Regarding a Back-up System

Hey guys,

I have a question regarding a back-up system.

I have done tape-drives and raid in the distant past but curious about what the future is today.

I run my own business and am thinking that if my hard-drives were to crash I would be in deep trouble. I do back-ups but I am not regular and forget.

I want to create a system similar to the old raid systems I ran for a company in the 90's but more modern.

Basically I have a HTPC system, my multimedia work system and emails and other junk.

Here is what I am thinking....

• Automated software that checks if there are new files or changes and uploads those new files.
• The 3 systems to be backed to one larger hard-drive
• A raid system that backs the above in case one fails

Some automated way of uploading the above to an offline site in case of a fire. I could of course just swap the drive monthly and take it to an offline site.

I would like to do some price shopping so want to get all my duck in line.

 

Cloud is the way to go, along with keeping on a portable drive. You do not have to do back ups, that you save the whole system, just for those files that you would need. I keep my documents on the Microsoft Office Cloud, since I have under 5 gig, and also put those that are more important on a usb stick, that we keep on us all of the time.

 

Ok....That works for an offline site but anyone have any suggestion for a local method.

 

I did in my post. You have basic back up capabilities built into XP, Vista, 7. Some of the portable drives come with software, and if you want a better solution, look at NAS. Anything that is mission critical, should have at least three copies. One offsite, one onsite in a fireproof safe, and one on the machine itself.

 

Agreed. A cloud/online backup gives an added level of safety in the event your on-site backups fall victim to fire, natural disaster or theft. As an example, my home was broken into about two years ago; the b:***rds got both of my PCs and the backup drive. Had I not spent the money on Carbonite, ten years of music, client proposals and ad campaigns would have been gone forever.

Although you can manually store items on MS Cloud, I feel Carbonite is the best available service. For $59/year, you get unlimited automatic backup of one PC (excluding units running a Server version of Windows). The storage is encrypted for security; however you can use your password on any PC to view and download individual files.

 

Expanding on gman863's mention of Carbonite.

Bazza

 

Wow.....

That seems to make the software part resolved with either of those systems.

So as far as local?

My computer systems with all the date are about 1 TB.

So one drive say 2-3 TB's to back up each hard drive with the offline back-up each night.

USB...Hooked up to one computer or is there a faster transfer method?

 

Stupid question....

Since I have three computers contents that are being back-up do I need to pay 3 yearly fees or since it all going to one main hard-drive and that is being backed up.

 

Read the FAQ provided in this link http://www.carbonite.com/en/home/online-backup-faqs

 

Yeah for what I want to back up it seems like the price would be around $600.00 per year or more.

Not bad when you consider it all.

Anyone with some ideas about the hardware?

 

http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/10things/10-outstanding-linux-backup-utilities/895 As for the device, how much are you looking at spending, or do you have a computer sitting unused at this moment? I personally would figure out what files you are backing up, and the way that you want to do it.

For daily back ups, I would save on a network drive that is a Raid using a Mirrored set, so if one drive fails in the assembly, it can still pull the file automatically. Also, look at the more important files like accounting, tax records, stored in both DVD or CD format, and a Hard drive that can be pulled and stored in a fire proof safe. Daily stuff can be backed up on the NAS.

Everything I have just stated, was stated before, so there really is no reason to keep repeating, and have a hundred posts stating the same thing over and over. Only you are going to know what is the best solution that will work for you, due to everyone's needs are different.

 

Obviously anyone wants to do it cheapest but my goal is security and peach of mind.

Yes I have an extra computer that I could use as a server. I wasn't sure if it was even necessary and where technology has gone.

See in that time when I ran a network there were no external drives via usb so I wanted to know if technology offered better options today.

What I want a back up to do is basically a complete back-up of any one system I use. So if the hard-drive were to crash I could simply just put in a new hard-drive and I am up and going.

Yeah, I have a fire proof file cabinet so I imagine that will do.

I do appreciate your help. Technology changes so fast that sometimes doing all the background work only complicates things because you buy stuff only find out there are better cheaper options.

Thank you again.

 

Here is a simple solution that runs on a cd or usb stick http://redobackup.org/ There is also http://www.linuxbsdos.com/2008/10/06/freenas-vs-openfiler/

 

I found a thread on another site that says you can RAID two external drives using "disk utility."

I feel this is probably the most likely to be my choice.

I can tell you using cd to back-up considering I have nearly 1 TB of data is not going to happen. That is a lot more labor intensive then I intend to use.

Going to look into REDObackup to see what else they offer.