Computer Data Backup Solutions

Use Offsite Server Backup For Data Safety

noreply@blogger.com (Techie Guy) — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 12:20:00 +0000

Offsite server backup is extremely useful if you manage a sever that contains a lot of important data. As with any data, it is important that you now only make multiple copies of your data, but that you also physically move that data offsite.

The easiest way of performing an offsite server backup is to use an online backup service provider. By using such a provider, your data will automatically be stored in a secure location away from the original server that contains the data. The best part about using an online backup provider for to perform an offsite server backup is that you can schedule the backups to run automatically.

The Benefits of Using an Offsite Backup Server

When it comes to protecting your data, you shouldn't just make one copy of your data - you should make multiple copies. One copy should be stored physically offsite in case something were to happen to the building that houses the original data server.

Also, if something were to happen to the original data, you should be able to easily connect to the backup data and then continue business as usual until you can restore it to the same location as the original data.

Many offsite backup server providers provide an automatic method of backing up your data, and with a good, secure network connection, you should be able to backup your data fairly quickly. Of course, this depends on the speed of the connection and how much data you need to backup.

Researching an Offsite Backup Server Company

There are many companies that provide offsite server backup, so it is important to do the necessary research before choosing a company. There are several questions that you should think about when doing your research. How secure is their backup facility? Do they have a SLA that works for you? How much will it cost for the amount of data that you will need to backup? How easy is it to restore your data?

In addition to the above questions, you may also want to look into current and past clients for the company. Performing a quick search online may provide some information about how past clients feel about the service of the company.

You should take offsite server back very seriously if you wish to keep your data safe for many years to come. By doing proper research into a company that provides good offsite server backup service, you can save yourself a lot of headaches when you need your data the most.

Protect Your Data - Get a UPS

noreply@blogger.com (Techie Guy) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 09:00:00 +0000

While this blog is mainly about data backups, and how to easily make copies of your data, it is also about protecting your files. While it is very important to make regular backups of your data, it is just as important to protect your data so you won't need to restore your files from the backups.

Most people, if not all, are using a surge protector to protect their computer from the power spikes that can occur from time to time. While you should be using a surge protector, they can't protect your computer 100% of the time. If there is enough of a surge that finds its way to your protector, it may just destroy the protector and everything attached to it.

Another issue is that of power outages. I have experienced outages, and I'm sure many others have. When the power goes out, there is a chance it could damage your hard drive or files at the same time. Imagine you have been working on a document and haven't saved it for some time, and the power goes out. All changes that were made after the last save would be lost.

Many people that use laptops may not worry about the above scenario as the laptop battery would just kick in and they can continue to work. But those on a desktop, or a laptop with a bad battery, would have problems.

There is a great solution that not only keep your computer running for a few minutes after a power outage, but will also provide great surge protection at the same time.

Uninterruptible Power Supply - A Safety Net

If you would like to provide protection for you computer, and data, that will also provide you with a battery backup, I suggest you invest in a uninterruptible power supply (UPS).

These devices contain one or more batteries that are charged by plugging the unit into a standard outlet. The unit contains its own outlets that you use to power your computer, modems, routers, external hard drives, etc. The only equipment you shouldn't plugin to a UPS are printers.

The outlets on the unit provide great surge protection, and supply clean power to all equipment attach to it. When the power goes out, the UPS will automatically use the batteries to keep sending power to your equipment.

While this doesn't provide hours of running time, it does provide you with several minutes, which allows you to easily save your work, and shut down your computer.

UPS devices come in many sizes and have various ratings. To determine which one you need, you should look at how much electricity all your computer uses and then find a UPS that satisfies your power needs.

While the price of a good UPS start at over $100, it is a worthwhile investment if you would like to provide great protection for your electronic equipment and your data.

Data Backup Plan: External Hard Drive and Optical Discs

noreply@blogger.com (Techie Guy) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:00:00 +0000

In two previous posts I talked about using only an external hard drive or only optical discs for backing up your data. I also talked about the benefits and drawbacks of using only those two types of storage media.

In this post I will talk about a backup plan that includes both of those types of media to see if using them together will create a good backup data plan.

A Solution for Everyone

It is difficult to talk to someone that hasn't used an external hard drive, or burned an optical disc in the past. These two types of storage media are probably two of the most commonly used today.

An external hard drive is easy to use, simply plug it into the computer and you are good to go. Optical media are almost as easy. You simply insert the media into a burner, and then load up you burning software. Follow the instructions and you can easily backup your data to an optical disc.

This plan provides you with several key factors with regards to backing up data:

Redundant Data. Even if you only burn your data to one optical disc, you still have two copies of your data: one on the external hard drive and one on the optical disc. To be safe, however, I would burn at least two copies of your data onto optical discs.
Plenty of disk space. Using an external hard drive provides you with a lot of storage space. Some hard drives are now into the terabytes of disk space. While you are limited to several gigabytes of disc space per optical disc, you can easily burn many discs to make up for the lack of storage space.
Offsite backup. While you can't constantly move an external hard drive, unless it is the small portable variety, optical discs can easily be moved to a different location. Burning two copies of your data onto optical discs allows you to easily move your data to two locations.

The above three points are critical to keep in mind when planning a data backup plan. A good plan will provide a solution to the three points mentioned above.

With this plan there is only the question of media durability. While external hard drives are fairly durable, they can also be damaged by sudden electrical spikes and drops. Ensure the hard drive is well protected from "dirty" electricity. Also, since hard drives are high-precision instruments, ensure they are on a stable surface to avoid excessive shaking.

Optical discs are more of a worry when it comes to durability. Ensure that you only use high-quality media when backing up your files. If you choose to use cheap, low-quality versions, chances are you will lose your data. You get what you pay for with optical media.

Backup Plan Results

Item	Rating
Cost	4 - External hard drives are really cheap when you compare the price per gigabyte. Optical discs can be purchased for pennies each.
Setup	5 - Simply plug in the external hard drive to use it. Optical discs can easily be burned using many different free and purchased software. Since Windows XP, you can burn to optical discs directly from the operating system.
Disk Storage Space	4 - You may be limited by the storage space of the optical discs, but the external hard drive provides you with a vast amount of disk space.
Redundancy	5 - You can burn your data onto many optical discs, as well as copy the files to the external hard drive. By using only one optical discs, you still have two copies of your data: one on the hard drive and one on the disc.
Media Durability	3 - While hard drives can easily be damaged by such things as electricity and shaking, they are fairly durable compared to some varieties of optical discs.
Offsite Backup	4 - While the external hard drive may not be very portable, you can easily move the optical discs to another location.

