Glossary


additive

When a backup copies files that are new, renamed, or modified since the last session without deleting or overwriting older versions, that backup (normally an archive) is additive.



additive incremental archive

A type of backup in which files that are new or modified since the last run are added to an archive, without replacing or deleting earlier versions of those files.



AFP

Apple Filing Protocol, the network file-sharing protocol used by Personal File Sharing.



archive

An archive is a copy of your files as they appeared at multiple points in time, sometimes stored as a single, larger file. Some backup programs use the term archive to refer to a backup in which the original files are deleted from the source volume after being copied to the backup medium.



client

A program that works with a server program is a client. For instance, Retrospect Client is a small program you can install on each of your computers. Retrospect Client communicates with the full version of Retrospect on the server, which does the bulk of the work. The computer running client software is often called a client as well.



client-server

A type of network backup system in which client computers use a small background program to send files over a network without mounting a volume in the Finder. Backups are initiated by the server and stored on media connected to the server.



Combo drive

A Combo drive is an optical drive, standard on some Macintosh computers, that can read from DVD media and write to CD-Rs and CD-RW media.



data fork

Although this is less common in Mac OS X than in previous versions of the Mac OS, Macintosh files can be composed of two portions, a data fork and a resource fork. In general, the data fork holds data for the filetext, graphics, video, and so onthat could be relevant to any platform, whereas the resource fork stores information that's relevant only when the file is used on a Mac. (Often this information is ancillary, but other times it is quite important. For example, Classic versions of Nisus Writer store formatting in the resource fork.)



destination

The volume (hard disk, partition, optical disc, etc.) to which files are copied during a backup. Also called target. Compare with source.



differential

A type of backup in which each run copies all files which are new or modified since the initial full backup. Compare with incremental.



duplicate

A duplicate is a complete, exact copy of your entire hard disk that (if it's stored on, or restored onto, a hard disk) you can use to start up your computer if necessary. Sometimes called a clone or a mirror.



FTP

File Transfer Protocol, a common method of transferring files over the Internet.



incremental

A type of backup in which only files that have been added or changed since the last run are copied. Compare with differential.



local

Think of local as meaning "part of your computer." If you save a file to your Mac's hard disk, you are saving it locally. In contrast, you can save it remotely on a file server, which could be down the hall or on the other side of the globe.



media spanning

The capability of a backup program to split data (possibly even a single, large file) across multiple optical discs or other mediaand rejoin them when restoring the files.



multisession

The ability to record additional chunks of information on a partially used optical disc as separate volumes after the initial write session. Some applications, including Retrospect, can add data to partially-used optical discs using a packet-writing technique; this does not create additional volumes, and it means that only the program used to record the discs can read them later.



NAS

See network attached storage.



network attached storage

Typically refers to one or more hard drives with their own Ethernet (or wireless) interfaces. Compare with storage area network.



off-site

When backup media is kept off-site, it is moved to a separate building from the one where the original data is stored.



optical media

CDs (including CD-ROM, CD-R, and CD-RW) and DVDs (DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, and DVD+RW). So named because they rely on lasers to read and write data.



pull

A backup initiated by a server, in which data is copied from a mounted network volume (a client computer) onto media connected locally to the server. Compare with push.



push

A backup initiated by a client, in which data is copied from a local disk to a mounted network volume. Compare with pull.



resource fork

Although this is less common in Mac OS X than in previous versions of the Mac OS, Macintosh files can be composed of two portions, a data fork and a resource fork. In general, the data fork holds data for the filetext, graphics, video, and so onthat could be relevant to any platform, whereas the resource fork stores information that's relevant only when the file is used on a Mac. (Often this information is ancillary, but other times it is quite important. For example, Classic versions of Nisus Writer store formatting in the resource fork.)



rotating archive

A backup scheme in which new or modified files are added to an archive incrementally (without overwriting recent versions), but files older than a certain date (or backed up more than a certain number of days ago) are removed to save space.



rotating backup

A backup scheme in which a complete copy of all selected files is made during each run, the newest set of files replacing the oldest of two or more previously copied sets.



SAN

See storage area network.



script

A set of instructions for a backup program to follow. Scripts may include source, destination, schedule, and other options.



server

A server is a program that sends information to client programs. Backup servers, for instance, work with backup clients to copy files from networked computers onto centrally located media. A computer running server software is also typically referred to as a server.



SMB

Server Message Block, the network file-sharing protocol used by Windows and Mac OS X's Windows Sharing. Sometimes referred to (slightly inaccurately) as Samba.



snapshot

A list of all the files in the designated folders at the time a backup runs. Backup software that uses snapshots generally enables the user to restore data to its state at the time of any backup with a single operation.



source

A source is a folder or volume from which data is copied during a backup; the data's original or primary location. Compare with destination.



storage area network

A device comprising one or more hard drives able to be shared among several computers, generally via high-speed FireWire, Fibre Channel, or SCSI connections (without using a conventional Ethernet-based network). Compare with network attached storage.



SuperDrive

An optical drive, standard on many Macintosh models, that can write to and read from DVD-R media and CD-R or CD-RW media.



synchronization

The process of maintaining identical copies of a file, folder, or volume in two or more locations.



verification

The process by which a backup program confirms that each copied file is identical to the original.





Real World Mac Maintenance and Backups. Industrial-Strength Techniques
Real World Mac Maintenance and Backups. Industrial-Strength Techniques
ISBN: N/A
EAN: N/A
Year: 2004
Pages: 144

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