Goodbye Carbonite, Hello Mozy

[phoenixag]

Hmm, I see your point about the large amounts of data. Actually, the calculation is a bit wrong, at least from my perspective.

138GB of data on only one computer does work out cheaper on Moby.

But having that same data available on all my 6 computers + work computer = 7 total computers is actually cheaper on Jungledisk than on Moby.

One of the reasons I was attracted to JD was that I only pay once for my account and then a small monthly fee on actual usage, and can use it on unlimited computers!

So, in comparison to JD, the cost in my scenario on Moby would have been

7 computers = $5 x 7 = $35/month, which is just crazy.

Btw, the upload costs on JD are a one time affair, providing you are not uploading 138GB or 180GB of data on a day to day basis. The download costs to download the whole 180GB of data might be big, but are you really going to do that on a regular basis?

Also, I have secure web based access to all my data. That means, I can access any file from my phone. I can also upload any file from my Nokia E71 to JD straight off the phone. In fact, I regularly do this for editing documents on the go.

JD also comes with a portable version of its software, so you can carry it on your USB Stick, or as I said, access it straight off the browser.

Anyway, I guess there are different services for different purposes. JD suits my purpose fine, it might not fit in another scenario.

[phoenixag]

Hmm, I see your point about the large amounts of data. Actually, the calculation is a bit wrong, at least from my perspective.

138GB of data on only one computer does work out cheaper on Moby.

But having that same data available on all my 6 computers + work computer = 7 total computers is actually cheaper on Jungledisk than on Moby.

One of the reasons I was attracted to JD was that I only pay once for my account and then a small monthly fee on actual usage, and can use it on unlimited computers!

So, in comparison to JD, the cost in my scenario on Moby would have been

7 computers = $5 x 7 = $35/month, which is just crazy.

Btw, the upload costs on JD are a one time affair, providing you are not uploading 138GB or 180GB of data on a day to day basis. The download costs to download the whole 180GB of data might be big, but are you really going to do that on a regular basis?

Also, I have secure web based access to all my data. That means, I can access any file from my phone. I can also upload any file from my Nokia E71 to JD straight off the phone. In fact, I regularly do this for editing documents on the go.

JD also comes with a portable version of its software, so you can carry it on your USB Stick, or as I said, access it straight off the browser.

Anyway, I guess there are different services for different purposes. JD suits my purpose fine, it might not fit in another scenario.

[Jason Dunn]

Originally Posted by phoenixag

Anyway, I guess there are different services for different purposes. JD suits my purpose fine, it might not fit in another scenario.

Cool, thanks for explaining your scenario - it sounds like JungleDisk is a real winner for your needs...and honestly, I'd like to be able to do the same thing with Mozy, but having 180 GB of data backed up is more important to me than remote access of those files (I have other solutions for that problem).

[onlydarksets]

Originally Posted by phoenixag

Hmm, I see your point about the large amounts of data. Actually, the calculation is a bit wrong, at least from my perspective.

138GB of data on only one computer does work out cheaper on Moby.

But having that same data available on all my 6 computers + work computer = 7 total computers is actually cheaper on Jungledisk than on Moby.

Given your approach, yes. For me, it's 138GB on 4 different computers, and it's still $5/month. Everything backs up to the server via FolderShare, and the server backs up to the cloud via Carbonite. That way I have local and offsite backups of everything. FolderShare also gives me remote access to everything.

But, I agree 100% with this:

Originally Posted by phoenixag

Anyway, I guess there are different services for different purposes. JD suits my purpose fine, it might not fit in another scenario.

[phoenixag]

I actually built my Windows Home Server machine, and have 2 Media Center PCs as well.

I've backed up most of my media stuff on the WHS machine. Although I use JungleDisk's addin for WHS, backing up more than 2TB of data to the cloud is unthinkable, and neither do I have the connection for that sort of thing. Actually, even backing up 180GB is unthinkable, so cudos to Jason for trying this out

If I exclude my media files, I find that my documents simply do not go over the 10GB limit.

