What is Uranium?
Uranium Backup is a high-performance, small-foot print software package which can be installed on Windows 2000, 2003, 2008 Server products and Windows XP Professional.
It is easy to install and operate and provides you with an excellent low-cost backup solution for managing desktop computers, servers and Internet web sites.
Uranium is able to support and backup files to nearly any kind of storage device or medium and it can also support over-the-web backups and multiple destination backups.
Uranium Backup Questions and Answers:
1. Is Uranium compatible with LTO Ultrium Tapes ?
Yes, Uranium can make backups to LTO, LTO 2, LTO 3 e LTO 4 tape drives without any problem, also with SAS interface.
2. Does Uranium work on 64 bit Windows platforms ?
Yes, Uranium can be installed and used without problems on Windows Server 2003 64 bit, Windows XP 64 bit, Windows VISTA 64 bit and Windows Server 2008 64 bit.
3. Does Uranium work on Windows VISTA ?
Yes, Uranium is perfectly compatible with Windows VISTA, in all editions.
4. Is Uranium compatible with Windows Server 2003 ?
Uranium is perfectly compatible with Windows Server 2003 and 2003 R2 operationg systems, all editions.
5. Can Uranium copy locked / open / in-use files ?
Yes, Uranium is able to copy any open or locked file using the Volume Shadow Copy service. This functionality is available only in the Gold version and on the Windows Xp, Server 2003, Vista and Server 2008 operating systems, 32-bit and 64-bit.
6. How can I synchronize two folders ?
In order to see how to configure a synchronization between two or more folders (also with zip compression) read this tutorial.
7. What are ASPI Drivers ?
ASPI means Advanced Scsi Programming Interface. ASPI drivers (named also ASPI Layer) are that drivers necessary to communicate with scsi or ide peripherals, like DVD-ROMs or Tape Drives. Since the version 6.4 of Uranium the installation of these drivers is optional, because the program provides an new type of native interface that makes Uranium compatible with any tape drive (also USb or other types of interfaces), without needing to install these drivers.
8. Can I make backup to/from Linux or MAC computers ?
Sure. Uranium can make network backups from/to other operating systems, like Linux Servers or MAC OS X computers, for example using Samba or the SFTP SSH2 tranfer protocol.
9. Can I shutdown my pc at the end of the backup ?
Yes, since the version 6.5, in the general options of each backup set, you will find a specific option to do that.
For particular needs, you can also use a little external tool named PsShutdown: read the related tutorial to see how to do that.
10. Active Directory Backup: it is possible to make it with Uranium ?
Yes, you can make a backup of Active Directory using the system tools “ntbackup” or “wbadmin” directly from Uranium. Uranium is in fact able to run through appropriate commands the Windows backup program, that allows backup of the System State, with which you can restore your system in case of a crash. See this tutorial.
11. Can I download and backup locally an entire website ?
Sure. Uranium has powerful and versatile download features, that allow to make complete download of an unlimited number of websites, through ftp or sftp protocols. This features allow also to select which and how many folders download from a site, to select if download subfolders or to exclude or include some kinds of files through specific filters.
12. Can I encrypt the backup files to protect my data ?
Uranium has powerful encryption features (AES 256 bit), that can be used to make zip files created by Uranium completely inaccessible. Only who knows the encryption key can read zip file content, using a specific function for decryption. We can also set the classic zip password. There are specific encryption functions also for tape backup. Encryption features are very important when you make ftp transfers, to protect your data against any interception. Also fo this reason Uranium is a good product to protect your privacy.
13. Can I exclude from backup some specific files or folders ?
Yes, Uranium has filtering functions absolutely customizable and versatile. It allows to exclude or include files depending on their extensions, or exclude specific files and folders, or exclude all subfolders of an item, etc…
14. Can I make a virus scan before my backup ? ^
Yes, using the function to run external programs available in the options of each backup set: read this tutorial in order to see how to do that.
15. Can I make a zip compression of my files before a cd/dvd burn ?
Yes, it is necessary to use 2 backup sets: the first one will compress items in zip format in a local or network folder, and the second one will burn the zip file/s on cd/dvd. For the first backup set we must set the option in the “Other” panel for the actions to execute “AFTER” its execution: we must set to run the second backup set.
16. Can I make a zip compression of my files before a tape backup ?
Yes, it is necessary to use 2 backup sets: the first one will compress items in zip format in a local or network folder, and the second one will copy the zip file/s on tape. For the first backup set we must set the option in the “Other” panel for the actions to execute “AFTER” its execution: we must set to run the second backup set.
17. Can I make backups to iOmega REV Drives ?
Sure, Uranium can copy, without any limitation, file and folders to iOmega REV units, with first-class performances and reliability.
