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02/08/2010 11:00:01 AM · #1
Hi guys!
Can anyone reccomend a good online data storage/backup service? Not just for photos, but everything on your puter?
02/08/2010 11:28:44 AM · #2
I personally use Carbonite and absolutely love it. It sits in the background and silently uploads your files (encrypted) to their servers where it is further encrypted. It doesn't slow down your computer and it's so easy to use.

//www.carbonite.com
02/08/2010 11:32:49 AM · #3
Carbonite is one of the main ones that I'm looking at. Good price. I'm also looking at Online Storage Solutions (lowest price @ $1.25/month, unlimited) and Mozy.

I've checked out some info and reviews, but I'm looking for first hand opinions from real people! :-)

thanks!
02/08/2010 01:38:53 PM · #4
Roxio (maker of Toast and Creator CD/DVD software) is now offering Backblaze online data storage/backup. Haven't tried it myself though ...
02/08/2010 03:47:44 PM · #5
Thanks General, I'll check it out.
02/22/2010 09:44:52 AM · #6
CNET Community had a forum discussion on online backup this week:

//forums.cnet.com/5208-7588_102-0.html?messageID=3240688&tag=nl.e497#3240688
06/17/2010 12:22:37 AM · #7
I ran into this article on Lifehacker which discusses Mozy and got me thinking about online storage/backup. One of the commenters pointed out that Crashplan allows you to do backups to a trusted third party AKA family or friend.

Others I have heard in this area are:
Jungledisk
SpiderOak
BackBlaze
Carbonite

Anyone have additional feedback on any of them?

Message edited by author 2010-06-17 00:23:13.
06/17/2010 03:58:40 AM · #8
I use Carbonite. The initial backup took days as I had 80gb of data, but since then it runs in the background and you never know it. I feel much more secure now.
06/17/2010 11:30:34 AM · #9
Have you tested restoring files? How easy is it? I hear it can take a long time.
06/17/2010 02:41:37 PM · #10
You might also consider doing it yourself if you have a network. I run a hot swap 1.5 TB NAS with raid 5 and auto backup. A few $$ upfront but saves my Internet connection and keeps my stuff out of the cloud with the added bonus of no monthly payments and easy backup when needed.
06/17/2010 04:13:21 PM · #11
Originally posted by dsray:

You might also consider doing it yourself if you have a network. I run a hot swap 1.5 TB NAS with raid 5 and auto backup. A few $$ upfront but saves my Internet connection and keeps my stuff out of the cloud with the added bonus of no monthly payments and easy backup when needed.

Yes, but the DIY aspect has several drawbacks.

- If it isn't automatic, the wife isn't likely to do it.
- The spouse isn't likely to approve several hundred dollars in hardware purchase right now.
- There is no off-site storage. This means it is prone to burglary, fire, flood, etc.

An additional benefit that these services are touting is versioning. "Ooops the kids replaced the text in my important word doc." Go back to the version before.

I am still going through the options, but the one leading my list is CrashPlan because it allows backing up to off-site trusted third parties AKA friends/family via the internet as well as local backups.

I manage 3 computers for our family, 2 here in FL, 1 in NY, and potentially one being added in IN. Instant FREE off-site backup.

06/17/2010 05:15:17 PM · #12
I tried Carbonite and hated it. Kludgy interface, very intrusive, and I had to play games trying to figure out what file types it was and wasn't backing up.

Mozy has a slick and professional looking interface and works silently in the background. If I say back up folder A, it backs up EVERYTHING in folder A. No games. I love it.
06/18/2010 12:29:17 PM · #13
I am really surprised by the lack of response. I'd think DPCers would be one the cutting edge of backups.
06/18/2010 02:21:21 PM · #14
I tend to think it's still a relatively new trend. Lots of people are still backing up to external drives and removable media.
06/18/2010 04:03:57 PM · #15
Originally posted by _eug:

I am really surprised by the lack of response. I'd think DPCers would be one the cutting edge of backups.


Im using 3 Drobos... dont trust online myself and the fact Im so impatient and have several Terabytes to backup lol. but I cycle my drives off site every now and then depending on how much got saved to the network.
06/19/2010 12:47:27 PM · #16
Originally posted by PhotoDave:

Im using 3 Drobos... dont trust online myself and the fact Im so impatient and have several Terabytes to backup lol. but I cycle my drives off site every now and then depending on how much got saved to the network.

Interesting. I can understand the impatience factor. I can't imagine trying to restore a large amount of data using one of these services. What about online storage don't you trust though?
02/11/2011 07:03:51 PM · #17
I'm looking at BackBlaze since Mozy shafted their users. Is anyone here using BackBlaze?
02/11/2011 07:08:50 PM · #18
Originally posted by bvy:

I tried Carbonite and hated it. Kludgy interface, very intrusive, and I had to play games trying to figure out what file types it was and wasn't backing up.

