Seriousness How do you back-up your 'stuff'? - Page 2

kovidgoyal · 10-29-2009, 08:29 PM

I wrote my own backup scripts that use rsnapshot and hard links to maintain daily, weekly and monthly auto rotated backups of all my data (except video files) on a server I rent in a datacenter.

Beau · 11-06-2009, 12:37 AM

I use sugsrsync, another paid backup service that runs in the background and automatically
backs up my books and the calibre data .

Crusader · 11-06-2009, 12:45 PM

I back up to a second HDD, an External HDD and then DVD/CD depending on the amount of data.

I've found SyncToy (Free) works beautifully for Microsoft operating systems. It only copies files that have changed/been added so it's better than manually having to copy things over.

devilsadvocate · 11-06-2009, 01:59 PM

DVD...soon to be Blu-Ray.

I also buy myself some time by keeping everything on a RAID-10 array, and making sure various other drives in the house have just enough space for transfer duties if the need arises.

hodad66 · 11-06-2009, 02:45 PM

I keep everything on an esata raid array in "john's stuff"

6charlong · 11-08-2009, 02:04 PM

I use WinZip Pro. It supports "jobs" which I create myself--I've never used their prepackaged ones. It compresses to zip files, automates the backups on a schedule I chose, supports Zip file splitting and stitching and about five data encryption methods.

It lets me use full backups or specify one of several types of partial backups. I target different backups to two external hard drives and copy my favorite files to one of two usb thumb drives. I keep the thumb drives in my pocket which is an admittedly weak concession to "off site" storage. Of course, I also use WinZip to open Zip files and create a zip file when I need one.

This is an admittedly low-tech solution but I'm cheap and it seems to work.

NormHart · 11-11-2009, 01:04 AM

I write very very small on many post-it-notes. (The neon colored ones, I was going to color code everything but I lost the post-it with the codes.)

Snowman · 11-11-2009, 03:32 AM

I backup my complete system to an external HDD daily using Syncbackpro in "incremental for ever" mode. I schedule this for about 02:00. From time to time every 3-4 months, I also burn a couple of DVDs to act as a long-term archive.

I also use Jungle Disk to back up my critical files offsite (and halfway across the world!) to the Amazon cloud. This is stuff I *really* don't want to lose, such as personal data, purchased software & licenses, photos, and of course my ebook library. This runs in the background, and cuts in every 6 hours or so. At $0.15 per GB Month, I consider this to be a bargain.

Snowman

Peverel · 11-11-2009, 06:54 AM

back? up?

Oh yeah, people driving really slow in the fast lane of the motorway that gets my back up.

Pev
(consummate IT Professional)

kazbates · 11-11-2009, 12:53 PM

I'm not as sophisticated as the others seem to be.

I have a couple of 16GB flash drives that I use to back up data files. One for my ebook and hobby files and one for my teaching files. (All of these files are also backed up on the main household computer in addition to my laptop.) We also have another flash drive for all our pictures which are also backed up on DVD's and stored in a fireproof safe. I'd like to say that I keep the DVD's as up-to-date as the flash drive, but I don't.

desertgrandma · 11-11-2009, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NormHart

I write very very small on many post-it-notes. (The neon colored ones, I was going to color code everything but I lost the post-it with the codes.)

What, did you think I wasn't paying attention???

Snowman · 11-11-2009, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kazbates

I'm not as sophisticated as the others seem to be.

I have a couple of 16GB flash drives that I use to back up data files...<snip>

The important point is that you *are* backing up your data. How you do it is largely irrelevant - use whatever method suits you.

HDDs have become so reliable that they tend to give a false sense of security, but they do fail. Even if they have been built into a fault-tolerant configuration, things can and do go wrong. Witness the recent fiasco with T-mobile's Sidekick and the MS/Danger cloud storage disaster.

Incidentally, do make occasional checks that you can restore the data from your backups!

Snowman

hike_gc · 11-11-2009, 09:12 PM

I purchased 2 external hard drives. After backing up my data, I send one of the drives to my mom on the other side of the US for safekeeping. The other one I keep with me. She then backs up her data and then we'll periodically swap external hard drives. Nothing fancy, but it works.

PennyPie · 11-12-2009, 03:33 AM

DH had me put a flash drive inside my office machine as a spare data backup device. No chance of it getting lost! (not the only backup we have) Of course, your machine has to have a USB port inside of it..... we also back our data onto another machine in the network (we're just a small mom & pop store/warehouse)
I also make CD's of my files to store off site.

Gaurnim · 11-12-2009, 04:25 AM

It's mainly two 1TB drives in RAID 1 in a NAS box for the data I think is important.
My problem is that the NAS box has too many features and I also use it for downloading and other stuff, so it decreases the safety of the backup.

I also plan to externalize some important files to my parents' on a hard drive or a flash drive and rotate two of them.

11-11-2009, 09:12 PM	#28
hike_gc Zealot Posts: 142 Karma: 556 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Erie, Colorado Device: Kindle Voyage, Nook	Just this I purchased 2 external hard drives. After backing up my data, I send one of the drives to my mom on the other side of the US for safekeeping. The other one I keep with me. She then backs up her data and then we'll periodically swap external hard drives. Nothing fancy, but it works.