Conclusion

The media combination explained in this post is a very common way of backing up your data. All hardware needed can easily be purchased from every computer or electronics store. The price of implementing such a plan is relatively cheap compared to the amount of storage space you will have available to you.

If you take care of your external hard drive, and use high-quality optical discs, then this backup plan should server you well for years to come.

Data Backup Plan: Online Backup Solution

noreply@blogger.com (Techie Guy) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 09:00:00 +0000

I have previously talked about backup plans that include some of the most popular methods of storing data: an external hard drive, optical discs, and USB flash drives. Now I will look at a plan that doesn't use a physical media: online storage.

This method of backing up your data has been gaining popularity over the past few years as the Internet connection speeds have increased. Now it is possible to keep your data safe and secure, while at the same time have access to it 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

What is Online Backup?

I have talked about online backup several times in the past, but as a quick refresher I will provide a general overview of what it is.

Online backup simply means storing your data online, instead of on a local physical media, such as an external hard drive. There are many services online that offer various packages and pricing to store your data. Once you find a provider that meets your needs, you usually download a small application that will upload your data to the provider's servers.

The application that is provided runs in the background and monitors any changes to your files or directories. Once it detects a change, the updated files are automatically uploaded and stored on the online backup provider's servers. If you, at any time, need a file, you can simply use the application to restore the file back onto your hard drive.

Is it Secure?

The one issue that will always be a concern is that of security. When you backup your data, you want to make sure that you data can't be tampered with or read by anyone but yourself. Most online backup providers will encrypt your data on your local hard drive before sending it to their servers.

When the data is sent to the servers, it is sent over an SSL connection, which is a secure, encrypted connection between systems. Once the data arrives on the servers, it will probably remain encrypted so only you can view the files.

It is important that before you sign up with an online backup provider, that you first look into their security policy to find out how they handle the security of your files.

A Good Backup Plan?

For many, online backups may not be right for them. I currently backup my data online and don't have a problem with using the service. There are things, however, that you will need to keep in mind with using such a service.

You will need a high-speed (broadband) Internet connection, especially if you have a lot of data. Transferring your files to their servers means that you will be uploading files, so the upload speeds of you ISP is important. ISP Upload speeds are usually much slower than download speeds, so it will take longer to upload your files than it will to download them.

Your initial upload will take a long time as all your files will need to be uploaded. Once the initial upload is complete, only the file updates are uploaded so it should take too long.

Many online backup providers limit the number of computers you can use to backup. If you have many computers, make sure you determine the cost of backing up all your systems before choosing a plan. If you only have one machine, then this shouldn't be an issue.

Make sure you also choose a plan that offers room to grow. Just because you have 2 gigabytes of data now, doesn't mean you will only have 2 gigabytes of data a year from now. Think about how much you may need in the future, and plan for the growth. Some online backup providers have a cost per gigabyte for storage, while others have unlimited storage for a fixed rate.

One more point to make is that you need to also choose a well-known provider. Well-known providers, such as Mozy and Carbonite, have been around for several years and know how to backup data. They are also less likely to go under, and you lose all your backups.

Backup Plan Results

Item	Rating
Cost	3 - The cost depends on the package. Some offer a certain amount of storage space for a fixed rate, while others charge per gigabyte.
Setup	4 - Depending on the application provided by your online service, it can be setup and configured automatically for you.
Disk Storage Space	4 - It depends on the package that you buy. Each online backup provider has a different set of packages and pricing.
Redundancy	5 - The online backup provider will usually have their own backup procedures in place to ensure that you don't lose your data.
Media Durability	5 - While you don't work with physical media, the provider would have high-quality backup servers and hard drives.
Offsite Backup	5 - Your data is automatically stored offsite when you upload the data to your provider.

Conclusion

Online data backup is becoming more popular with the increase in Internet speeds. While not for everyone, they make a great addition to a backup plan that already includes physical media.

The one benefit is that your data is automatically backed up and moved offsite. With the benefits there are also some concerns, such as security and stability. It is important to learn the security policy of your backup provider and to ensure that you are dealing with a stable, high-reputable company. Failure to fully research any of these two points could put your data at risk.

Data Backup Plan: USB Flash Drives

noreply@blogger.com (Techie Guy) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 09:00:00 +0000

The most popular data backup options are probably to use an external hard drive or optical discs, such as DVD discs. These two are popular because they have been around for a few years and are easy to find and buy.

Another good a solution is to use USB flash drives. These are also available anywhere, and now come in large enough capacities that make using them for data backup very easy.

Small Size - Lots of Space

In the past few years USB flash drives, or pen drives, have increased substantially in the amount of storage space they hold. You can easily find ones that are 4 GB or higher. Some even come with 64 GB of storage space, with much larger capacities coming soon.

The larger storage space means that you can backup a lot of your data in a device that is the size of your finger. Simply plugging the drive to a USB port allows you to easily copy files from one drive onto a flash drive.

While using such a device sounds great, there are a few things to keep in mind when using one of these drives:

Not all USB flash drives are created the same. The transfer speed between the devices can differ quite substantially, with the generic brands having much lower speeds than the high-quality named brands. The type of memory used in the drive affect performance.
They have limited write ability to the memory. While the average person won't wear out a USB flash drive, it is important to note that you can write an infinite number of times to the memory.
The general consensus online is that a USB flash drive will last for about 10 yeras. Obviously, since they are relatively new, it is hard to truly predict how long they will last. If you plan to backup your data for the long term, you will need to keep this in mind.
While they are increasing in storage capacity, they are still far behind an external hard drive,and cost more per gigabyte than a hard drive.

When using USB flash drives as part of your backup plan, there are several benefits to these devices. The one benefit is that it is easy to move the device to another location. This is important to move your data offsite. Their small size also makes storing the flash drive easy as very little space is needed.

Another benefit is that USB flash drives aren't as fragile as an external hard drive. There are no moving parts in the device so they are less likely to have a failure if not handled properly. You should, however, treat the device as you would with any of your backup media.

They pack a lot of storage space for their small size. The largest capacity USB flash drives can hold the equivalent to about 10-15 DVD discs, and in a much smaller physical space.

Backup Plan Results

Item	Rating
Cost	4 - This is a fairly cheap backup method, especially when you consider the price per storage space.
Setup	5 - The setup is very easy. You simply connect the USB flash drive to the computer, and he operating system should automatically detect the drive and configure a drive letter for it.
Disk Storage Space	3 - These drives are constantly increasing in disk storage space and currently offer quite a large amount of space for their size. They are still more expensive per gigabyte than external hard drives.
Redundancy	1 - Using a single USB flash drive provides no data redundancy. You can, however, use multiple flash drives to keep redundant data.
Media Durability	5 - While the best estimate to device life is 10 years, they are fairly durable since they have no moving parts.
Offsite Backup	4 - The small size of the USB flash drives makes them very easy to move from one location to another.

