Best Back-up organisation

Jonik · Mar 7, 2010

Hi,

I'm getting to a point where I don't have the ability to back up everything I have... and am running out of space alarmingly fast

So, I've been thinking about how to go about fixing this, and getting the best solution in case anything goes wrong, but also so that I won't have to buy any more hard drives in the near future!!

I have:

-500GB MBP, with 185GB free
-500GB WD (iTunes), with 100GB free (but still moving stuff into iTunes)
-1TB WD (Time machine), with 70GB free

-On top of this I have a 250GB WD which is holding music software, but is currently not backed up in any way.

As my iTunes drive is filling up, and my Time machine is running out of back-up space (not sure where it has all gone tbh) I was thinking of the following:

1) Buy a 2TB hard drive to become my time machine drive.
2) The 1TB drive become iTunes drive
3) The 500GB WD drive becomes a CCC bootable drive (worth having?)
4) Both the macHD and the 250GB HD are backed up as well

-- The time machine at full capacity will have to hold 1.75TB, but realistically will only be about 1.3TB at 'full' capacity (ie VERY large itunes)

However...I'd now be running 4 powered hard drives with this set up...!

Is there another way in which I could sort all of this out, or is the above in fact the best way to go about it?

Also, I've seen things about RAID, and drives that hold more than 1 HD and treat them as one. Are these worth a look?

Thanks!

bobtomay · Mar 7, 2010

I use a HP MediaSmart - you might consider a Drobo.

There are no inexpensive ways to keep a lot of data backed up.
Especially when you get to the point of also maintaining an off site backup.

The best thing to do is what you've been doing. Start reading... understand your options as you are the only one that can decide which will work best for you. Took me well over 6 months to decide to go with the MediaSmart.

McBie · Mar 7, 2010

Agreed with Bob ...

Also be advised that RAID is not a backup solution at all .... RAID merely provides resilience to certain failures by spreading data across multiple disks.

Cheers ... McBie

Jonik · Mar 7, 2010

Yeah... I thought as much! I'm looking into the Drobo now, though it seems like the best way of doing it is 4 drives of the same size. A 1tb, 500gb and a 250gb gives very little space! (though no TM needed I assume as covers itself)

What are the benefits of a CCC drive? ie, is it worth me getting one up and running asap or is it more of a luxury if I have a working time machine drive running?

The way I understand it is that if my main HD was to fail unexpectedly, (only had it 6 months mind you), I could boot from the CCC drive, and continue working until the main drive was replaced? If the main drive died on me now however, wouldn't it come under my applecare and be replaced by them? So the issue is more than I'd be out of a computer until they fixed it?

Thanks

McBie · Mar 7, 2010

When building a backup strategy, take a step back and answer the following
1) How long can you afford to not have access to your data ?
2) How much data can you afford to loose, meaning .... how much time and money are you willing to invest in re-creating lost ( or corrupted ) data.

There are a number of mechanisms to backup your data but answer the 2 questions above first.... these answers will drive the selection of ' tools ' to backup your data.

Personally, I have a bootable SuperDuper! clone of my internal disk, and hourly Time Machine backups of other stuff.
The clone allows me to be back in business very quickly and TM has the history of my important data.

Cheers ... McBie

bobtomay · Mar 7, 2010

I heartily recommend a SD! or CCC bootable clone. This is my own first choice prior to a TM backup unless you have a personal need for going back in time to grab an older file. Like McBie, I use both SD! and TM alongside my MediaSmart.

You're understanding is correct. An SD! / CCC backup can also save you lots of time after a bad upgrade or you've been messing around with files you shouldn't have. My 100GB+ system restores form my SD! backups via FW800 have been well under an hour. Sometimes much easier and faster than troubleshooting. Of course this means you must keep your backup up to date before any type of system modifications.

Jonik · Mar 10, 2010

I had a thought earlier today - would something like mozy be a better option (cheaper?) than say, a a bigger time machine drive etc?

I already run the free one, saving my emails and preferences (small files) but hadn't thought of a paid version.

Anyone use Mozy or similar?

Jonik · Mar 10, 2010

I had a thought earlier today - would something like mozy be a better option (cheaper?) than say, a a bigger time machine drive etc?

I already run the free one, saving my emails and preferences (small files) but hadn't thought of a paid version.

Anyone use Mozy or similar?

xkaliburx · Mar 11, 2010

Hey my 2nd post

Just got my 1st mac 2 day's ago, but company wise using Mozy and we are pretty happy with it. IBackup was better as I had linux and they gave you a good rsync location, etc. and mozy is not linux friendly but as I type the mozy client is installing now.

They key to mozy is storage and use. Create your accounts and just give everyone 1GB as you pay for storage even if unused. Overdraft is free, you just pay the storage, so if you said hey give me 5GB, they charge you for 5GB even if you use 3GB. If you said give me 1GB, use 3, they charge you for 3, it's just billed as a sperate charge, no hidden extra charges, etc. but that is my .02

Happy with the support they give, our users like it as it's simple, just wish you could global throttle as it can get pretty slow when everyone is backing up.

Lr