Replacement for crashplan on OSX.
June 2, 2019 5:11 AM Subscribe
Automated-Cloud-backup-filter: Suggest a Replacement for CrashPlan on OSX please. Must continually and in the background make a cloud-stored bootable copy of my HDD with all my software intact.
I still use crashplan at $10/computer/month for 3 machines. They used to claim they would mail me a drive that would replace mine in case of failure. However, they now tell me that they no-longer back up software packages well (much less config/system files!); the app is increasingly obscured by poor design choices, and is slowing on my machine - which is a macbook pro - 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD, 2.8GHz core i7 with 10.13.6......so plenty fast - ffs.
I use carbon-copy-cloner to make a bootable image on a HDD for manual backup of ~700GB of stuff - data, programs, config, OSX.
I would like a version of this process to use automatically and in the cloud, so if my computer gets stolen or put through a wood chipper, I can simply get everything AS IT WAS.
What automated backup software will continually and in the background make a bootable image of my hd to a remote server, that I can re-download onto a new machine or ideally, order a HD copy of.
Note: I don’t want to “roll my own” or do anything more than a few command line actions. I’m an end-user these days. I am happy to PAY for this service.
I’ve seen this question and this wirecutter answer, but they mention nothing about bootable copies....
I still use crashplan at $10/computer/month for 3 machines. They used to claim they would mail me a drive that would replace mine in case of failure. However, they now tell me that they no-longer back up software packages well (much less config/system files!); the app is increasingly obscured by poor design choices, and is slowing on my machine - which is a macbook pro - 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD, 2.8GHz core i7 with 10.13.6......so plenty fast - ffs.
I use carbon-copy-cloner to make a bootable image on a HDD for manual backup of ~700GB of stuff - data, programs, config, OSX.
I would like a version of this process to use automatically and in the cloud, so if my computer gets stolen or put through a wood chipper, I can simply get everything AS IT WAS.
What automated backup software will continually and in the background make a bootable image of my hd to a remote server, that I can re-download onto a new machine or ideally, order a HD copy of.
Note: I don’t want to “roll my own” or do anything more than a few command line actions. I’m an end-user these days. I am happy to PAY for this service.
I’ve seen this question and this wirecutter answer, but they mention nothing about bootable copies....
backblaze is well regarded.
They recommend, no matter who you use, a 3-2-1 backup strategy.
posted by blob at 7:17 AM on June 2, 2019
They recommend, no matter who you use, a 3-2-1 backup strategy.
posted by blob at 7:17 AM on June 2, 2019
I used to use Backblaze, but I ultimately switched to Crashplan. The primary reason I switched is because backblaze gets rid of deleted files after 30 days. This also means if you back up an external hard drive with backblaze, you have to connect the external to backblaze every 30 days or it will be deleted off backblaze. This may not be a deal breaker for everyone, but it was for me.
posted by litera scripta manet at 7:28 AM on June 2, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by litera scripta manet at 7:28 AM on June 2, 2019 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Backblaze does not back up the OS
Next.
posted by lalochezia at 7:42 AM on June 2, 2019
Next.
posted by lalochezia at 7:42 AM on June 2, 2019
This is a very interesting question, I hope you get some useful info.
What I suggest might not completely fit your aim of avoiding roll-your-own, and I haven't used it to back up a complete image, but it's not very complex and it might help other people searching here.
I used to use CrashPlan before they moved away from small home customers. Now I use Arq backup software (one-time $50 price for all your Macs & PCs) and Backblaze B2 storage. I choose whatever gets backed up. The B2 pricing is $0.005/GB per month for data storage and $0.01/GB to download data. I've only needed to download a few times, so my ongoing costs are basically for storage. I pay Backblaze about $1-2/month. For B2 storage, they don't purge.
Arq takes a little patience to set up and arrange backups, but it's dead simple after that. If you're comfortable with "a few command-line actions", you'd be comfortable with the Arq GUI. It's not perfect, but it's the best option for what we need.