Conclusion

USB flash drives are great media to use for backing up your data. They are not over-expensive, and are rapidly increasing in the amount of storage space they can contain, however, they are more expensive per gigabyte than an external hard drive. Purchasing more than one flash drive will allow you to backup your data twice for data redundancy.

Their small size makes it easy for your to store the device, and your data, offsite. For an overall backup plan that provides protection and security for your data, using a USB flash drive should fit your backup needs nicely.

Data Backup Plan: Optical Discs

noreply@blogger.com (Techie Guy) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:00:00 +0000

I remember a time when computers weren't even sold with CD-ROM drives, let alone recordable CD-ROM drives. Back then, everything was done with a floppy disk. Now, CD-ROM drives have given way to DVD-ROM drives. It is hard to buy a computer today that doesn't even include a recordable DVD-ROM drive.

While affordable Blu-ray recordable drives are a few years off, today the more practical optical choice is that of the DVD. In this plan I talk about using only optical discs for backing up your data.

Optical Disc - An Easy Solution

Every computer store sells DVD discs in several size packages. The most popular is probably the large spindles that offer 100 or more discs. This allows you to backup or burn hundreds of gigabytes (GB) of data with just one purchase.

While this sounds good, there is something to keep in mind: not all DVD discs are created equal. Many of the discs that you purchase for cheap aren't good for storing your data. They are created cheaply so they can be sold cheaply. This usually means that the DVD discs won't last long and you could potentially lose all your data.

DVD discs are notorious for become corrupted over time. It is important, therefore, to make multiple copies of the same disc to help ensure you can recover your data when you need it.

When using DVD discs to backup your data, it is important to always use good quality media such as Taiyo Yuden, Verbatim, Sony and Mitsui Gold. These brands have been known to provide excellent media and should help keep your data safe.

Limitations

Besides the above points of reliability, one factor to consider when choosing a backup plan that only consists of optical discs, is that of storage space.

The most common single-sided, single-layer DVD disc can hold up to 4.7 GB. While many people may find that a single disc is all they need, others, such as photographers, may find that very limiting.

When choosing a backup plan, you should always plan for future disk storage space needs. If you plan on taking a lot of digital photos in the future, you should choose a plan that can satisfy the storage needs of those photos. You can always continue to burn multiple discs, but then managing a lot of discs (don't forget about duplicating the data on the discs) can be cumbersome. In a situation such as this, it will be important to create your own backup workflow.

If you do have a lot of DVD discs, actual physical storage space may be an issue. The more discs you have, the more space you will need to store them.

Another limitation is that once data is written to a disc, it can't be changed. Unlike an external hard drive, you can't edit the files backed up on a DVD disc. While many times you may not want to, if you accidentally burned the wrong copy of a file, you can't change it.

For many, however, overcoming these limitations won't be an issue as long as they put together a backup plan that works for them.

Backup Plan Results

Item	Rating
Cost	4 - This is a fairly cheap backup method, especially when you consider the price per storage space.
Setup	5 - The setup is very easy. You simply connect the external hard drive and power it up. The operating system should automatically detect the drive and configure a drive letter for it.
Disk Storage Space	3 - There are several types of DVD discs that provide different amount of storage space. The most common is the single-layer, single-sided, disc that provides 4.7 GB. If you have a lot of data, however, you may need a lot of discs.
Redundancy	3 - When using optical media for backing up your data, it is always a good idea to make multiple copies. Using a backup plan that includes optical media allows you to easily do this by burning at least two discs instead of just one.
Media Durability	2 - Cheap DVD and CD discs are known to have a short life span which doesn't help when backing up your data. It is best to stay with high-quality media for data backups.
Offsite Backup	4 - Optical media are great for backing up your data and moving it offsite. You just have to remember to move the media offsite.

Conclusion

While optical discs are readily available, and are expensive, it is important to always use high-quality media for your backups. Cheaper media may not be reliable with keeping your data safe.

Since the discs are removable, they allow you to easily store your backed up data offsite, away from your computer. This is an important point when protecting your data. As with other media, ensure you store the discs away from direct sunlight and in a cool, dry place.

For easy of use, however, it may be beneficial to include a rewritable media to go along with your DVD discs for a better backup plan.

Data Backup Plan: 1 External Hard Drive

noreply@blogger.com (Techie Guy) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:00:00 +0000

There are many methods you can use to backup your data. In this post I will look at one of the most common methods: using an external hard drive. What makes this method so popular is that external hard drives provide you with a large amount of disk space for a reasonable price. Also, hard drives are durable when it comes to the amount of times you can read and write data to it, and they are fairly fast.

The question is, does a single external hard drive make a good backup plan?

The External Hard Drive

I have two external hard drives: a 250 GB and a 2 TB. I have had my 250 GB for many years, and it has served me well. There is nothing wrong with the drive, and it continues to work without problems. I bought the 2 TB drive when I outgrew the 250 GB. I currently backup over 160 GB of data, and I have other data on top of that that pushed the disk space limit of the smaller drive.

I find external drives to be cheap for the amount of storage space you get, and easy to setup and use - you simply plug it into your computer and a new drive is automatically created.

I recommend that if you are serious about backing and protecting your data, you should invest in an external hard drive. I also recommend that you also look at supplementing your backup plan with another media type as well. While an external hard drive is a great investment, using it alone in your plan has its drawbacks.

Let's look at aspects of this plan.

Backup Plan Results

Item	Rating
Cost	4 - This is a fairly cheap backup method, especially when you consider the price per storage space.
Setup	5 - The setup is very easy. You simply connect the external hard drive and power it up. The operating system should automatically detect the drive and configure a drive letter for it.
Disk Storage Space	5 - You aren't going to find a backup solution that can store as much data. We are talking terabytes here.
Redundancy	1 - Using a single external hard drive means there is no redundant data, since all the data is store in only one location. This is serious flaw with this plan.
Media Durability	3 - Hard drives are built to constantly read and write data. Being high-precision instruments, however, makes them vulnerable to static electricty and power outages.
Offsite Backup	2 - While you can disconnect and carry an external hard drive to another location, it isn't easy to do and they require more storage space than an optical disc or USB flash drive.

While an external hard drive is a great investment, it shouldn't be the only option in your backup plan. The lack of redundant data and offsite capability are seriously issues than need to be addressed.

Choosing a Data Backup Plan

noreply@blogger.com (Techie Guy) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 09:00:00 +0000

I have talked about various types of methods you can use to backup your data. Several methods include local data backup, offsite data backup and using an online data backup service provider.

