Automated Back-up for PC

Hi All,

I've been recently sorting out my photo storare and back-up options, now storing all my photos and LR3 catalogue on a Western Dig 2TB, with another of the same for back-up as well as an older external device which I keep off site.

In trying to simplify the process I've been thinking of using some software to try to automate the process and keep things backed up in real time.

Does anyone have any recommendations? Free software is good , although happy to pay a for something that works really well!

Thanks in advance!

I note you use the phrase Real Time, be aware that that really implies RAID or Mirroring of some type, generally a H/W method so fairly complex, and not free.
It's really best to servers territory, nor is it entirely foolproof, like most software or cheaper-simpler methods aren't.

OK. Since its gestation I've been a fan of full partition 'disk imaging' as the most complete, and best, software-based backup solution for general usage.

And for that I still use Norton G.H.O.S.T (staying with it against many comers esp over recent years), for many reasons other that loyalty.

As a Symantec product it's commercial (trialware available) but easily worth the asking price IMhO for saving skin - reliably!

To recall this wise old axiom that I read many years ago:
"Avoid focusing on backups. The ease and quality of restores are what's
important. Backup is only a tool to get to a restore." -- Chris Severance

Ghost automagically and faithfully backs up the OS (system) including personal files, settings, etc., as defined by time interval[s] of my choice.
Currently that's only daily, but if needed a manual extra, or sometimes I set the schedule for every 2 hours incremental backups.
All performed hands off in the background.

The backup "Image", is compressed heavily and saved to any other partition or media large enough, including external (USB HD etc).

Best of all, it gives reassurance and proven reliable restoration.
If anything, malware, corruption, physical HD failure, whatever... I can have the whole system and all my personals back up and running perfectly to last backup state in under 25 minutes.
A real no-brainer to do it too.

Yes, there's even a very good freeware alternative of this method too, Macrium Reflect and I have a 4 PC license of the commercial of that too.
It's a local to you UK-based product, and the head-honcho Nick, runs a fantastic help/support forum too.

Windows Vista (Business and up) and all Windows 7 also have this capability built-in (fairly reliable, albeit crippled), and also a 'selective Files and Folders only' backup ability feature which both Ghost & Reflect commercial offer too, only do it far far better.

At the Files only level there's a heap of pay and freeware backup utilities out there too, with varying abilities, reliability and limitations.
"FBackup" is one I tried that comes to mind.

Feel free to ask if you need clarification or extra info.

HTH.

.R.

depends a lot on what you want, what you expect and how much space you need...

Bret

Some useful utilities for Windows that I use all the time:

* Scooter Software's Beyond Compare

* GRBackPro (for scheduled ZIP-by-directory)

There are plenty of others though, and it really does depend on what you want to do.

I use Beyond Compare to synchronise 2 working drives and two backup drives in three places
(As well as for source code change analysis etc)

Matt

I'm running Norton 360 as my anti-virus and that does offer a back-up solution, is that similar to the GHOST product that you mention? I tend not to use it as I find it too slow. My back-ups at the moment seem to be just periodic (weekly/fortnightly) copying of files from one location to the other. Doing it that way I find that things are getting out of sync and files I've deleted in the original location remain in the back-up location.

Beyond the basics I'm not hugely computer literate, I'm OK with them but it's not my thing so excuse the way I might be trying to describe what I'm after... Essentially I've got about 800GB of images to look after at the mo and that is growing all the time.

Realtime = ideally as I save/change/delete an image to/from it's 'standard' location either in My Pictures on the main HDD or a version of the same on an external drive I'd like a copy to automatically copy to my 2nd external drive so that both external drives are syncronised.

Does that help explain things a bit better?

Just Googled "Windows Real time drive copy"... no experience at all in this:
http://www.techsoftpl.com/backup/

Matt

I'm running the free software that came with my WD 1tb drive, 'Anywhere Backup', did you not get something similar with your drive?

XXCOPY is about the most powerful copying program you can get.
Better than MS's own Robocopy.
Can be run from a batch file with whatever parameters you want.

XXCOPY C: J: /CLONE
Clones Drive C: to Drive J: updating any files that need updating.
Very fast after you've done the first BUP.

XXCOPY "Chotographs" "Jhotographs" /CLONE
Should work as well.

I've not used the latest version. It's still free.

http://www.xxcopy.com/xcpymain.htm

I also use CopySync Desktop but it doesn't seem to be
available anymore.

rsync will allow lots but 800GB is way beyond the capabilities most vendors are prepared to deal with.
Think about it:

if it's 100kB/sec, it's 1.6MB/min.
So 900MB / hour.

At full speed, you're talking 800 hours to back your stuff up. That full speed is the equivalent of a 1Mbit uplink on a DSL line solely for you.

