Sneakernet offsite backups (more complicated than you think)

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danielfaulknor

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Topic # 125734 17-Jul-2013 18:25

I was thinking today about my backups and how they need to be sorted.
I was wondering about a backup system that both backed up to local storage, but also enable the user to plug in a flash drive (after an inital sync) and have all changes (add/edit/delete) copied to this, which can then be plugged into a computer at a remote site that can then pick up the changes.
Excuse the run on sentence!

I can't quite work out how this would be easily achieved, especially if the two locations can not communicate over the network, but only via the drives.

More thoughts and a flow chart on my blog

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trig42

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Reply # 858250 17-Jul-2013 18:39

Syncback will do this.

Run the sync on the first computer, using it as source, sneaker the USB drive to the second one and run a profile on that using the USB as source.

danielfaulknor

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Reply # 858263 17-Jul-2013 19:08

sure that works if you have a 5TB USB drive.

I want to use smaller media (32GB flash drive for example) to sync the changes only which means I only have to transport the entire dataset once.

If I had lots of money I'd just rotate lots of big drives.

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jonherries

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Reply # 858274 17-Jul-2013 19:28

Keep one drive in your car glovebox.

I run two drives on the same network (usb hub connected to AEBS), and on occasion bring the third inside connect it up start sync, go to bed, put it back in the car in the morning.

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danielfaulknor

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Reply # 858281 17-Jul-2013 19:39

Same problem. More data than one drive can hold.

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jonherries

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Reply # 858282 17-Jul-2013 19:45

I triage my back ups, highest priorities are documents and photos/home movies, next is music, next is movies/tv shows.

My offsite at the moment only includes my first and second triage categories.

You don't need to limit it to one drive? If you segment your data, you could have a drive for category 1 and 2 and a drive for the video/tv?

Jon

jonherries

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Reply # 858284 17-Jul-2013 19:47

Hahahaha just read about your NAS size...

http://runningconfig.co.nz/2013/06/home-network/

danielfaulknor

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Reply # 858285 17-Jul-2013 19:48

Because that involves buying drives.
I have readily available but static storage available at both locations.
I'm not asking for alternatives, I'm asking about implementation of my idea.

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rhy7s

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Reply # 858522 18-Jul-2013 11:18

It might not be any more efficient than copying whole changed files to do a reverse delta in your situation. Here's a couple of discussions that you might find relevant: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/9441801/making-delta-file-without-a-basis-source-file?rq=1 http://stackoverflow.com/questions/9515604/alternatives-to-rdiff

CYaBro

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Reply # 858579 18-Jul-2013 12:39

ShadowProtect and ImageManager will do what you want.
No need for transport of a usb flash drive as it just transfers the incremental changes over the internet, after the initial seed backup.

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rhy7s

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Reply # 858602 18-Jul-2013 13:23

CYaBro: ShadowProtect and ImageManager will do what you want.
No need for transport of a usb flash drive as it just transfers the incremental changes over the internet, after the initial seed backup.

The OP has said there's no connection available between the two sites.

CYaBro

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Reply # 861660 18-Jul-2013 15:08

rhy7s:
CYaBro: ShadowProtect and ImageManager will do what you want.
No need for transport of a usb flash drive as it just transfers the incremental changes over the internet, after the initial seed backup.

The OP has said there's no connection available between the two sites.

They said network but nothing about the internet.
Surely both sites would have some sort of internet connection?

You could still use what I suggested but just use a USB stick instead.

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danielfaulknor

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Reply # 861669 18-Jul-2013 15:20

Assume no internet

So those products can do incrementals via flash drive? No visibility between either system required? (apart from the drive going back and forwards)

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