On Thu, 24 Jan 2013 17:08:52 +0100, Le_Forgeron wrote:

> updating backup (using rsync) take less time (but still a bit), but I'm
> lazy so I do it once in a while.

One word:  cron. :)

Jim

Post a reply to this message

Jim Henderson <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote:
> One word:  cron. :)

Not in my community.  That's a good way to fry the backup disk.

Post a reply to this message

On 01/25/2013 11:37 AM, Cousin Ricky wrote:
> Jim Henderson <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote:
>> One word:  cron. :)
>
> Not in my community.  That's a good way to fry the backup disk.
>
>
LOL ... What??!!??

Post a reply to this message

On Fri, 25 Jan 2013 11:37:56 -0500, Cousin Ricky wrote:

> Jim Henderson <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote:
>> One word:  cron. :)
> 
> Not in my community.  That's a good way to fry the backup disk.

Depends on the options used.  For example, if the purpose is to back up 
data, using it to mirror data would be counterproductive.

But the data needs to get on the backup drive somehow - using cron + rsync 
gets it there with a minimum of hassle and only writes the changes.

Jim

Post a reply to this message

Having a RAID system is no help whatsoever if the actual RAID controller 
dies on you.

True story, learned the hard way... ;-)



For a home setup, I would suggest that RAID is way overkill, and a 
simple offline backup now and then is what you actually want. RAID might 
save you in the extremely unlikely event of a drive failure. (It 
basically means you don't have to wait until you can purchase another 
drive.) But a backup will save you from any possible type of failure. 
(Except failure of the backup medium itself. Having two backups fixes 
that...)

Post a reply to this message

Orchid Win7 v1 <voi### [at] devnull> wrote:
> For a home setup, I would suggest that RAID is way overkill, and a 
> simple offline backup now and then is what you actually want.

The problem with this is that it's easy to forget or to just be lazy and
procrastinate (until the day that your HD breaks.)

The best option would be to use an external storage device and an automatic
backupping program. This way you always have a very recent backup without
having to do anything.

Apple's Time Machine is an excellent idea (it automatically backs up your
data incrementally at certain intervals, and it has a GUI that makes it
very easy to restore any file), but I wonder if there are any programs for
other systems that would do the same.

The most typical backup program for other systems is something that you
have to run manually, and most often than not with a horrible nightmare
of a user interface. (For example you wouldn't believe how complicated
it is to restore one single file with OpenSuse's system backup utility.
Something that takes like 5 seconds with Time Machine can take at minimum
5 minutes with OpenSuse's system backup, often more. And of course it's
in no way automatic.)

-- 
                                                          - Warp

Post a reply to this message

On Sat, 26 Jan 2013 11:25:26 -0500, Warp wrote:

> The most typical backup program for other systems is something that you
> have to run manually, and most often than not with a horrible nightmare
> of a user interface. (For example you wouldn't believe how complicated
> it is to restore one single file with OpenSuse's system backup utility.
> Something that takes like 5 seconds with Time Machine can take at
> minimum 5 minutes with OpenSuse's system backup, often more. And of
> course it's in no way automatic.)

rsync + cron = backup goodness.

Jim

Post a reply to this message

On 01/26/2013 11:25 AM, Warp wrote:
>(For example you wouldn't believe how complicated
> it is to restore one single file with OpenSuse's system backup utility.

No kidding ... and the backup is awkward as well, epic fail as far as 
I'm concerned. Oh and adding my two cents I just use find -newer + cpio 
and copy over to 2TB USB external ... I just have my email nag me once a 
week.

Post a reply to this message

On 27-1-2013 4:15, James Holsenback wrote:
> On 01/26/2013 11:25 AM, Warp wrote:
>> (For example you wouldn't believe how complicated
>> it is to restore one single file with OpenSuse's system backup utility.
>
> No kidding ... and the backup is awkward as well, epic fail as far as
> I'm concerned. Oh and adding my two cents I just use find -newer + cpio
> and copy over to 2TB USB external ... I just have my email nag me once a
> week.
>
Fwiw, for almost 10 years I have used now two USB external backup drives 
with GoodSync as backup software (http://www.goodsync.com). I am 
perfectly happy.

Thomas

Post a reply to this message

On 27/01/2013 02:12 AM, Jim Henderson wrote:

> rsync + cron = backup goodness.

Fine if you know your way around the CLI. Not so great for your typical 
computer user who doesn't understand all that stuff...

Post a reply to this message