Recommend a good backup device

Tallness · 26th August 2011

Can anyone recommend a decent wireless backup unit for my laptop?

I had a hard drive fault on my MacBook Pro recently and I'm currently in the process of trying to recover the data. Unfortunately I didn't have a backup (I know, it's my own fault

). Can anyone recommend a good piece of hardware that I could use in conjunction with Time Machine to wirelessly backup by hard drives? I was thinking of getting a Time Capsule but heard varying reports on the reliability of the hard drives in them.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Jules · 27th August 2011

Apple are about to roll out iCloud, cloud based back up.

I would go for a big hard drive (1 terabite LaCie?) use the built in time machine back up software.

I do that except I am using" the cloud" via Carbonite. But I expect I can drop that when icloud gets launched (as it should be free)

But I am not a mac ninja.

So other peeps might have , more detailed advice.

Main deal is

On your mac
On a hard drive
In the cloud.

That way if you get robbed or have a house fire / flood - it's all still in the cloud.

Tallness · 27th August 2011

Thanks Jules!

I'm currently backing up via Time Machine onto a 1Tb Western Digital external HD. I've had a MobileMe account for years and I think now I shall be utilizing it more! At least until I'm forced to switch to iCloud!

Rikers Beard · 28th August 2011

I don't think you can beat a wired hard drive for time machine. I use Windows Home Server for my NAS. I'm the computer nerd that my family and friends come to for help. It does full images for Windows machines and will act as a Time Machine drive. It is hugely unreliable as a TM drive though. It seems that every little OS update causes issues. The most reliable is a Firewire or Usb drive.

For a simple NAS I don't think it gets better than DROBO. If you get a simple NAS drive look into Synk Pro. It works like dropbox with local folders. It monitors in realtime and mirrors or sync folders as you set it up. You can even have it run only when certain programs are not open (DAW) or when the CPU reaches a given threshold. I use that along side Carbon Copy Cloner to do a full HDD image to a USB drive every Sunday while I sleep. As far as the online stuff, I have a site hosting account just to use Transmit to sync certain folders over SFTP to mirrored folders on my unlimited hosting acct.(not sure of the security of this...). Transmit can be setup through OSX's Automator to also run as a workflow or app that can be scheduled. If your ISP is like mine it will take a LONG LONG time to backup GBs of data. Also, I should mention that I could be wrong but I think icloud is only 5GB without paying for extra storage.
Best

Boba FET · 28th August 2011

I would go G-Technology or Glyph - also WD...

Jules · 5th September 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rikers Beard

I don't think you can beat a wired hard drive for time machine. I use Windows Home Server for my NAS. I'm the computer nerd that my family and friends come to for help. It does full images for Windows machines and will act as a Time Machine drive. It is hugely unreliable as a TM drive though. It seems that every little OS update causes issues. The most reliable is a Firewire or Usb drive.

For a simple NAS I don't think it gets better than DROBO. If you get a simple NAS drive look into Synk Pro. It works like dropbox with local folders. It monitors in realtime and mirrors or sync folders as you set it up. You can even have it run only when certain programs are not open (DAW) or when the CPU reaches a given threshold. I use that along side Carbon Copy Cloner to do a full HDD image to a USB drive every Sunday while I sleep. As far as the online stuff, I have a site hosting account just to use Transmit to sync certain folders over SFTP to mirrored folders on my unlimited hosting acct.(not sure of the security of this...). Transmit can be setup through OSX's Automator to also run as a workflow or app that can be scheduled. If your ISP is like mine it will take a LONG LONG time to backup GBs of data. Also, I should mention that I could be wrong but I think icloud is only 5GB without paying for extra storage.
Best

Drobo seems to be the shizzle for peeps with a lot of files (like photographers) probably worth checking into... Let us know how you get on.

I think mobileme will turn into iCloud...

Boba FET · 6th September 2011

For Mac, Chronosync does the best job - much better than TimeMachine...

Check it out

Goliath|Audio · 13th September 2011

Get a Drobo. If your work is too important to have ANY concerns about, get a Drobo.

