Copy Files Faster!

Feature

FilePilot

SecureCopy

Resource Kit Tool Robocopy

Native XCOPY

 Management  Interface

BEST Intuitive and highly functional workflow based interface provides enhanced control over the entire migration and copy process. Also includes a command line interface.

VERY GOOD GUI interface provides access for definition and running of the copy process.

GOOD Primarily command line, but has third-party add-in GUI based interface available. UI is simply the collection of command-line options displayed in a GUI window. Requires knowledge of over 50 switches to ensure data integrity, security and to fully exploit functionality. Options vary by Windows OS. GUI does NOT prevent conflicting options from being selected.

POOR Command line only. Requires knowledge of 25 switches to ensure data integrity, security and to fully exploit functionality.

 Scheduler

BEST Flexible options include a built-in scheduler. Ability to emit a command line script from GUI for integration with Windows Task Scheduler. Allows simple generation of scheduling tasks.

VERY GOOD Includes scheduling capability, but does not run independently of operating system. Uses Windows Task Scheduler and manual configuration is still required to schedule copy tasks.

GOOD Can define and save copy tasks as script. Requires manually configuring schedules in Windows Task Scheduler.

POOR Requires writing batch files. Requires manually configuring schedules in Windows Task Scheduler.

 Drag and Drop  Migration

FULLY SUPPORTED Provides fine-grained control and visibility over the process of copying folders and shares. Allows for immediate viewing of path structure of both source and target server or storage system. No need to define switches or write and validate scripts. Immediately displays path conflicts between source and target. Can optionally display details of contents of shares and folders. Type names to quickly add servers.

NOT SUPPORTED Still requires manual definition of which folders, volumes and shares are to be moved from the source. Also requires definition of volumes, folders and shares on the target. Browsing paths may take a while.

NOT SUPPORTED Manual process to define which volumes, folders, shares or individual files are to be moved via batch files or scripts. Requires in-depth knowledge of Robocopy switches to ensure that data is moved correctly and volumes, folders and shares are created properly on the target. Easy to make typo mistakes while typing long paths.

NOT SUPPORTED Manual process to define which disks, volumes, folders, shares or individual files are to be moved via batch files or scripts. Requires in-depth knowledge of XCOPY switches to ensure that data is moved correctly and volumes, folders and shares are created properly on the target.

 Data Integrity

BEST All file metadata is preserved, including created time, last accessed time and date for Folders, Files and Shares. For additional security individual files are prevented from being viewed or accessed.

VERY GOOD - Most file metadata is preserved. Including created time, last accessed time and date for both Folders and Files.

GOOD - File metadata, including created time, last accessed time and date for both Folders and Files, is preserved if you can figure out how to select the options. Make the wrong selection and security is an issue.

POOR - When data is moved to target, File and Folders are assigned new date and time stamps.

 Copy Validation

BEST Pre-move. Saves time and resources. New servers or storage will be on-line faster. Validates that data chosen to be moved is complete and accurate, the target file system will be as designed and that move will be 100% successful. Any exceptions will be identified with information for easy remedy.

POOR Pre-move with test run, but with limited log information, any issues must still be resolved post-move. Requires that IT personnel manually review entire file system on target system post-move to ensure that file system structure was created properly and all files were moved correctly. Could take days or weeks depending on the amount of data moved. If issues exist then data must be migrated again.

POOR Pre-move. Requires that IT personnel manually review entire file system on target system after move to ensure that file system structure was created properly and all files were moved correctly. Could take days or weeks depending on the amount of data moved. If issues exist then data must be moved again. Pre-move with dry run provides only top-level status and still requires post-move manual review of actual target.

POOR Post-move. Requires that IT personnel manually review entire file system on target system after move to ensure that file system structure was created properly and all files were moved correctly. Could take days or weeks depending on the amount of data moved. If issues exist then data must be moved again.

 Integrated Design  of File System on  Target Server or  Storage System

FULLY SUPPORTED Using drag and drop capability to visually create the optimal target file system design. Any of the moves can be instantly undone and a new design started. Allows for different file system scenarios to be quickly designed and reviewed. All information is accessible from within FilePilot Copy™.

NOT SUPPORTED Still requires manually designing the file system on paper. No ability to visualize the design before the data is moved to the target. Wasting time to access source and target systems individually to understand file system structure.

NOT SUPPORTED Still requires manually designing the file system on paper. No ability to visualize the design before the data is moved to the target. Wasting time to access source and target systems individually to understand file system structure.

NOT SUPPORTED Still requires manually designing the file system on paper. No ability to visualize the design before the data is moved to the target. Wasting time to access source and target systems individually to understand file system structure.

 Reporting and  Logging

VERY GOOD Comprehensive logging provides extensive information about ongoing copy operations. Examples include; # of files, # of folders, total bytes moved, elapsed time, open files, owners of open files, and # of open files. Large log files are supported. Both a summary log and detail log with selectable options for logged items.

GOOD Three levels of logging but no control of what is logged. Previous log file is overwritten by new log file.

