[ctviggen]

Due to space requirements, I need to keep fewer paper files.  What this means is that I'm downloading all my retirement account info, the owner's manuals for anything I buy, etc.  I'm also scanning in pretty much everything else that can't be downloaded, like my pay stub.  Amongst all of this important data are also all my CDs (in FLAC) and some DVDs/iTunes purchases.  Currently, this is only 376 GB, but when I get the time, I'd like to load all my DVDs onto here.   I have a single 1.5 TB drive the data is on.

I need a copy of the FLAC files at work, as I listen to music all day long.  The music currently is 142 GB. 

So, if I copy the entire drive to another 1.5TB drive, I'll have another copy of everything. 

How often do I copy/update the data on the copy drive?   

What do I do with the copy drive?  I've heard that I should take it out of the system and leave it unpowered.  However, I could take it to work, and then I'd have the FLAC files there (but then all of my personal data, too). 

Do I need two copies? 

Should one copy be at someone else's house (a person I trust, of course)?  Would a fire proof safe work?  Or would the drive fail?

Anything else I should consider?

[JEaton]

Due to space requirements, I need to keep fewer paper files.  What this means is that I'm downloading all my retirement account info, the owner's manuals for anything I buy, etc.  I'm also scanning in pretty much everything else that can't be downloaded, like my pay stub.  Amongst all of this important data are also all my CDs (in FLAC) and some DVDs/iTunes purchases.  Currently, this is only 376 GB, but when I get the time, I'd like to load all my DVDs onto here.   I have a single 1.5 TB drive the data is on.

I need a copy of the FLAC files at work, as I listen to music all day long.  The music currently is 142 GB.

I wouldn't consider this copy of your music library to be a backup.  I'd just consider it a copy of your music that you take to work.  I would use an external 2.5" drive for the music.  They're more portable than 3.5" drives and are bus-powered, so you don't have to carry power adapters and cables around.  They're currently available in capacities up to 1 TB.

So, if I copy the entire drive to another 1.5TB drive, I'll have another copy of everything. 

How often do I copy/update the data on the copy drive?

That's a question only you can answer.

The music, if it all comes from your own CDs isn't necessarily critical.  What you lose is just the time it takes to re-rip and tag the files again.  If you're ripping 10 CDs a day, I would backup every day or two.  If you're ripping 10 CDs a month, then monthly should be fine.

The other data on the drive may be much more critical.  What I would probably do is keep paperwork for two to three months.  That should require minimal space and would assure you that you have a backup of everything before you toss the papers.

What do I do with the copy drive?  I've heard that I should take it out of the system and leave it unpowered.  However, I could take it to work, and then I'd have the FLAC files there (but then all of my personal data, too).

Do I need two copies?

Might not be a bad idea to keep two backups.  Take one copy off-site, kept either at work, a relative's house, or a safe-deposit box.  Keep the other one at home, but powered down and disconnected from the system.

[WGH]

Off site is best for a true fail safe backup, the problem is that it is a pain to keep current and eventually it will be woefully out of date. I use two different backup solutions.

1.) I periodically make an image of my OS, data, and music using BootIt NG. The image file is automatically compressed so it takes up less space. If my main drive fails I can restore the image to a new drive in a few hours and be up and running as if nothing happened. The advantage is I don't have to re-install the operating system, all the programs, update everything, and then tweak everything before I can restore and use the data and music.

An image file is pretty much tied to the computer it is made on so if you had a theft or catastrophe all you would need is an off site copy of the data and music.

2.) I use the free Qwest Personal Digital Vault that is available with my DSL service. The QPDV automatically makes a daily back up of the files I designate and sends them via my DSL line to Qwest's secure off site server, this way I always have a backup that is only 24 hours old at the max.

There are many online backup services, check with your provider to see it they offer one and if it will fit your needs before spending money.

Wayne

[skunark]

There are several sights to offer unlimited offset backups for as little as $5/month per computer some even offer encryption solutions for the personal files.   You can check out something like http://backblaze.com  (for comparison: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_online_backup_services) 

These services normally do a unix "snapshot" style backup, where they back up your drives on a set interval (hourly perhaps) and upload the changes to an offsite server.   

The advantage here is that it's rather inexpensive compared to an actually HDD and you are now protected against fire and theft.   Like most backup solutions, you would also have the ability to exclude certain directories and files (temp directories, browser cache, applications that are easy to recover, etc)

The disadvantage here is that it uses your bandwidth to backup and restore and depending on the initial backup or a restore could take weeks.   And even though most services offer encryption features, it's always a risk to have key financial files stored on a drive that is local or remote.

Ideally I think someone would want to
1) Set up an online/offsite solution like backblaze to backup all key files, exclude applications and large files that frequently changes that could eat into your broadband bandwidth cap if you have one.  Key goal is to not lose anything financially expensive if you were to experience theft or a fire.
2) If downtime is critical, then also use a local backup solution for all files including the applications that you exclude for offsite backup.  Key goal is to minimize downtime, but for most a few days to recover isn't that big of a deal.

Your HDD that you use to work might actually be the drive at the most risk of a hardware failure if you are moving it back and forth on a daily/weekly schedule.

[Hank]

Off-site, just like banks and corporations do.  Kim Komando uses and recommends Carbonite.  A good friend of mine uses it and was very happy he did recently - his hard drive died with no hope of recovery.  He told me that uploading to Carbonite (automatically) was fast and never intrusive.  Downloading to a new HD, he said was very slow - something like a day and a half - but he had a ton of music on his HD.

[skunark]

Off-site, just like banks and corporations do.  Kim Komando uses and recommends Carbonite.  A good friend of mine uses it and was very happy he did recently - his hard drive died with no hope of recovery.  He told me that uploading to Carbonite (automatically) was fast and never intrusive.  Downloading to a new HD, he said was very slow - something like a day and a half - but he had a ton of music on his HD.

Carbonite only backups "internal" harddrives, so I would cautious to use them if they do exclude external drives.