Mac Backup Query

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aboylikedave

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#142998 31-Mar-2014 13:43

I'm after a backup solution which can:

a) back up only selected folders (excludes Back Blaze?)
b) runs at a scheduled time and not in the background (excludes Crashplan?)
c) backs up to external hard drive
d) only syncs changed documents i.e. doesn't have to back up whole folder again if nothing has changed
e) (Optional not a dealbreaker) Can back up to a cloud location such as Dropbox

I'll have 100-250 gb to start with

Any recommendations? I'd rather not spend $50 on software if possible.

I'm a bit confused by the 'exclude' functionality to back up selected folders on Time Machine - is it easy to just back up your documents folder? It looks to me like you need to exclude all other folder...

Thanks

My EPL football websites: Get the results but hide the score of your team at HidetheScore.net. Compare league positions with wage bills at RealPremierLeague.net.

gehenna

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#1016019 31-Mar-2014 13:57

SuperDuper! maybe

nickb800

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#1016051 31-Mar-2014 14:46

Time machine is probably the slickest solution if you are just backing up to an external drive. Doesn't meet all of your requirements, but works straight out of the box.

You do have to exclude folders, rather than include.

apdv1

19 posts

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#1016088 31-Mar-2014 16:20

Chronosync

PJ48

302 posts

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#1016130 31-Mar-2014 17:33

Carbon Copy Cloner.

aboylikedave

243 posts

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#1016156 31-Mar-2014 18:50

PJ48: Carbon Copy Cloner.

Can it copy just selected folders e.g. Documents folder?

My EPL football websites: Get the results but hide the score of your team at HidetheScore.net. Compare league positions with wage bills at RealPremierLeague.net.

PJ48

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#1016204 31-Mar-2014 20:23

aboylikedave:
PJ48: Carbon Copy Cloner.

Can it copy just selected folders e.g. Documents folder?

Yes. You can choose what to back up, set a schedule either by time, or when you physically connect a drive. You can also set various other parameters. I have used this software for years. It is excellent, and worth the money.

My personal use for it is to make an incremental clone weekly to an external drive that I keep off site. When I bring the drive home and plug it in, it automatically updates the drive with any changes in the last week, usually takes about 5 min only. That way I have an off site bootable backup. You can just as easily only backup your documents folder.

New World

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Peppery

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#1016227 31-Mar-2014 21:01

+1 for Carbon Copy Cloner. Well worth the money.

nzkc

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#1016236 31-Mar-2014 21:26

aboylikedave:

a) back up only selected folders (excludes Back Blaze?)

Backblaze allows you to exclude folders and files. So you could set it up to exclude everything except the folder you want. A little annoying but this is what I do for the drive I back up.

sir1963

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#1016240 31-Mar-2014 21:34

Carbon Copy Cloner

Thats what I use to do basically the same thing.