With all the different methods, it could be hard to choose a data backup workflow that works for you. To help you make some choices, I will provide various different backup plans that you can use, and also provide the cost, benefits and weaknesses of each plan.

There are many factors that I will look into when examining a backup plan, including the cost, ease of use, and how good it is at protecting your data. I will discuss the storage media involved and how likely it is to meet any long term data preservation needs.

While not all data backup plans will work for everyone, I will attempt to provide various different workflows, and hope one will work for you.

Come back often to see which plan I outline next.

Backup and Restore in Microsoft Vista

noreply@blogger.com (Techie Guy) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 09:00:00 +0000

In my last post I talked about how to backup your data in Windows XP, so I decided to go ahead and move to Microsoft Vista in this one.

While Vista isn't exactly a favourite operating system for many, it does have a more elaborate backup and restore utility. The utility provides a lot of options that you can use to keep your data, and your computer, safe. Microsoft Vista includes the Backup and Restore Center. The functionality you receive with this tool depends on which version of Vista you are using.

The Backup and Restore Center includes the following options:

Automatic Backup. The ability to automatically backup your files is included in all editions of Vista, with the exception of the Starter edition. While it is included in the Home Basic edition, it has limited functionality. For most, this feature can be used to ensure that their data is protected.
Scheduled and Network Backup. This feature is not available in Home Basic, but all other editions include this within the Backup and Restore Center. When used in conjunction with Automatic Backup, you can backup your files to an external hard drive, secondary internal hard drive, CD or DVD, or even a network share. You can even schedule your backups so you don't have to remember to backup your files.
Windows Complete PC Backup and Restore. Windows Vista Business, Ultimate, and Enterprise editions include a feature that allows you to create a backup of your entire hard drive. This is very useful if you entire machine malfunctions and you need to get up and running very quickly. Instead of reinstalling Vista, and all your applications, your can simply restore an image of your hard drive and be up and running much quicker.
System Restore. This tool makes restore points of your system at various times to help undo a problem caused by an application, or system change. This tool will restore to an earlier point, before the system change, so you can either avoid the problem or find a solution.

As you can see, Vista includes many great features to keeping your data and computer protected and safe. While it may not have all the features of a commercial backup software package, it has many features that many users can use to simply backup their data.

Data Backup With Windows XP

noreply@blogger.com (Techie Guy) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 09:00:00 +0000

I have written many posts about backing up your data, and also provided examples of what media you can use to store your backed up data. I haven't, however, gone into detail about how you go about backing up your files.

Windows XP is currently on of the most used operating systems. What many don't realize is that it includes a simple backup utility that can easily save your files to another location. While not as feature riched as a more pricey third-party application, for most people the Windows XP backup tool is adequate.

The following steps outline the process of backing up your data by using Windows XP's Backup tool.

To start the tool, click "Start->All Programs->Accessores->System Tools->Backup". The "Backup and Restore Wizard" should start, but if it doesn't, click "Tools->Backup Wizard".
Once the Wizard appears, click the "Next" button.
Click "Back up files and settings" when the "What do you want to do?" window appears on the screen.
You now have the option of choosing what to backup:
- My documents and settings. This setting backs up all your documents and personal settings. This is the recommended option if you are new to backing up files.
- Everyone's documents and settings. If the computer is access by more than one user, this setting will ensure all users' documents and settings are backed up.
- All information on this computer. This setting produces the largest backup file since it backs up all the files on your computer. Unless you have a lot of disk space, I don't suggest using this setting.
- Let me choose what to back up. This option allows you to select what you backup. If you are new to backing up files, I don't suggest you use this option.
After choosing what you would like to backup, you will then need to choose where to store you backup. Under "Choose a place to save your backup", you can specify where to store your files. The options include:
- Local hard disk. If you have enough disk space, you can save your backups on your local hard drive. I don't recommend this option, however, as you can lose both the original data and the backups if your hard drive were to crash.
- External hard disk. This option is a good one, but requires an external hard drive to be connected. External hard drives are cheap, compared to the storage space, so investing in one is a good idea.
- USB Flash Drive. This one of the better options. The reason for this is becaues flash drives have become large enough to store your backed up data, and they can be transported easily due to their small size. This means that you can backup your data and then move it offsite to provide even more protection to your files.
- A network share. Unless you have more than one computer at home, this option is not viable. If you have access to a server at work, however, this is a good place to store your files. Chances are the server also has a regular backup schedule, so your data is protected on the server as well.
Once you have chosen a location for you backup, you just need to enter a descriptive name for the backup file. After entering the name, click "Next" and then "Finish" to start the data backup.

By using the above steps you can easily backup your data on a Windows XP machine. No additional tools are necessary to keep your data safe and protected.

Data Backup Media Should Be High Quality

noreply@blogger.com (Techie Guy) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 09:00:00 +0000

Choosing the right backup media is just as important as remembering to backup your data. While there are many times in your life where going cheaper won't have an effect on what you purchase, when it comes to computers, however, it makes a huge difference.

Buying cheap, bargain-basement media is never a good idea when it comes to storage media. In the world of computers, you get what you pay for, which means cheap media sill usually result in a loss of data. To avoid such a predicament, always go with brand-name, high-quality storage devices. Let's look at a few.

External Hard Drives

The most common form of data backup media is probably the external hard drives. You get the most storage space for you money, and it is easy to use - simply plug in the hard drive and you are good to go.

There are many hard drives manufacturers on the market. The two leading ones are Western Digital, and Seagate. Maxtor was another good manufacturer, but they were eventually bought out by Seagate.

I currently use Western Digital hard drives, both internal and external, and haven't had a problem with any of the drives. I have also downloaded and installed their diagnostic tool to help detect problems with the drives.

When it comes to hard drives, you can't go wrong with either Western Digital or Seagate hard drives.

Optical Discs (CD or DVD)

With regards to removable media, DVD is king, at least when it comes to usage. DVD discs are only pennies each, and you can buy them in packs of 100 or more. While they don't have the storage capacity of an external hard drive, they are convenient in that they are easy to backup your data onto. I don't know any computer sold today that can't burn a DVD disc.

The problem with DVD discs is the longevity. There is a debate online about how long a DVD will last. Some may only last a few weeks, while others can last for years. With regards to DVD's, quality is extremely important.

While there are hundreds of disc manufacturers, there are several that stand above the pack:

Taiyo Yuden
Verbatim
Sony
Mitsui Gold

There may be others, but those listed above are of the highest quality and should cause you little problems. Out of the above list, I use Taiyo Yuden. This brand is well-known for being the best, most reliable in optical discs. They are so good, that many of the basement-dwelling DVD makers try to pass their discs off as Taiyo Yuden.

