SUMMARY
File versus Block Backup
ISSUE
Purpose
What is meant by block level backup? Does Unitrends use File or Block-based backups?
Description
What is meant by block level backup? Does Unitrends use File or Block-based backups? For example, if a change is made to a file do we replicate the change blocks only or whole file?
Cause
N/A
Resolution
Unitrends blends file-based backups with block-based backups depending on operating system and content.
File-based backup tends to be more flexible, tends to handle applications better, and tends to allow greater selectivity in terms of what is backed up. Block-based backup is also quite often the only game in town for protecting host-level virtualized environments (such as VMware with VADP)
The Unitrends Agents combine file-based backups for most common files types. Application-aware, block-level backups are used to capture differential backups for SQL, Exchange and HyperV. Also, block-level backups are used for agentless VMware host backups.
Third-Party Sources