18. Can I make Exchage Server backups ?
Uranium does not have native functionalities to make granular Exchange backups, but, with the Gold version and on Windows Server 2003, Server 2008, Vista and XP operative systems, Uranium can copy Exchange data (.edb/.log) also if the service is running and the files are locked (using Volume Shadow Copy service), allowing in this way to make a total and easily restorable backup, withount any service interruption.
19. Can I make MSDE backups ?
Yes, Uranium is the most powerful and veratile product to make MSDE backups, and it allows also to make zip compression, encryption and transfer to other destinations of the backup files.
20. Can I receive by e-mail a notification each time a backup is executed ?
Sure, and for each Backup Set. Uranium can send to one or more recipients an e-mail containing the detailed log of the backup procedure, each time it is executed or only when there are errors. A very useful feature to be always informed about the correct result of backup procedures.
21. Can I schedule a backup through Windows Scheduled Tasks ?
Yes, in fact it is possible to run backup procedures from the command line. So from a Windows Scheduled Task we can run Uranium with all necessary parameters. See related tutorial.
22. Can I start Uranium as a Service ?
Yes, starting from the version 7 it is possible to run Uranium as a native NT-service on all NT-based operating systems (XP, 2000, 2003, Vista, 2008). See this tutorial for further information.
23. Can I use Uranium as a plug-in of other programs ?
Yes, in fact it is possible to configure Uranium and run backup procedures from the command line. So any other program can run Uranium as its own plug-in with a simple shell command.
See the related tutorial for Uranium Backup command line parameters.
24. Can I use Uranium like a common burning software ?
Yes, it is possible to use Uranium as a common burning software, in order to create data discs with any files or folders from hard drives or network shares.
25. Can I use Uranium on Linux systems ?
Yes, it is possible to use Uranium on Linux, but we must run it under Wine. But not all features are supported. The base version can be used in its full functionality and with good preformances, while it is not possible to use burning features or sql server backup. The Tape backup works normally but there could be performace issues.
26. Can Uranium burn double layer DVD and DVD-RAM ?
Yes, Uranium can write on DVD+R Double Layer and DVD-RAM media, that have a capacity of 8.5 GigaBytes.
27. Can Uranium make backups on NAS servers ?
Yes, Uranium is able to make file copies, synchronizations and backups to any network server, net disk, etc…
28. E-mail notification: why doesn’t it work ?
There can be several reason why Uranium is unable to send e-mail notifications:
1) Wrong smtp server address or wrong port number
2) Username or password incorrect or not specified for that smtp server that requires authentication (for some stmp servers can be necessary to specify username and password used for incoming mail or for the internet connection)
3) Wrong recipient’s e-mail address
4) The provider of the smtp server requires that you are connected to internet through it in order to use its smtp server.
5) An antispam filter stops Uranium’s e-mail.
6) An antivirus software (like the latest versions of McAfee) or a firewall don’t allow Uranium to communicate through internet.
7) Some providers could require the POP3 authentication (incoming mailbox) before execute the sending through SMTP.
Some providers, e.g. GMAIL, require that is used a SSL/TLS secure connection : therefore it is necessary to download the correspondant components using the proper button in the general options of Uranium.
9) Other general problems in connection or network, firewall settings, routers, etc…
29. Has Uranium Restore features ?
Sure, with Uranium is possible to make data restore from every kind of backup destinations. Regarding backups with zip compression, direct copy or FTP uploads, the restore can be made manually or creating a specific Backup Set with inverted direction. The same functionality is provided for CD/DVD backups: in fact we have a simple window to see the various sessions on a disc, and for each of this we can see the relative files and folders, that we can restore with a simple click. The tape restore features are more professional and detailed, because they allow to set existing files overwrite options, restore in the original location or in a different location, the reset of original attributes of files, the creation of a restore log, etc…
30. How can I obtain a new activation code if I move Uranium on another PC ?
Even if the Uranium license is valid for one PC, our license policy is very flexible. You must simply send to us an e-mail containing the new machine code, and we will send immediately to you the new activation code, without any cost.
31. How can I run a backup from the command line ?
See the related tutorial for Uranium Backup command line parameters
32. How can I run chained backup sets ?
In the options of each backup set, in “other” panel, it is possible to set the execution of other backup sets before and/or after the execution of the backup set we are configuring. So we can easily run in chained manner how many backup set we want.
33. How can I use Uranium to update my website ?
Uranium can make backups to remote ftp servers, and so we can use this feature to transfer an unlimited number of files an folders on a web server, maintaining prefectly the entire file structure. In order to make this kind of transfer we must only insert in the list of the items the folder containing web site, and then create an ftp destination to the web server. In addition we could configure several options for file overwrite, creation of root folder, the selection of a specific subfolder, etc…
The upload procedure can be scheduled like any other backup, so it will be possible to update periodically and automatically one or more web sites, with a simple click !