Taiyo Yuden are not as easy to find than Verbatim or Sony, but you can probably find a site online that sells them. While they are more expensive than most optical discs, the price is well worth the quality. If you find a site that sells them, buy them for your backups. You won't be disappointed.

In closing, if you are serious about backing up your data, then ensure you only use high-quality media to store your data.

Offsite Backup - What is it?

noreply@blogger.com (Techie Guy) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:00:00 +0000

In many of my posts I have discussed various methods of backing up your data. When I talked about the methods, I try to stress backing up your data offsite. It is important to do so for a variety of reasons. If you are unsure about what I mean with regards to offsite backup, then read on.

For those that haven't heard the term offsite backup, then I'll explain what it means. Offsite backup is simply moving your backed up data to a different location than your original data.

The biggest reason why this is important is because it helps protect your data. Imagine if your data was in your home. You backup the data to a DVD and then put the DVD in a closet, or leave it on your desk. Now imagine if your home was to suffer a terrible disaster, such as a fire, and everything was destroyed. Since your computer and your backed up data were in the home, all of your data would be lost. Now, if you move that DVD to another home, such as a family member's or a friend's home, then if a fire had destroyed your home, your data would still be safe.

Moving your data backups to an offsite location isn't all that difficult. You just need a few things:

A place to store the data.
A storage media that can easily be transported.

To store your backup offsite, you first need to think about a good location to store your data. Some suggestions include the following:

A family member's house.
A friend's house.
Safety deposit box in a bank.
Your office workplace.
Online backup service provider.

You will notice I mentioned an online backup service provider in the last point. For many, this could be a good method of backing up your data and ensuring your data is offsite. With an online backup provider, you can configure an application to automatically backup your data. I discuss this more in the post What to Look for in an Online Backup Service?.

As for storage media, any of the following are good candidates to help backup your data offsite:

CD or DVD - ensure you use high-quality discs.
USB flash drive.
Memory card or memory stick - same as those used in digital cameras.
High-capacity magnetic tape - although probably too expensive for home use.
External hard drive - not as portable as the first three options.

The first three options are probably the easiest removable storage media and are readily available anywhere. The second and third choice are probably the easiest to use since they are small, come in large sizes, and are re-writable. They may last longer than a DVD or CD as USB flash drives are rated to last for up to 10 years, depending on how they are used.

Once your data has been backed up, you can then transport the media to another location where it will hopefully remain protected. Remember, however, that you should always check your data backups on a regular basis to ensure they are still in good condition.

Regularly Check Your Data Backups

noreply@blogger.com (Techie Guy) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 09:00:00 +0000

Let's start this post by having a look at a simple scenario. This scenario can become a reality for many who backup their data. In this scenario we will look at someone name Fred. Fred makes regular backups of his data, almost daily. He ensures that his most important files are stored safely away.

Fred never has any problems with his backups, as he keeps one copy of his files on his external hard drive, and another one on a DVD. He doesn't have many files, so a DVD is large enough to hold all his data.

One day a large storm passes through his area. A quick lightning strike hits near his home and the shock travels through into his home. Unfortunately, while his computers where connected to a surge protector, the force of the electricity from the lightning renders the surge protector useless and it reaches his computer. Instantly his computer is damaged beyond repair. With his external hard drive plugged into the computer, the shock also travels through the USB cable and turns it into a paper-weight.

While Fred is distraught that his computer needs to be replaced, he is relieved knowing that his data is still safe on DVD's.

Once his computer is replaced he retrieves the DVD's with his data and inserts the disc into his computer. The computer spins the disc, makes a few other noises, and then stops. The disc can't be read, it has become corrupted. Fred's data is gone.

How to Avoid Corrupted Data Backups

The above scenario can happen to many who regularly backup their data, without performing regular checks on their data backups. DVD's, and CD's for that matter, are notorious for being corrupted. It is important that if you do use these media for backup, that you make two copies on two different discs, and that you use good quality media.

Make sure you store them on their side, and in a cool dark place. Every few months, you should pull them out and view the contents in your computer. This will allow you to see if any of your data has become corrupted. If it has, then you should backup the data from the original again.

This can also happen to other media used for data storage. Nothing lasts forever, so whether you use USB flash drives, or external hard drives, always perform a check on your media and files to ensure there are no problems.

So two points that you can take away from this post are as follows:

Always make multiple copies of your data files.
Check your data backups on a regular basis.

Not following the above two points can cause you to lose all your data, especially when you need it the most.

Are Archiving and Backup the Same Thing?

noreply@blogger.com (Techie Guy) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 18:03:00 +0000

I have been thinking about the terms "archiving" and "backup" for a while now. At times I seem to use them interchangeably. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that they are similar but not the same.

With both archiving and backup you should follow the same principles. This means that you should chose good quality media, make several copies of the same data, and store the data offsite and in a cool, dry place. If all these principles are the same, are the terms the same? Not quite.

The biggest difference between archiving and regular backups and the length of time you are looking to protect and preserve the data. For backups, you are looking to update the same files on a regular basis. For example, when you backup your e-mail files, you will probably be updating them on a daily basis to ensure you have the most recent copy. You won't be storing those files and viewing them in 20 years.

When it comes to archiving, you are looking to store the same files long-term. For example, with each digital photo you take, you won't (or shouldn't) update that photo, but would like to store it so you can view the same photo 20 years into the future.

Genealogists are, and should, be involved in archiving data. They are probably busy scanning in documents and old photos so that future generations can learn about their family history. Those documents, or photos, won't change unless someone decides to re-scan the originals.

Data files that are backed up can be changed on a regular basis, and so need to be available all the time so updated files can be copied. Archived files, on the other hand, don't change so can be safely stored away and only brought out when they are needed.

5 Points to Make Data Backups Easier

noreply@blogger.com (Techie Guy) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 13:08:00 +0000

When it comes to data backup, it can be complex if you aren't used to doing it regularly. Many people may not want to run a backup because it can seem like a chore that takes a long time to complete.

If you feel backing up your data is a bothersome chore, then maybe following these points will help to make your life easier.

Put your data in one large folder. It is easier to backup your data, as well as determine what needs to be backed up, if you put all your data in one folder. You can then organize your data into subfolders to make finding your files much easier. The My Documents folder in Windows is a perfect location for storing your files.
Backup on a regular basis. If you backup your data on a regular basis, then it won't take as long to perform the backup. Software that does perform backups will usually only backup changed/new files anyway. Doing so regularly means that you won't have a many files to back up each time.
Schedule your backups. There are many tools that you can use to schedule applications to run, and even the operating systems sold today include free tools. If you can't remember to manually run your backup, then schedule your backup to run. You can schedule it to run at night when you aren't using your computer, and then have it automatically shutdown your system once the backup is complete.
Use an online backup solution. By using an online backup solution you can easily accomplish the previous two points without doing much work. An online backup provider will provide an executable that will run in the background and automatically find and backup files that have changed. Some provider may even let you schedule the backups with their tools.
Only backup what is necessary. You don't need to backup your entire system, such as applications and operating system files, unless you want to. Applications can be installed again, and downloads can be re-downloaded. Concentrate on data that you can't replace, like digital photos or work/school reports. If it can be replaced easily, then you may not need to back it up.

