Online Data Storage

I'm would like to hear also....just started looking into this.
rik

 

The questions are how safe, secure and available do you need it to be? Do you want all of your data stored online or maybe you only need an off-site (online) backup solution. Are you concerned about latency (multiple concurrent users and/or application databases)? Does your industry require auditing? Will your due-diligence require that you determine their physical security as well?

Maybe a fully integrated and hosted solution (Exchange, anti-virus, backup, anti-spam, etc)?

Security-wise, Box.net uses a Cisco PIX firewall. Although good, it's not really enterprise class like they suggest.

 

Mike,

My experience leans towards enterprise class requirements and can lead anyone to an excellent company for that. But for you and those who don't need the full spectrum I can only suggest ElephantDrive Pro. I haven't used their service personally but have heard/read great things about them.

For security? I want and expect all of it, inside and out. But that's just me

Hope this helps.

Wade

 

Check out http://www.docucapture.ca/
Call Ian at 905-333-8766 He's the owner.
Tell him I sent you.
They've been doing this kind of thing before it was cool.

Good luck!

 

Does anyone have an up-to-date analysis of online backup companies such as:

http://www.carbonite.com/en-us/default.aspx?re=1

http://mozy.com/


Thanks.

 

I've been using them for my personal computer for the last 6 months or so. My computer hasn't crashed yet, so I haven't been able to test out the "restore" functionality.

The first back-up with any of these services can take DAYS depending on your connection/# of gigs being backed up.

 

So restore can take days too - too scary.

 

I used Mozy and HATED them. Billing errors, totally unreliable backups and worse. I cancelled and they kept billing me for 6 months after that.

I switched to iDrive and I am mostly pleased with them. The only reason I am not totally pleased is that they had upgraded the server side of their application which made it incompatible with earlier versions of the client - I happened to be running that client on my server at work. The server is in a separate room and it's rarely ever touched, so 3 months went by before I noticed it hadn't been backing up. Largely my fault, but it would have been nice if they let their customers know by email that a new version would "break" the older versions.

They did refund some $$ though.

Didn't like Carbonite for various reasons - tried to make it too simple which means functionality I wanted wasn't easily accessible. With iDrive it will store multiple revisions of the file so I can go back to any specific date I want - and I can access the data from anywhere, which is nice when I am on the road and need a file.

 

Tried 2 of these type of companies.

Carbonite really slows down a machine. I am still using it since I prepaid a year but will switch when the time is up.

Backblaze, so far so good. As noted, first backup can take a lot of time (true for all of these services). Backblaze keeps versions so you can download files pretty easily. For a full restore you can order a DVD of your data. There is some cost but you get it right away instead of days to restore. NOTE: this is a very simple interface so you can't pick and choose too much.

 

Thanks for the info everyone. I am currently using iMacs and they backup automatically and wirelessly to the separate Time Machine hard drive. I am looking for an online backup in case of fire or theft or highly unusual Apple failure. I do have to meet HIPAA requirements for my wife's business, but I don't think those security requirements are onerous but I will check.
Not slowing the machines down is important, so being able to schedule the backups to occur at night would be nice.

 

One thing you might consider is attaching a RAID storage system to your time machine. If you have one of those (containing 2 disks) and you get an extra disk then you can periodically remove one and take it offsite. Replace it with the 3rd disk and the RAID system will rebuild a clone of the drive that you left in. That way you can take periodic backups off-site without having to ship data over your internet connection (which is much slower than carrying a physical drive)

 

I'm using carbonite and have been for the last 18months. I haven't had a failure but i have recovered files both to test the system and when I needed them (once for an earlier version of a file and another time for a complete directory I hadn't copied onto my new computer as I didn't think I'd need it... naturally I was out of town without access to archives when I needed those files!)

I did have one failure with them which was trying to recover an outlook .pst file (~2GB). I was unable to recover that file for some reason but as I have other backup solutions it wasn't critical.

 

I tried Mozy. It slowed down the computer enough that I figured I would try the
competitor.

