Backup

Why Bother?

The one thing about your hard drive(s) and other computer hardware is not whether they will fail, but when they will fail. Further, even if your hardware lasts the life of your computer, there is no predicting when an application or operating system flaw may result in the loss of valuable data. Last, but not least, there is always the possibility of loss through theft, fire or some other natural disaster. If you back up your data on a regular basis, you should be able to recover it, at least as it existed at the time of your last backup, and avoid the angst you would otherwise have undoubtedly experienced. How easy the recovery might be is determined by how you back up. Backing up your data can be hard work (depending on the degree of automation involved), but the rewards are peace of mind and the ability to recover your data.

The Basics

My Data Environment

Most of my data is stored on an external USB 2.5 inch hard drive. This allows me to work on any of my other computers by simply reconnecting the external drive. When travelling, it's easiest to pack and carry a netbook or small laptop computer and the external drive. There is a requirement, of course, that each computer have the software needed to access the desired data. The hard drive is small and more easily stolen during a break-and-enter situation or when on the road, but I'm willing to live with that limitation. For a time, I was using an encrypted drive but my new Windows 7 laptop has a problem with it, either because there is an issue with attaching two large capacity USB external drives to the computer, or due to Windows 7 (I suspect the former). I hope to get back to using a hardware-level encrypted hard drive after doing further investigation. Failing that, I will purchase the appropriate encryption software (alas, my version of Windows 7 does not include an encryption capability).

Simplest Scheme

For the simplest backup I simply select all of the desired folders on my external drive, and copy those folders and their contents to another external drive. I have one large capacity 3.5" hard drive that I connect directly to the same machine that has my regular data drive (which seems to indicate that the above-mentioned compatibility issue may relate in some strange way to 2.5" external USB drives that draw their power from the USB port of the computer to which they're docked). I create a folder on the backup drive with a yyyymmdd format (e.g. December 25, 2009 would be "20091225") and copy the source folders and files into the newly created folder on the backup drive. I use the same approach with a large capacity 3.5" network hard drive that is connected to my router, although backups do take longer. From time to time I reformat one of the hard capacity drive (but not before I've run a recent backup on another drive). I have a number of older and lower capacity 2.5" external USB drives. Due to the incompatibility mentioned above, I connect them to a powered USB hub that is in turn connected to my regular laptop computer. I do not create a dated folder because the backup drive has insufficient capacity to back up data for more than one date. I keep track via a spreadsheet on Google Docs of each of the external drives I own and the date when I backed up to those drives: You can see from the above document just how often (not frequently enough!), what and how I back up. There is another section, not shown, that lists DVDs. All too infrequently, I try to back up my files to blank DVDs. For maximum compatibility with other computers, I use "R-" DVDs, rather than rewritable DVDs. From time to time I shred really old backup DVDs. At one time I was using CDs, but I have a massive amount of data to back up and the number of CDs multiplied very quickly. Whenever possible, I try to store backup DVDs off my premises.

Core Data backup

I studied my hard drive contents and identified my most important data. I use Winzip Pro (version 14.x) to zip the selected content and automatically FTP a date and time-stamped zip file to my hosting service. I do not currently use the scheduling feature of Winzip Pro, but it's possible to automate the whole process by doing so. It is vital that you encrypt your zip file contents, preferably with a long password and advanced encryption. If you don't have a hosting service, you may wish to email your zip backup file to Google Mail, or store your zipped data on Google Docs in the "cloud". This article is a work in progress. My draft point-form notes follow. Frequency Thumb drives External drives (2.5" versus 3.5") CDs DVDs Rotation Offsite FTP Online backup services (Mozy, Google) Automation Striping Backup format (compressed, encrypted, etc.) Google Docs Google Email

Radical Alternative

Store everything in the cloud and not on your own computer! Is there sufficient security. Is your ISP reliable? Keep your data in the most common and least proprietary formats.

Last updated April 12, 2010 8:33:04 AM