Mozy has a slick and professional looking interface and works silently in the background. If I say back up folder A, it backs up EVERYTHING in folder A. No games. I love it.


Carbonite does that all as well, and it's not hard to set it up at all. Plus it cost much less and you can either set it up to backup on a schedule or continuously update in the background. Not sure why your having issues, but there are no games with Carbonite either.
02/11/2011 10:18:25 PM · #19
This is my setup... with more $ it could be improved (like raid 10 for the internal drives) :-

1) All main drives are SATA attached (some in an external enclosure and rest internal)... not USB or firewire for the main drives.

2) A pair of NAS boxes at the other end of the house from the main computer have an identical copy of the main drives maintained by windows scheduled tasks that run each night. These are raid5 so either boxes can in theory lose a single drive from the cluster and be able to rebuild.

3) The more critical files are stored on Carbonite. Obviously the upload pipe is small and carbonite throttles uploads, so that has to be restricted and cannot ever be everything.
* In lightroom I have some "smart" (I disagree with that term cause they are only just above dumbin LR so far) publish collections based on ratings and they kick out DNG's of those RAW files that are in a location that is backed up by carbonite.
* The financial stuff I encrypt locally and only the encrypted set are touched by carbonite. You CAN use your own encrypt key instead of letting them manage but you cannot use the web login to grab files if you do that and I wanted to keep that option open.
02/11/2011 10:21:39 PM · #20
Originally posted by DCNUTTER:

but there are no games with Carbonite either.


I use carbonite and I gota take issue with that.... They play games with what "unlimited" means. There are 3 tiers of upload speed... One around 40Gb and another at 200Gb. The service is VERY slow after you hit 200Gb.
02/11/2011 10:47:58 PM · #21
DC, my issue with Mozy is that they recently canned their unlimited pricing. So I'm shopping around again.

And actually I had Carbonite before I had Mozy, and I wasn't impressed. The software was clunky and intrusive, and it was always a guessing game trying to guess which file types were being backed up. Mozy had a solid, no frills product. I'll miss it.
02/11/2011 10:52:23 PM · #22
Originally posted by bvy:

DC, my issue with Mozy is that they recently canned their unlimited pricing. So I'm shopping around again.

And actually I had Carbonite before I had Mozy, and I wasn't impressed. The software was clunky and intrusive, and it was always a guessing game trying to guess which file types were being backed up. Mozy had a solid, no frills product. I'll miss it.


Don't blame you. I heard a lot of people are mad about the new pricing Mozy put into place. Personally they are all too slow for my taste and I think the best solution for those with a lot of data is to have a large NAS with at least 4 drives in RAID 5 and then keep a backup drive off site somewhere like an office, a family members house etc. that you bring home say once a week and update before bringing it back for safe keeping.
02/11/2011 10:56:15 PM · #23
Originally posted by robs:

Originally posted by DCNUTTER:

but there are no games with Carbonite either.


I use carbonite and I gota take issue with that.... They play games with what "unlimited" means. There are 3 tiers of upload speed... One around 40Gb and another at 200Gb. The service is VERY slow after you hit 200Gb.


Rob, I've used them both and honestly don't think either suit my needs entirely. The unlimited has nothing to do with bandwidth though...only storage space and they do give you that. They are up front about the speeds and explain the logic behind it though. It might not seem right to most, but my point was that they weren't playing games and denying how they do it. It's in plain site on their website for all to see. I don't use either one at this time so I have no loyalty to either...LOL.

Carbonite Upload Speeds Explained

Dave

02/14/2011 11:24:07 AM · #24
Oh yeah... no argument that they are not yet ready for a full volume backup for anyone more then a casual user (certainly not photg). Hence my limited use but I wanted something offsite and one of these is ok (just ok) for that purpose - sans Mozy now. I would cry if the house burnt down (for several reasons) but I would still have the most critical photos, family movies and financial stuff out in the cloud and it's current (vs. stashing drives manually).

Yeah, the upload speed they are clear about (once you find that restriction which is not exactly on the front page :-) ) and I know they are not limiting space per say..... My point is they effectively ARE limiting space because of the sheer time at 100Kb it would take to upload anything really large (sort of like those unlimited hosts that limit resources and the amount of zip type files effectively limiting what unlimited really means... otherwise I would just stash them on my "unlimited" hosting site).

P.S. - If anyone is looking for a nice setup for stashing drives do a search for those toaster type things... not a full enclosure but you just stand the drive up like an ipod dock. Good idea if your swapping out drives.
02/14/2011 12:37:16 PM · #25
Originally posted by bvy:

I'm looking at BackBlaze since Mozy shafted their users. Is anyone here using BackBlaze?

Been using BackBlaze for around 9 months now; very happy with it and they don't do any bandwidth throttling or any nonsense like that.
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