A few posts ago I mentioned that I was test driving backup software in response to my friend Rachelle's tragic data loss. I finally settled on an application, Handy Backup, $39. It's the only one I could find that dealt correctly with using FTP as a backup destination. I highly recommend getting all your important files consolidated to one place and setting up a backup system. It's not as hard as you would think.
Things you Need to Remotely Backup
- A machine that is always on or on a lot that has all the files you want to backup
- A server account that accepts FTP. Many ISPs already provide this. I get mine from Dreamhost with the bill for seantconrad.com
How To Set-up The Backup
- Install Handy Backup
- Create a task for every type of backup you want to do. I have three: "Sean's Pics", "Sean's MP3s", and "WTB's Pics".
- Set the task to run periodically.
When you run it for the first time, the backup must run until completion to create the initial database of files. Subsequent backups run much quicker. I have my machine set to run them every night at 4AM.
It's the piece of mind that this system gives me, letting me know that if the East River washes my stuff away, my photos, particularly this one, are safely stored some place else. So now it is safe.
Related: The Marathon Man drinking game.