Cloud backup solutions

CrashPlan gets talked about a lot but I've not tried it....yet

http://www.crashplan.com/consumer/compare.html

"I'm planning on having a local timecapsule backup, but an additional cloud backup for the most important files."

My opinion only, but I think you would do much better by having a bootable clone backup created with CarbonCopyCloner.

In a "moment of extreme need", there is NO backup solution that can beat having an easily-bootable backup drive "close-at-hand". You will be back up in running within two minutes....

What is the total size of the files you want to back-up and how much more will be added in the next couple of years.

Fishrrman said:

My opinion only, but I think you would do much better by having a bootable clone backup created with CarbonCopyCloner.

In a "moment of extreme need", there is NO backup solution that can beat having an easily-bootable backup drive "close-at-hand". You will be back up in running within two minutes....

Click to expand...

Personally... I think this is poor advice.

I have nothing against bootable clones... they are fantastic at what they do... but they should not be considered backup. They do not have "usable history"... which is one of the most important aspects of a backup strategy. They are invaluable if you need to be up and running on the same computer very quickly.

My recommendation (in priority order)

1) Local backup for quick restore, and deep versioning (I use Time Machine)
2) Cloud based backup for disaster recovery and potentially even deeper versioning. (I use Crashplan+)
3) Clone HDD for quick resume after a HDD/SSD failure.

They build on each other. At a minimum, do 1 & 2. Do #3 if you have the need. Personally, I do not because I have multiple machines that I can use... and the most important data is cloud (and/or LAN) synchronized across machines.

/Jim

I currently use a service called JustCloud, I have 75gb of space and believe I paid $85 for two years. I figured I would try one since the last two external drivers I had took a dump. Fortunately being in IT I collected a lot of tools and was able to recover the important data and pictures.

If interested I have 10 gift accounts that I can give out to try it. They are only 1gig in size but at least you get an idea what the service is like. Send me your email address and full name in a PM and I'll add you.

http://www.justcloud.com/

Weaselboy said:

Happy Crashplan for Mac user here. Just install their software and ignore it. Backups run in the background and after the initial upload it is very transparent.

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I quote, crashplan works like a charm, and the software is very intuitive and easy to use and configure. The best!

I'm still waiting for someone to guarantee server security and consumer guaranteed ownership and retrieval should the company whose servers one uses cease trading/change of ownership. Until this happens I will use my own regime.

You can also use Crashplan for free and backup to a friend/relative's computer. I use that with my brother and we backup to each other's Macs. That way we don't pay anything and know the data sits on a known location. It's also encrypted in a way he can't see my data, I can't see his.

On top of that I have Time Machine locally and I clone my disk once a month and keep that drive at work.

You can never have enough backup of important data...

Time Machine for instant local versioning / "backup" - doesn't get much simpler than that for the local side of things.

The higher priority is off-site/remote storage or backup. What I recommend (and use) is the combination of Amazon's Glacier storage service and a software called Arq.

Storage in Glacier costs about $0.01 per GB per month; upload data is free, and download data varies (first GB per month is free).

Arq encrypts locally before sending data out.

Biggest downside to Glacier is the time delay to recover files - this can take several hours before you can access. But it's going to be damn hard to beat the pricing, security and reliability of this setup.

Check it out.

I use Backblaze.com. 5 bucks a month or 50 a year for unlimited backup including attached drives. Cant beat that with a baseball bat! I have close to 2 terrabytes or more stored with them. They are the best offer IMHO.

Lankyman said:

I'm still waiting for someone to guarantee server security and consumer guaranteed ownership and retrieval should the company whose servers one uses cease trading/change of ownership. Until this happens I will use my own regime.

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I'm with you. I stick to my own backup and keep one offsite.

Lankyman said:

I'm still waiting for someone to guarantee server security and consumer guaranteed ownership and retrieval should the company whose servers one uses cease trading/change of ownership. Until this happens I will use my own regime.

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The data is encrypted on your own computer... using a key that you control. Even if you were to place your backup data on a public site... it would remain safe. It uses 448b encryption. The worlds banking system relies on 128b encryption.

Even worse... banking sites know your password (they need to so they can give you access to your accounts... and they also need access to your account). By contrast... the online backup companies have no access to your data. Hence... it is encrypted on your machine... and the company only ever gets encrypted data.

Furthermore... if you are still paranoid about the data... you back up with a friend using each other's computers.

