Daily Site/cpu Backups

[surefire]

I'm much more proficient with scripting and coding than hardware, so I'm looking for advice or confirmation that I'm headed in the right direction.

 

I have a need to backup my computer files at least daily. These include huge mysql database files and dozens of large websites that take up too much space to go on a zip 250.

 

I've been doing monthly backups to CD media but now I need to go to daily backups. Maybe even twice a day.

 

So I'm looking for a solution that is

• quick
  
• automated
  
• relatively safe from power surges
  

(in that order)

 

I'm gravitating towards an external hard drive. This way, I can unplug the system if I suspect lighting is approaching. I'm looking at $110 to $160 depending on the size.

 

Do any hardware pros out there have better ideas for me?

 

Thanks.

[TCH-Dick]

Probably a little more than you want tp pay but this is a sweet external storage drive.

 

http://www.ximeta.com/products/netdisk.html

[Lianna]

Here's my backup software of choice:

 

BackupNOW! by NTI

 

Relatively inexpensive and supports most (if not all) CD and DVD burners or can create the backup to another networked or local drive. It has a backup scheduler and automates that task. Can create full backups or incremental/differential backups for those changes made daily. Can span CD's/DVD's if the file is larger than media capacity. It's a great non-magnetic-media solution for backups.

 

Several of my clients are using this method for backing up their systems.

 

I personally use a LaCie 40Gb hard drive for all of file and then use the drive image feature of BackupNOW! to create a backup onto my pc's fixed drive. And that process is automated through the scheduler.

 

Hope that helps

[surefire]

Those are awesome suggestions. Both seem to confirm that an external drive might be the way to go. Although the price tag on that external drive you pointed out, Mike, does seem a bit pricey but I think if I understood the difference between it's bells and whistles and the others that I've seen for half price then I'm sure I'd see the value... I'm just not convinced I need the Ferrari of external hard drives.

 

Thanks for the input! You guys are great.

 

If anyone else has something to add... I'm all ears. (Or eyes)

[Head Guru]

There is much more to backups than just backups. Backing up data is really about disaster recovery rather than simple file recovery. Its one thing in restoring a file, but when true disaster strikes are you really prepared? Are you really prepared to restore your entire drive from a backup? Backup is really about recovery not backups. People forget that when they talk backup. Do not forget to plan for disaster. Backups are the first step in a disaster recovery plan. It will happen, disaster will strike, afterall drives are moving, mechanical devices.

 

I wont get into the details of a good disaster recovery plan, just do a google search. But I will say this;

 

1. Local backups. Really important. When I build or spec a workstation for myself I always install or order the system with two drives. Then I run daily (in my case @ 11:15pm nightly) backups of my data folders.

 

2. Local backups. Monthly - same thing as above just ran monthly.

 

3. Off site backups. HUGE!!! I run CDR/DVD Backups for this. Everyone has some very critical data they keep on drives. I know I do. Part of my disaster recovery plans is off site media storage. I have about 2gb of critical data that I back up once a month. I use CDR. After burning the media I place the cdrs in cases and give them to my accountant. I see her once a month anyways, so its just routine to hand her the media. Now, these discs have nothing to do with the books, however her office is off site from my home. So if a fire destroys my house, I have the offsite media to fall back on.

 

I use retrospect for my backup needs.

[Lianna]

Yep, right there with HG on offsite storage. I have a copy (DVD) at home and a copy at the office.

[surefire]

Great info. I'm thinking that a safety deposit box might work too.