Need an easy, cheap, automatic way to keep ~8GB of files backed up.
May 23, 2010 9:30 PM Subscribe
I need an easy, cheap, automatic way to keep a few gigs of files stored in various folders around my computer backed up.
I've looked EVERYWHERE it seems and tried so many different programs, and it just seems that backup and syncing solutions are among the most poorly developed pieces of software on the planet. Live Mesh messed up my files, Dropbox has terrible pricing and a single-folder restriction, and just about everything else I've tried has SOMETHING wrong with it.
I only need to backup at most 10GB. Actually, I have my own server with practically unlimited space/bandwidth for my own purposes, so any generic software that could give me automatic backup to that via FTP or whatever would work. I tried setting up a SVN to accomplish this, but I found I just didn't hit the commit button often enough (and I really don't need the revisions).
Basically I want Dropbox, but cheaper and with the ability to sync different folders around the computer. I find Dropbox's design model obnoxious.
My main machine is a Win7 PC, it'd be amazing if this solution would allow syncing with Macs though. But at the least I just want a solid backup solution without paying hundreds a year.
(While posting this I found a link to SugarSync. $50/yr for 30GB. Does anyone recommend their software? That's still a bit higher than what I'd like to pay, but it's much more reasonable than Dropbox. Carbonite seems like a similar option in that price range.)
So frustrated! Any help is greatly appreciated.
I've looked EVERYWHERE it seems and tried so many different programs, and it just seems that backup and syncing solutions are among the most poorly developed pieces of software on the planet. Live Mesh messed up my files, Dropbox has terrible pricing and a single-folder restriction, and just about everything else I've tried has SOMETHING wrong with it.
I only need to backup at most 10GB. Actually, I have my own server with practically unlimited space/bandwidth for my own purposes, so any generic software that could give me automatic backup to that via FTP or whatever would work. I tried setting up a SVN to accomplish this, but I found I just didn't hit the commit button often enough (and I really don't need the revisions).
Basically I want Dropbox, but cheaper and with the ability to sync different folders around the computer. I find Dropbox's design model obnoxious.
My main machine is a Win7 PC, it'd be amazing if this solution would allow syncing with Macs though. But at the least I just want a solid backup solution without paying hundreds a year.
(While posting this I found a link to SugarSync. $50/yr for 30GB. Does anyone recommend their software? That's still a bit higher than what I'd like to pay, but it's much more reasonable than Dropbox. Carbonite seems like a similar option in that price range.)
So frustrated! Any help is greatly appreciated.
I own this "Network Attached Storage" device which runs Windows Home Server. It automatically backs up my Win-7 computer once per day.
Now that I own it, I can't figure out how I ever lived without it.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 11:08 PM on May 23, 2010
Now that I own it, I can't figure out how I ever lived without it.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 11:08 PM on May 23, 2010
Carbonite? That's about $55/year.
JungleDisk? Hmm, their pricing has changed. It used to be a one-time fee for the software, plus Amazon S3 storage costs. Right now, for the fancier personal version, it's $3/month + S3 costs, which, for your 10GB will be around $1.50/month, so $4.50/month.
Roll-your-own? Syncback is nice, as merocet mentioned. Look for something that uses the "rsync" protocol, like cwRsync. What kind of server do you control?
You should make sure you have some notion of versioning in your backup strategy. If you only have the most recent copy of your files out there, you're screwed if you don't notice that, say, your Word doc got corrupted last week, and the corrupt version has been "backed up". The benefits of Carbonite and JungleDisk is that you have some control over how many versions of your files get retained. Of course, if you roll your own, you'll have to be aware of this issue.
posted by chengjih at 4:15 AM on May 24, 2010
JungleDisk? Hmm, their pricing has changed. It used to be a one-time fee for the software, plus Amazon S3 storage costs. Right now, for the fancier personal version, it's $3/month + S3 costs, which, for your 10GB will be around $1.50/month, so $4.50/month.
Roll-your-own? Syncback is nice, as merocet mentioned. Look for something that uses the "rsync" protocol, like cwRsync. What kind of server do you control?
You should make sure you have some notion of versioning in your backup strategy. If you only have the most recent copy of your files out there, you're screwed if you don't notice that, say, your Word doc got corrupted last week, and the corrupt version has been "backed up". The benefits of Carbonite and JungleDisk is that you have some control over how many versions of your files get retained. Of course, if you roll your own, you'll have to be aware of this issue.
posted by chengjih at 4:15 AM on May 24, 2010
You want Crashplan.
Works with Windows, Mac, Linux, and Solaris, and is free if you have your own server. Dead simple to set up, and they email you if you go a few days without backing up.
posted by schmod at 7:19 AM on May 24, 2010
Works with Windows, Mac, Linux, and Solaris, and is free if you have your own server. Dead simple to set up, and they email you if you go a few days without backing up.
posted by schmod at 7:19 AM on May 24, 2010
I've been using Backblaze for a few months now. It costs $5 a month and has unlimited storage.
posted by gregr at 7:56 AM on May 24, 2010
posted by gregr at 7:56 AM on May 24, 2010
Response by poster: @merocet: I'll have to take another look at Syncback, didn't realize it did FTP.
