Backup Question.
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Discussion

Carrera2

Original Poster:

8,352 posts

262 months

Tuesday 22nd August 2006
quotequote all
Is there such a thing as an online backup facility?

After a spate of break-ins I'm concerned that our server isn't being backed up properly and would quite like the data to be stored online if things go breasts up.

Could anyone suggest such a place?

Thanks

Plotloss

67,280 posts

300 months

Tuesday 22nd August 2006
quotequote all
Google for offsite backup

Edit: What sort of data volume are we talking here?

Maybe easier to dump it on a DVD daily and stick it in a fire safe.

Edited by Plotloss on Tuesday 22 August 15:19

Carrera2

Original Poster:

8,352 posts

262 months

Tuesday 22nd August 2006
quotequote all
Plotloss said:
Google for offsite backup

Edit: What sort of data volume are we talking here?

Maybe easier to dump it on a DVD daily and stick it in a fire safe.

Edited by Plotloss on Tuesday 22 August 15:19


Between 3-10GB a day....I think. Any good?

Plotloss

67,280 posts

300 months

Tuesday 22nd August 2006
quotequote all
If its 10Gb bit too big for DVD.

Tapes could be an option, transferring that over wire at even SDSL speeds will take a while.

BliarOut

72,863 posts

269 months

Tuesday 22nd August 2006
quotequote all
Does that whole 3-10Gb of data change daily or could you do an incremental online backup?

Carrera2

Original Poster:

8,352 posts

262 months

Tuesday 22nd August 2006
quotequote all
BliarOut said:
Does that whole 3-10Gb of data change daily or could you do an incremental online backup?


Incrementally but god knows how you'd go about doing that.

Bugger, I was hoping for something I could jsut subscribe to and plug in right away - looks like I'll be needing some new hardware.

BliarOut

72,863 posts

269 months

Tuesday 22nd August 2006
quotequote all
Carrera2 said:
BliarOut said:
Does that whole 3-10Gb of data change daily or could you do an incremental online backup?


Incrementally but god knows how you'd go about doing that.

Bugger, I was hoping for something I could jsut subscribe to and plug in right away - looks like I'll be needing some new hardware.
That would be a function of the client software. You don't really need to know how it works, just that it's capable of backing up your selections on an incremental basis surely?

Carrera2

Original Poster:

8,352 posts

262 months

Tuesday 22nd August 2006
quotequote all
BliarOut said:
Carrera2 said:
BliarOut said:
Does that whole 3-10Gb of data change daily or could you do an incremental online backup?


Incrementally but god knows how you'd go about doing that.

Bugger, I was hoping for something I could jsut subscribe to and plug in right away - looks like I'll be needing some new hardware.
That would be a function of the client software. You don't really need to know how it works, just that it's capable of backing up your selections on an incremental basis surely?


Oh absolutely - sorry I misunderstood you. Yes I'd happily remain ignorant as to the exact process.

Do you know of an online facility for this sort of thing?

plasticpig

12,932 posts

255 months

Tuesday 22nd August 2006
quotequote all
Carrera2 said:
BliarOut said:
Does that whole 3-10Gb of data change daily or could you do an incremental online backup?


Incrementally but god knows how you'd go about doing that.

Bugger, I was hoping for something I could jsut subscribe to and plug in right away - looks like I'll be needing some new hardware.


You dont need to do that. Most online backup solutions offer a way of getting your backup up and running without backing up the whole thing first online. Usualy by means of a USB Hard drive. My company sells online backup solutions Link. Another PH'er Roadsweeper does as well. Both solutions use an incremental backup stratergy.

Carrera2

Original Poster:

8,352 posts

262 months

Tuesday 22nd August 2006
quotequote all
plasticpig said:
Carrera2 said:
BliarOut said:
Does that whole 3-10Gb of data change daily or could you do an incremental online backup?


Incrementally but god knows how you'd go about doing that.

Bugger, I was hoping for something I could jsut subscribe to and plug in right away - looks like I'll be needing some new hardware.


You dont need to do that. Most online backup solutions offer a way of getting your backup up and running without backing up the whole thing first online. Usualy by means of a USB Hard drive. My company sells online backup solutions Link. Another PH'er Roadsweeper does as well. Both solutions use an incremental backup stratergy.


Sounds perfect plasticpig.

I've completed the free trial form on your website so I look forward to testing it out.

