What backup software do you use?

[Q]

I thought it would be a good idea to start this thread. To spread awareness that your computer will break down eventually and that making a backup is therefore a really good idea.

I would also like to see everyone's experiences on best practices, what software is recommendable, etc.

So, I'll kick off: I'm using CrashPlan (http://www.crashplan.com/). This piece of software runs on Windows, Mac OS X, Linux and Solaris and is free for use for making a backup on your local USB HDD.

I also use their paid service, if anything ever were to happen with both my computer and my USB HDD, keeping a backup on their servers.

If you have a really slow connection, they even have a service to send you a harddisk to make the first backup which you can then send back so they can put it on the servers. And vice versa: If you need to restore your unit, but have a sucky connection, they can send you a HDD with the latest and greatest copy of your backup.

A pretty nice service overall I think.

On my work I use Time Machine, an integrated piece of backup software in OS X, mostly for testing purposes. The user interface of Time Machine is lightyears ahead of any competition in simplicity and easy restoration.

The only real limitation of TM is that its backups are non-bootable. So, if you ever end up with a system without any OS on it, you'll be in trouble. And in any case, if you erase your system, you first need to reinstall OS X before you put back the backup with Migration Assistant. Rather cumbersome if you just want to put back a systemwide backup.

TM has been around for 5 years now, but still there have been no serious alternatives in the open source arena. I find that kinda surprising as especially software geeks ought to know how important backups are and, therefore, make them as easily as possible. Canonical et al should take a note here.

But I digress. Share your experiences :)

[hetz]

None, I don't really have anything to back-up except some .pdf's.

[TheGodlessUtopian]

How much of a life-spa does a computer have before it breaks down? I have had my laptop for about a couple years now.

[Q]

None, I don't really have anything to back-up except some .pdf's.

So, you keep your personal documents in the cloud? Use Gmail, etc? That is one solution I guess.

I have tons of documents I'd want to restore if my laptop would break down.


How much of a life-spa does a computer have before it breaks down? I have had my laptop for about a couple years now.

That depends. I work for Apple as a technical advisor and sometimes see people having a broken hard disk after only a year (and, if they were cheap and didn't purchase AppleCare support coverage for three years, I'll have to tell them it'll be a paid reparation since they are outside one year warranty and - if they made no backup - lost all their data. Those are the happiest people I get on the phone :lol:).

Anyway, there could go wrong any number of things: Hard disk failure, your laptop catching fire, your laptop being in a burning house, you drop your laptop in a pool of water, spill coffee... whatever. That's why backups are important.

Important note: Hard disks are mechanical components and therefore wear down. So, 100% of all hard disks eventually break down. Some people don't realise this for some reason.

[Q]

How much of a life-spa does a computer have before it breaks down? I have had my laptop for about a couple years now.

I just realised I could give a more specific answer, regarding the life expectancy of your hard disk. There is a self-monitoring test built into the hard disk, called SMART (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S.M.A.R.T.). Depending on your operating system, you'll need a tool that can read that.

If your SMART status is not "verified", but something like "pre-fail", you'll need to consider a hard disk replacement asap.

[hetz]

So, you keep your personal documents in the cloud? Use Gmail, etc? That is one solution I guess.
No, on CDs and USB drives.

[Q]

No, on CDs and USB drives.

And what if said USB drives fail? Do you keep multiple copies?

[hetz]

It's unlikely that both the USB drive and my PC fail at the same time. :)

[Q]

It's unlikely that both the USB drive and my PC fail at the same time. :)

Ah, so your USB drive already is a backup. That was unclear from your previous posts.

Good job.

[BOZG]

It's unlikely that both the USB drive and my PC fail at the same time. :)

It is unlikely but how often do you check your USB drive? What if it's failed without you knowing? Or is it always connected? What if a power spike blows both.

A single copy on another drive is not a back up!

[BOZG]

As for myself, I have very little that is necessary to back up. Any games, music or films can be downloaded again and none are critical. I'm using Spotify more and more now anyway so MP3s are less and less relevant.

Any documents that I have are backed up to Dropbox and Google Drive though losing them would be largely irrelevant. It's only school related stuff and any finished stuff exists as a copy in my email or in VKlass which we use in school.

The only stuff that I have of importance is photos and videos of my kids which are backed up to both Dropbox and Box.

[Q]

Any other experiences?

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

My last SATA hard drive started seriously failing, but I managed to get a replacement in time to transfer most of my stuff. It was pretty fucking annoying because it felt like I'd hardly had the original hard drive for any time at all. Maybe a little over two years? Seems like an awfully fast time for a hard drive to start failing. Hopefully this new one will last longer.

The only hard drive I've had that I've known to suddenly break down beyond all affordable recovery was an ancient IDE thing on my old computer, I must have got at least 8 or so years of decent service out of that sucker. I've kept it though, since there may be a time when I can afford professional recovery services.

One thing I really should invest in is an Uninterruptible Power Supply, especially since my electricity supply comes through a chargeable key meter and can suddenly cut out when the credit runs out. I've heard that sudden power-outs aren't good for HDD longevity.

[Q]

...

Sounds like in your case you should definitely think about a longterm backup plan.

And yes, hard disks can fail after just two years. Sucks, but that's how it is.

[BOZG]

Planned obsolescence and all that.