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Iperius Backup Review: Powerful Features, Learning Curve

Iperius Backup, backup software, Windows backup, file backup, image backup, online backup, cloud backup, VHDX, Hyper-V, ESXi, tape backup, data backup, recovery media, disk cloning, backup console, CBT, Changed Block Tracking, Dropbox, Google Drive, Amazon S3, data protection

Iperius Backup: A Deep Dive into a Feature-Rich Backup Solution

Iperius Backup stands out as a powerful and versatile backup solution, catering to both seasoned professionals and users with more modest backup needs. While the pay version unlocks a wealth of features and options, accompanied by an optional management console for centralized control, even the basic version packs a serious punch. However, be prepared for a learning curve, as the interface and sheer breadth of options might initially overwhelm less experienced users.

The free version of Iperius Backup is far from a mere trial. It’s a genuinely useful tool for basic file backups. The paid versions build on this foundation, offering enterprise-grade features like support for Hyper-V, ESXi, and tape drives, making it a suitable choice for businesses of all sizes.

For the average user, the initial challenge lies in navigating the program’s extensive capabilities. While the logic behind its design becomes clear with hands-on experience, certain operations, such as setting up connections with consumer-grade online storage accounts, could benefit from a more intuitive approach. Instead of seamless wizard-driven connections, Iperius often treats these services like Amazon S3, requiring users to manually generate and copy access tokens – a process that can be cumbersome for those unfamiliar with the intricacies of cloud storage configurations.

One of the standout features of Iperius Backup is its ability to back up data to multiple destinations within a single job. This is a significant advantage for users who want to ensure data redundancy by storing backups in various locations. Instead of creating separate jobs for each destination, Iperius allows you to define multiple targets within a single configuration. While this requires specifying options like compression for each destination individually, the overall convenience outweighs this minor inconvenience.

Iperius Backup’s image backups are stored in VHDX containers, a format compatible with Windows and various virtualization platforms, including VirtualBox and VMware. This application-independent format ensures that you’re not locked into using Iperius to access your backups. You can easily mount the VHDX files and browse their contents, regardless of whether Iperius is installed.

The program supports file backups (both plain and zip-compressed/encrypted) and image backups in a proprietary format and a Windows recovery-compatible format, which automatically includes the operating system drive. For incremental and differential backups in the proprietary format, you must download and install the CBT (Changed Block Tracking) service from the image-backup dialog. Full and Windows-compatible backups do not require this.

Iperius also boasts an online console management service, ideal for IT professionals who need to monitor and manage backups remotely. This service allows you to track backup status and control operations from a central location, provided the local client service is installed on the machines being backed up.

The array of options available in Iperius Backup is truly impressive. Granular scheduling allows backups to be run at intervals as short as one minute. Notifications can be sent via email upon error or completion. The program supports network user profiles, eliminating the need to repeatedly enter usernames and passwords. Compression levels can be adjusted, and pre- and post-backup applications can be run. Jobs can be exported and imported, and extensive log files provide detailed information about backup operations. A wealth of criteria allows for precise control over what data is copied and how it is copied.

Iperius Backup integrates with popular cloud services like Dropbox and Google Drive. However, its approach to these services is less user-friendly than that of some competing backup solutions. Instead of providing streamlined connection wizards, Iperius treats these services as S3-compatible storage, requiring users to manually obtain and enter access keys.

For disaster recovery scenarios, Iperius can create recovery media in several Windows PE versions, enabling bare-metal restores. This recovery media can be created directly on an external drive or as an ISO file for later use. The program also includes a disk clone utility, which is not present in the standard Windows application. This allows you to create an exact copy of a disk before overwriting it, providing an extra layer of safety.

While the free version is suitable for backing up files to local and network destinations, it lacks features found in the paid versions, such as the ability to run as a service, perform multiple simultaneous backups, and create recovery boot media. If you don’t require these advanced features, Windows File History might suffice.

One potential improvement for Iperius Backup would be to allow online storage services as backup sources in addition to destinations. This would enable users to back up data from one cloud service to another. A dedicated two-way sync function could also be a valuable addition.

The program’s clean design and attractive interface initially convey a sense of professional quality. However, some elements of the interface could use refinement. In recent versions, the size and spacing of certain screen elements have been inconsistent, with some buttons appearing too small and text being scrunched together. Dialog titles can be obscured by the custom icon. The backup progress dialog is not modal, causing it to disappear behind the main window. The job creation dialog closely resembles the main window, which can lead to confusion.

It would also be beneficial to be able to define additional destinations within the wizards, rather than having to add them later in the destinations tab. The option to name a job of your choosing should be in the wizard process. These relatively minor issues detract from the overall user experience.

While Iperius Backup offers impressive functionality, its pricing places it in competition with established players like Acronis True Image, R-Drive Image, and Easeus ToDo Backup. However, the 21-day trial provides an opportunity to evaluate the advanced features and determine whether they justify the cost.

Testing revealed Iperius Backup to be fast and efficient in file-related tasks. It downloaded files from FTP and network locations without noticeably slowing down the system. The integrity of the backups was consistently perfect.

One recurring issue encountered was the program’s inability to write to exFAT-formatted external SSDs. While the program initially appeared to work with exFAT, it failed when attempting to write a larger Windows recovery image. Reformatting the drive to NTFS resolved the issue, but the incompatibility with exFAT, a common format for drives used across multiple operating systems, remains a limitation.

Despite these minor drawbacks, Iperius Backup’s versatility and performance are commendable. With some improvements to its user interface and workflow, it could appeal to a wider audience.
For power users and IT professionals, Iperius Backup is a powerful tool and the online management console is a strong bonus.

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