Data Backup
There are two kinds of people: those with a data back-up plan and those who will wish they had one.
With this in mind I've been looking at back-up software for the lab (all window's machines with a remote windows server mounted as a drive). So far I'm liking CrashPlan and Areca but was wondering if LJ had an opinion.
Both have the option for full and incremental backups.
CrashPlan
Areca
I'm leaning towards Areca for the lab just because you can access the data without 'special' software. From a personal prospective though I would love to find someone out there who would be interested in trading HD space for CrashPlan, if SoCal falls in to the ocean at least my vacation photos will be safe, not that you would be able to look at them.
Thoughts?
Edit Looking more at CrashPlan I think that it comes out on top. You can access your files from any computer as long as the backup machine is connected to the net and the encryption scheme seems to be 'strong magic' (128-bit which I'm reading as being AES, yes?). I think that's what I'm going to recommend. But I would still love your thoughts.
With this in mind I've been looking at back-up software for the lab (all window's machines with a remote windows server mounted as a drive). So far I'm liking CrashPlan and Areca but was wondering if LJ had an opinion.
Both have the option for full and incremental backups.
CrashPlan
- Neat P2P backup system. You can allow friends to use your hard drive for remote backups.
- Backup files are encrypted. The site is a little vague about what encryption scheme they are using, I read their FAQ as saying "We use magic!" amusing but less then helpful. Actually the main point against it from the lab point of view. We want to be able to recover our data easily and this just seems like too much of an abstraction. However from a personal use view point I like this, means that I can store my backup on someone else's machine and they aren't tempted to see how little money I have in my bank balance :P (You know you want to know!)
- Easy install and set up. Seriously folks, your little old grandma who hunt&pecks with one finger could set this up.
- Company who puts this out has been around for a few years and doesn't seem to be going anywhere. The freeware version is more then adequate for the lab and my personal needs but I'm glad their is a group who is actively supporting the software.
Areca
- Backs up to FTP as well as to folders/drives. Looks like a coder built this for coders. Seems solid and all the parts front and center. Not as user friendly but I've seen worse.
- Been around for a bit but looks like it's one developer who carries the project. Not reassuring, I would like to see a dedicated group or community support.
- Will back up to zip or non-compressed files. I like this for the lab, means that we don't need to use the same computer to retrieve the data we backed up.
- Does not have a scheduler built in. It will generate a script for you that you can add to the window's scheduler however.
I'm leaning towards Areca for the lab just because you can access the data without 'special' software. From a personal prospective though I would love to find someone out there who would be interested in trading HD space for CrashPlan, if SoCal falls in to the ocean at least my vacation photos will be safe, not that you would be able to look at them.
Thoughts?
Edit Looking more at CrashPlan I think that it comes out on top. You can access your files from any computer as long as the backup machine is connected to the net and the encryption scheme seems to be 'strong magic' (128-bit which I'm reading as being AES, yes?). I think that's what I'm going to recommend. But I would still love your thoughts.