Backup Dwarf Features

Full backups

Full backups means all files in selected directories which meet the filter criteria are backed up each time a backup operation is scheduled. This type of backup is good if you want to store full snapshot of your files or project and is easy to restore from any date in the past. However since all files are backed up on each schedule, it is recommended not to schedule daily backups with this type as possibly disk space will run out too fast.

Incremental backups

When this backup is run for the first time, all files in selected directories which meet the filter criteria are backup up. However on each later backup, only files which are new or modified since the previous run are stored in the archive. With this type of backup you save disk space since no file is stored twice if it is not changed between two backup schedules. For this backup to work time stamp pattern must be defined. When Backup Dwarf is executing backup it searches for all files which have the same name, disregarding time stamp pattern. For example if the backup file name is defined as follows: My documents \YYYY-\MM-\DD then on each backup schedule, all files that match this pattern are examined: My documents ????-??-??.zip

ReliableBackupTM technology

This unique technology provides you with a mechanism that will make all possible attempts to perform backup or to repeat it when conditions are not optimal. It consist of 3 elements:

  • Remounting the unmapped drives. It often happens especially for laptop owners that network drives are not mapped after several docking / undocking, hibernating / un-hibernating or resuming from standby mode operations. In these circumstances if a backup archive is to be written to such network drive it would fail. However this element of ReliableBackupTM technology makes sure remote network drives are properly remounted again before backup operation begins.
  • Run missed backups. When there are scheduled backups while your computer is turned off, they are run immedietaly after you start it again, so you don't miss any important schedule. You can check the last run date of a particular backup schedule on View status of backups page.
  • Three retries after certain failures. It sometimes happen network is unaccessible during the time a backup is scheduled. This happens especially for wireless networks. Backup Dwarf retries up to three times with 2 minutes interval when it cannot create backup archive at the time a backup is scheduled. The same mechanism takes place for incremental backups when one or more files are unaccessible - usually opened in exclusive mode.

Scheduled backups on daily, weekly or monthly basis

Backup can be executed on a daily, weekly or monthly basis at a specified time.

  • Daily - backups are made on a daily basis at a specified time. If the computer is not running at this time, then the backup will be performed the next time you log.
  • Weekly - backups are made on specified days of week at the specified time. You can select one or more week days when the backups will be run.
  • Monthly - backups are made on specified days of month at the specified time. You can select one or more month days when the backups will be run. If you select 31 then backups will be made always on the last day of month, so for January this will be 31st, for February this will be 28th or 29th and for April this will be 30th day of month.

Please note the actual backup operation can start up to 3 minutes after the specified time.

Inclusive and exclusive filters for name, date, size and attributes

You can setup Backup Dwarf so it only includes certain files in the backup archive. Filters can be inclusive as well as exclusive.

  • Name filter - Only files which match the mask will be included / excluded. This mask has no influence on processed directories. It concerns files only. You can specify multiple masks separating them with ';' e.g: '*.avi;*.txt' Wildcards ('*?') are allowed. Example: Files starting from 'a', having 4 characters in name and any extension: a???.*
  • Date filter - Back up only files that were created, last written or last accessed after or before given date and / or files that are older or newer than a specified amount of hours, days, weeks, months or years.
  • Size filter - Back up only files that are between a specified size. Attributes filter group Backups only files with given attribute set or unset.

Wizard mode

Backup Dwarf has two working modes:

  • Classic mode - in this mode you have immediate access to all program options and functions while the view of the window resembles standard Windows tool.
  • Wizard mode - provides step-by-step interface for creating, modifying and deleting backup schedules. It is recommended for first-time users.

Detailed log information

Each backup schedule execution stores its log which is viewable after selecting it. Log contains information about the overall status of backup operation as well as any diagnostic messages that could be helpful to user. It also contains all files that were not included in the backup archive due to file system error - eg. files opened in exclusive mode.

Standard ZIP compression

By default all archives are compressed with the "normal" compression setting which gives good performance to size ratio.

Compression level setting

Some license options include possibility to set the compression rate for ZIP backup archive. There are four possible ratios (from left to right):

  • No compression - files are just stored in the archive. This is the fastest option, however it is not recommended since it wastes a lot of disk space.
  • Minimal compression - this is the fastest options which uses compression. Recommended if you want to reduce the time necessary to perform backup operation.
  • Normal compression - files are compressed using the best balance between speed and size of archive. Recommended in most scenarios.
  • Maximum compression - files are compressed with maximum possible compression however with more processor and memory used for backup operation. Recommended if you want to reduce the total disk usage.

Support for FTP Full backups

Backup archives can be stored on remote FTP server. This option is especially usefull if you have laptop and you move from one place to another. FTP server should be accessible from anywhere you are as long as you have access to Internet. Also in corporate network sometimes access to network shares is not possible, but FTP server is available.

ZIP compression over FTP

Even when backup archives are stored on remote FTP servers, compression is still enabled, so you save space on your limited FTP server drive. Please note not all "world class" backup tools provide this option.

Technical support via e-mail

We offer technical support via e-mail or our Forum even during the 60 days trial period. We guarantee to answer each question, so do not hesitate to contact us! Also if you have any comments or improvement suggestions - your feedback is very welcomed!

No 60 days trial limitation

Unregistered version of Backup Dwarf Professional Edition is fully functional for 60 days. During this time you should have enough opportunities to test if it suits your needs. After this trial period you need to purchase a license (register) to be able to use Backup Dwarf.

Free upgrade forever

For all customers all upgrades are free forever.

Number of backup schedules

Different license options have different amount of backup jobs that can be scheduled. The Home Edition license currently has ability to run 10 jobs. Please note you can select any number of directories in one schedule job, but if you need more consider purchasing Professional Edition license. It has no limits at all.