diff -ruN e-smith-backup-2.2.0.old/root/etc/e-smith/web/functions/backup e-smith-backup-2.2.0/root/etc/e-smith/web/functions/backup
--- e-smith-backup-2.2.0.old/root/etc/e-smith/web/functions/backup	2013-07-02 17:46:47.000000000 -0700
+++ e-smith-backup-2.2.0/root/etc/e-smith/web/functions/backup	2013-07-02 17:54:10.000000000 -0700
@@ -458,6 +458,7 @@
 				BackupType => 'desktop',
 				StartEpochTime => $now,
 			    });
+    my $CompressionLevel = $conf->get_prop("backupconsole", "CompressionLevel") || "-6";
 
     # Dump the current mysql tables so that they are part of the image.
     # The events handle cases where mysqld is not enabled, and/or is
@@ -493,7 +494,7 @@
 
     open(RD,
 	    "/bin/tar --directory / --create @directories --file=-"
-	    . " | /usr/bin/gzip |"
+	    . " | /usr/bin/gzip $CompressionLevel |"
 	);
 
     while (<RD>)