There is *no way* you will get full speed all the time, so you're talking a looong backup process.

Someone did once suggest a system whereby you get a disk and fill it at home and they put it online. Only that way do you have a hope in hell of keeping it up to date.
Most online backups will also kick you at some point for not observing their "fair use" T&Cs.

There are a couple of offers out there for online backup aimed at 'togs, but they're not cheap and doing it yourself isn't going to be much cheaper (computer + disks + card + setup). I know I am talking about €200 for 2TB of disks, then there's the card and a PC and running it. Yes, I'm looking at RAID 5 and a gigabit network here and 2.5" disks... it all adds up to the point that I'm looking at the thick end of a thousand euros to set everything up the way I want. Is is worth it?

Bret

It certainly does and thanks for defining your needs and objectively clearly.

I'll try and cover item by item:

1. 360 is a good probably more mainstream oriented protection+basic security(backup) product as you'd be familiar. Ghost focuses on backup(security) only using different strategy and method.

See a basic comparison here (with The Compare Tab) http://us.norton.com/ghost

You say 360 is slow so obviously its method is too clumsy and unsuitable for your particular setup. I think that might be understandable because 800 gigs of photos alone, +2TB drives, is beyond mainstream, that's not paltry numbers and probably needs a more robust dedicated b/u solution.

Considering you have 360 anyway, familiar with Symantec UI/workings and their products share components too, can I urge you to trial~evaluate Ghost and see it can adapt to your scenario?

It works in the background, using Windows' inbuilt "Snapshot" tech, so that you can continue using the PC, even modifying the same files targeted for backup because a 'snapshot' of the file was taken.
It also has a slider bar that you can increase/decrease its priority in case you feel its imposing on resources other programs need to run.

Regarding speed; unfortunately any heavy data transfer job, like backup is by nature, is mostly governed by 1) the size of the data job and, 2) the throughput capacity of the hardware including its 'bus' connection method, ie. an external USB connected hard drive is far far slower than an internal hard drive on the onboard SATA bus.

Products like Ghost are highly optimised over years for efficiency though and do the best they can on the given hardware. Its throughput on my PCs is very impressive and the fact that it compresses the data (Imaging method) doubles or more effective native rates compared to standard raw files-by-files method backup softwares.

Notwithstanding, trying to copy/backup 800GB over either bus, esp. USB can be painful and will take hours, literally!
No software can perform miracles.
So it can pay to bear that in mind when [next] setting up your hardware layout and system configuration.

A method employed around the speed problem (that Ghost and others use) is ongoing Incremental Backup, meaning only changed files get added/extracted since last backup. That should appeal and apply to you.

And as a rough guide, the compressed backup Image data (single file) saved by Ghost takes up around 55%-75% space (depends on compressibility) of the original package of files/folders, to give an idea of extra storage requirements needed.
eg. My C: drive currently contains 58.8GB of data, and yesterday morning's Ghost Image of it is one 32.2GB file.

2. You mention Synchronising: Good point too, a lightweight method~tool that might suit you there is Microsoft's SyncToy. It's freeware too and can do cool things like Delete/Rename a file on the target media but only if you had Deleted/Renamed the original on the main.
But it can't work on files that are in use, nor discriminate with hidden system type files or folders (such as Symlinks etc which [My] Pictures and Libraries and other special folders are).
Worth a look and a simple test anyway.

For your Realtime = ideally approach, sorry I can't really help or offer much there, not having experience in that field. Have heard some good words re Beyond Compare that MattMatic suggests, and another that I can't think of at present, will post a link if..

I think this might be the one, seems to match your "Realtime" wishes anyway:

"Second Copy® monitors the source files and keeps the backup updated with new or changed files. It runs in the background with no user interaction. So, once it is set up you always have a backup of your data somewhere else."

.R.

Have you thought about Acronis?
http://www.acronis.co.uk/homecomputing/products/trueimage/

Automatically creates incremental backups etc.

Recovery manager so you can still boot if your O/S fails.
I have used Acronis and it is very simple to use.

Follow link above.

Free software below but I havent used these so cannot comment on their suitability.

http://www.paragon-software.com/home/db-express/
Also a collection of free stuff here with reviews.
http://www.brighthub.com/computing/smb-security/articles/47759.aspx

A massive thanks for all your responses and ideas, clearly plenty for me to investigate. I've just completed the periodic re-install of windows last night so starting from a fairly clean sheet of paper...

The Acronis option above looks like it might fit the bill and not at too huge a cost. Will download a trial version and see how I get on.

Thanks again!

Microsoft Synctoy works for me: it's free and very easy to use - it also allows you to preview everything that's going to be copied/overwritten/deleted. Not necessarily a great idea to backup without checking first - if you accidentally delete a photo/folder the backup copy may well go the same way !!

Simon