The above points should help you to easily backup your files. Keep in mind however, that it is better to backup too much then too little. Make sure you backup your data on a regular basis to ensure you will never lose any information.

How to Keep Data Backups Safe

noreply@blogger.com (Techie Guy) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:52:00 +0000

While you should backup your data on a regular basis, it is also important to make sure your data backups are safe.

Always make multiple copies of your backups. When backing up your data, never make just one copy, always make at least two copies. This will help prevent losing any data if your backup copy becomes corrupted. Optical discs, such as DVD's are notorious for becoming unreadable after a specific period of time.
Store backup copies offsite. While external hard drives are great for backing up your data, it is also important to copy your data to removable media. This allows you to then move your data to another location for safe-keeping. USB flash drives, DVD's and online storage are perfect to keep your backed up data safe.
Use high-quality media. This point is very important for those that use DVD's for saving their data. Not all DVD's are created equally, and those cheap, bargain DVD's won't last very long. I recommend you look at high-quality DVD's from Taiyo Yuden, Verbatim or Sony if you would like to ensure you data will be available when you need it.
Store your media properly. Ensure that the location you store the media containing your backups is cool and dark (away from sunlight). High-humidity can wreak havoc on certain media, like hard drives, since water and electronics don't mix. Also, if you do use an external hard drive, make sure it is on a sturdy surface which doesn't shake, or you could cause hardware damage. Hard drives are high-precision instruments and any amount of shaking could cause damage.

By following the above points, you can ensure you backups will remain safe and secure, and you will be able to restore any data you may need.

Tips for Backing Up Data

noreply@blogger.com (Techie Guy) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 18:15:00 +0000

While everyone should backup their data, how you backup your data is just as important as when you perform the backup. If you don't take care when protecting your data, or your archives, then it could just be possible that your backed up data can also be lost.

Below are several tips that I would like to share with you. The tips aren't supposed to be the rules for backing up, but they may help with ensuring your have good backups.

Always make multiple copies of your data. This is a point most people never think about. CD/DVD's are notorious for longevity when it comes to long-term storage. If you need to restore the data on those discs, and you find out they are no longer readable, you have just lost all your data. If you made two copies of your data, then you may have a chance that one of the copies can be read.
Don't use cheap products. Many people probably go to a store and buy the cheapest bulk brands of CD/DVD's. There is a reason those items are cheap. They don't work very well. Computer equipment is not like many other products you buy. If you buy cheap, you get cheap. Spend some money on some good quality backup media, such as Taiyo Yuden DVD's.
Don't keep all your back ups in one location.
Verify your data. It is important when you do copy your data, that you also verify it was copied without any issues. Last thing you need when your restore your data is to find out it was corrupted during the backup. You should also check your backed up data on a regular basis just to ensure nothing has become corrupted since it was backed up.
Remember to backup on a regular basis. Take advantage of a scheduling program that can execute your backups, or find a backup software with one built in. If you go too long without backing up your data, then it is at risk of being lost.

The points above provide some tips for you to help protect your data from harmful events. Chances are that if you follow some of the above rules, you can be sure that you will always be able to restore your data when the time comes.

6 Reasons You May Not Backup Your Data

noreply@blogger.com (Techie Guy) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Data backup is probably something everyone doesn't think about with regards to computers. The average person probably just downloads their pictures/videos from their camera without thinking about backup up the files. All you school work you do may be stored on the hard drive in your computer, and no where else.

Imagine what would happen if your hard drive suddenly failed, and the data was no longer retrievable? How would you feel knowing that all your hardwork was gone, possible for good? There are many reason that people probably don't backup their data. Let's look at a few reasons.

No time to backup my data. Everyone is busy today, and backing up data is not one of the items on their to-do list. The fact is, there are many backup software that can automatically backup your data. There are even portable hard drives that will automatically backup your data once they are connected. Online backup provider is another solution as they provide a program that runs in the background and automatically performs backup. The truth is, you don't need time to backup, since it can be automated.
I don't know how to backup. I agree that not everyone is technical, but backup software today makes it easier than ever to protect your data. Most of the backup software available, that includes the online backup provider software, doesn't need to be configured. They are programmed to automatically backup the most common data. Of course, you can also change what it backs up to ensure it doesn't miss any important files.
I'm not sure what to backup. This point is related to previous one. Most software will automatically be programmed to backup the most common data files. This is also where organizing your files can make backing up easier. If you keep your files organized, then you know exactly what needs to be backed up. If you are unsure which files you should back up, please read What Should You Backup on Your Computer? for some suggestions.
I need a lot of storage space. Since digital photos have gone mainstream, more data is being stored on home computers. The good news is that hard drives have also increased in size, while the price per megabyte has decreased. You can now purchase hard drives in terabytes, which should be more than enough to store your data. Don't want a hard drive? USB flash drives come in sizes that are 64GB, while DVDs are 4.7 GB and more. You can even find gigabytes of storage online as well. There are storage space options to store all your data.
My hard drive won't crash. Hard drives are sensitive pieces of hardware, that contain moving parts. Something as simple as a spike in the electric current from the outside can destroy your hard drive. Your hard drive can also suffer a mechanical breakdown. Don't think that your hard drive is immune to crashing. All hard drives are prone to failure, and most probably do.
Procrastination. This reason is probably one of the most commone, and I admit that I procrastinate at times with backup my data. As mentioned in previous points, however, most backup software can be run automatically when your data changes. This means that you don't have to remember, or find the time, to backup your data.

You may find that you have used one of the reasons listed above for not backing up your data. It is very important that you backup your data if you do not want to lose it. If you can configure your data backup software to run automatically, then most, if not all, of the above reasons no longer apply. It is very important, however, that you create a data backup solution that works for you.

What is the Cost for Data Backup?

noreply@blogger.com (Techie Guy) — Fri, 29 May 2009 12:00:00 +0000

While there are many options that you can choose to backup your data, which method you choose depends on a number of factors. In this post I'll concentrate on the financial aspect of data backup. This is always a concern, especially since you will need to finance your chosen backup method. Let's look at the media that you can use to backup your data.

