Best OS X (10.3) backup software?

[ipirate]

I've been looking in to finding a nice clean-interfaced backup software for my iBook. Unfortunatly, I don'y have a .Mac account so I can't use the "Backup 2" software that Apple provides with that. But what I would like to find is something just like that, but doesn't require a .mac membership.

I would like to have it be able to take my mail, safari, (basically system prefs) and then let me drag in other things as well, and let me back them up to a network server (windows machine) or at least burn to a CD.

 

[beerguy]

If all you want to do is drag your files to a network server why do you need software?

Look for carbon copy cloner, it's donationware and allows you to very easily make a bootable backup.

 

[ipirate]

I just don't want to grag things over. I would like it to have access to my mail, without me having to hunt for it and other settings like that. I would also like to possibly have some scheduling and niceties like that.

 

[beerguy]

I just don't want to grag things over. I would like it to have access to my mail, without me having to hunt for it and other settings like that. I would also like to possibly have some scheduling and niceties like that.

OSX is built on Unix - what better scheduling could you want?

 

[jelwell]

me too

I've been trying to research alternatives to Apple's Backup as well.

Here's what I've found so far:
Synchronize! Pro/Plus etc...
http://www.qdea.com/
So many different versions, I don't even know which one to try.

Carbon Copy Cloner:
http://software.bombich.com/ccc.html
This one doesn't do network syncing (unless you mount a network drive first). It does do syncs but you can't schedule the syncs.

Synk:
http://www.decimus.net/synk/
It's popular on download.com, haven't tried it.

Data Backup 2.0:
http://www.prosofteng.net/products/data_backup_info.php
This was *just* posted on macupdate.com as a hot pick. I'm going to try this right now. It looks promising.

I'm totally in agreement with wanting to say "backup my mail stuff" rather than having to find out where those files are located.

I'll keep posting here if I find out anything useful. Please do the same if you find anything worth using.
Joseph Elwell.

 

[Heb1228]

.mac's Backup software is awesome. all the stuff you get with .mac makes it worth it several times over. backup is my favorite part but i use several features like homepage and the antivirus software. i doubt you can find better backup software out there...

 

[dudeami]

Dantz Retrospect 6.0 is probably one of the most robust backup software packages available for 10.3. However it cost about as much as .mac. The cheapest I could find on a quick search was $83 for the desktop version. This suuports a good variety of backup media and automation, plus the ability to boot to CD in a disaster recovery scenario. It sounds like this would possibly be more then you need. With the workgroup or server versions it will support automated tape libraries. I believe the desktop version would allow you to backup up your Mac plus two other networked systems, including other Macs, Windows or Red Hat linux systems, if that helps justify the cost.

http://www.dantz.com

 

[jelwell]

So far Dantz Retrospect seems excessively complex. I have to create scripts to automate the process.

Data Backup seems easier to use, but neither allow me to simply say which applications I want to backup data for. Instead I have to pick folders I want to backup.

Anyone know if the Backup client that comes with .Mac will allow me to backup to my own ftp site? Rather than the .mac server?
Joseph Elwell.

 

[jelwell]

Best option.

Download Apple's .Mac Backup application. It's simply the best.

Now, to pay, or not to pay?

1) Well, you can pay for a .Mac account, and still use Backup to store your files on your own server. "Backup to Drive" instead of "Backup to iDisk". You're basically paying 100$ for the application, and *ugh* you can only use it for a year. "Backup to Drive" actually gives you more default options for backing up, like iphoto images, email, application preferences... And you can backup to a mounted network drive (well isn't that the point?).

2) Fake a .mac server. What you ask? Yes, fake it. Backup
http://www.drijf.net/dototto/index.html

This last option is so NON-trivial that unless you're a whiz I would just skip this option entirely. But I'm posting it for sake of completeness. I've actually got this working for me now.

It just doesn't seem worthwhile to pay 100$ for a year's worth of backup when you might want to recover from a point greater than a year ago.

I'd gladly pay 25$ for Backup, <begin rant> I paid 50$ for iLife, TWICE! And neither time did it speed up iPhoto enough to make it usable again. Poor me, over 11 thousand images and i don't have a virginia tech supercomputer like steve had during his keynote to demonstrate how "fast" they made the application. laughable. <end rant>
Joseph Elwell.

 

[Jesus on OSX]

Question

Is there a backup tool which will also backup your applications with their registration info (which might be stored elsewhere than /Applications/ folder? I have dozen of bought apps, and it's going to be painful reinstalling them all over again.

Any help?

 

[Tailwind]

Carbon Copy Cloner rocks!

Is there a backup tool which will also backup your applications with their registration info (which might be stored elsewhere than /Applications/ folder? I have dozen of bought apps, and it's going to be painful reinstalling them all over again.

Any help?

All your serial numbers are stored in /Library/Preferences or ~/Library/Preferences (your home folder). To avoid reinstalling all your apps, you can reload System software using an "Archive and Install" or you can use Carbon Copy Cloner in the case of a hard drive failure or a move to a new machine.

http://www.bombich.com/software/ccc.html

CCC rocks! Easy and reliable. Be sure to send a donation if you become a regular user. It's worth it.