The complete-image solution is better accomplished with CCC or Super Duper to a local disk that you store separate from your computer. I do that using 2 external drives, which I rotate between home and our safe deposit box. Since the box and Super Duper are already paid for, my only cost there is my time.
posted by NumberSix at 8:35 AM on June 2, 2019 [2 favorites]
What I suggest might not completely fit your aim of avoiding roll-your-own, and I haven't used it to back up a complete image, but it's not very complex and it might help other people searching here.
I used to use CrashPlan before they moved away from small home customers. Now I use Arq backup software (one-time $50 price for all your Macs & PCs) and Backblaze B2 storage. I choose whatever gets backed up. The B2 pricing is $0.005/GB per month for data storage and $0.01/GB to download data. I've only needed to download a few times, so my ongoing costs are basically for storage. I pay Backblaze about $1-2/month. For B2 storage, they don't purge.
Arq takes a little patience to set up and arrange backups, but it's dead simple after that. If you're comfortable with "a few command-line actions", you'd be comfortable with the Arq GUI. It's not perfect, but it's the best option for what we need.
The complete-image solution is better accomplished with CCC or Super Duper to a local disk that you store separate from your computer. I do that using 2 external drives, which I rotate between home and our safe deposit box. Since the box and Super Duper are already paid for, my only cost there is my time.
posted by NumberSix at 8:35 AM on June 2, 2019 [2 favorites]
The last time my Mac crashed, I restored from a recent external Time Machine backup, and then used Backblaze cloud restore to fill in the files between the external backup and the current day. So that workflow is functional.
I am acutely aware that Backblaze doesn't back up the OS or applications which is a huge shortcoming, and would welcome a cloud backup service that does.
posted by a halcyon day at 2:11 PM on June 2, 2019
I am acutely aware that Backblaze doesn't back up the OS or applications which is a huge shortcoming, and would welcome a cloud backup service that does.
posted by a halcyon day at 2:11 PM on June 2, 2019
Best answer: Acronis allows for image backup to their cloud. I've only ever used their software to backup to an external drive. If you backup to the cloud, I think you can do images or file level backups. I'm not sure it's quite a bootable image (but maybe I don't understand the terminology or what I'm doing); I couldn't boot straight from the backup on the drive, but if I used their bootable media, I could restore the entire image (OS, system files, applications, etc). They also seem to allow shipping of physical media.
This kind of cloud backup can be expensive, so it's not as popular, as most people back up images/clones locally and files to the cloud. I would be wary of assuming the services stick around (as you found out with CrashPlan). There's also the time it takes to restore which can be long if you have to download or wait for a drive in the mail.
posted by bluefly at 6:47 PM on June 2, 2019 [1 favorite]
This kind of cloud backup can be expensive, so it's not as popular, as most people back up images/clones locally and files to the cloud. I would be wary of assuming the services stick around (as you found out with CrashPlan). There's also the time it takes to restore which can be long if you have to download or wait for a drive in the mail.
posted by bluefly at 6:47 PM on June 2, 2019 [1 favorite]
I moved from Crashplan to Backblaze on macOS.
The Backblaze client is much nicer, uses less CPU and RAM than the Crashplan client did.
posted by MiG at 8:31 AM on June 3, 2019
The Backblaze client is much nicer, uses less CPU and RAM than the Crashplan client did.
posted by MiG at 8:31 AM on June 3, 2019
I cannot recommend Arq. I was using it to back up to Amazon, back when they were selling unlimited for under $100 a year. After the second time that the software came back with a message that my backup set was no good and I had to upload another TB over my DSL, I just shut it off. Support looked at the log but didn't find anything. Possibly the problem was on Amazon's end, but an end-user should not have to care about this stuff. I'm as surprised as you are that it appears that the bootable drive is so difficult.
posted by wnissen at 8:46 AM on June 3, 2019
posted by wnissen at 8:46 AM on June 3, 2019
Response by poster: I think acronis looks pretty close to ideal. it has full image backups that can be scheduled; with a little effort, restore the OS and all in it appears possible.
I will try in the next 30 days and report back. Thanks bluefly!
posted by lalochezia at 9:53 AM on June 3, 2019 [2 favorites]
I will try in the next 30 days and report back. Thanks bluefly!
posted by lalochezia at 9:53 AM on June 3, 2019 [2 favorites]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by doomsey at 6:22 AM on June 2, 2019