Backing up and storage advice please

[Eldiablojoe]

I am looking to plug holes in my back up system.

Currently I have a 2009 MacBook (White unibody), an iPhone 6, and iPad3, and Mrs. EDJ has an iPhone 6+ and a newer iPad mini but a generation or two back. Maybe the first one with retina screen? All devices and the MacBook are running current publicly released OS/iOS and the Apple applications are all updated.

Anyhow, I back up the i-devices via wifi when they are plugged in nightly for recharge. I also occasionally back them up to the MacBook via iTunes.

The MacBook uses two things for Time Machine: the Airport Time Capsule, and I back it up every week or two to an external HDD via USB-A.

I also store my entire iPhotos/Photos and iTunes library on a separate external HDD that I plug in via USB-A when I want to access those applications.

Every 6-12 months I use CCC (Carbon Copy Cloner) to clone the MacBook's drive, but I have not done that since I swapped it out for a SSD a few months ago.

I don't think I need to be concerned about my Time Machine external HDD taking a dump because I also use the Airport Time Capsule via wifi.

I am worried about losing the iPhoto/Photos/iTunes external HDD because if it takes a dump on me I have no back up. Can I clone it also to another external HDD just in case (I have a spare which is the original MacBook HDD I replaced with a SSD) Or is there a better, safer way to go?

Thank you for whatever advice you offer.

PS- I'm trying to avoid cloud solutions since I would rather not engage in a subscription, but will reconsider if it is the best option for improving my current system.

 

[rhett7660]

Do you have a budget on how much you want to spend? That will dictate on some of the recommendations that folks will present to you. From more external harddrives to NAS boxes, to yearly subscriptions.

Me, I have a 4 disc NAS box (that needs to be expanded since it is filling up) with four 2 gig drives in mirror mode, that also off loads to a single 4 gig usb harddrive. Basically a back up to the back up. I am looking into an offsite storage solution though.

 

[Dark Void]

Backups of backups is one route, although it can get quite pricey. I would just use physical drives based on the fastest interface that your machine supports.

 

[Eldiablojoe]

Backups of backups is one route, although it can get quite pricey. I would just use physical drives based on the fastest interface that your machine supports.

Do mean just make duplicate backups to multiple HDDs?

 

[Dark Void]

Do mean just make duplicate backups to multiple HDDs?

Yeah, or cloning the existing backup drives. You can accomplish everything just using Time Machine though, or simply by connecting the drive and dragging all of the important files that you are concerned about onto it. I'd just have more than one physical backup if you're concerned with one not being enough.

It's not really rocket science advice but that's what I would do. Seems like the simplest method if you're worried, and especially since you mentioned that you are opposed to Cloud services.

 

[kohlson]

I am looking to plug holes in my back up system.

Currently I have a 2009 MacBook (White unibody), an iPhone 6, and iPad3, and Mrs. EDJ has an iPhone 6+ and a newer iPad mini but a generation or two back. Maybe the first one with retina screen? All devices and the MacBook are running current publicly released OS/iOS and the Apple applications are all updated.

Anyhow, I back up the i-devices via wifi when they are plugged in nightly for recharge. I also occasionally back them up to the MacBook via iTunes.

The MacBook uses two things for Time Machine: the Airport Time Capsule, and I back it up every week or two to an external HDD via USB-A.

I also store my entire iPhotos/Photos and iTunes library on a separate external HDD that I plug in via USB-A when I want to access those applications.

Every 6-12 months I use CCC (Carbon Copy Cloner) to clone the MacBook's drive, but I have not done that since I swapped it out for a SSD a few months ago.

I don't think I need to be concerned about my Time Machine external HDD taking a dump because I also use the Airport Time Capsule via wifi.

I am worried about losing the iPhoto/Photos/iTunes external HDD because if it takes a dump on me I have no back up. Can I clone it also to another external HDD just in case (I have a spare which is the original MacBook HDD I replaced with a SSD) Or is there a better, safer way to go?

Thank you for whatever advice you offer.

PS- I'm trying to avoid cloud solutions since I would rather not engage in a subscription, but will reconsider if it is the best option for improving my current system.

You may want to consider Smugmug. Good reputation, nominal charge (<$50/year).

 

[Eldiablojoe]

You may want to consider Smugmug. Good reputation, nominal charge (<$50/year).

I will also check out Smugmug, thanks Kohlson.