The first option is to use CDS or DVDs. It is probably more practical to use DVDs since they are a few cents per disc and can hold much more data. You can buy DVDs in batches of up to 100 or more, so you should always have enough. The reason you will need so many is because you can't reuse them, at least you shouldn't use the re-writable types. I would, however, look for the quality makes of DVDs to ensure you will be able to read your backups for years into the future.

The most popular option is to backup to an external hard drive. While they can cost several hundred dollars, they can store much more data than a DVD. If you have a lot of data, I'm talking about over 20 GB, then you should probably invest in a hard drive. You can find external hard drives that are over 1TB today and some can even store 4TB.

If you have between $400 to $1000 dollars available, you can always look into purchasing a NAS device. These devices are basically a box with several hard drives, a motherboard, CPU and operating system. You connect the device to your home network, such as your router, and you can access the storage space from any computer connected to the network. This are more expensive than external hard drives, but then again, they are more than just a hard drive.

Flash drives have been increasing substantially in speed and size in recent years. They are now up to 64GB in size and look to increase probably to 128GB and beyond very soon. Depending on the size, you can pay up to a few hundred dollars for one. The good news is that you can easily carry it with you to move you data offsite, which makes it a good choice if you have a lot of data to protect.

Probably the backup solution that is increasing in popularity is that of online backups. All online backups provide different packages that you can choose for backing up your data. Some offer several gigabytes of storage, while others offer unlimited storage space. Many charge a flat rate per month, while others may charge per gigabyte. Before determining the price for an online solution, determine how much storage space you will need, take into account growth as well, and then research to see online backup provider gives you the best deal. Keep in mind that there are other factors to consider before going with an online provider.

While there are many backup solutions available to you, you should weigh the cost of your backup into your decisions. Obviously, cost shouldn't be the only factor, but it can help choose between two equal backup solutions.

How Long Will My Data Backups Last?

noreply@blogger.com (Techie Guy) — Mon, 25 May 2009 12:00:00 +0000

One of the most common questions regarding data backup is the lifespan of the media storing the data. It is hard to determine the lifespan of any media as how it is stored and used directly impacts its longevity.

While the lifespan of CDs and DVDs has been asked many times over the years, let's look at the lifespan of some other common methods of backing up data.

Hard Drives. The lifespan of a hard drive is dependent on several factors. While they are meant to be the workhorse of any computer, they can also be one of the most fragile. I have had hard drives last a good ten years with much wear and tear, but no problems with data storage. On the other hand, I have also seen hard drives become unreadable after only a few years. Since a hard drive does have moving parts, it can be prone to breakdown. If a hard drive is protected from such things as electrical storms and power outages through a UPS, then it could last many years. Just as with many things, if you take care of a hard drive will be server you well.

CD or DVD. Out of all the backup storage media, these two optical discs are probably the most debated. All CDs or DVDs are not created equally. The more expensive, well-known brands perform better and last longer than the bargain brands. For data backups, choose a brand such as Taiyo Yuden, Sony, TDK or Verbatim for storage. There are also gold archival varieties that also promise a shelf-life of 300 years, through lab testing. Unfortunately, since CDs and DVDs haven't been around too long, the true shelf-life of some brands is anyone's guess.

Flash Drives. I have been thinking about switch to these for backing up my data. They are becoming larger so they would hold most, if not all, of my data. The issue right now is that they are still more expensive than my existing backup media. While expensive, it is suggested that they have a lifespan of 10 years. They also have a limit to the number of writes to each block, but most people won't reach that limit. They also have no moving parts and are small enough to carry and store anywhere.

Magnetic Tape. I don't talk about tape backup too much as it is just too expensive for home or personal use. Many companies use tape for backup because they can hold over 50GB of data. I read that they can have a lifespan of up to 30 years. The number of times you use the tape will also affect the total lifespan of the media.

There are many media options for backing up your data, but each media also has a certain lifespan. It is important to understand this as you will be required to update your media every few years. The good news is that as technology progresses, the storage size of the new media will be large enough to allow you to combine existing backups onto one device.

Data Backup Protection and Easy Restoration Solution

noreply@blogger.com (Techie Guy) — Fri, 22 May 2009 12:00:00 +0000

When backing up your data it is important to think about where you will backup the data. As you come up with a backup solution, you should think about protecting your data as well as making it easy for you to restore data as quickly as possible. A solution such as this may require you to backup your data on various media, which also means that you will have multiple copies of your data. Having multiple copies of your backed up data is also recommended.

Let's look at two methods of backing up data that you can implement to protect your data as well as ensure you can quickly restore your data.

Backup locally. By this I don't mean to backup your data internally within your computer, but rather externally, but store the hardware locally. Such options for this include an external hard drive (recommended), DVDs or flash drives. I recommend an external hard drive because they can store a huge amount of data compared to the other options, and you can keep it connected to your computer. This means that if you lose your data from your computer in any way, you can quickly restore it from the external hard drive.

Offsite backup. This is option is important in that it separates your local computer from your data. Offsite means your data is stored somewhere else, other than the location of your computer. This will keep your data safe in case an accident occurred at the location of your computer. Offsite options include backing up your data online, backing up your data to DVDs and then storing the DVDs offsite, or doing the same with a flash drive. Backing up your data to an online storage service is probably the easiest way of storing your data offsite. Usually the services can be setup to backup your data automatically, which means you don't have to worry about backing up your data.

While the above to solutions provide the flexibility of both quick restoration and protection of your data, it is always important to make multiple copies of your data.

What to Look For in an Online Backup Service

noreply@blogger.com (Techie Guy) — Thu, 21 May 2009 12:00:00 +0000

If you do decide to include an online backup service as part of your backup solution, then there are a few things that you should think about before deciding on a provider. While online backup services may look the same, what they offer will probably be different.

Below is a list of features that you should think about when looking for an online backup service provider:

The amount of storage space. Each online backup service will offer a different amount of storage space. Some may have unlimited storage space, while others offer a few hundred megabytes or a few gigabytes. It is important to choose a service that provides enough space to backup all of your data, with some additional room for growth.

Length of time for archives. If you accidentally delete a file you don't want your online backup service provider to instantly delete the file in your backup set. You should look into how long the archives are kept for a file in case you need to restore a file that you deleted. Similar to storage space, this will vary with each online backup service provider.

Support for various operating systems. While Windows is the dominant operating system in use, there are many other people using Mac or a flavour of Unix. If you aren't on Windows, verify that your backup service provider supports your operating system.

Amount of technical support. If something were to go wrong with either backing up or restoring your data, you may need to contact your provider's support. Ensure that your provider provides 24/7 support in case anything goes wrong at anytime.