I tried Carbonite. It appeared to run a little faster. Carbonite also appeared to be
making regular backups for three weeks. On week three the hard drive on my computer
acted up so I copied files pretty quick as it was going down. Replaced the hard drive
to foind that Carbonite does not work as advertised. orse their customer service is far
from competent. Had to rebuild from second level backups and got lucky that I had
enough warning that I did not have any major losses of data. Never again will I trust
backups to a system that I do not control.

Now I am back to my old system of saving everything redundently and having
archives with family out of state. I picked up Clickfree's Backup Link over the
weekend and so far it appears to provide a way to have an easy way to chase
my wife's files down and grab the ones off the kids computers. That makes it worth
the $100 it was in Office Depot. If it does not work, I'll come back and report.

Now, if it was mission critical information I would would use mirrors in remote
locations and I would have my own system running it for security.

-sc

 

I've been using CrashPlan for my desktop PCs and iMac. So far, I really like it.

 

For business: http://www-935.ibm.com/services/us/index.wss/offering/its/a1031610

 

I'm using box.net for my business. We aren't storing anything really mission critical there-- it's more of a repository that we can access remotely, etc. So far, I've been pretty happy with them.

 

You can RAID a TimeMachine? I didn't know that. How? Can a single iMac have multiple TimeMachines attached thereby mirroring the data by brute force instead of a formal RAID array?

 

I have an Airport Extreme (no internal disk) with an external disk attached that I use for Time Machine to back up to. I assume (though I could be wrong) that you can add an external disk to a Time Capsule too. If not, then you can definitely do it with an Airport Extreme.

 

While my Mac experience is limited (but growing), any drive you attach to a Mac or a network that the Mac is part of can be data storage for the Time Machine (which is software), so it can be any type of drive, raid included. The OS just sees Raid as one drive.

 

I'm (finally) easing out of the 'puter biz, after having been stuck in it since the early '80s. Observations, after having pretty much seen it all:

* Ass-ume that anything outside your immediate control can or will be looked at. No exceptions.

* Ass-ume that you -may- or may -not- be able to access the backups in a timely matter when you need 'em. Say a big electrical issue blows your setup and hoses the DSL/Cable companies, too...what ya gonna do THEN??

* Ass-ume, until thoroughly tested, that restore of backups, if available, may not go so well. You DID test the backup/restore process for real, didn't you?? (Oops, didn't get around to it, took everyone's word on it).

If the above are OK w/you, then maybe it's a good deal.

My personal recommendation is:

* On-site, frequent(enough, whatever that is) backups, locked in a fireproof, disaster proof safe. This would be the usual repository. Eliminates excuses of "didn't get around to testing the backups". Also makes accountability easy to track.

* Off-site, but nearby storage of frequent enough backups. What if your place is raided/cleaned out, and the safe is swiped or damaged?

You want some workable combo of easy to do, safe, easy to restore, private, etc. Your choice on how to implement it.

Oh, and btw, NEVER have just ONE copy of a backup...what if the media is defective? OOPS(!)

Learned that one on 3420 tape drives, which old time mainframe folks will recall weren't always the cleanest, most reliable media ever invented. Worked great until they didn't...

And, don't think the big companies get it right, either. In my last job I worked with some folks who did Disaster Recovery for well known big companies(this stuff is usually outsourced), and you'd be amazed at how much of a FusterCluck those rehearsals are. LOTS of fumbling around and covering over anything that won't work. Sign the paperwork and move on(while hoping it never really craps out).

 

I consult for a lot of companies, many of which give me a lofty title like director of enterprise applications (eg: Herbalife, Experian). Often times I need to do this for my small team as we develop new apps or projects.

What I can tell you is that if you are looking to back up a single machine, the online services like Mozy, Carbonite, Norton, Box, provide an acceptable service. There is a performance penalty at first.

Norton's suite gives you security and incremental online storage. I like this over any of the other solutions for up to 5 machines. Anything over that and I start making Acronis backups, send them to my NAS that simultaneously uploads to an off site FTP drop.