Computer data backup

[Dan Furman]

Originally Posted by Steve B

I have it set to run at 3am. I've never noticed it being a problem.

ahh, so it's not "always on"? Ok, that's cool.

Thank you (I wish their site answered more questions - they could use a copywriter - one who knows this web marketing stuff )

[orion_joel]

I am not the best at doing back-up's, just purely by luck of needing it at different times in different places most of my important stuff ends up in 2 different places. Although there is really somethings that i should look at being a little more on top of ensuring that i have good backups of.

I am just about to go into a planned system upgrade, order the new system today. Not really expecting it to arrive before Monday or Tuesday though so that will give me the weekend to get everything lined up ready to go. Although it will probably take me a week or so before i am hapy that everything is how i want it. I started doing a computer upgrade about 3 years ago, (the current system i have is about 4 and half years old) I never actually got around to making that computer my primary one though. Same with my laptop i had planned when i got it 2 years ago to make that my primary system and still it is my backup system

[billbenson]

I don't really like using second sources as backup as mentioned by others above, although I'm sure some are good and work well. I'm a one person show, so depending on the importance of downtime, I'd do backups, take them off premise and have a hot standby because I want no downtime.

For a small company with some employees, I'd probably have a central server and do my own backups, keep a revolving stock, and keep an of premise backup except for the last day at the bank.

Thats not to say that 3rd party backup services don't work. I just would never put that in someone else's hands, particularly since its so cheap to do yourself these days.

[Steve B]

I remember from doing my research on the third party back ups that there were several to choose from - the best choice depended on size of your files. Of course, they only back up data files - I would have a hard time recreating all my program files. Mozy can be set for continuous back-up or, set to back up daily at a certain time. I chose the once a day option at a certain time. It also will ony do the back-up if your computer is idle at the time.

Would this "hot standy" computer have the program files backed up also?

[LJLynch]

If you have only one or two computers and don't mind spending your time dealing with backups AND you are disciplined enough to actually do it, many of you have proposed systems that will work. I would absolutely recommend that you use an offsite backup service from a reliable company as well.

If you are a bit larger and have a server, then the information that is contained in the original post is right on target. Find a local IT company that provides a business continuity type of solution. I've checked out CBS Creative's website and they are offering exactly what business owners need.

We have an remote backup offering as well, which you can read about on our site. This solution not only offers remote backup, but also the ability to virtualize your server on the backup device in the event of a failure. Should both your server and your backup device be damaged, a replacement backup device, with your data loaded from the offsite location will be shipped to you overnight.

Now that we have this solution implemented in our office, I sleep much easier at night!

[cbscreative]

Linda, in the absence of an intro thread from you so far, let me say welcome aboard. I hope you take advantage of our introduction section to tell us more about yourself and your company. Since I am in Grand Rapids, I'm only about an hour's drive from you.

[billbenson]

Originally Posted by Steve B

Would this "hot standy" computer have the program files backed up also?

I currently have all the programs I use on two computers and download data from my main computer to the backup computer ideally daily. Realistically, it ends up being about once a week.

Each computer has two hard drives. All programs and the operating system on disk 1. All data on disk 2.

In the event of a computer failure the backup computer is as current as the last backup.

I think when I get my next computer, I'm going to go the RAID 1 approach. That means that I have a mirror image on two disk 2's in my main computer. Computer fails or the hard drive fails, I unplug the mirrored hard drive from my main computer and put it into my backup computer and no data is ever lost. That won't recover from spyware or virus's that got on Disk 2 - the data disk though. That's why a revolving stock of disks makes sense as well as for other things like off premise backup.

At a larger business level the same thing can be done on a server, and in fact many companies do this. Hard drives are pretty cheap these days.

Steve, what do you pay for your backup service?

[vangogh]

About time I joined this conversaion, huh?

I was actually backed up for the most part as fa as important data is concerned. I have 2 external had drives here, though I'd be lying if I said I was organized about backing up. For some strange reason a couple weeks ago I had a feeling I should back up data and other than info from the last couple of weeks I did have everything important in several places.

It's interesting though the things we (or at least I) forget to backup like profile settings for Firefox and Thunderbird. I hadn't backed up either of those in a long time. It's easy enough to download the programs again. It's another thing to no longer have all your bookmarks and email.

One thing I've noticed in the last couple of years is that when something fails it tends not to be the hard drive. All the contents of my old laptop are currently plugged into my new laptop via USB. The old internal hard drive is now an external drive. Not that you should count on your hard drive not failing. I did have one fail years ago long before I was saving truly important info on any computer.

My new Macbook seems to have a backup program installed by default called Time Machine. It's going to be one of the first programs I get to know as soon as I'm completely running again.

[Steve B]

Originally Posted by billbenson

Steve, what do you pay for your backup service?

It's $5 per month.

[billbenson]

Can't argue with the price.

There is really not a right or wrong way to do a backup as long as you have a system that meets your needs and follow through