Backup/File Access Filter

May 29, 2007 12:26 PM

I am looking for a secure backup/file access solution that allows me to mount the space as a drive as well as access the data through a web interface. I have tried many solutions but each one is missing a critical piece of the puzzle.

My goals are as follows:
1. Secure data storage.
2. Mount storage space as a local drive on both computers.
3. Be able to sync data between the storage and my desktop folders on my home computer. (Currently using "synctoy" to sync to mounted Jungledisk space. “Synctoy” however seems to overwrite and resave data that has not changed)
4. Allow secure web access

I primarily use two computers -- one at home and one at work (both xp pro). First I tried Jungledisk/S3. This is a great solution except for the fact that if I am not at one of my desktops (for instance at a friends house, or on location at a client) I can not access my files. Then I found S3brwose.com. This seemed to add the critical piece of web access I am looking for. Unfortunately, I have found the numbered, rather than folder-oriented, file structure hard to navigate as well as finding multiple copies of the same file with different file sizes showing up at random. Then I used "Netdrive" to mount my ftp server as a local drive and used “net2ftp” installed on my shared web host for web access. However, this fails the security test as the files are stored unencrypted for anyone to see on my ftp space. Even password protected, if someone could figure out the actual URL (path) to the files they could easily download them. I also tried “bingodisk,” but they only allow webdav access and it seems that double clicking a file in a webdav folder in windows doesn’t do anything, but rather you have to move it to a local drive to manipulate/update it. I am no expert on this, and I realize this is a bit wordy, but I would really appreciate suggestions on a solution, or group of solutions, to accomplish my goals.

posted by Ezrie to computers & internet (9 comments total)

How about StrongSpace?
posted by odinsdream at 1:13 PM on May 29, 2007

odinsdream-
They don't offer a free trial. Call me a cynic, bit I believe deeply in free trials. Have you used them?
posted by Ezrie at 1:25 PM on May 29, 2007

I currently do. Remember also that it's not a contract service, so if you don't like it, you're only out $15.

It's really very useful. The web interface works very well, and you can use sftp or rsync to synchronize from your PC. This only works for the main user, however. You can make guest users and restrict their access to a single folder on the site, which is handy for trading big files with friends or coworkers without resorting to e-mail.
posted by odinsdream at 1:40 PM on May 29, 2007

Subversion + SSH/SSL, using svn to keep a repository updated locally. It wouldn't show up as a drive so much as a folder, but you could certainly dedicate a disk (or drive letter) to the content.
posted by rhizome at 2:06 PM on May 29, 2007

rhizome-
Sounds intriguing. As I said, I am no expert. Where can I find about how to set up your suggestion?
posted by Ezrie at 2:51 PM on May 29, 2007

I highly recommend rsync.net. I've been using them for a while and have had absolutely no problems. They support all of the things you're looking for and they're very inexpensive. They support almost every major sync protocol, they don't log usage data or any form of metadata, and they even have a warrant canary.

If you feel like using them, please feel free to enter "1097" in the "How you heard about rsync" field.
posted by atomly at 3:04 PM on May 29, 2007

Dreamhost. 150+ gigabytes of storage for $8/month.

You can rsync to it. They've got Net2FTP already set up for you. Add a .htaccess file (either by hand, or through the control panel), and people can no longer accessing your files even if they know the direct URL.

If you use the 'METAFILTER" signup code, you get the maximum possible discount. (i.e., I don't make any money - I set up that code to be nice to Metafilter people).
posted by dmd at 4:47 PM on May 29, 2007

While hunting around for a similar solution, I came across the Seagate FreeAgent Pro. Claims to automatically back up data to the user's choice of online space, but I haven't tried it out personally.
posted by Xere at 5:52 PM on May 29, 2007

dmd, how do you use Dreamhost as a backup provider? I've already got my websites hosted with them, is that using the same space?

Ta!
posted by electriccynic at 1:26 AM on May 30, 2007