Why is it people never think to backup?

[zinfamous]

well, I have my iMac hooked up to an external HDD with timemachine running so I'm always GTG

/snob

 

[SketchMaster]

Originally posted by: Goosemaster
All that a user needs on their laptop is offline files, archived PSTs (with copies on the network) and their OST file, and that's being generous.

If there is anything else important on their machine you aren't doing it correctly*.

There are always dreadful exceptions but that's the ideal one should strive for anyways.

THAT right there is our problem.

The higher ups don't like the big business attitude and so we pretty much have no control over our client systems. We set the user as box admin and can?t do anything to control what is put on the machines, people take home their laptops for personal use (games, taxes, web, P2P, etc?) and now that lack of control is starting to show with small outbreaks of viruses and systems that are so bogged down with bloatware it?s unreal.

And I don?t even need to go into the security risks! One guy used tweak UI to have his laptop auto logon so he didn?t need to type in his domain password, there is VPN software on that laptop so a hacker would wet his pants if he found that laptop sitting out.

They are starting to see that small business IT thinking in a large business setting is not a good idea but there is a LONG way to go before my boss can sleep easy at night.

 

[SirChadwick]

I live in your world. It sucks and yes people are idiots. But I get paid to put up with it, therefore I only complain to my wife when I get home.

 

[InflatableBuddha]

Originally posted by: VTrider
I work for a software company and frequently help customers with problems with their software. Before the customer can really screw up their data, the progam asks them 'Do you want to make a backup' - they never do and end up calling in for support, which in turn often costs them hundreds of dollars and many hours on both sides to fix the issue. I guess people just are too lazy/stupid to follow instructions and warnings.

Fixed.

And I write documentation; I know .

 

[xSauronx]

Originally posted by: SketchMaster

Originally posted by: Goosemaster
All that a user needs on their laptop is offline files, archived PSTs (with copies on the network) and their OST file, and that's being generous.

If there is anything else important on their machine you aren't doing it correctly*.

There are always dreadful exceptions but that's the ideal one should strive for anyways.

THAT right there is our problem.

The higher ups don't like the big business attitude and so we pretty much have no control over our client systems. We set the user as box admin and can?t do anything to control what is put on the machines,

unbelievable. make a note of how much IT support is costing them with this ridiculous attitude.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: SketchMaster

Originally posted by: Goosemaster
All that a user needs on their laptop is offline files, archived PSTs (with copies on the network) and their OST file, and that's being generous.

If there is anything else important on their machine you aren't doing it correctly*.

There are always dreadful exceptions but that's the ideal one should strive for anyways.

THAT right there is our problem.

The higher ups don't like the big business attitude and so we pretty much have no control over our client systems. We set the user as box admin and can?t do anything to control what is put on the machines, people take home their laptops for personal use (games, taxes, web, P2P, etc?) and now that lack of control is starting to show with small outbreaks of viruses and systems that are so bogged down with bloatware it?s unreal. Don't get me wrong. I highly respect my co. and my collegaues, but the fact was that there was no DR champion to fight this fight before I got here.

And I don?t even need to go into the security risks! One guy used tweak UI to have his laptop auto logon so he didn?t need to type in his domain password, there is VPN software on that laptop so a hacker would wet his pants if he found that laptop sitting out.

They are starting to see that small business IT thinking in a large business setting is not a good idea but there is a LONG way to go before my boss can sleep easy at night.

That's when you have to restort to: this

When I started at my current job I was presented issues that mirror what you are describing. What did I do? I raised ALL HELL and made it absolutely clear as to how fucked they would be if an emergency ever took place, and more importantly told them that I could fix it, and how I would go about doing it.

Needless to say, I fixed it. I now am humming along with GFS, snapshots, archiving, D2D2D,D2D2T,DeDupe (on the way), DR, etc. all way above what is required. I really like my co., coworkers, and my job so I am quite happy to have increased my job security and their as well exponentially.

If you ever want to get them to to anything, here is how I did it:

I optimzed the backups by 700% before I ever said a word. Even if you have to do backups on your own time, at least initially, if possible, DO IT. I then told them how epic the disaster would be if anything happened at that time (after the 700% improvement). THEN I notified them about the 700% improvement I had made and illustrated what would have happened had disaster struck without the improvements in place. It took an eternity, and it will remain an ongoing process, but I convinced them to respect the DR concept, and have to fight to maintain it a priority.

Most of our backups (with exception) take 1% of the time that they used to take when I started and we are backing up at least 200% more data. It took a LONG time and a lot of work, but it CAN be done.

*crosses fingers that his robots don't eventually replace him*

Now you know.