34. How does “Auto Update” feature work ?
All customers that bought a commercial version have the possibility to download program’s updates freely and without time limitation, with a simple click. This function can be found from the main menu > Tools > Update Uranium. At the end of the update procedure the program will be restarted. It is not necessary to reboot the system.
35. How many destinations can I have for the backup ?
The backup can be made to an unlimited number of destinations, also during the same backup procedure and also to destinations of several type.
36. How many items (folders/files) can I add to my backup ?
You can add an unlimited number of items.
37. How many types of CD/DVD media can I burn with Uranium ?
Uranium is compatible practically with any optical disc currently available on the market: CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD-RAM, DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD+R Double Layer (8,5 GB)
38. Is Uranium compatible with VXA Tape Drives ?
Yes, Uranium is compatible with VXA tape drives. Howerver some performance issues could occur with some kinds of these units, especially making the backup af many small files.
39. No backup done: I configured all settings, but why Uranium don’t make the backup ?
When Uranium show the message “No backup done” there can be serveral reason for this behavior. It is necessary to check that:
-There are items to backup
-All items aren’t excluded
-There is at least one destination
-Overwrite options aren’t set to “Never overwrite existing files”
-There aren’t modified files after previous backup (see overwrite options)
-Extension filter don’t exclude all file types of the item or include only not existing file types
-Is set the option to exclude subfolders for a folder item that doesn’t have files in its root
-Are set specific exclusions for all files and folders of the item
-Is set the option to backup only modified items and there aren’t modified items since last successful backup
-I set the option to copy only locked files through Volume Shadow Copy service and there aren’t locked files
40. Uranium license has an expiration ? Must I pay annual subscription ?
No, all Uranium commercial licenses haven’t an expiration date. In addition all customers have free updates for an undefined time.
41. What is MD5 file comparison in the overwrite options ?
The MD5 comparison is a sophisticated method to check the differences between two files, based on a well-known and widely used algorithm. This method is surely the most secure (but slower) to identify which files must be overwritten.
42. What is the FTP Client and what’s this for?
The FTP Client is practically another program included in Uranium, that can be used independently from Uranium backup functions. With the FTP Client we can explore the disk of a remote server, were for example is hosted our website. Using its functions it is possible to transfer files or entire folders in both directions (from local to remote pc and vice versa), delete, rename or move files or folders on remote pc, etc…
The FTP Client can be used to restore backups made to ftp destinations. This useful tool is fully available also in the freeware version, and allows to use also to use the SFTP (Secure FTP - SSH2) protocol. Thanks to SFTP functions it is possible for example to transfer files to and from Linux serves without using Samba.
43. What is the mean of the different colors in the list of the items/destinations ?
-Red: item’s path is wrong or actually unreachable
-Maroon: the item has specific files/folders esclusions
-Bold: the item has the setting for automatic authentication on network shares / the destination is an incremental zip destination
-Underline: the item has been modified after last successfull backup
-Navy: the item’s own destination or the common destination have the setting for automatic authentication on network shares.
-Gray: the item is excluded from backup procedures
44. What is Zip 64 format ?
Zip files are a particular kind of files, or, to be more precise, are archives that can contain other files in compressed mode. A zip file allows to group many files in a sigle file and so to save a lot of space on disk. But the classic zip format has intrinsic limitations that don’t allow to create zip archives bigger than 4 GB and/or containing more than 65535 files. To avoid these limitations it was implemented the new zip 64 format. Thanks to full compatibility with zip 64 format, Uranium is able to create archives of virtually unlimited size and with an unlimited number of files. It is important to remember that in order to open a zip 64 archive it is necessary to use earlier versions of WinZip, WinRar, and other similar archive manager.
45. Which kind of tape cartridges are compatible with Uranium tape backup ?
Are generally supported all DAT, DDS, DLT, SDX, AIT, VXA, SDLT, LTO cartridges. Also if not tested, isn’t excluded a wide compatibility with any other kind of tape cartridge.
46. Windows Registry Backup: it is possible to make it with Uranium ?
Yes, you can make a backup of the system registry using the system tools “ntbackup” or “wbadmin” directly from Uranium. Uranium is in fact able to run through appropriate commands the Windows backup program, that allows backup of the System State, with which you can restore your system in case of a crash. See this tutorial.
47. Is Uranium compatible with Windows Server 2008 ?
Yes, Uranium is perfectly compatible with all editions of Windows Server 2008, including the Small Business (SBS) and the 64-bit version.