What do you use for backup?

[Crism]

Here's my dealio. I've got a ton of photos backed up on CDs and DVDs as well as some music on hard drives. I'm looking for the most fail-safe method of storage. Traditionally, I don't trust hard drives which is why I've got everything backed up on CD/DVD. I also would like some software that does an automatic backup of certain folders or that could sync folders.

Any ideas?

 

[corkyg]

Well, there is also off site backup, i.e., Mozy or Carbonite. I have thousands of digital photos backed up in triplicate on external HDDs. And, for choice cuts, I used DVDs. But - I prefer duplicate external (eSATA) HDDs. With 4 identical drives on 4 machines, the odds of losing all 4 at once are beyond my ken.

I avoid anything automatic, especially synch operations. I have tried GoodSync by Siber Systems, and it is not bad. But, I'm a control freak.

 

[Emulex]

Disk to disk to disk.

Windows home servers - then copy to more than one external 2TB to take offsite. since during that single copy from WHS (or any nas/san) to the external you expose that one drive to failure (think tornado).

 

[jjmIII]

Ya, I just back up to other hdds on my network....but really important stuff (work, customer files) goes offsite to Skydrive.

 

[PCTC2]

Having a small on-site NAS with RAID 6 is nice (5 2TB drives, 6TB effective Volume).

I personally use CrashPlan Pro (enterprise backup). I back up to my own server (backing up to their cloud servers using the enterprise is expensive). However, they offer a consumer version that for $60, you get the CrashPlan+ software, and then for $125 for 3 years for a single computer or $180 for 3 years for every computer, you have unlimited space to their cloud. And their software allows for backup to external drives too. I met one of their engineers and one of the original founding guys when I purchased it and they really know their stuff.
Also, it does DeDup and Encryption client-side with 128-bit Blowfish encryption so they don't see what you back up.

 

[lsv]

I have an external HD that I turn off when not in use which has all my samples + projects. Then free dropbox for just my project files. They only take up like 50megs so I'm good to go for a long time.

 

[Soundmanred]

I simply have two computers with about the same storage capacity. When I have something new that I wouldn't want to lose, I send it to the other PC over the network.
For stuff I REALLY couldn't stand to lose (daughters baby pics, etc) I have external drives.
Overall around 12TB and have only needed the backup twice, but I would have lost a ton of stuff those two times!

 

[RebateMonger]

There's many ways to back things up. Locally, I use Windows Home Server to make daily full image backups of my desktop PCs. For my own servers, I prefer backups to multiple hard drives. Stuff that I can't afford to lose at any cost goes into a Carbonite account, on top of the local backups.

No matter what form of backup you use, be sure to test the backups periodically and also verify that you are backing up what you think you are backing up.

I MUCH prefer automated backups wherever possible. People are very bad about keeping things backed up unless the backups are automatic. But the backup system needs to have a reporting system so you know when the backup has failed. And, again, those backups need to be tested periodically to ensure you can actually recover what you are backing up.

 

[Emulex]

yah BESR is lovely - amount 90% of the time it works - but since i backup every day full (bare metal) 90% for desktops is not bad actually. It's not always the software fault. probably the user or nas is getting overloaded.

 

[stimpyman77]

Has anyone ever tried AIMstor? They have a neat video showing the programs configuration at their site.. Data flows and all ... But can't find any reviews on the web.. definitely seems more geared towards enterprise use.. Thoughts?? It can be viewed here http://www.aimstor.com

 

[GhettoFob]

Daily backup to an external harddrive. More important files are backed up weekly through Jungle Disk. I also copy the files to a TrueCrypt which I bring to work every few weeks.

 

[capeconsultant]

I use Carbonite, Mozy, and Acronis 2010 for imaging to external hard drive.

 

[razel]

If the data is timeless and valuable, like memories or financials, redundancy is important. But you can keep it simple. Just buy two flash drives or two disk drives. Whichever you prefer and I advice a rotating backup. Use one drive to fully backup at a specific time like Jan-May then the next drive for the next period June-December.

As long as you got two copies on whatever media you prefer, you're good to move one with life. Having a rotating one like above gives you a chance to go back in case you need an older copy of something.

 

[RebateMonger]

A caution about backing up "important files" to flash drives. It's a really good idea to encrypt the drive or the data. Flash drives are really easy to lose, and you don't want somebody else to pick yours up, full of your readable files.

 

[razel]

True, but for backup, you usually don't carry it around.

 

[RebateMonger]

True, but for backup, you usually don't carry it around.

People who work in offices and use USB sticks for offsite backups do. Or they "temporarily" put the USB stick into their pocket to carry it somewhere safe and forget about it.