Online backup services

LouBlue

mr_fishbulb wrote: »

I have mozy home unlimited and am very happy with it. Would recommend the free version for up to 2GB

This is what I have. It backs up every evening, though I haven't had to retrieve anything yet, so can't comment on that part!

m_13

Be aware that anything you backup online counts towards your bandwidth usage. If you have a low monthly GB limit then you may find yourself incurring the wrath of your ISP.

S0litaire

I've been using "SpiderOak" for online backups for a year now (2 Gb free). It's multi system so it can backup Windows, Mac or Linux

I paid for a yearly Subscription ($100) so I've got 100Gb to store backups / files as well as a sync / shared folders. Not sure about the others but SpiderOak allow unlimited machines to be linked to a single account so you can use backup as many machines as you like.

(*NOTE*)
I have a referral code that adds an extra 1Gb for the free account if anyone is interested.

GaryS

Does it have to be online ?

Why not just use an external drive and a bit of free software like Syncback to schedule a backup at a certain time every day/ week / month ?

I have been doing this for the last few years without any problems, and yes the restores do work when tested.

PlutoinCapricorn

I have the Bullguard security suite, with online backup included.

The only problem is that I can't access the remote drive when using a netbook with Firefox.

Marty_J

GaryS wrote: »

Does it have to be online ?

Why not just use an external drive and a bit of free software like Syncback to schedule a backup at a certain time every day/ week / month ?

I have been doing this for the last few years without any problems, and yes the restores do work when tested.

Having multiple backups in several locations is a good idea.

If you only have local backups and your house catches fire or is burgled, flooded, blown away by a tornado etc, you're up a certain creek without a paddle. Even something relatively mundane such as your external hard drive dying through malfunction or accident (it wouldn't be the first one to end up in pieces after a tumble from a desk or shelf) would put an end to your backups.

Not to mention, having files backed up online means you can access them from any computer, anywhere in the world, as long as you have an internet connection.

I would encourage everyone, at the very least, to go to Microsoft's SkyDrive and upload your irreplaceable files (such as family photos). It's free, and you get 25 GB of storage, so there's little reason not to.

LouBlue

Marty_J wrote: »

Having multiple backups in several locations is a good idea.

If you only have local backups and your house catches fire or is burgled, flooded, blown away by a tornado etc, you're up a certain creek without a paddle.

Not to mention, having files backed up online means you can access them from any computer, anywhere in the world, as long as you have an internet connection.

Yes, that is why I decided to back up online, as I only have one pc so if that isn't working or gets stolen, I can retrieve from another one.

JasX

Just so long as you don;t expect the online service to be any more reliable than you making the backups yourself, plus it'll be completly outside your control as/when things go wrong their end and things get lost so make sure you keep up your (more reliable) personal backups

Only last month there was:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8309218.stm

Microsoft says it has installed a "more resilient back-up process" to safeguard against a repeat incident.
The issue has been seen by industry experts as the largest failing for cloud computing in recent memory.
"This is the most spectacular loss of data on the web to date," Harry McCracken, editor of Technologizer.com told BBC News at the time.

LouBlue

JasX wrote: »

Just so long as you don;t expect the online service to be any more reliable than you making the backups yourself, plus it'll be completly outside your control as/when things go wrong their and and things get lost so make sure you keep up your (more reliable) personal backups

No, I appreciate that. I do backup photos and important emails/word documents onto a memory stick as well.

timmmers

My mate has one of these for his job, and I'm thinking about it too ..hate backing up but these are a one click thing. Other people make them too..just had this page bookmarked

http://cpc.farnell.com/jsp/level5/module.jsp?moduleId=cpc/537198.xml&sku=CS17899

If you're scared of fire...then the online option won't do much to save all your other important docuents so get a firesafe box maybe ? put the lot in it?

t