Mirror backup

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Mirror backup is identical to a full backup , with the exception that the files are not compressed in zip files and they can not be protected with a password. A mirror backup is most frequently used to create an exact copy of the backup data. It has the benefit that the backup files can also be readily accessed using tools like Windows Explorer.

A mirror backup is a straight copy of the selected folders and files at a given instant in time. Mirror backup is the fastest backup method because it copies files and folders to the destination without any compression . However, the increased speed has its drawbacks: it needs larger storage space and it cannot be password protected.

While the other backup types collect all the files and folders being backed up each time into a single compressed "container file", a mirror backup keeps all the individual files separate in the destination. That is, the destination becomes a "mirror" of the source. You can even directly access files in the destination without needing to use Backup4all's restore feature, because each file is just a straight copy of the original.

One handy feature of mirror backup is Backup4all's "Fast mirror " option. When this option has been selected, any mirror operation after the first will only copy new and modified files, making the operation very fast.

A mirror backup cannot keep track of different versions of files. However Backup4all provides an option to customize destination folder names using user-defined parameters, giving you the ability to save each mirror backup in a different folder location. Restoring via Backup4all is possible only from the latest mirror backup, but all previous mirror backups remain available in the destination should you want to access them manually.

Advantages:

The fastest backup type, especially in conjunction with the "Fast mirror" option
It creates a snapshot of selected files and folders in the destination which you can browse and access later without needing to run Backup4all

Disadvantages:

It needs more storage space than any other backup type
Password protection is not possible
Cannot track different versions of files