SD with Smart Update: Accidentally deleted files?
 

First of all, here's my setup:

I am backing up two PowerMac G5's using SuperDuper and a WiebeTech Raid 0 backup device (Silver Sata II SR). I have created two partitions on the backup - one for each of the two Macs being backed up.

The WiebeTech backup device is connected to PowerMac #1 via an eSata connection (eSata PCI card installed in the PMG5) and is setup to share the drive via Personal File Sharing.

PowerMac #1 backs up to the WiebeTech device via a SD SmartUpdate written directly to one partition.

PowerMac #2 backs up to the WiebeTech device over the network via a SD SmartUpdate written to a Sparse Image in a second partition.

Here's my question: My understanding is that SmartUpdate will always keep the backup as an exact duplicate of the source drive. So, if I accidentally delete a file today and then run SD w/SmartUpdate after that, the deleted file will also be erased from the backup.

Thus, it seems that SD has no way of protecting a user from accidentally deleting a file, UNLESS you rotate 7 daily backups - and then you only get a 1 week grace period to discover your error before SD/SmartUpdate automatically deletes your file.

With no ability to archive files, SD seems to trade the convenience of a bootable backup for the comprehensive "protection" that an incremental backup/archiving solution provides.

How do folks using SD cover this "hole" in the SD backup regimen?

Thanks!, Eric

Well, at least on the Mac you have to be terribly determined to "accidentally delete" a file -- you have to delete it from your disk, and then you have to empty your trash.

But, this is certainly the approach we've taken: we don't think this case happens very often, and a simple rotation would typically catch it -- 7 dailies is probably more than needed -- a weekly and a daily would give you the ability to recover things from 7 days ago or so.