The initial development and design of Bacula meant that it was a Linux-based backup software from the beginning. This was the case because Linux was an appropriate operating system as far as the development and utility of an enterprise backup solution was concerned. Bacula therefore became a fitting and flexible solution for both the storage and restoration of data in a timely and effective manner.
The efficiency of Bacula as a Linux backup program has made it one of the most popular software to date as evidenced by the huge amount of downloads it has accumulated over time. Bacula also offers effective security for data at no cost while still supporting a wide range of backup kinds such as physical, virtual and cloud backup.
In terms of storage, it offers agility by integrating with a large variety of disks, tape drives and arrays. It is especially suitable for the storage, security and restoration of huge quantities of Linux-based data. Its highly configurable and suitable features make it one of the most modifiable backup programs available.
This article seeks to explain the features of Bacula as a suitable Linux based backup and restore system. Interaction with this article should also give readers insight on why Bacula is a great alternative for Linux data backup.
5 Features of Bacula as a Free Linux Backup Solution
Bacula Alternatives Linux offers a wide range of features to its users which include:
Tape backup is basically a data backup technique that utilises magnetic tapes and cartridges as storage gadgets. This is done through the copying of huge quantities of data from the hard disk into the tapes. This in turn facilitates optimal restoration of data particularly when hard disk data has been lost.
Although the advent of online backup solutions has replaced tape backup in some ways, a lot of users still opt for tapes when it comes to storage. This is majorly because of the durability and stability they offer. Bacula’s tape backup features enable it to function using many distinct tape drives, auto-changers and auto-loaders.
It also consists of a Virtual Tape Library (VTL) support system. A VTL is simply a virtual backup technology that facilitates data storage and restoration processes. It utilises hard disks as backup libraries and tape drivers.
Bacula also utilises write once, read many (WORM) storage components which ensure that data is systematically stored in volume and family units.
Open SourceAn open source software is basically a program that can easily be reconfigured and transmitted because of the fact that it is publicly available. The basic element of any software is generally referred to as its source code.
When it comes to open source software, the source code is usually accessible and modifiable according to the requirements of the software developer in question. Bacula is therefore able to facilitate multi-volume backups as a result of its open source features which allow it to be easily modifiable
Structured Query Language (SQL)SQL is a domain-tailored language that allows the access and manipulation of databases. It basically facilities the execution of counter-queries, retrieval of data, insertion, updating and deletion of records and the creation of elements in a database. This therefore enables users to view stored files of any specific volume as long as they are online.
Data DeduplicationBacula offers aligned volume deduplication which is a highly efficient and reliable technique responsible for the elimination of excessive data copies. This elimination is usually done with a view of reducing the requirements involved in storing large volumes of data. Deduplication as a storage procedure can either be conducted during or after the data writing process.
Bare Metal Backup and RecoveryThe procedures involved in ensuring that all the data contained in a particular system is backed-up are wholesomely referred to as bare metal backup. On the other hand, bare metal recovery involves employing various techniques to ensure that all backed up data is completely recovered. This recovery is usually done using hardware systems that are entirely new.
Bare metal recovery is especially important because of its timely, fast and completely secure data restoration features. These features ensure speedy restoration of data since bare metal recovery facilitates the restoration of all system data as opposed to targeting a specific piece of system information.
Conclusion
Data storage, protection and retrieval are three of the most vital system management procedures. As such, it is imperative for users of any system to obtain effective solutions of handling data. Bacula is one of these solutions. Its wide variety in features is an irreplaceable asset especially when it comes to dealing with different variations and volumes of data.