082612540625&nsf=ghost.nsf&view=docid&dtype=&prod=&ver=&osv=&osv_lvl=)
Switches: FAT (http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/ghost.nsf/docid/1998082609110525?Open&src=&docid=1998082612540625&nsf=ghost.nsf&view=docid&dtype=&prod=&ver=&osv=&osv_lvl=)
Switches: GDisk (http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/ghost.nsf/docid/2000030715304425?Open&src=&docid=1998082612540625&nsf=ghost.nsf&view=docid&dtype=&prod=&ver=&osv=&osv_lvl=)
Switches: Ghost Walker commandline switches (http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/ghost.nsf/docid/1999020113402425?Open&src=&docid=1998082612540625&nsf=ghost.nsf&view=docid&dtype=&prod=&ver=&osv=&osv_lvl=)
Switches: Image File (http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/ghost.nsf/docid/1998082608512325?Open&src=&docid=1998082612540625&nsf=ghost.nsf&view=docid&dtype=&prod=&ver=&osv=&osv_lvl=)
Switches: Norton Ghost 6.0 (http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/ghost.nsf/docid/1999102614103625?Open&src=&docid=1998082612540625&nsf=ghost.nsf&view=docid&dtype=&prod=&ver=&osv=&osv_lvl=)
Switches: Norton Ghost Multiocast Server for DOS (http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/ghost.nsf/docid/1999110108435725?Open&src=&docid=1998082612540625&nsf=ghost.nsf&view=docid&dtype=&prod=&ver=&osv=&osv_lvl=)
Switches: NTFS Partitions (http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/ghost.nsf/docid/1998082609155625?Open&src=&docid=1998082612540625&nsf=ghost.nsf&view=docid&dtype=&prod=&ver=&osv=&osv_lvl=)
Switches: Sector Copy (http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/ghost.nsf/docid/2001111413481325?Open&src=&docid=1998082612540625&nsf=ghost.nsf&view=docid&dtype=&prod=&ver=&osv=&osv_lvl=)
Switches: SLOWFILE and BUFFERSIZE (http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/ghost.nsf/docid/1999042710284225?Open&src=&docid=1998082612540625&nsf=ghost.nsf&view=docid&dtype=&prod=&ver=&osv=&osv_lvl=)
Switches: Tape Drives (http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/ghost.nsf/docid/1998082609192225?Open&src=&docid=1998082612540625&nsf=ghost.nsf&view=docid&dtype=&prod=&ver=&osv=&osv_lvl=)
Switches: User Intervention (http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/ghost.nsf/docid/1998082609222725?Open&src=&docid=1998082612540625&nsf=ghost.nsf&view=docid&dtype=&prod=&ver=&osv=&osv_lvl=)