Many thanks.

roadsweeper

3,789 posts

304 months

Tuesday 22nd August 2006
quotequote all
We offer an online backup service that does both incremental and differential backups - RemoteReplicator. You do not need any new hardware - just install our client-side software and you're ready to go. Your data is backed-up to our primary data centre and then again in real time to an ex-NATO nuclear bunker in a different location.

If we say that you have 10GB of server data to backup then you're looking at around £80/month for the service, assumming you don't need Exchange plug-ins, etc. From a cost perspective (as opposed to a backup time perspective) it does not matter how much your data changes daily as we charge for the storage quota you use, not data transfer. Your 10GB of data would likely be compressed by 60-70% (typical figure) but the space saved in compression is usually used up by the retention period, which allows you to go back as many days as you like to retrieve old files, etc. The default retention period is 7 days but this can be adjusted as required.

You can retrieve your files through our website or through the client software and a 30 day free trial is available.

I think we are cheaper than most backup providers out there and, importantly, we own the infrastructure your backup is on. Very often backup 'providers' are in fact just resellers for another backup company and hence have no access to the actual hardware on which your data is stored. This can be a problem if you have issues or, for example, need a large volume of data back more quickly than it can be downloaded, in which circumstance we can deliver an external hard disk to your office with your data securely encrypted.

We already have PHers using our services and they have been very pleased so far: 4 recommendations. See this thread from flyingjase who uses our backup service*. I believe he has been very happy with both the backup service and our customer service so far. I would imagine he wouldn't mind you emailing him through his profile based on previous conversations.

*I've just noticed that although Jason was happy to recommend us as he says on the thread, we never go it sorted out. Hopefulyl we should be up to 5 recs soon!

Edited by roadsweeper on Tuesday 22 August 16:09

roadsweeper

3,789 posts

304 months

Tuesday 22nd August 2006
quotequote all
plasticpig said:
[Most online backup solutions offer a way of getting your backup up and running without backing up the whole thing first online. Usualy by means of a USB Hard drive. My company sells online backup solutions Link. Another PH'er Roadsweeper does as well. Both solutions use an incremental backup stratergy.

Hi plasticpig

I didn't realise you sold online backup solutions too! Thanks for mentioning me and I'll make sure to mention you in future as usually I give a list of possible solutions anyway and then let the client make up their own mind (particularly on PH).

puggit

49,821 posts

278 months

Tuesday 22nd August 2006
quotequote all
Another backup software seller here, but in the Enterprise space, so I'll leave you to the other 2

Carrera2

Original Poster:

8,352 posts

262 months

Tuesday 22nd August 2006
quotequote all
roadsweeper said:
ex-NATO nuclear bunker


The clincher!!!

roadsweeper

3,789 posts

304 months

Tuesday 22nd August 2006
quotequote all
Carrera2 said:
roadsweeper said:
ex-NATO nuclear bunker


The clincher!!!

hehe tank

I must admit that always goes down well with clients! We've even had one who wanted a tour of both facilities as the last company he used claimed they used a second replication site for the backups and in fact it didn't exist so when their server failed they had to ask him to do a full backup again. paperbag hehe

As a slight aside, we also offer some powerful on-site diaster recovery solutions as well. These enable you to do a full bare metal restore (i.e. reinstall everything from the Operating System upwards) in a few minutes. You can boot from the backup whilst it is restoring to your server if downtime is critical. It will even allow you to restore to different hardware if your server totally fails. Alternatively, you can restore individual files very quickly too.

We usually recommend an external hard disk drive to backup to for the on-site backup and you can take that off-site with you at the end of the day if you wish. The backup software we use is pretty much the best in the world and though we don't write it (I'd be on my yacht now if we did!) we are an authorised UK reseller and have extensive experience in its use - all our data centre servers are backed-up using the same technology.

plasticpig

12,932 posts

255 months

Tuesday 22nd August 2006
quotequote all
roadsweeper said:
Carrera2 said:
roadsweeper said:
ex-NATO nuclear bunker


The clincher!!!

hehe tank

I must admit that always goes down well with clients! We've even had one who wanted a tour of both facilities as the last company he used claimed they used a second replication site for the backups and in fact it didn't exist so when their server failed they had to ask him to do a full backup again. paperbag hehe


I think evryone uses the same bunkers! The solution we sell is hosted in ex Nato bunkers as well. Actually I may be able put some business someones way. We did a load of marketing a few months ago and came up with some potential clients who were looking for offline storage in the Terrabyte range. It was for archiving rather than straight online backup and we dont have a solution for that and couldnt find anyone who did at a reasonable price per GB.