Backup best practice, backup software reviews, and cloud backup provider reviews

I've written a series of articles about backups, backup software, cloud backups, and cloud storage. The idea is to give people an introduction to backups, why they should do them, how they should do them, and the best way to achieve it.

You can the main backup software article here. From there you can access reviews of specific pieces of software or cloud backups, near the bottom of the article.

I'm interested in:

• General feedback
  
• Errors or areas that could be improved
  
• Areas that could be clarified, simplified, or expanded
  
• Suggestions for other backup software or cloud backup providers I should consider. Note that I'll probably only do reviews if they're cross platform.
  

• Abuse of any kind
  
• Arguments - this is my opinion, but I'm willing to makes changes based on well reasoned discussion
  

Unable to access...anyone else having issues?

Nope, I glanced at the article last night, with intention to return and read when I have more time...and was just able to get to it again moments ago.

John from PA wrote in post #18367244
Unable to access...anyone else having issues?

Hosted photo: posted by John from PA in
./showthread.php?p=183​67244&i=i75578344
forum: Data Storage, Memory Cards & Backup

Works for me? Is your operating system and Chrome up to date?

Sorry, I made some changes to my CDN and firewall and managed to take the site down for an hour or so last night. It's back up again now.

Care to explain the reasoning for 3 copies?

I have always done two. One live copy and the backup. Backup is kept offsite. I could see in a production environment maybe wanting a quick fail over but not sure that applies to a lot of photographers.

silvrr wrote in post #18367763
Care to explain the reasoning for 3 copies?

I have always done two. One live copy and the backup. Backup is kept offsite. I could see in a production environment maybe wanting a quick fail over but not sure that applies to a lot of photographers.

One copy is so fragile that it's considered "no" copy, so deduct 1 from however many copies you think you have.

Also, while updating your backup, it becomes vulnerable. Having a 3rd copy enables you to always have one copy offline/offsite.

silvrr wrote in post #18367763
Care to explain the reasoning for 3 copies?

I have always done two. One live copy and the backup. Backup is kept offsite. I could see in a production environment maybe wanting a quick fail over but not sure that applies to a lot of photographers.

3-2-1 is a general backup rule, not one I made up. Primary plus one offsite copy is probably sufficient, but to be really safe another copy would be good.

Also note the difference between copy and an incremental, versioned backup. I suggest you have both.

mike_d wrote in post #18367765
One copy is so fragile that it's considered "no" copy, so deduct 1 from however many copies you think you have.

Also, while updating your backup, it becomes vulnerable. Having a 3rd copy enables you to always have one copy offline/offsite.

tim wrote in post #18367766
3-2-1 is a general backup rule, not one I made up. Primary plus one offsite copy is probably sufficient, but to be really safe another copy would be good.

Also note the difference between copy and an incremental, versioned backup. I suggest you have both.

Thats what I figured as the reason for the multiple back up copies. I have thought about if one drive dies that I then have a single point of failure before I lose all my data. Nothing really important, more just nice to have (pictures, old seed files, ect.)

I have a Mac Pro with three internal drives, two in a mirrored set up and one a (bootable) Super Duper clone. Then I have one external drive with Time Machine and another external drive that just holds my images and most important files (I simply copy the latest stuff - photos mostly - to the drive once a week manually). Both external drives are disconnected.

Since the ransomware attack I'm thinking it might be better to take the Super Duper clone out of the Mac Pro, make it external as well. I've been looking at casings and docking stations. Not sure what would be best.

Clones / mirrors don't much a place in a backup system. Incremental versioned or manual copies are best. Also you should assume your primary location will burn in a fire, so everything you think is important should be offsite.

I'm giving up on external disks and third party enclosures, they all fail eventually, and even good brand third party enclosures fail after a year or two. I've just purchased (but not yet received) thisSATA to USB3 docking station for drives, this USB 3.0 card (my motherboard USB3 isn't great and I broke a port), and these hard drive cases.

I tend to use HGST hard drives, but I had Seagate for years that were generally ok, and my 2TB western digital black has been going for years - it's probably well past when it should've failed. Nothing on it is critical but I should probably back it up fully some time.

Useful info. I find most people can't be convinced to back much up, unless it's incredibly easy and automatic. I get emails asking for files from 4+ years ago all the time, as if it's my job to back up the client's data. The shift to cloud storage can't come soon enough for me.

JonKline wrote in post #18367820
Useful info. I find most people can't be convinced to back much up, unless it's incredibly easy and automatic.

This is why I recommend Crashplan as a primary backup for most people. It's as close to "set and forget" as you can get. Well, until they ignore the emails begging for renewal. Sigh.

tim wrote in post #18367794
Clones / mirrors don't much a place in a backup system. Incremental versioned or manual copies are best. Also you should assume your primary location will burn in a fire, so everything you think is important should be offsite.

I'm giving up on external disks and third party enclosures, they all fail eventually, and even good brand third party enclosures fail after a year or two. I've just purchased (but not yet received) thisSATA to USB3 docking station for drives, this USB 3.0 card (my motherboard USB3 isn't great and I broke a port), and these hard drive cases.

I tend to use HGST hard drives, but I had Seagate for years that were generally ok, and my 2TB western digital black has been going for years - it's probably well past when it should've failed. Nothing on it is critical but I should probably back it up fully some time.

Time Machine is incremental of course but it's not bootable. Well, actually, it is, but it takes some doing and you need the installation disc, so it's not exactly plug and play. And install discs at some time will also fail. So I bought Super Duper and love it. It's just nice to know I have a bootable clone of my hard drive.

If I'm going to remove the Super Duper drive then I'll need a docking station too. I've been looking at them this past week and reading that horizontal is probably best, I decided on this Inateck docking station: https://www.inateck.co​m …-hdd-docking-station.html

I always buy WD. Right now I have WD Blacks in my Mac Pro. But I'm thinking of maybe getting a 4TB Green for an extra back-up that I could store off-site.

I hadn't thought of storage cases. Those look nice. I'll look for something similar here.

Levina de Ruijter wrote in post #18367863
Time Machine is incremental of course but it's not bootable. Well, actually, it is, but it takes some doing and you need the installation disc, so it's not exactly plug and play. And install discs at some time will also fail. So I bought Super Duper and love it. It's just nice to know I have a bootable clone of my hard drive.

If I'm going to remove the Super Duper drive then I'll need a docking station too. I've been looking at them this past week and reading that horizontal is probably best, I decided on this Inateck docking station: https://www.inateck.co​m …-hdd-docking-station.html

I always buy WD. Right now I have WD Blacks in my Mac Pro. But I'm thinking of maybe getting a 4TB Green for an extra back-up that I could store off-site.

I hadn't thought of storage cases. Those look nice. I'll look for something similar here.

Sure, if time machine is incremental and holds versions, great. Just make sure a copy is stored offsite.

I haven't even gone into operating system images, that's a separate topic altogether.

I have one WD Green for backups, one HGST, and one I can't remember. I got those cases from ebay, $22 for 5 from memory.