Ghost (Software)

Ghost is a software for creating copies of entire raw disks ( partitions ) on other media or image files and data backup. The name derives from the acronym of " General Hardware - Oriented System Transfer".

For the original core function of the creation of raw data copies, their use has been in use for backup purposes and advertised, came later functions of conventional backup software. In addition to the blind copying of raw data and deeper understanding of the structure of various file systems is integrated, which allows adjustments to the images produced. Reduced function versions for home users were marketed in the product line of the brand " Norton ".

History

Originally Ghost 1995 in Auckland, New Zealand, developed by Murray Haszard for the company " Binary Research ". 1998 Symantec bought the rights to it. In April 2000, originally developed by 20/20 Software functionality was integrated into the software. The main development took place under Symantec initially continued in Auckland take place until they were largely laid in October 2009 to India.

Published after the takeover of the largest competitor company PowerQuest in 2003 Symantec on ​​August 2, 2004, a version of their software DriveImage as " Norton Ghost 9.0 ". There should be a new home user version of Ghost, the file format was not compatible with Ghost.

In addition to the further maintenance of the old code base for about three years under the project name "Phantom" internal engine from scratch was rewritten to. 2003, a prototype of the Phantom software was released ( "Ghost for Manufacturing" ), where previously individual functions were transferred to the former main line of development.