Mac Backup Guru by MacDaddy Hits V2.0 ($29)

Mac Backup Guru developer MacDaddy released Mac Backup Guru 2.0.

It offers features such as bootable backups, synchronised volumes and folders, and a snapshot mode that uses system hard links to save space. Yet the interface is designed to be simple and clutter free, so that novices and professionals alike can take advantage of its features.

Developer Ben Slaney was keen to update Mac Backup Guru because his other product, Data Recovery Guru is only able to recover data on HDDs. Ben says: “The proliferation of SSD in Mac laptops is a worry for me. Like HDDs, they have a limited lifespan, but unlike HDDs, when an SSD fails, there is no way to recover the lost files.“

It is designed with a simple interface, to give users a simple way to secure their data. But the simple exterior hides some very advanced features. It works with local HDDs, so it is always fast to backup, and just as importantly, fast to restore. The two modes available allow the user to restore files or whole systems within minutes.

Synchronized clone backup
This mode is designed to keep an up to date, bootable copy of the system drive or individual folders. If the worst happens and your system drive fails, restart the machine from the clone backup, and you are up and running again. The drive is synchronised daily, but can be manually done at the touch of a button. Perfect for a last minute backup before taking a laptop on a trip.

Backup with incremental snapshots
This mode will also allow a full bootable copy of a system drive, so users can be backup and running immediately if they suffer a failed drive. But this mode also takes snapshots of the HDD, so that if files were accidentally deleted, the user can look back at previous backups to find the missing file.

This snapshot mode may sound like it would require large amounts of storage space. However, because the software uses OS X system hard links, it only needs as much storage as the original drive, plus the space that the deleted files require. This means a months worth of snapshots, each a full backup, can fit on a drive barely larger than the original backup.

Fast to backup, instant to restore
The initial backup may take some time, in either mode. But subsequent backups or Snapshots only copy the changed files, so are fast. In the event of a disk failure, simply boot from the external drive and instantly be up and running again.

A perfect copy
The product makes a perfect copy of the data every time, including file permissions and metadata. Many other Mac backup applications, including Apple’s own Time Machine app, fail to retain things like metadata. This can cause problems, especially if the data backed up includes the system files.

Slaney commented: “I discovered that the vast majority of backup software for the Mac doesn’t do a great job of keeping the integrity of the files it copies. Even Apple’s own Time Machine fails to make a perfect copy of things like metadata, which can cause serious problems. So I made sure that Mac Backup Guru 2.0 makes perfect copies every time“

Plays with online backup and synchronization services
Mac Backup Guru is designed to use local storage, as this means users can immediately get backup and running in case of disaster. But we understand that many users like to use services like DropBox, or other online backup services.

These services are great as a second line of defence, as keeping an off -site backup is good practice. The only drawback being the length of time it takes to restore from an online service (it could be days or even weeks). But Mac Backup Guru 2.0 supports these services, and won’t conflict with their work.

Mac Backup Guru 2.0 is available as a direct download from. The price is $29, which is at time of writing approximately £17, or €22

It requires OS X 10.7 or newer, and has been tested with the forthcoming OS X 10.10 Yosemite.