Drobo - Small Box, Big Storage

njfour · 15th October 2011

I got a 3TB Seagate GoFlex NAS drive couple weeks ago, and so far it's been working like a champ. My timing was perfect, since the internal hard drive in my MacBook Pro decided to fail on me this past Saturday. I installed a new internal drive, booted off the Snow Leopard install disc, and restored from my Time Machine backup without issues.

Also worth noting that this GoFlex NAS drive says it works for Time Machine right on the box.

26th August 2011	#1
Tallness Gear interested Joined: Feb 2011 Location: Limerick, Ireland Posts: 21 Thread Starter	Recommend a good backup device Can anyone recommend a decent wireless backup unit for my laptop? I had a hard drive fault on my MacBook Pro recently and I'm currently in the process of trying to recover the data. Unfortunately I didn't have a backup (I know, it's my own fault ). Can anyone recommend a good piece of hardware that I could use in conjunction with Time Machine to wirelessly backup by hard drives? I was thinking of getting a Time Capsule but heard varying reports on the reliability of the hard drives in them. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

27th August 2011	#2
Jules Gearslutz.com admin Joined: Apr 2002 Location: A Yank in London, UK Posts: 17,805 1 Review written	Apple are about to roll out iCloud, cloud based back up. I would go for a big hard drive (1 terabite LaCie?) use the built in time machine back up software. I do that except I am using" the cloud" via Carbonite. But I expect I can drop that when icloud gets launched (as it should be free) But I am not a mac ninja. So other peeps might have , more detailed advice. Main deal is On your mac On a hard drive In the cloud. That way if you get robbed or have a house fire / flood - it's all still in the cloud. __________________ Jules Add your reviews to the new reviews area! Gearslutz on Facebook Follow my GS picks on Twitter

13th September 2011	#8
Goliath\|Audio Lives for gear Joined: Nov 2006 Location: ∑∆ Posts: 1,553	Get a Drobo. If your work is too important to have ANY concerns about, get a Drobo. Drobo - Small Box, Big Storage __________________ "Oh freddled gruntbuggly/thy micturations are to me/As plurdled gabbleblotchits on a lurgid bee. Groop I implore thee, my foonting turlingdromes. And hooptiously drangle me with crinkly bindlewurdles, Or I will rend thee in the gobberwarts with my blurglecruncheon, see if I don't!"

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28th August 2011	#4
Rikers Beard Gear nut Joined: May 2009 Location: Minnesota Posts: 141	I don't think you can beat a wired hard drive for time machine. I use Windows Home Server for my NAS. I'm the computer nerd that my family and friends come to for help. It does full images for Windows machines and will act as a Time Machine drive. It is hugely unreliable as a TM drive though. It seems that every little OS update causes issues. The most reliable is a Firewire or Usb drive. For a simple NAS I don't think it gets better than DROBO. If you get a simple NAS drive look into Synk Pro. It works like dropbox with local folders. It monitors in realtime and mirrors or sync folders as you set it up. You can even have it run only when certain programs are not open (DAW) or when the CPU reaches a given threshold. I use that along side Carbon Copy Cloner to do a full HDD image to a USB drive every Sunday while I sleep. As far as the online stuff, I have a site hosting account just to use Transmit to sync certain folders over SFTP to mirrored folders on my unlimited hosting acct.(not sure of the security of this...). Transmit can be setup through OSX's Automator to also run as a workflow or app that can be scheduled. If your ISP is like mine it will take a LONG LONG time to backup GBs of data. Also, I should mention that I could be wrong but I think icloud is only 5GB without paying for extra storage. Best

28th August 2011	#5
Boba FET Gear interested Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 24	I would go G-Technology or Glyph - also WD...

6th September 2011	#7
Boba FET Gear interested Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 24	For Mac, Chronosync does the best job - much better than TimeMachine... Check it out

15th October 2011	#9
njfour Gear Head Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 51	I got a 3TB Seagate GoFlex NAS drive couple weeks ago, and so far it's been working like a champ. My timing was perfect, since the internal hard drive in my MacBook Pro decided to fail on me this past Saturday. I installed a new internal drive, booted off the Snow Leopard install disc, and restored from my Time Machine backup without issues. Also worth noting that this GoFlex NAS drive says it works for Time Machine right on the box.