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If you're okay with a Linux server being up all the time, then just get a NAS. I like Synology. Back everything up to the NAS, then back up the NAS to B2 or so

If you're okay with a Linux server being up all the time, then just get a NAS. I like Synology. Back everything up to the NAS, then back up the NAS to B2 or something. Synology will do that OOTB. Can't speak to other vendors, but I'm pretty happy with my setup.

saganus 9y ago
That's my next alternative if I can't find a suitable (for me) alternative. However I would prefer not to have the NAS on all the time, mostly because I only backup seldomly (since I don't really generate that much data, so losing a month or so is not that bad. Really critical stuff I backup directly to tarsnap though), and because where I live, the quality of the electricity is really bad. I get unexpected blackouts once a month at least, if not more, and voltage/current changes a few times a week, so even though I use voltage regulators and such, I like to be extra safe with my backup hardware, so the less time they spend connected to the grid, the better for me. Maybe I'm paranoid, but I believe (can't confirm) I've lost data over the years due to electricity issues.
- cweagans 9y ago
  Ah, you and I are in the same boat. I finally pulled the trigger and racked up all of my network equipment and put everything behind a nice NAS and power conditioner. My backups run hourly, and I have ~5 devices regularly backing up to this NAS, so my requirements are a bit higher than yours. That aside, the Synology is just a linux box with a nice chassis. You don't necessarily need it to always be running. Shut it down when you're not using it and boot it up when you need it.
  - saganus 9y ago
    I would love to have a setup like yours, I just can't justify the cost for the type of data I have. I mean, yeah sure, my pictures and personal stuff are very valuable, but I already have a few copies in my parent's home, etc, and I don't produce much photos or videos anymore so my space needs grow very slowly. However I would prefer to just have one more layer just in case. I thought Synology products were meant to be kep on so I came to believe that startup times and such would be a pain, but maybe if they are not it could work fine for my needs... I'll definitely consider it! Also.. yeah, once I get a nice chunk of money I too would love to have a line conditioner... but dayum those things are expensive. Btw, can you recommend a particular model you like? Thanks!
    - cweagans 9y ago
      This is the one I have: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000XJLLKG https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000XJLLKG It's not a dedicated power conditioner, I guess, but it does handle voltage irregularities, and it switches to battery and back fast enough to not be an issue in brownouts.
      - saganus 9y ago
        Great! Thanks, I'll dig into it a bit more.
- ValentineC 9y ago
  > However I would prefer not to have the NAS on all the time, mostly because I only backup seldomly (since I don't really generate that much data, so losing a month or so is not that bad. Really critical stuff I backup directly to tarsnap though), and because where I live, the quality of the electricity is really bad. I get unexpected blackouts once a month at least, if not more, and voltage/current changes a few times a week, so even though I use voltage regulators and such, I like to be extra safe with my backup hardware, so the less time they spend connected to the grid, the better for me. In this case, why not a standard external hard disk over USB?
  - saganus 9y ago
    That's basically my current setup, however since I rather have a "good" HD (currently a WD Red) as an added layer than only a run-of-the-mill USB drive (which for several reasons I've come to believe aren't as reliable), I setup a cheap Celeron-based computer for this. I still use my USB drive, but it's used much more frequently so I fear it might break some day. That's why I opted for the NAS-rated HD as a second layer backup. As a last resort I also use tarsnap for my very critical files though, so yeah, USB drives are good but I wanted a bit more peace of mind on top :)
    - ValentineC 9y ago
      What's the Celeron-based computer for? I share the same sentiment as you regarding off-the-shelf external drives — I believe they're usually bottom-binned stuff. You could consider getting a 3.5" enclosure and installing a NAS-rated drive in it.

saganus 9y ago

That's my next alternative if I can't find a suitable (for me) alternative. However I would prefer not to have the NAS on all the time, mostly because I only backup seldomly (since I don't really generate that much data, so losing a month or so is not that bad. Really critical stuff I backup directly to tarsnap though), and because where I live, the quality of the electricity is really bad. I get unexpected blackouts once a month at least, if not more, and voltage/current changes a few times a week, so even though I use voltage regulators and such, I like to be extra safe with my backup hardware, so the less time they spend connected to the grid, the better for me. Maybe I'm paranoid, but I believe (can't confirm) I've lost data over the years due to electricity issues.

cweagans 9y ago
Ah, you and I are in the same boat. I finally pulled the trigger and racked up all of my network equipment and put everything behind a nice NAS and power conditioner. My backups run hourly, and I have ~5 devices regularly backing up to this NAS, so my requirements are a bit higher than yours. That aside, the Synology is just a linux box with a nice chassis. You don't necessarily need it to always be running. Shut it down when you're not using it and boot it up when you need it.
- saganus 9y ago
  I would love to have a setup like yours, I just can't justify the cost for the type of data I have. I mean, yeah sure, my pictures and personal stuff are very valuable, but I already have a few copies in my parent's home, etc, and I don't produce much photos or videos anymore so my space needs grow very slowly. However I would prefer to just have one more layer just in case. I thought Synology products were meant to be kep on so I came to believe that startup times and such would be a pain, but maybe if they are not it could work fine for my needs... I'll definitely consider it! Also.. yeah, once I get a nice chunk of money I too would love to have a line conditioner... but dayum those things are expensive. Btw, can you recommend a particular model you like? Thanks!
  - cweagans 9y ago
    This is the one I have: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000XJLLKG https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000XJLLKG It's not a dedicated power conditioner, I guess, but it does handle voltage irregularities, and it switches to battery and back fast enough to not be an issue in brownouts.
    - saganus 9y ago
      Great! Thanks, I'll dig into it a bit more.
ValentineC 9y ago
> However I would prefer not to have the NAS on all the time, mostly because I only backup seldomly (since I don't really generate that much data, so losing a month or so is not that bad. Really critical stuff I backup directly to tarsnap though), and because where I live, the quality of the electricity is really bad. I get unexpected blackouts once a month at least, if not more, and voltage/current changes a few times a week, so even though I use voltage regulators and such, I like to be extra safe with my backup hardware, so the less time they spend connected to the grid, the better for me. In this case, why not a standard external hard disk over USB?
- saganus 9y ago
  That's basically my current setup, however since I rather have a "good" HD (currently a WD Red) as an added layer than only a run-of-the-mill USB drive (which for several reasons I've come to believe aren't as reliable), I setup a cheap Celeron-based computer for this. I still use my USB drive, but it's used much more frequently so I fear it might break some day. That's why I opted for the NAS-rated HD as a second layer backup. As a last resort I also use tarsnap for my very critical files though, so yeah, USB drives are good but I wanted a bit more peace of mind on top :)
  - ValentineC 9y ago
    What's the Celeron-based computer for? I share the same sentiment as you regarding off-the-shelf external drives — I believe they're usually bottom-binned stuff. You could consider getting a 3.5" enclosure and installing a NAS-rated drive in it.