VERY GOOD Provides logging of copy operations and transactions including content of what is logged.

POOR No discrete logging of any copy transaction is provided. Can review system logs for copy data.

 Automatic  Script  Generation

FULLY SUPPORTED Generation and saving of scripts provides full coverage of the migration process. From visual file system design to running a pre-migration validation, the entire process is captured and saved in a script. Any script can be recalled for implementation at any time.

NOT SUPPORTED No script generation capability. May be run from a command line with limited options. Can import existing Robocopy or XCOPY scripts and run them. Similar to Robocopy and XCOPY, there is no mechanism to validate if the script is correct until it is run. Test run yields minimal information.

GOOD Can save script from GUI. Scripts may be manually created and tested. There is no mechanism to validate if the script is correct until it is run. Dry run may show limited error information.

NOT SUPPORTED Scripts must be manually created and tested. There is no mechanism to validate if the script is correct until it is run.

 Preservation of  File  ACLs and  Metadata  during Copy

VERY GOOD Supports the following file metadata;

Files,

Folders,

Attributes,

NTFS Permissions,

Ownership,

Updates SIDHistory,

Encryption Settings,

Compression Settings,

Last Accessed Date,

Last Modified Date,

Folder Shares and

Local Users & Groups.

VERY GOOD Supports the following file metadata;

Files,

Folders,

Attributes,

NTFS Permissions,

Ownership,

Updates SIDHistory,

Encryption Settings,

Compression Settings,

Last Accessed Date,

Last Modified Date,

Folder Shares and

Local Users & Groups.

VERY GOOD Supports the following file metadata;

Files,

Folders,

Attributes,

NTFS Permissions,

Ownership,

Updates SIDHistory,

Encryption Settings,

Compression Settings,

Last Accessed Date,

Last Modified Date,

Folder Shares and

Local Users & Groups.

POOR Limited file metadata is preserved. Includes Files, Folders, Attributes, NTFS Permissions and Ownership, but various metadata like read-only attribute is not preserved.

 Share Handling

VERY GOOD Enables recreating shares on the target system during the copy.

BEST Supports share creation, renaming and deletion during copy.

POOR Manual share creation, intervention is required.

POOR Manual share creation intervention is required.

 Exception  Handling

BEST Intelligent handling of exceptions with the default rule to keep copying after gathering all relevant information to help IT to resolve the issue. Can stop on first error or continue. Every exception is logged.

GOOD Counts skipped files and retries locked files. But what happens when other access issues occur?

POOR Retries locked files. Other errors can cause stoppage of copy operations.

POOR Inconsistent exceptions may occur making it difficult to diagnose. Depending on the OS used command line options themselves may cause exceptions.

 OS and Storage  Manufacturer  Support

BEST Extensive out-of-the-box Windows Operating System support. Support for EMC, Netapp and other storage manufacturers. Data can be moved from any supported OS to either new OS or storage that supports either CIFS or NTFS.

GOOD Supports Windows desktop and server operating systems. Supports NTFS, CIFS and FAT.

POOR Supports NTFS, FAT and CIFS file systems. New versions of Robocopy provided with Server 2008 and Windows 7 are not backwards compatible with older OSs. Data hosted on older OSs cannot be migrated.

GOOD Supports NTFS, CIFS and FAT file systems

 Flexible  Deployment

BEST Most flexible deployment model. Depending on requirements, can be installed; on source system for push migration; on target system for pull migration or on an intermediate system for SAN/NAS to SAN/NAS migration.

GOOD Requires installation on both source and target systems or can be installed on an intermediate system. Must purchase additional copies for each additional system. Most SAN or NAS do not support installation of software on them.

POOR Installation on source system only. Varies by version of OS used.

POOR Already part of OS. Must be used from source system.

 Architecture

BEST Scalable multi-threaded design that provides the fastest possible speed and capable of moving file systems 100s of TB in size. Optimized for files that usually slow down copy operations.

VERY GOOD Enhanced multi-threaded architecture designed to provide fast copy time by analyzing the data being copied and optimizing the content of each copy thread.

GOOD Provides a multi-threaded design only on latest OSs. Supports running multiple copy tasks simultaneously. Version and performance vary by OS.

POOR Single threaded design. Multiple Command Prompt windows can be used to run simultaneous copy tasks.

 Licensing

BEST Cost effective, per-site licensing model. Software supports unlimited installations and de-installations. Unlimited users are supported.

POOR Costly named system licensing model. Each system must have a license and once the migration is completed, the license on the source system is no longer valid or usable. A new license is required for any new target system.

POOR Requires purchase of Windows Resource Tool Kit book. License is free. Product version is tied to OS version.

GOOD Uses existing license from Windows operating system.

 Technical  Support

BEST 1^st year support is included, also includes new release upgrades. Optional extended support is available.

VERY GOOD  1 yr Standard or Extended support is available at extra cost.

POOR No support is provided as standalone product May receive support as part of other purchase from Microsoft.

POOR No support is provided.