@ob1quixote: I think I have something against rsync as a Windows solution. I shouldn't actually have to use my Comp Sci degree just to back up my data. I'm exaggerating, but still...no reason there shouldn't be a no-brain pretty-GUI solution for backing up these days.
Mainly, I just don't feel like reinstalling Cygwin.
@chengjih: JungleDisk is looking like a top contender among paid solutions. <3>
@Chocolate Pickle: Eventually I plan to get a home server, can't afford one at the moment. Even still I'd like an online solution for a second backup of really important stuff.
@schmod: It seemed SO perfect. But it's not a HOME server I have, so it doesn't help. :/ http://tinyurl.com/CP-WebDAV
@gregr: Backblaze is looking like a solid choice. If I go paid I'll be comparing it closely with JungleDisk to decide. Thanks.
So I'm going to try out Syncback and then look into JungleDisk or Backblaze. Any more free suggestions are much appreciated! Thanks to everyone!
posted by nmaster64 at 9:24 PM on May 25, 2010
@ob1quixote: I think I have something against rsync as a Windows solution. I shouldn't actually have to use my Comp Sci degree just to back up my data. I'm exaggerating, but still...no reason there shouldn't be a no-brain pretty-GUI solution for backing up these days.
Mainly, I just don't feel like reinstalling Cygwin.
@chengjih: JungleDisk is looking like a top contender among paid solutions. <3>
@Chocolate Pickle: Eventually I plan to get a home server, can't afford one at the moment. Even still I'd like an online solution for a second backup of really important stuff.
@schmod: It seemed SO perfect. But it's not a HOME server I have, so it doesn't help. :/ http://tinyurl.com/CP-WebDAV
@gregr: Backblaze is looking like a solid choice. If I go paid I'll be comparing it closely with JungleDisk to decide. Thanks.
So I'm going to try out Syncback and then look into JungleDisk or Backblaze. Any more free suggestions are much appreciated! Thanks to everyone!
posted by nmaster64 at 9:24 PM on May 25, 2010
I use two solutions for backing up my files. First is Mozy, an online unlimited backup solution, about $5 per month, similar to Carbonite, which chengjih mentioned. I like Mozy a bit better because of the finer amount of control it affords, the ability to back up EXE and DLL files (Carbonite won't do this), plus it seems more stable. But both solutions are good. I've used Carbonite before too and had no major complaints.
The second is SmartSync Pro. This is a local sync program that can sync folders between local or network drives, or over FTP. There's a 1-time cost of $45 for the program. I admit, the program lacks polish, and setting up the sync settings and profile the first time you use it can take a bit of time (20 minutes?), after that though, it's pretty much fire-and-forget. You can set it to run on a schedule and then completely ignore it. It works well, I've never had a problem with it. They push out new minor releases several times per year.
posted by Vorteks at 11:12 AM on May 26, 2010
The second is SmartSync Pro. This is a local sync program that can sync folders between local or network drives, or over FTP. There's a 1-time cost of $45 for the program. I admit, the program lacks polish, and setting up the sync settings and profile the first time you use it can take a bit of time (20 minutes?), after that though, it's pretty much fire-and-forget. You can set it to run on a schedule and then completely ignore it. It works well, I've never had a problem with it. They push out new minor releases several times per year.
posted by Vorteks at 11:12 AM on May 26, 2010
Basically I want Dropbox, but cheaper and with the ability to sync different folders around the computer.
It sounds like one of the other solutions mentioned above is more suited to your needs, but just for future reference, it's very easy to make Dropbox sync folders outside its main directory. Just follow these instructions:
How to sync folders (or files) that exist outside the "My Dropbox" folder
I do this on OS X, and it works great. (I haven't tried it under Windows or Linux, however.)
As for pricing, Dropbox provides additional storage for every referral:
posted by wnodom at 9:48 PM on May 26, 2010
It sounds like one of the other solutions mentioned above is more suited to your needs, but just for future reference, it's very easy to make Dropbox sync folders outside its main directory. Just follow these instructions:
How to sync folders (or files) that exist outside the "My Dropbox" folder
I do this on OS X, and it works great. (I haven't tried it under Windows or Linux, however.)
As for pricing, Dropbox provides additional storage for every referral:
For every friend who joins Dropbox, we'll give you both 250 MB of bonus space (up to a limit of 8 GB)!So if you've got 32 friends that want to help out, you're good to go. :-)
posted by wnodom at 9:48 PM on May 26, 2010
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posted by merocet at 9:44 PM on May 23, 2010 [1 favorite]