AISBackup Minimum Program Requirements and version differences.

Operating Systems:

AISBackup works with the following Microsoft Operating System's:

32-Bit Windows

Windows 7 (All version), Windows Vista (all versions), Windows XP (all versions), Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, Windows 2000 client and server, Windows NT4 client and server, Windows ME, Windows 98SE, Windows 98 and Windows 95 (Release 1 and 2). Some earlier versions of Microsoft Windows Operating system's do not support all the features in AISBackup.

64-Bit Windows - no additional software required

Windows XP (all versions), Windows Vista (all versions), Windows 7 (all versions) and Windows Server 2003.

Minimum AISBackup version 2.8 build 373.

64-Bit Windows - AISFAM required for opened exclusive files (mandatory for full system backup and disk cloning).

Windows Server 2008.

Hardware:

The minimum PC specification we use for testing is a Pentium P166 MMX with 64MB RAM. This PC usually runs Windows 98 (first edition) but we also test using Windows 95 (first edition with some modification) on the same PC.

Disk Space Requirements:

The size of AISBackup program and initial data files on disk after installation is just over 7mb.
AISBackup database files depend on the number of files and folders backed up as a rough guide:
A backup of 120,000 files from a Windows XP Build
- The backup contents database occupies 17.2 MB, this includes the Folder NTFS security settings (4.29 MB).
- The size of the data to be backed up 23.59 GB occupies 14.1 GB on the backup media, however, 7.34 GB of the data could not be compressed. The compressible data compresses on average to about 60% saving on the original size, but this entirely depends on the type of file been backed up. Documents and spreadsheets only containing text and numbers will compress a lot, jpeg pictures, music and video do not compress.
A mix of .doc and .xls from a files of type backup: 1190 files.
- The backup contents database occupies 1.01 MB, there are no Folder NTFS security settings as the NTFS settings were not chosen to be backed up.
- The size of the data to be backed up 87.2 MB occupies 35.9 MB on the backup media, a similar saving as the non-compressed files in the example above.
DVD and CD burning hard disk requirements:

There are two styles of writing data to CD and DVD, one uses a third party product called a Packet Writer to write data directly to disc. The other method of burning discs is disc mastering, which some users find more reliable.

The contents of a CD or DVD must be known prior to disc mastering so AISBackup must pre-stage the backup files to magnetic disk prior to burning to optical disc, the size of this disk based pre-stage area can be up to 800 MB for CD and 4.7 GB for DVD.

Application data (SQL Server / Exchange) :

AISBackup will backup SQL server and MS Exchange databases without additional add-on's, this is achieved by using the Windows built in Volume Copy Shadow Service (VSS) writers. For users of Windows Server 2000, and Windows Server 2008 64-bit AISFAM must be installed. Some users report problems with Microsoft's VSS and it is often difficult to resolve issues with the VSS service, if you have problems with VSS then please try the trial version of AISFAM, a 15 day trial is available from here.

Windows 7 issues:

No know problems. Backs up opened exclusive files using Microsoft's Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS), with AISFAM as an option if there is a problem running VSS on your PC.

Windows Vista issues:

No known problems. Backs up opened exclusive files using Microsoft's Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS), with AISFAM as an option if there is a problem running VSS on your PC.

Windows XP and Server 2003 issues:

No known problems. Backs up opened exclusive files using Microsoft's Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS), with AISFAM as an option if there is a problem running VSS on your PC. AISBackup supports Active Directory backup and restore.

Windows Server 2008 issues:

Windows Server 2008 R2 issues:

No known problems. As Server 2008 R2 is only available as a 64-bit operating system AISFAM is required to backup opened exclusive files.

Windows 95 issues:

A new, non-updated installation of Windows 95, version 1, requires an update to the common dialog API, this is easily achieved by installing Internet Explorer 5 or higher. The update is also included in Windows 95 Service Pack 1. The same update also fixes a problem installing and using the Cue Card.

Some older CD writers may cause an error 0E in VXD APIX(03).

Windows 95 & NT4 issues:

Windows 95 and Windows NT4 do not support USB, therefore all AISBackup USB options will not work.

Windows 95, 98, ME, NT4 & 2000 (Client and Server) issues:

Using the internal DVD writer only one session can be written to a DVD-R and DVD+R (write once media). This is an operating system constraint and not a fault in AISBackup. When using the integrated disc writer we recommend using DVD RW media or any CD media. AISBackup supports Server 2000 Active Directory backup and restore.

NT4 & 2000 client and server issues:

Cannot backup opened exclusive from NTFS drives unless AISFAM is used.

AISFAM

AISFAM provides opened exclusive file support for AISBackup where the Microsoft's Volume Copy Shadow Service (VSS) cannot be used. AISFAM may also be used where VSS is supported, this will provide a slight performance benefit. AISFAM must be installed to provide opened exclusive file backup support on Windows 2000 (all versions) and 64-bit versions of Windows Server 2008.

Microsoft only supports one running copy of Volume Copy Shadow Service (VSS) at a time, if you are using another product on your PC that claims exclusive use of VSS then AISBackup will fail to initialise VSS for itself, you may want to consider using AISFAM if this is a regular problem. AISBackup always releases VSS after use and only initialises VSS during the backup of opened exclusive files.