Advice Backup Solutions

[Wazzerphuk]

I've got around 2TB of stuff over a couple of drives.

I don't really have any backup system so it's probably best I sort one out. What's the best way of doing this relatively cheaply? Get an external HDD? Are there any useful bits of software that could say autobackup certain folders whenever I connect the external HDD or something?

Any advice will be useful here as it's not something I've really ever done. Cheers!

 

[DaGaffer]

I've got a WD MyBook external HD. Mine's only a 1TB one, but I think you can get 2TB for about £100-£120. It has an auto archive function that seems to work fine (I actually bought it for the missus for her work PC as she works from home, but since she's gone on maternity leave and probably not going back I've swapped her stuff onto an older 250GB drive I had knocking about and nicked the WD for myself). A NAS would probably be a better solution for me as I stream to various devices (and my main PC is a bit of a power hog), but as basic backup the WD is fine.

 

[Wazzerphuk]

What's NAS? Don't even know what the other options for this type of thing are

 

[DaGaffer]

NAS is Network Attached Storage. Basically a low end PC acting as a file server that you can leave switched on instead of your main PC so it can do scheduled tasks (like torrents or other downloads) while using less power. You can buy them off the shelf or build your own. I keep vacillating about getting one because I can see the benefits but at the same time I have a sneaking suspicion it will be just yet another device I'll have switched on all the time, and while I've filled up nearly a 1TB on my backup drive, I should just get rid of all the tat I've got clogging up my HD that I'll never actually look at/listen to/play/read. I no longer feel the need to get my hands on every tv series and movie ever made.

 

[soze]

Most NAS drives come with software for this kind of thing. But if it is just for backing up one PC they can be Pricey, HUKD had a 3TB USB driver for sub £80 and with software like PureSync you can trigger a backup every time the External Disk is connected.

 

[TdC]

tbh I've just bought a machine for the exact purpose of turning it into a NASesque device Wazzmatazz. I'll let you know how I get on.

 

[Wazzerphuk]

I like the idea of it but it is another machine that's always on and that doesn't seem the best option for me, I'm guessing it'd be a lot more expensive too?

 

[TdC]

depends how many disks you want in it bud. only solution with a smidgin of fault tolerance has at least two disks. I got an HP microserver with a 1.5GHz cpu, two gigs ram and two 2TB disks for about 560 euros. that's 468.5 squids in island money.
it's naff when you have to lay it all out at once, and I'm about 100 eur extra out of pocket given the prices of hdd's right now. still, I will have a low power (read 50W or so), fault tolerant at the disk level, networked solution that I can do anything I want with. A similar NAS will be around that price point excl the disks, and a full DIY -which I priced in my own thread- was around 700 euros. ofc, that one was way more powerful, but not in the way I'd ideally want it to be.

 

[Wazzerphuk]

Does backing up files really have to be so complicated?

 

[TdC]

not really. you can get 50GB worth of Dropbox for something like 7 pounds. if you trust them with your necro-goat porn that is.

 

[soze]

Keep your eyes open for something like this then install this. Create folder synchronisations, So My Docs on PC to My Docs on the External. In the options select to start the Sync when the Extremal Drive is connected. Then every time you connect the drive you get a backup. Still the easiest way I can think and at sub £90 the cheapest.

 

[MYstIC G]

Does backing up files really have to be so complicated?

No, get Crashplan (subscription necessary if 2TB is actually the size of the stuff you want backed up) and leave your PC on when you go out and stuff. It will automatically shift the stuff to their servers and you can restore it as necessary.

Don't use Dropbox for this kind of stuff because it's awful at it especially if everything isn't in one folder.

 

[Wazzerphuk]

I'd rather not go for an online storage option, I don't think it's viable given the amount of stuff and costs of keeping it all on all the time.

 

[MYstIC G]

You don't have to keep it on all the time, you let it sync up and then it thereafter works on the differences which unless you're going to add 2GB a day shouldn't be an issue.

I use crashplan to backup between our two offices using our own kit, only time it's misfired is last week when the backup destination was unplugged for a day because the room was being re-carpeted.

Bang it up with a free account and give it a go first before you dismiss it out of hand mate, you may be surprised.

 

[Wazzerphuk]

But you'd still have to let it sync everything in the first place... which in itself would take weeks, surely?

 

[MYstIC G]

Granted it takes time but any backup solution you pick will take time. The way I see it you have two options:

1. Backup solution that you have to run to a local storage device
2. Backup solution that manages itself to a remote and/or local storage device

Personally I'd pick the second one as it's not likely to get in your face, is more redundant and as it runs itself it's less likely you will lose something.

 

[soze]

Some of the on-line backup companies let you do a local seed load first. You get the initial 2TB onto a USB disk send it off and then just to the incremental over the web. Tends only to be an option on the more expensive solutions though.

 

[Wazzerphuk]

Granted it takes time but any backup solution you pick will take time. The way I see it you have two options:

1. Backup solution that you have to run to a local storage device
2. Backup solution that manages itself to a remote and/or local storage device

Personally I'd pick the second one as it's not likely to get in your face, is more redundant and as it runs itself it's less likely you will lose something.

I think for my needs 1. would be the best option.

 

[MYstIC G]

Fair dinkum

For my personal stuff I use my NAS anyway but that'd be overkill for you imho.

 

[dysfunction]

I know it's technically a server but I would go for one of these instead of an external hard drive/NAS storage:

http://www.ebuyer.com/281915-hp-proliant-turion-ii-n40l-microserver-100-cashback-658553-421

Easier to add new drives etc...


Ive been using Mozy home for online storage. Very similar to Crashplan that Meg is talking about.

Very easy to use and you hardly know it's doing anything!

 

[Wazzerphuk]

And again that's stupidly expensive. £250 and I'd still need to buy 2TB of storage for it...

 

[MYstIC G]

You are in MyBook territory mate.

I'd tell you to buy my old ReadyNAS Duo off me but it's only got 2x500GB drives so it wouldn't go the distance for what you're looking to do / spend.

 

[dysfunction]

And again that's stupidly expensive. £250 and I'd still need to buy 2TB of storage for it...

No its £150 with the £100 cash back offer!!


Yes you would still need to buy drives for it...

 

[DaGaffer]

And again that's stupidly expensive. £250 and I'd still need to buy 2TB of storage for it...

Wazz, just got this from eBuyer - exactly what you're looking for I reckon: http://www.ebuyer.com/255189-buffalo-2tb-drivestation-hd-lb2-0tu2-uk-usb-2-0-hd-lb2-0tu2-uk

 

[Wazzerphuk]

That looks like a bit of a bargain, thankyousir!

 

[Raven]

More vermin. Get the fuck out.