Interviews

posted on 25 July 2008 13:09

UK Online backup service supplier Clunk Click spokesperson Kirsch Bowker answered a few questions to help locate Clunk Click and its service in the online backup service landscape.

B&F: Is Clunk Click aware of SquirrelSave? 

Kirsch Bowker: Yes. They do not support servers, have lower encryption levels, need a user logged in to work, and its not a service (in our sense).

B&F: Does Clunk Click or the renamed Risc Goup product offer remote access to backup files?

Kirsch Bowker: Yes.

B&F: Who or what provides the data centre infrastructure for the backed up files?

Kirsch Bowker: The data centre infrastructure is provided by The Server Hotel - a tier 3 facility in Manchester.

B&F: What are the overview scalability and security attributes of that?

Kirsch Bowker: Limited access to facility by pre-approved personnel with photo ID (by appointment only), 24hr human security presence, combination locks on each physical rack. Extra space is continuously available to expand into if required.

B&F: Is there any form of data compression carried out by the software agent or Clunk Click appliance on a customer's site?

Kirsch Bowker: Yes, data is compressed fopr speed of ransmission by the agent.

B&F: What software does a customer use to have files backed up?

Kirsch Bowker: Attix 5 - renowned software endorsed by Price Waterhouse Coopers.

B&F: How are files to be backed up selected?

Kirsch Bowker: By a very simple file selection process at an individual file level if required or by file rules which can be
pushed out for blocks of accounts from our server.

B&F: Is it continuous or scheduled backup?

Kirsch Bowker: Scheduled, automated secure backup (which) can be scheduled as frequently as once an hour or daily (or) weekly.

B&F: How do customers restore files?

Kirsch Bowker: Restores are done via the Internet. Customers can restore to any machine with an Internet connection. (Specific) Clunk Click software is not required unless working on a Mac. (We offer) full technical support.

B&F: What customer server operating systems are supported?

Kirsch Bowker: We support all main operating systems, including Macs and Windows 2000, 2003, 2008 (2008 currently in
testing.) A wide variety of distributions of Linux can be accommodated, but we have an optimised software version for Red Hat and Fedora Core

B&F: Are customer's desktop and mobile computer files backed up?

Kirsch Bowker: So long as they have an internet connection, be it broadband, WiFi or 3G broadband and their computer is on then our software will automatically backup at their chosen scheduled time.

^{[B&F staff.]}