Ease of use. This you can't tell until you actually start using the service, but if you can get a free trial, then go ahead and try. It is important that an online backup service be able to easily backup your files as well as restore them. You should test both features before making your decision.

The above points list just some of the features of an online backup service that you should be looking into before choosing a service. If you aren't comfortable with a service meeting your needs, you should look for another.

Are CDs or DVDs Good For Backups?

noreply@blogger.com (Techie Guy) — Tue, 19 May 2009 12:00:00 +0000

In a post title Create a Data Backup Solution that Works for You I talked about how I backup my data on various media, including DVD discs. There has been much debate in the past on the quality of backups on DVDs, or CDs for that matter, and whether the data will still be available in a year from now. One thing to keep in mind with regards to DVDs is that all DVDs are not created equally.

In order to fully understand how a DVD can keep your data safe, it is important to look at how they are constructed.

A DVD is made from clear plastic from some kind of polycarbonate. The top side may have a label, while the bottom side is reflective. The one side is reflective because of a metal foil that is glued to one side of the polycarbonate. In an expensive DVD, a protective paper or plastic label will cover the foil. On lower cost brands, the metal foil may be the top portion of the DVD. While this foil can come in many colours, silver (aluminum) and gold are the most common.

The data that you store on a DVD is placed on a dye that is between the upper surface of the polycarbonate and the reflective metal foil. As data is stored on the disc, the laser goes through the polycarbonate and melts (burns) a small pit into the dye. As the beam moves along the disc, the laser beam turns on and off extremely rapidly which then results in melted and unmelted areas. These areas represent the ones and zeroes of the data.

The longevity of a DVD is determined by two things: the metal foil and the type of dye used. Discs that use aluminum can be affected by oxidization, but that is very rare. The discs that use gold will not oxidize so it will not impact data.

So in terms of longevity, the dye used has the largest impact. There are several dyes that are used, each one with a different chemical composition, which will affect both their colour and shelf-life. A list of dyes include:

Name	Colour	Shelf Life
Cyanine	Blue, Blue-Green	10 years
Phthalocyanine	Light Aqua	100+ years
Metallized	Dark Blue	50-100 years

If you are looking for a well-known, and trusted DVD to backup your data, then you should look for Taiyo Yuden CDs and DVDs. I backup my data to discs produced by them. Other brands such as TDK and Verbatim are said to also carry Taiyo Yuden. You may be able to find the MAM-A brand from Mitsui which can also keep your data safe. It has been stated that the MAM-A shelf-life is about 300 years. Although, you probably will only need the disc for a few years until you move to another media.

It is important that you don't backup your data on bulk, cheap DVDs. These discs are not made from good quality and you may end up with much of your data missing or unreadable. You should, instead, find good brands that are mentioned above, and while they may be more expensive, you will not lose your data.

Mozy: The Affordable Backup Solution

noreply@blogger.com (Techie Guy) — Mon, 18 May 2009 12:00:00 +0000

I have been using Mozy for my online backup for almost a year now, and am quite happy with the service. In my search for an online backup solution I had a few requirements that needed to be filled. The requirements were:

Must be affordable. Many online backup solutions offered a flat fee for specific storage, and then a specific amount for each additional GB. Since I have over 100 GB to backup I needed somethings that was affordable, preferrably a flat rate for all storage.
Must be able to backup files from an external hard drive. Since all of my data is stored on an external hard drive, I needed an online backup solution that could access the external hard drive.
Must run silently in the background. Most, if not all, online backup solutions load and run an application in the background that will monitor the files you want to backup. I needed a solution that provided an efficient backup application so it wouldn't interfere with running applications.
Must transfer the data securely. Security is a big issue and all files that are backed up must be encrypted to ensure my data can't be read or used.
Must be quick to upload and download. I currently use broadband that is 10 Mbps download and 640 kbps download. I need a solution that take full advantage of the transfer rates.

I found that Mozy met or exceeded all of my requirements. I get unlimited online storage space for a very affordable $4.33/month with their two year plan of $103.95. I can backup every single one of my files. I have even backed up files that are 12 GB in size without any issues.

I also didn't have any issues with backing up my files from an external hard drive. Mozy's online backup service was easily able to read my external hard drive. I have tried other online backup solutions that weren't compatible with external hard drives, but Mozy had no issue.

Like many other online backup solutions, Mozy required me to download and install a small application. The application loaded in the background with Windows, and monitored specific files and directories I specified. When any file within those directories changed, it was automatically uploaded to their server. I can also suspend the backup if I didn't want it to run.

In regards to the upload, Mozy's backup solution encrypts the files on my local machine using 448 bit blowfish encryption. The encrypted files are then uploaded to Mozy over a secure SSL connection, making it even more secure. The files are also stored encrypted on the Mozy's servers. This prevents anyone but me from viewing my files.

As for uploading the files, it makes use of almost all the possible bandwidth. Since I have a 640 kbps upload speed, it would usually upload at around 614 kbps. When I use the Internet, it doesn't interfere because it drops down the amount of upload bandwidth it uses.

I have had no issue with restoring any of my files, which I find to be very important for online backup solutions. An online backup solution, or any backup solutions for that matter, must have a good restore process or it would be useless. Mozy appears to pass the restore test.

Overall I have been very pleased with Mozy's online backup solution. They have met my requirements and I can feel safe knowing my data is backed up and protected.

What Should You Backup on Your Computer?

noreply@blogger.com (Techie Guy) — Sun, 17 May 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Backing up your data is very important. Think about how you would feel if you computer crashed and you couldn't access your files? Imagine losing such files as your digital photos? Items such as these can't be replaced, so why take the chance?

With software and the ease of use of backing up data today, you could possible back up your entire hard drive. The problem is it would be a waste of space and time to do so. Let's look at what you should backup, what you shouldn't backup.

What to Backup

The items listed here are things that you should backup. They are in no particular order.

Digital photographs.
Personal or purchased video files.
E-mail address books.
Any music that you have purchased, unless you want to download the files again.
Any applications that you have purchased (unless you can download again). Don't forget to backup the serial keys for the applications.
Your browser bookmarks, unless you would like to re-create them.
Any financial information and records.
Personal projects, such as web sites or applications.
Saved files from games if you play many videos games.

While the above list is not an exhaustive list, it does show the more common items that you should backup. Let's look at what you don't need to backup.

What You Don't Need to Backup

This list will outline what you don't need to backup to save time and storage space.

Any installed application as they can be installed again.
Your operating system files. You'll be installing this again anyway.
Applications that can be downloaded, although don't forget the serial keys.
Web browser history, cached files, and cookies.

One way to avoid any issue is to ensure that your items are backed up on a regular basis. A great way to achieve this is to use an online backup solution that will automatically backup any changed files on a regular basis.