One thing I am intrigued with here is:

onlydarksets: You mentioned that you use Foldershare in conjunction with Carbonite. I've been looking into Foldershare but always dismissed it because I thought it had a 2GB limit. But now when I looked into it again, it says a 2GB individual file limit.

Can you please explain to me how FolderShare works? Does your server have to be on for FolderShare to sync? Or does it save files to the cloud? I would imagine it needs to be on, hence the need for another 3rd party solution (Carbonite).

Can you please confirm this? I am looking into using Foldershare as an alternative solution for files which change on an hourly basis, but am not sure if it lets you access files when the PC is off and neither do they explain it very clearly on their site.

[onlydarksets]

FolderShare is a p2p file sync and remote file access tool. It doesn't back anything up to the cloud, and it only works when both peers are online.

I use it more like a client/server tool, although you could set it up as more of a mesh, I believe. In my case, I have:

• HTPC/Fileserver
• Home office PC
• Work laptop
• Home laptop

The HTPC serves as the main repository. The other three PCs run FolderShare to sync up to it. I don't use it for larger media - only for documents, pictures, and music. Some machines sync up different things with the HTPC, but the HTPC gets everything.

Carbonite runs on the HTPC, and everything goes to the cloud.

Does that help?

[J-Mac]

After over a year with Mozy - and just after I had renewed for two year, paid in advance, I ended up canceling the subscription and getting a refund. They forced an upgrade to a new version and it never could maintain a connection after that.

I went a month with only failed updates to my backups, spent three weeks corresponding with the same idiot who kept asking the same questions over and over. Finally he insisted that I try downgrading to the previous version, but only after a clean uninstall. I specifically asked if my 60 GB+ backup files were safe on Mozy's servers and he assured me they were.

The downgrade did not work because when the Mozy Home client recognizes there is an upgrade available it immediately installs it - the Support idiot should have known this. Plus after installing it the new installation insisted that I had no backup files online. Turns out it was true - they LOST my backup files. Because of the clean uninstall/reinstall. Even after I asked if this was safe.

Really poor support - once you actually need it.

I now use JungleDisk with an Amazon S3 account. Cost a little less, works fine, and I can backup all my copmputers with the same account - and over a network, too.

Jim

[Jason Dunn]

Originally Posted by J-Mac

I went a month with only failed updates to my backups, spent three weeks corresponding with the same idiot who kept asking the same questions over and over.

Ouch - sounds frustrating! So far I haven't had any problems with the Mozy client software...let's hope it stays that way!

[batuckan1]

Hey folks

a few comments,

backup storage is probably the cheapest thing anyone can do, but no one wants to take the
time to invest in, till its too late.

pick your media, tape, hard drive, NAS, cd/dvd there's a plethora of options out there.
and no reason not to invest in something that will save your bacon when you absolutely have recover a file from storage.

tape media/ kinda pricey, requires some work, scsi/pci bus and typically found on a server.

hard drive, external or internal, media is cheap till you need it recovered from a broken read/write arm

the popular option is a linux/fedora/ubuntu running samba slapped someplace on your lan
you can map the netshares from windows, and see the files native format remotely.

again, the level of complexity depends on your need. if you want this stuff backed up and restored, you have to have the time to invest in it, or have someone do the work for you.

cool thing about linux distros, cost effective scaleable and requires the minimal hardware resources to run.

NAS can include linux boxes or the you can purchase individual NAS items from anywhere, they basically run the same OS, Linux or java or... pick your poison here. set it and forget it

and finally, the ever present dvd for the uninformed.. nothing like good old disk..

good luck to all

D.

[theon]

Originally Posted by Omegajb

I think Connected from Iron Mountain will backup USB and network drives.

Doesn't look like they support Singapore... Thanks!

[batuckan1]

Hey folks

Ive had decent luck with Acronis 9.1 workstation.

I use it as an ftp client to save files to an ftp server/win 2003 to an offsite place and
so far it has worked out ok.

havent had to restore the data yet,
but atleast i know it does work.

mike