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Interesting question -> We just simply didn't build in that functionality. Right now the only way to get data in to Backblaze Online Backup is to have that data

by atYevP 9y ago

Interesting question -> We just simply didn't build in that functionality. Right now the only way to get data in to Backblaze Online Backup is to have that data come from the client which resides on the machine. For Backblaze B2, we knew that organizations would have much larger data-sets, so we designed it with that functionality in mind. Also, at the beginning the "no seeding" thing was kind of a gate to folks who had a lot of data but limited bandwidth. Our theory was that you should never be afraid of uploading your data, you should have the bandwidth to match. That was bout 10 years ago though, so things have changed - but it's still not a priority project for us - especially considering that since Online Backup is a flat-fee, by definition almost anyone that would use the "seeding" feature would not be a break-even customer for us.

AdmiralAsshat 9y ago
Hi Yev, This would be my sales pitch to your superiors: 1) My 4TB is not really expected to grow much beyond this point. It's the accumulation of a lifetime of hoarding, and the year-to-year addition beyond that will be in gigs, not TBs. So after the first year, it's basically just cold storage. If you guys can profitably store 4TB in cold storage for $50/yr, it should be profitable after the first year. 2) The guys who have enough media and are technical enough to want to seed it are also more than likely going to be the guys who make the backup service recommendations for their friends and families. Case in point: http://nothingofvalue.org/backup.html http://nothingofvalue.org/backup.html That's the website I created for friends, family, and coworkers to read, because I got tired of explaining the same stuff to them every Christmas. I very nearly bought the Crashplan Family plan at one point just to make it easier for them--I'm not glad I didn't. But I guess my point here is that the power-users, as irritating as we are, are going to be the ones who spread your product by word of mouth. 3) People with lots of data who take backing up seriously generally don't like switching vendors unless we have no other choice. I don't want a provider that I feel like I'll "outgrow" when I get too much data and be forced to switch to a more expensive plan or to another vendor. So while a user with 100 GB or less might be with you guys for a year, he will probably move to another vendor if they can do it cheaper, since he doesn't have much data. The hoarders, on the other hand, just want to know you'll keep their stuff safe and won't jack up the price on them at some point, and will otherwise be willing to stick with you forever. Just my $0.02 as a potential customer.

by atYevP 9y ago

AdmiralAsshat 9y ago

Hi Yev, This would be my sales pitch to your superiors: 1) My 4TB is not really expected to grow much beyond this point. It's the accumulation of a lifetime of hoarding, and the year-to-year addition beyond that will be in gigs, not TBs. So after the first year, it's basically just cold storage. If you guys can profitably store 4TB in cold storage for $50/yr, it should be profitable after the first year. 2) The guys who have enough media and are technical enough to want to seed it are also more than likely going to be the guys who make the backup service recommendations for their friends and families. Case in point: http://nothingofvalue.org/backup.html http://nothingofvalue.org/backup.html That's the website I created for friends, family, and coworkers to read, because I got tired of explaining the same stuff to them every Christmas. I very nearly bought the Crashplan Family plan at one point just to make it easier for them--I'm not glad I didn't. But I guess my point here is that the power-users, as irritating as we are, are going to be the ones who spread your product by word of mouth. 3) People with lots of data who take backing up seriously generally don't like switching vendors unless we have no other choice. I don't want a provider that I feel like I'll "outgrow" when I get too much data and be forced to switch to a more expensive plan or to another vendor. So while a user with 100 GB or less might be with you guys for a year, he will probably move to another vendor if they can do it cheaper, since he doesn't have much data. The hoarders, on the other hand, just want to know you'll keep their stuff safe and won't jack up the price on them at some point, and will otherwise be willing to stick with you forever. Just my $0.02 as a potential customer.