Backup Strategies / Methods

[ukgimp]

Sometimes I get the fear, that I might lose something due to hard drive crash or fire or some other such event.

Well I need to get a few ideas on how best to cover all my bases from people, who I assume have this covered.

So the issues are backing up ones local machine incrementally.

Do you burn things to disk, create disk images, use JAZ/ZIP drives. Do you automate this process?. If so with what?

Have you ever tried to recover all your stuff to a new machine to see if it works, after all I have heard horror stories. Stories along the lines of, regular backups for years, then when it hits the fan, it turns out they were doing the wrong thing to start with.

Do you backup documents in separate partition or pysical drive, and damn the system after all they can be knocked up in little time with the right disks. Or just take some things from systems, like stored FTP vars (not passwords).

Next are hosting issues. Most hosts do regular backups an some provide a more indepth service. Do you FTP the lot, down and burn, if so how often do you do this.

So many questions/ponderings, but little answers so far.

So come on tell us your methods please.

Cheers

[vrtlw]

Hi Ukgimp,

For my workstation I backup all important documents onto CD on a regular basis (including my .pst file for Outlook), additionally about once a month I also do a full backup of my machine onto tape. I am not too concerned about the operating system and applications that I have installed as I have all of the disks, but the configuration of the operating system is kind of a concern for me hence the monthly backup to tape. The documents I backup tend to be new projects that I am currently working on, the amount of work recently completed dictates the frequency of these backups. For the most important documents (.psd files, project notes etc.) I also upload them to the relevant web server.

For the webservers I have designed a Perl/CGI script to dump all databases (MySQL) and the local directory structure into a .tar.gz file, the script will then transfer the compressed backup via SFTP to another webserver (in a different datacenter) and also send me an Email with the backup file attached along with a report of the success/failure of the backup. This script runs every day in the wee hours of the morning.

Yes I have fully tested the disaster recovery procedures for both the tape and the webserver backup solutions.

By taking this approach I feel that should the worst happen then I am in the posistion where I can work on any project from any PC (as long as the right applications are installed) as the source files are located on the web server. Additionally having the webservers backed up to 3 different geographical locations (2 datacenters and my local PC) I should be able to restore from one of those backup files with reasonable ease.

[bill]

On my workstation I use a drive imaging program to image my active work files every night. In addition throughout the week I image other parts of my system like the OS, Program Files and other directories. I keep these images on a separate HDD in my workstation. I also run batch files to copy these image files to other servers so that in case something happens to my office then I have off-site copies.

[Visit Thailand]

I used to use CD's to do back ups but needed more space, so was about to buy a DVD RW when I saw the new iomega 80GB external USB hardrives.

I now use that for all backups, it even has a system in place that can automatically back up your files as they change etc. very useful tool.

The only worry with that is I have not found a way to password protect it, which I have to admit is a concern to me.

[walkman]

"iomega 80GB external USB hardrives"

scenario: original hard drive dies completely. Everything is gone. Can you use the iomega to boot, or at least to copy everything to a new drive. Basically, does it copy boot and system files?

I would love that...I have two HDs and I do an image every week or so. The settings and e-mail are saved manually more often (almost daily) on a folder. However, I need one more backup offsite as insurance...

[Visit Thailand]

The iomega comes with Norton Ghost 2003 which copies everything. I suggest you check out the iomega site for HDD (I am not related to them at all). They have numerous things available and is so small it is great. I have to say I am very pleased with it.

As I say the only problem for me is I cannot password protect it.

BTW they have other sizes not just 80GB.

[anchordesk]

It was not always so, but hard drives are now relatively cheap.

Buy 2 identical external hard disks to match the size of your internal hard drive. Always have one of the external connected to your computer via USB 2, FireWire, whatever and utilizing automated synchronization software of your choice. Always have the second external safely locked up away from the house/office in case of fire/theft.

Every couple weeks, swap the 2 external drives. Your second drive will then quickly become automatically synchronized with your internal and your other now up-to-date external is safely stored off-site. Couple weeks later ... swap them again.

[walkman]

"I cannot password protect it"

that is stupid of them....if you lose it everything is in there, from personals e-mails to credit card numbers saved on IE...

[Mr Bo Jangles]

I've got a cheap and easy solution that suits me so far.
It *totally* relies on the excellent and cheap little utility 'Second Copy' from Centered Systems.
On my local m/c I oredered it with a second hard drive(so cheap) and a removeable cradle for that(so cheap). and then I have a numer of 'Profiles' set up in SC and it just does its stuff according to when I've told it to.

For my web site and DBs on web server etc, I use another great and cheap little utility recommended by Second Copy (called WebDrive from webdrive.com) and it works in conjunction with SC and when a programmed 'Profile' in SC kicks-off, if that 'Profile' involves source material on my remote server then WebDrive automatically kicks-in and makes the ftp connection and it just all happens - it's brilliant.
[I have no association with either company - except satisfied customer, for years]