I do not deny that there are people who remain skeptical. This is similar to people who kept money under their mattress because they didn't trust banks.

The bottom line... these online backup companies are by far the safest way to backup data.

/Jim

I'm looking into Crashplan+, how long does the 1st back up take? I have about 150GB on the one Macbook.

Primejimbo said:

I'm looking into Crashplan+, how long does the 1st back up take? I have about 150GB on the one Macbook.

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With that little data... not too long. I would estimate a week... and probably less.

I have 7 computers backed up to CP+. The largest has a backup size of 1.5 TB. That took over a month. When I did my kids Macs... it was pretty quick.

For very large backups... there is the "seed" option where they send you a HDD to seed their system. That can be helpful if you have monthly bandwidth restrictions. I've never used this option.

/Jim

Sorry, I don't have a helpful tip on the subject, but I just wish Apple would bring back Backup from MobileMe to iCloud and give users who've invested in the Mac App Store the same kind of friendly and intuitive backup process as iCloud does for iOS devices. Meaning, all your purchases are recorded anyway, so iCloud wouldn't have to consume space to backup the actual apps, just the actual app data itself.

I would love for Apple to do this and I would even pay for more iCloud storage space if they offered this.

flynz4 said:

With that little data... not too long. I would estimate a week... and probably less.

I have 7 computers backed up to CP+. The largest has a backup size of 1.5 TB. That took over a month. When I did my kids Macs... it was pretty quick.

For very large backups... there is the "seed" option where they send you a HDD to seed their system. That can be helpful if you have monthly bandwidth restrictions. I've never used this option.

/Jim

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This "seed" does it cost extra? I can't find this info on their site. I might be calling them for other questions too. Seems like a great deal for the family plan.

Primejimbo said:

This "seed" does it cost extra? I can't find this info on their site. I might be calling them for other questions too. Seems like a great deal for the family plan.

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Yes... it does cost extra. I think $125 or $150. I've just let mine upload in the past. I'm going to consider seeding my new iMac when I get it.

/Jim

flynz4 said:

Yes... it does cost extra. I think $125 or $150. I've just let mine upload in the past. I'm going to consider seeding my new iMac when I get it.

/Jim

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I might just upload it, I'm more worried that the internet goes out and I have to start over lol

So do you just upload to them or use friends computers (never understood this way)?

Primejimbo said:

I might just upload it, I'm more worried that the internet goes out and I have to start over lol

So do you just upload to them or use friends computers (never understood this way)?

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You never have to start over. It will just chug away, through computer restarts etc.

Personally... I use Crashplan Central (their servers) vs storing to a friends house. It is so inexpensive that I think there is no reason not to.

I have Crashplan+ set to do an incremental update to Crashplan Central every 15 minutes. It runs in the background and just keeps you computer backed up.

/Jim

Definitely CrashPlan. Either backup to a friend for free, or if you use their cloud backup, you can use it for free for a year.

flynz4 said:

You never have to start over. It will just chug away, through computer restarts etc.

Personally... I use Crashplan Central (their servers) vs storing to a friends house. It is so inexpensive that I think there is no reason not to.

I have Crashplan+ set to do an incremental update to Crashplan Central every 15 minutes. It runs in the background and just keeps you computer backed up.

/Jim

Click to expand...

Thanks for the info!!! I'll probably do this in the next month. I have so much music/movies/pictures now and I think 120 a year for 4 computers is a great deal. I have a Time Capsule, but it's useless is I get a power surge or even worse and all the computers and TC are destroyed.

Only 1 question left for me to call them about, but maybe you know. My daughter doesn't live with me all the time, will she be able to still back up when she's at her moms house?

Primejimbo said:

Thanks for the info!!! I'll probably do this in the next month. I have so much music/movies/pictures now and I think 120 a year for 4 computers is a great deal. I have a Time Capsule, but it's useless is I get a power surge or even worse and all the computers and TC are destroyed.

Only 1 question left for me to call them about, but maybe you know. My daughter doesn't live with me all the time, will she be able to still back up when she's at her moms house?

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The family plan is for all the computers that you own. It work irrespective of where you are located. Our computers work while we are traveling... as well as while home.

Students are also covered even though they live away from home. One daughter was covered while she was in graduate school out of the country.

Also... it is less than $120/yr if you buy a multi-year subscription. I pay $72 year for unlimited backup across all seven of our machines. Soon, that will be bumped to 8 machines. It is a total bargain.

/Jim