 

[randay]

Originally posted by: zinfamous
well, I have my iMac hooked up to an external HDD with timemachine running so I'm always GTG

/snob

pointless since macs never crash anyway.

/supasnob

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: randay

Originally posted by: zinfamous
well, I have my iMac hooked up to an external HDD with timemachine running so I'm always GTG

/snob

pointless since macs never crash anyway.

/supasnob

My time machine HDD died a few weeks ago

RMA got there quick though

 

[coloumb]

If it's not automated - people usually won't think of backing up their important files because it's something they have to do among the other umpteen million tasks their bosses hand to them on a daily basis.

I understand the complaint - but try putting yourself in their shoes.

 

[RadiclDreamer]

Originally posted by: SketchMaster
I made this and I'm going to put it outside my cube and hope people get the idea.

Having to deal with day to day stuff of being one of three IT guys for a software company of 300+ is hard enough without people THAT SHOULD KNOW BETTER come to me with a dead HD, have no backup whatsoever and want me to drop what I'm doing at that moment and try to scrape together what's left on the drive FOR THEM and then whine about me not getting all their info back.

BACK UP YOUR S*** you dumbasses!

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[daveymark]

Originally posted by: Jeeebus
why is it that IT guys think that the rest of us actually care about your complaints? Just fix my computer, tech monkey.

bingo - it's like a "mechanic" whining and moaning that I need to check my oil. JUST DO YOUR JERB, JIFFY LUBE

 

[Jumpem]

This is why I have 4 1TB drives, all synced.

 

[ModerateRepZero]

Originally posted by: coloumb
If it's not automated - people usually won't think of backing up their important files because it's something they have to do among the other umpteen million tasks their bosses hand to them on a daily basis.

I understand the complaint - but try putting yourself in their shoes.

it's not only that, it's also that people don't realize how expensive and time-consuming data recovery is, whether it be formatting, natural disasters/acts of God, etc.

in fairness, I'd imagine it's a similar thing with asking most people about simple car maintenance....tire pressure, checking various things like transmission oil. to most people, cars and computers are a mysterious 'black box', the inner workings of which they don't know or care to understand.

 

[lokiju]

Originally posted by: SketchMaster

Originally posted by: mrSHEiK124
5 BURGERS FOR YOU!

WOOT!

And I'm not kidding about the damn music either, we once did a search on the backup server for ".MP3" and it came back with over 200GB.

And people bitch about needing more space...

Ha, my boss has over 1TB of music and audio books on our file server

But he's the boss!

 

[lokiju]

Make a login Script to robocopy /mir their my documents to their network drive.

 

[God Mode]

Shouldn't it be your job to find a process that makes data backup easier for these users?

If it isn't, why not go to the boss and calmly explain the additional expenses and time involved for these issues along with a solution instead of bitching about some idiot every time it happens?

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: Goosemaster

*crosses fingers that his robots don't eventually replace him*

Now you know.

OMG LOL... I got laid off about 30min after my last post.

good times.

 

[Locut0s]

This is why systems that need to be should be designed fail safe. Read idiot proof. People should no be able to access their local HDs. By default EVERYTHING should be saved to network storage.

 

[bob4432]

actually this thread reminded me - need to get 2x500GB 2.5" hdds and then rotate them in a safety deposit box - then i will have 2-6 places of where data and images go for every machine on my home network....

 

[fleabag]

Originally posted by: Locut0s
This is why systems that need to be should be designed fail safe. Read idiot proof. People should no be able to access their local HDs. By default EVERYTHING should be saved to network storage.

You're right, that way when the network is down, you won't be able to get ANY work done...

 

[Whisper]

After one of the women in the department here had her flash drive flake out on her and was quoted ~$2000 for the recovery, I immediately went out and bought two extra flash drives solely for the purpose of backing up my main flash drive. Important files are also stored on both my desktop and laptop.

Although at some point, I'm sure it'll all somehow break down, and I'll still lose an important file or three. Such is life.

 

[Gothgar]

My sister is going through this now

when I asked her if she ever backed up she was clueless

I told her to buy a damn thumbdrive and backup shit you like to it

I get to go try and recover data at her house in a couple weeks I guess

wooowhoo

 

[IronWing]

Originally posted by: Locut0s
This is why systems that need to be should be designed fail safe. Read idiot proof. People should no be able to access their local HDs. By default EVERYTHING should be saved to network storage.

This is how my company's computers are configured. We get about a gig of local drive space and everything else is on the server. The server is located in another town. The whole system is designed for the convenience of the control freak admins, not the requirements of the workers who actually produce value for the company. Ever tried to do GIS work across the net? Bastages.