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Arq 5: Massively faster backup and restore for Mac and Windows

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Re: Arq 5: Massively faster backup and restore for Mac and Windows

#61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

True! It uses sqlite databases (finally). (I work at Haystack Software :)

Tried to purchase, but it sends me to a bad URL: $ host store.arqbackup.com Host store.arqbackup.com not found: 2(SERVFAIL)

Sorry about that. Should work now.

Re: Arq 5: Massively faster backup and restore for Mac and Windows

#62

As an Arq user, this makes me happy, as Arq is not exactly known for being fast. The announcement doesn't say, but I'm hoping they have reduced the amount of space needed for the client-side cache (currently 18GB (!) on my laptop).

Yes. I just added that to the announcement post. It stores stuff in sqlite databases that are a lot smaller.

Re: Arq 5: Massively faster backup and restore for Mac and Windows

#63
post #14

How is this, from a technical point of view, more advanced than running rsync in a regular fashion (with hardlinks to keep cheap snapshots)? Just wondering about the technical aspects.

It's also versioned backup, like Time Machine. Not just a clone of the latest.

You can do this with rsync as well, including the hardlinked-to-older file method.

Have a look at the `--link-dest` option to rsync.

Re: Arq 5: Massively faster backup and restore for Mac and Windows

#65
post #55

What compression was used before Arq 5? lz4 is super fast, but not particularly space-efficient compared to some slower compression algorithms. Since Arq customers are the ones paying the storage bills, this doesn't seem like an entirely costless decision--Arq is now faster, but you should expect your storage bills to go up a bit due to the lower compression. I use Borg backup with lz4 compression, so I definitely do…

Arq's data format description says that the other supported compression type is gzip, which I assume was used before: https://www.arqbackup.com/arq_data_format.txt

Re: Arq 5: Massively faster backup and restore for Mac and Windows

#66
post #39
post #14

How is this, from a technical point of view, more advanced than running rsync in a regular fashion (with hardlinks to keep cheap snapshots)? Just wondering about the technical aspects.

One differentiating factor is that rsync doesn't work with storage services like Amazon S3, Glacier, Google Drive, and the like.

You could use rsync and s3cmd in tandem to create a decent backup solution. Of course, it does require the command line and some scripting chops, but I've done it in the past to keep daily, weekly, and monthly logical MySQL backups on S3.

Re: Arq 5: Massively faster backup and restore for Mac and Windows

#69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Tried to purchase, but it sends me to a bad URL: $ host store.arqbackup.com Host store.arqbackup.com not found: 2(SERVFAIL)

Sorry about that. Should work now.

Thanks. I now get to the store, but it gets a 500 Internal Error trying to verify my key. Also, the Purchase link does embed my Arq 4 license key, but in the form, the upgrade license key field is empty, and I have to find it from my old .arqLicense file and paste it. I don't even know if I'm copying the right thing.

Re: Arq 5: Massively faster backup and restore for Mac and Windows

#70
post #57
post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One differentiating factor is that rsync doesn't work with storage services like Amazon S3, Glacier, Google Drive, and the like.

which is a good thing. if a few years ago somebody said "just copy all your private data to some place on the internet... but encrypt it first" you would take it for the crazy argument it is.

What do you think is crazy about it? If it's encrypted, it can't be read. If it's on "some place on the internet", it can only be as redundant or more redundant as any other offsite solution.
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