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10-29-2009, 08:29 PM	#16
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,289 Karma: 27111240 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	I wrote my own backup scripts that use rsnapshot and hard links to maintain daily, weekly and monthly auto rotated backups of all my data (except video files) on a server I rent in a datacenter.

11-06-2009, 12:37 AM	#17
Beau Connoisseur Posts: 77 Karma: 132 Join Date: Jul 2007 Device: Sony 700, ipod Touch, iphone, Galaxy Tab	I use sugsrsync, another paid backup service that runs in the background and automatically backs up my books and the calibre data .

11-06-2009, 12:45 PM	#18
Crusader Space Cadet Posts: 1,180 Karma: 4030536 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: South Africa Device: Sony PRS-T1, Cybook Opus, Kobo Glo	I back up to a second HDD, an External HDD and then DVD/CD depending on the amount of data. I've found SyncToy (Free) works beautifully for Microsoft operating systems. It only copies files that have changed/been added so it's better than manually having to copy things over.

11-06-2009, 01:59 PM	#19
devilsadvocate Complicated Warlock Posts: 677 Karma: 160970 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Madiganistan Device: HP Mini 1101, Droid X rooted, GTab rooted/VEGAnTAB Ginger Edition/CM7	DVD...soon to be Blu-Ray. I also buy myself some time by keeping everything on a RAID-10 array, and making sure various other drives in the house have just enough space for transfer duties if the need arises.

11-06-2009, 02:45 PM	#20
hodad66 Beachside Member Posts: 88 Karma: 134 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Indialantic, Florida Device: Sony PRS-505, Kindle 3	I keep everything on an esata raid array in "john's stuff"

11-08-2009, 02:04 PM	#21
6charlong friendly lurker Posts: 896 Karma: 2436026 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: US Device: Kindle, nook, Apple and Kobo	I use WinZip Pro. It supports "jobs" which I create myself--I've never used their prepackaged ones. It compresses to zip files, automates the backups on a schedule I chose, supports Zip file splitting and stitching and about five data encryption methods. It lets me use full backups or specify one of several types of partial backups. I target different backups to two external hard drives and copy my favorite files to one of two usb thumb drives. I keep the thumb drives in my pocket which is an admittedly weak concession to "off site" storage. Of course, I also use WinZip to open Zip files and create a zip file when I need one. This is an admittedly low-tech solution but I'm cheap and it seems to work.

11-11-2009, 01:04 AM	#22
NormHart Semper Carpe Bufo Posts: 537 Karma: 21676 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Napa Valley, California Device: Kindle2 & Kindle3	I write very very small on many post-it-notes. (The neon colored ones, I was going to color code everything but I lost the post-it with the codes.)

11-11-2009, 03:32 AM	#23
Snowman Zealot Posts: 106 Karma: 3566 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: London UK Device: iPhone 5, Kindle K3, Kindle Voyage	I backup my complete system to an external HDD daily using Syncbackpro in "incremental for ever" mode. I schedule this for about 02:00. From time to time every 3-4 months, I also burn a couple of DVDs to act as a long-term archive. I also use Jungle Disk to back up my critical files offsite (and halfway across the world!) to the Amazon cloud. This is stuff I really don't want to lose, such as personal data, purchased software & licenses, photos, and of course my ebook library. This runs in the background, and cuts in every 6 hours or so. At $0.15 per GB Month, I consider this to be a bargain. Snowman

11-11-2009, 06:54 AM	#24
Peverel Still Easily Confused Posts: 889 Karma: 505319 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hampshire/Berkshire/Surrey - yes I am that big Device: Kindle	back? up? Oh yeah, people driving really slow in the fast lane of the motorway that gets my back up. Pev (consummate IT Professional)

11-11-2009, 12:53 PM	#25
kazbates Wizard Posts: 2,627 Karma: 406616 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Northern Virginia Device: SurfacePro, SurfaceBook 2	I'm not as sophisticated as the others seem to be. I have a couple of 16GB flash drives that I use to back up data files. One for my ebook and hobby files and one for my teaching files. (All of these files are also backed up on the main household computer in addition to my laptop.) We also have another flash drive for all our pictures which are also backed up on DVD's and stored in a fireproof safe. I'd like to say that I keep the DVD's as up-to-date as the flash drive, but I don't.

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11-12-2009, 03:33 AM	#29
PennyPie Cocoa & Toast...mmmmmm... Posts: 275 Karma: 1000 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Ohio Device: Sony PRS-700, iPhone	DH had me put a flash drive inside my office machine as a spare data backup device. No chance of it getting lost! (not the only backup we have) Of course, your machine has to have a USB port inside of it..... we also back our data onto another machine in the network (we're just a small mom & pop store/warehouse) I also make CD's of my files to store off site.

11-12-2009, 04:25 AM	#30
Gaurnim Final Five n°42 Posts: 789 Karma: 3599 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Lyon, France Device: Cybook Gen3	It's mainly two 1TB drives in RAID 1 in a NAS box for the data I think is important. My problem is that the NAS box has too many features and I also use it for downloading and other stuff, so it decreases the safety of the backup. I also plan to externalize some important files to my parents' on a hard drive or a flash drive and rotate two of them.