'Carbon Copy Cloner' is a program that can create backup images of your disks, as well as restore the backed up data.
This application's interface is intuitive. The operation itself isn't that hard. You just select the source, which can be an entire volume or just a limited set of files/folders to be copied.
The backup data are copied into a disk image or on another disk volume, which has enough free space. The program also supports network locations as the target. In addition, you can backup mounted Samba folders from other machines on your local network.
The application can backup the data into read-only disk images or into self-growable read/write sparse images. The read-only images support content compression. They can also split the image into small segments, so that you can burn it on discs.
Both image types support encryption, so you can be sure that your data is safe. When encrypting, the program can use an existing disk image, an incremental backup mode, or it can create new images.
The support for scheduled tasks is an interesting feature. The scheduler allows you to automate the entire cloning process.
Pluses: It can backup entire disk volumes or just parts of it. It can use disk images for backup and restore actions. It has a built-in clone scheduler.
Drawbacks / flaws: This is a beta, so using it might seem like bungee jumping without a rope. The image creation engine is completely messed up. If you want a disk image as backup, then I suggest that you create the image with a 3rd party tool, such as
CreaDMG. Then you can backup your data to the existing image. This method works for read/write sparse images. In addition, when the program makes the backup, it uses many of your computer's resources. If you want to do large backups, as I tried with 36GB of data that included my OS, you have to be very patient.
In conclusion: This is a very useful backup tool. It's free and the only disadvantage is that it's a beta. I am looking forward to see how the final release will act.
version reviewed:
Carbon Copy Cloner Publisher's Description
In its simplest form, CCC will clone one hard drive to another, copying every single block or file to create an exact replica of your source hard drive. This is very useful if, for example, your laptop is damaged and you must send it in for repair.
CCC can also be used to perform regular backups of your data. When you select a source disk in CCC, you are presented with the contents of that disk (hidden items too). Simply uncheck the items that you do not want to backup, and CCC will provide ample indication what will and will not be copied. Select a target disk to which you would like to backup, then press the clone button.
The key to a successful backup plan is to actually do the backups regularly. When left to a human, the task often gets tacked on to the end of a very long list of other things to do. When you eventually have a catastrophe, the data is simply gone. You know that feeling -- you just lost six years of family photos. Your kids being born, their first birthdays, their first everything. The answer to this is consistent and regular backups, placed on a schedule and handled automatically by your computer. CCC includes that functionality, and takes it even further.
System Requirements Mac OS 10.4.8 or later.
