Back Up Heaven (or disaster recovery for the paranoid)
If, like me, you have ever lost data through user-error, disk failure, downright carelessness or some other misfortune, you will know it’s annoying, and sometimes it can be distressing, especially when the lost data had sentimental value and/or was irreplaceable.
As I invested hours and hours of work into my vision, I began to feel very vulnerable to the effects of data loss: to lose what I was creating would be quite devastating. I had always backed up, but I decided it was time to get scientific about it. It could be said that I got carried away, but I now have a strategy for backup that should cope with just about any eventuality except Armageddon, and even then I may be able to recover some data 
My strategy involves multiple machines, removable media, portable media and off-site storage, and a safe. Overkill? Probably, but once I’d set it up it’s a ‘disaster plan’ that takes minutes to execute and provides lasting peace of mind.
My basic approach is a simple one based around the idea of ‘divide and conquer’, except mine is more ‘divide and restore’; by keeping complete sets of data on multiple types of media and in multiple locations, there should always be a scenario available that will allow me to recover from a data-loss disaster. In brief, it looks like this:
1. Syncing 2 Machines
At the end of each productive day I sync my iMac and Macbook Pro using Chronosync. This means that I have current data always accessible, whichever machine I use, but it also means that if I lose my Macbook Pro, or a hard disk fails on either machine, all will not be lost, and I will not suffer any non-productive down-time. I have already talked about Chronosync here
2. Sync to USB Memory Stick
I have 2 data sticks, each 4GB, and I use one for ‘dynamic’ data – files I regularly change, and one for ‘static’ data: stuff I need – manuals, ebooks etc – but don’t often change. Again, using Chronosync I sync these at the end of every productive day, after I have synced both machines. I tend to carry these with me wherever I go, meaning I always have my data with me. Recently I have added a couple more sticks to accommodate photos, which I sync regularly and keep locked in our household safe.
3. On Line storage
I use dotMac, and I have 32GB of storage space. Ordinarily, I wouldn’t recommend dotMac if all you want is off-site storage – there are cheaper (dare I say better?) options out there, but I use a lot of the other features that dotMac offers, as well as family calendars etc, so for me it’s worth the annual outlay. On my iDisk I have downloaded applications (12GB), data (6GB), Photos (3GB), and Downloaded iTunes Music (8GB). Using Transmit I keep this synced with my off-line system, ensuring that dotMac always has my latest applications, data, music, photos and music, stored securely on Apple’s servers.
4. Bootable Clone
Every week I run Retrospect on each of my machines to create a bootable clone on my Western Digital 500GB external hard disk. This allows be to be sure that if I put patches on that trash my system, as I did when OSX 10.4.6 came out, I always have a recent restore point in the event that the the only option is to start-over.
5. Back up to DVD
As old hat as it may seem, I also do occasional back-ups to DVD – probably every three weeks on average. I use Toast to back up my music collection, my applications, my photos and my data to DVD disks, which I then keep in the safe.
So, ‘divide and restore’ works like this: I have the same data kept on 2 computers, on my iDisk at Apple, on data sticks in my pocket, on DVD’s in a fireproof safe, on an external hard disk on my desk (or in the safe if I’m away). Like I said, ‘Disaster Recovery for the Paranoid’. But, while setting it up was a ball-ache, keeping it running takes minutes as it’s pretty much all automated; and I get a sense that if some situation arises where all of my data locations have collapsed, then I probably have bigger things to worry about than some lost files!
I’m going to unpack (3) and (4) in a couple of upcoming posts for anyone wanting to find out the mechanics of creating bootable clones or backing up off-site; you never know, when you have stopped laughing at my anal-retentive paranoid character, you may even find it useful
If, like me, you have ever lost data through user-error, disk failure, downright carelessness or some other misfortune, you will know it’s annoying, and sometimes it can be distressing, especially when the lost data had sentimental value and/or was irreplaceable.
As I invested hours and hours of work into my vision, I began to feel very vulnerable to the effects of data loss: to lose
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If, like me, you have ever lost data through user-error, disk failure, downright carelessness or some other misfortune, you will know it’s annoying, and sometimes it can be distressing, especially when the lost data had sentimental value and/or was irreplaceable.
As I invested hours and hours of work into my vision, I began to feel very vulnerable to the effects of data loss: to lose
">
If, like me, you have ever lost data through user-error, disk failure, downright carelessness or some other misfortune, you will know it’s annoying, and sometimes it can be distressing, especially when the lost data had sentimental value and/or was irreplaceable.
As I invested hours and hours of work into my vision, I began to feel very vulnerable to the effects of data loss: to lose
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Related posts
- Back Up Heaven: On-Line Storage
- Back Up Heaven: Bootable Clones
- Back Up Heaven: Achieving Automation
- Who are you?
- Make Your Life Easier: Ensure Clarity