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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Data back-up
haverhillharry - Jun 16, 2006 - 12:01 pm
I run a small charity on a tight budget with around 250 staff across 12 sites. We use Mac exclusively, both desktops and laptops. We can't afford to set up our own servers so the issue of how to back up data is a major concern. We ask people to remember to back up to CD regularly but most people forget to do it most of the time.
Can you suggest any cheap solutions? Software reminders or stuff that just backs up the stuff you've done since last back-up etc so you don't have to use multiple CDs taking ages to back up all your old documents and mail again every time you back up?
Can you suggest any cheap solutions? Software reminders or stuff that just backs up the stuff you've done since last back-up etc so you don't have to use multiple CDs taking ages to back up all your old documents and mail again every time you back up?
skapp - Jun 16, 2006 - 1:16 pm
There really is no "cheap" solution to backups. There are easier solutions and harder ones. If backups are important then the cost should be related to the loss. What would it cost you to lose the data versus the cost of reliable backup.
Here's my suggestion. Each computer should be equipped with either a second internal hard drive (if the hardware permits) or an external hard drive (Firewire is preferred.) The second drive should be equal in size to the main hard drive on which your data are stored. A backup program should be installed that can be scheduled to perform an automatic backup at certain times of the day. For software I would recommend Synchronize! Pro X (assuming you are using OS X) because it can also be programmed to perform a backup before the computer is shut down. However, there are many excellent products from which to choose.
If your computers are all networked, then you could instead use a large network drive to maintain backups for all the computers.
Today hard drives are not that expensive. You can purchase bare hard drives and separate enclosures rather than purchase an assembled product. This will save some money, but someone will have to install the hard drives in the enclosures (not very difficult nor time consuming.) With careful shopping you probably could accomplish the task for about $150 per computer plus the cost of a site license for the software.
Here's my suggestion. Each computer should be equipped with either a second internal hard drive (if the hardware permits) or an external hard drive (Firewire is preferred.) The second drive should be equal in size to the main hard drive on which your data are stored. A backup program should be installed that can be scheduled to perform an automatic backup at certain times of the day. For software I would recommend Synchronize! Pro X (assuming you are using OS X) because it can also be programmed to perform a backup before the computer is shut down. However, there are many excellent products from which to choose.
If your computers are all networked, then you could instead use a large network drive to maintain backups for all the computers.
Today hard drives are not that expensive. You can purchase bare hard drives and separate enclosures rather than purchase an assembled product. This will save some money, but someone will have to install the hard drives in the enclosures (not very difficult nor time consuming.) With careful shopping you probably could accomplish the task for about $150 per computer plus the cost of a site license for the software.
skapp - Jun 16, 2006 - 1:17 pm
There really is no "cheap" solution to backups. There are easier solutions and harder ones. If backups are important then the cost should be related to the loss. What would it cost you to lose the data versus the cost of reliable backup.
Here's my suggestion. Each computer should be equipped with either a second internal hard drive (if the hardware permits) or an external hard drive (Firewire is preferred.) The second drive should be equal in size to the main hard drive on which your data are stored. A backup program should be installed that can be scheduled to perform an automatic backup at certain times of the day. For software I would recommend Synchronize! Pro X (assuming you are using OS X) because it can also be programmed to perform a backup before the computer is shut down. However, there are many excellent products from which to choose.
If your computers are all networked, then you could instead use a large network drive to maintain backups for all the computers.
Today hard drives are not that expensive. You can purchase bare hard drives and separate enclosures rather than purchase an assembled product. This will save some money, but someone will have to install the hard drives in the enclosures (not very difficult nor time consuming.) With careful shopping you probably could accomplish the task for about $150 per computer plus the cost of a site license for the software.
Here's my suggestion. Each computer should be equipped with either a second internal hard drive (if the hardware permits) or an external hard drive (Firewire is preferred.) The second drive should be equal in size to the main hard drive on which your data are stored. A backup program should be installed that can be scheduled to perform an automatic backup at certain times of the day. For software I would recommend Synchronize! Pro X (assuming you are using OS X) because it can also be programmed to perform a backup before the computer is shut down. However, there are many excellent products from which to choose.
If your computers are all networked, then you could instead use a large network drive to maintain backups for all the computers.
Today hard drives are not that expensive. You can purchase bare hard drives and separate enclosures rather than purchase an assembled product. This will save some money, but someone will have to install the hard drives in the enclosures (not very difficult nor time consuming.) With careful shopping you probably could accomplish the task for about $150 per computer plus the cost of a site license for the software.
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