Need Help with Data Backup

[romaso]

I'm a low-tech guy and need some help with data backup, with questions in 3 areas:

1) What is a good brand and type of external hard drive to back up my PC? I presume solid-state would be best (I had a non-solid state Seagate fail). What are the most reliable brands and what features should I look for?

2) What are good brands for flash/jump drives? Are the larger sizes less reliable (pushing the envelope)?

3) What are the best online backup sites? I know not to store personal info there, I'm mostly looking for backup of photos (mostly cat photos!). I know both Microsoft and Google have them.

Thanks for your help!

 

[ashdigger]

I use Sandisk and Samsung. They are small and fast and come with cables and adapters. Great stuff.

For cloud storage I use DropBox, OneDrive and iCloud.

Yes I use all three cloud services.

I back everything up all the time. Everything I do is potentially evidence so I can’t afford a hiccup.

You can get all sizes and storage limits. But transfer speed is where it’s at.

SANDISK baby SANDISK


Although Samsung is also extremely good and reliable.

 

[ashdigger]

I don’t use flash drives. Everything I do is off the SSD’s.

I carry a 1TB and a 4TB everywhere.

 

[romaso]

But transfer speed is where it’s at.

Thanks! Is there some minimum transfer speed I should look for, or are they all pretty fast now?

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Use cloud for backup. Dropbox or Onedrive. An external drive is okay but susceptible to the same hazards that cause the computer hard drive to fail, lightning and brownouts / surges.

 

[ashdigger]

Thanks! Is there some minimum transfer speed I should look for, or are they all pretty fast now?

Name brands are all pretty fast.

If instead of Sandisk you buy FredsDisk I’m sure you need to monitor it. Lol.

 

[ashdigger]

Use cloud for backup. Dropbox or Onedrive. An external drive is okay but susceptible to the same hazards that cause the computer hard drive to fail, lightning and brownouts / surges.

I’ve never had an SSD go bad, but I deliberately carry two.

 

[shanez]

I'm a low-tech guy and need some help with data backup, with questions in 3 areas:

1) What is a good brand and type of external hard drive to back up my PC? I presume solid-state would be best (I had a non-solid state Seagate fail). What are the most reliable brands and what features should I look for?

2) What are good brands for flash/jump drives? Are the larger sizes less reliable (pushing the envelope)?

3) What are the best online backup sites? I know not to store personal info there, I'm mostly looking for backup of photos (mostly cat photos!). I know both Microsoft and Google have them.

Thanks for your help!

How much data are you backing up?

 

[romaso]

How much data are you backing up?

Currently less than 300 GB

 

[mawnansmiff]

Whichever route you take, make sure you have at least 2 copies of your most important files etc on 2 separate types of device.

Once data is lost, it's (usually but not always) lost for good.

I have a plug in hard drive but mostly rely on memory sticks of which I have 5.

I personally avoid using 'cloud' services, with the right hardware/software these can be accessed by those with the knowhow to do such things.

Regards,

Jay.

 

[Markem]

As to speed, that generally depends on your interface. For example, USB 3.0 is quite a bit faster than USB 2.0. Note that you need to check what version of the interface your computer has because a USB 3.0 (there are newer, this is just an example) drive in a USB 2.0 interface is still limited to 2.0 speeds. SSDs and thumb drives use very similar technology (flash, for the most part) and the same interfaces (in general), so speed can be roughly comparable. But check the package it comes in as it will usually give this in the specs.

Like any computer media, it has a lifetime, but it is longer than a rotational disk (traditional hard drive). The data on it eventually fades, as it true for all computer media, until it can no longer be recognized. If you have media that is being used to store data for a very long period of time, periodically refresh the data but rewriting it. By periodically, I mean every 3-5 years, although your mileage may vary.

For the truly nerdy, who may want a bit of a primer on SSDs, here is the relevant chapter from a book that I used to use to teach operating systems to college sophomores: https://pages.cs.wisc.edu/~remzi/OSTEP/file-ssd.pdf

 

[sablebrush52]

Because of the configuration of the WBA workstation I'm currently using, I opted to use Corsair GTX thumb drives for my TimeMachine back ups as they're highly rated and can carry a terrabyte. I also back up to the main servers. Personal archives I back up every 3 years to keep the media refreshed. Digital ain't forever.

 

[visualmemory]

Well, actually (ackchyually) solid state drives might be worse for backups than mechanical ones. They need the files to be accessed frequently or might loose them. So they are good as system disks ,not so good as external backup.

"SSDs store data in electrical charges, which slowly leak over time if left without power. This is the reason why SSDs are not suited for archival purposes as the worn out drives (that have exceeded their endurance rating) start to lose data typically after one (if stored at 30 °C) to two (at 25 °C) years in storage."

I've got a stash of old mechanical HDDs from my old PCs, the oldest ones are I suppose like 10 years old, and weren't used since. Last time I was archieving files from them. They are slow as hell but the files are still on them.

 

[visualmemory]

Something more from me. I'm not computer specialist, so from personal experience. I as far as I remember I never had a HDD failure, so maybe I'm lucky. I've got some pendrives where I have some files from like 2-3 years ago, they didn't dissapear, but I wouldn't relay on them. I've got 1TB Seagate external drive, I think it's "Expansion" model for like 2 years, for some time it was hooked all the time to PC as a second drive, no problems with this one. I've got 1TB Toshiba Canvio and I wouldn't recommend this one. For some reason it works good only in one of my USB ports, on other it was hanging up while copying files and acting weird. There are bigger Seagate external drives, I was told they are the models which are used in data centers (bigger than 3.5") just in plastic casing with it's own power supply, so they theoretically could be most reliable. But they are noisy and maybe 10, 15, 20 terrabytes are little overkill for you and they are noisy.

 

[kschatey]

A few considerations:

• Do not use SSD or flash for backups as they have a limited lifetime and are more violitile than most know, although this is improving
• Always keep at least two backup copies of what is most important to you, preferably one off-site.
• Backup is becoming more difficult due to shear volume these days.
• A single solution does not necessarily work for all, so I will state what I do and you can take it under consideration...

My backup scheme:

1. Data on main computer is stored in RAID-1 (mirrored) drive set; SSD drive is for boot/OS only
2. Data gets backed up to local NAS that has RAID-1 (mirrored) drive sets (RAID-5 or better preferred)
3. Most important data gets encrypted and backed up from NAS to online/Cloud backup location for off-site backup purposes
4. Periodic backup from NAS to local external hard drive which is stored in a fireproof safe

My plan is not necessarily best and there are ways to improve it. As with anything technology related though, considerations are cost, time, complexity, volume, etc. Hard drives will fail, so try to standardize on a common capacity and type and keep an extra on hand, if possible, to swap in when needed. Also, diversify across drive brands and purchasing locations to reduce risk of batch failures.

Hope this helps.