[Discuss] Cloud-backup solutions for Linux?

[jack at coats.org (Jack Coats)]

Syncing is a form of backup IMHO.  But I don't like that it is so easy to
access.  That makes it to easy for ME to fubar my own data. (Dropbox
keeping an old version or so for a while has saved me in the past, but it
is secondary to its normal function.)

I do use syncing.  I use a separate backup, and even backup my syncing
directory (i.e. dropbox is in my backup path, but the backup doesn't go to
dropbox).

My normal preaching to local user groups is 3-2-1 backups.  If you need the
story, let me know offline.

I backup using crashplan to a local drive, AND to the 'cloud', AND to a
second local machine to give me the 3-2-1 mix (some would call it 4-2-1 but
I digress)

On Thu, Sep 24, 2015 at 9:36 AM, Matt Shields <matt at mattshields.org> wrote:

> Who says sync/sharing is not a backup?  Is the goal a backup not to have
> two or more copies of your data in different locations?  If the datacenter
> happens to fail, your other copy would be the local one, correct?
> Swapping backup drives/tapes isn't without it's own problems.  What happens
> if the bank building burns down?  Or the drive/tape becomes corrupt?
> Computer dies before your bi-monthly/quarterly drive swap?
>
> For me, using a live sync solution provides a better backup solution than
> dealing with SneakerNet. My backups are up to the minute and automatic and
> redundant (computer -> ownCloud -> S3 in other region). I personally have
> no time for dealing with manually backing up our personal computers and
> swapping a drive at my banks vault.  My solution works for me because it
> solves my problem of having offsite backups (and recovery) and keeps it
> simple.  The trick is to find what works for you because if it's burdensome
> and complicated you're not going to do it or you're going to forget about
> it.  With all these idea/solutions we're playing the odds.  What are the
> odds that my cloud instance, S3 and my local computer all die at the same
> time?  What are the chances that my computer dies the day before I get a
> backup to disk and take it to the bank?  Don't write off sync
> technologies/services as not acceptable.  Evaluate what your needs are and
> what is acceptable for data loss is and make a choice based on that.  For
> some the cost of hosting their own sync server will not be worth it and a
> backup drive taken to the bank is "good enough".
>
>
> Matt
>
> On Thu, Sep 24, 2015 at 10:06 AM, Rich Pieri <richard.pieri at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > On 9/24/2015 6:36 AM, Matt Shields wrote:
> >
> >> Check out ownCloud.  It let's you run your own cloud based backup
> >> service.
> >>
> >
> > ownCloud is sync/sharing, not backup.
> >
> > On 9/24/2015 7:02 AM, Edward Ned Harvey (blu) wrote:
> > > Oh god, no. If you're thinking about ownCloud, try Synctuary instead.
> >
> > So are Synctuary, SyncThing, SparkleShare, etc.
> >
> > Bill Cattey's answer is the correct one.
> >
> > What happens when your sync storage disk fails? You lose everything. So
> > you get a RAID setup. What happens when the RAID controller goes stupid
> and
> > scribbles garbage all over the disk? You lose everything. So you go to a
> > big, safe cloud provider. What happens when the data center's power grids
> > get hit by lightning four times in rapid succession? Maybe you lose
> > everything.
> >
> > If it isn't on media that can be physically detached and stored securely
> > (fire box, safe deposit box, etc.) then it isn't a backup. At best it is
> > the first step in creating backups; at worst it is permanent data loss
> > begging to happen.
> >
> > --
> > Rich P.
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Discuss mailing list
> > Discuss at blu.org
> > http://lists.blu.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
> >
> _______________________________________________
> Discuss mailing list
> Discuss at blu.org
> http://lists.blu.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>



-- 
><> ... Jack

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