REVscene Automotive Forum - View Single Post - How Do You Backup Your Files (2TB worth)?

skholla · 12-12-2009, 03:13 PM

Here is how I backup 1.5TB of data...

My setup consists of one tower with two hard drives (640gb + 1.5tb), two laptops (120gb each), two external hard drives (2tb each), and one fire/water proof safe.

On the tower the 640gb hard drive stores my OS and apps, also all my temp and newly downloaded files. The 1.5tb hard drive stores all of my permanent data (photos, music, videos, documents, etc).

The first 2tb hard drive is my working backup, it is connected to the tower via fw800 and is also shared on my network. It archives all of the data from the 1.5tb drive (locally using time machine) and it also archives all of the data on two laptops in my home (over wireless using time machine).

The second 2tb hard drive is my emergency backup, it is stored in the fire/water proof safe. Once a month I bring it out, connect it and clone all of the data from the first 2tb hard drive (using carbon copy cloner) and then lock it up again.

This backup solution works great for me and protects against two drive failures and fire and water damage. Most people can go with out the second external hard drive and just go for a mirrored external or nas box instead... but that wont protect you against fire or water damage. In the end it all depends on how important the data is to you and how much time and money are willing to invest to protect it. My solution isnt fool proof as there is a 1 month period behind my backup clone jobs, my safe is only rated for 30 mins of fire protection, also it does not protect against theft. If someone stole my tower and external then I would still have the second external in my safe, if they took the safe too then I would be hooped.

Take some time to think about how important your data is, come up with a budget, research and then draw a workflow chart for your backup solution.

Good luck!

12-12-2009, 03:13 PM	#12
skholla Diagonally parked in a parallel universe Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Vancouver Posts: 1,486 Thanked 66 Times in 61 Posts Failed 3 Times in 2 Posts	Here is how I backup 1.5TB of data... My setup consists of one tower with two hard drives (640gb + 1.5tb), two laptops (120gb each), two external hard drives (2tb each), and one fire/water proof safe. On the tower the 640gb hard drive stores my OS and apps, also all my temp and newly downloaded files. The 1.5tb hard drive stores all of my permanent data (photos, music, videos, documents, etc). The first 2tb hard drive is my working backup, it is connected to the tower via fw800 and is also shared on my network. It archives all of the data from the 1.5tb drive (locally using time machine) and it also archives all of the data on two laptops in my home (over wireless using time machine). The second 2tb hard drive is my emergency backup, it is stored in the fire/water proof safe. Once a month I bring it out, connect it and clone all of the data from the first 2tb hard drive (using carbon copy cloner) and then lock it up again. This backup solution works great for me and protects against two drive failures and fire and water damage. Most people can go with out the second external hard drive and just go for a mirrored external or nas box instead... but that wont protect you against fire or water damage. In the end it all depends on how important the data is to you and how much time and money are willing to invest to protect it. My solution isnt fool proof as there is a 1 month period behind my backup clone jobs, my safe is only rated for 30 mins of fire protection, also it does not protect against theft. If someone stole my tower and external then I would still have the second external in my safe, if they took the safe too then I would be hooped. Take some time to think about how important your data is, come up with a budget, research and then draw a workflow chart for your backup solution. Good luck!