Free Software Backup Solution: Crash Plan

I've been using CrashPlan for a while now and thought I'd share the love with you guys.

CrashPlan is available for Linux, OS/X and Windows and in several flavors including a Open Source free version that includes a 30 day free trial for their cloud backup capabilities.

CrashPlan has some very cool features:
- Constant backup with archiving for a user selectable duration.
- Instant backup of new and changed files.
- Backup to another drive on your local computer, or another computer on your network.
- Backup to a USB connected drive.
- Backup to a friends computer over the Internet.
- Allow friends to backup to your hard drive over the Internet.

All backed up data is encrypted!

I've been using the free version for over a year and have used many backup solutions including some very expensive enterprise software packages and I think this is a really great product.  If you need more features they have two additional products for pay that add some more cool capabilities.

Read more and get it free here:
http://www.crashplan.com/

Looks interesting, I'm interested

  - Rebuilding my BOX(s) I gotta tell ya has gotten really old, almost painful just thinking about
  - Over 20+ years into building PC's on a personal and professional level if ya can imaging has gotten extremely boring
  - What more can you tell me about their FREE service. Yah I know I should just check out the site but I'm more interested in your take

Thanks for the link GPS (Yoda)

w00d

P.S - What does your handle GPS mean ??

Hi w00d -

I am using CrashPlan for over a year for all my backup needs.  I use it to backup several complete directory trees to a attached USB drive.  I am getting ready to pull the trigger on a Synology NAS unit.  I have been eye balling this one: http://www.synology.com/us/products/RX410/index.php but I will probably be buying this one: http://www.synology.com/us/products/DS211+/index.php.  I also run several IP security cameras and the Synology NAS is able to natively support the devices I already own.  6 TB should be enough for my needs for a while.

I am using the free version which you can download and try for free.  The free trial allows you to also store backed up data to their cloud service, but I am not interested in that at all.  Never been a fan of cloud services that incur another monthly fee.  Everybody want us to pay another monthly fee nowadays it seems and I am kind of tired of it...unless I am getting the monthly fee.  ;D

What does GPS stand for?  It's kind of funny actually.  I should have kept YodaJones for the forum but at the time I set this site up I was knee deep in another project called Grants Pass Scene (http://grantspassscene.com/) that is dedicated to supporting local musicians and the venues they play at.  I learned of our local musician community via a coffee shop that used to be here in our town called "The Dancing Otter" (http://www.thedancingotter.com/).  It was a wonderful mix of coffee shop and art gallery that also had many various local musicians playing there evenings.  I came to know the owners and admired what they were doing.  Unfortunately the economy in 2009 was hard on them.  Through that coffee shop I discovered that we have quite a rich artistic community and decided that I wanted to try and help publicize some of these folks, and the venues that support them, so others may also have the opportunity to see them perform.

Sorry for the long winded explanation.  GPS = Grants Pass Scene.  It's what was on my mind at the time.

Think I can stand $3 a month ...

This gets me away from buying additional hardware I don't want to drop the cash on {LOL} That's $$$$ I can USE to BUY helicopters {J/K}. My backup needs are pretty meager at best so the online solution sounds pretty appetizing

Anyways my friend thanks for the link and I'll give them a try em right now. Then WE shall see whats what say wut .......

w00d

[size=1.45em]P.S:[/size] Better here than teh other place (RcHeliR***.com) Much more FUN, more people to talk to, w00t

If you use the paid service you get some additional features in the software like instant backup which to me is as good or better than auto-save in some software applications.  Now you will have to let me know what you think because I believe you will probably be using CrashPlan+ and I only use CrashPlan.

Yup I'm going to try CrashPlan+ unlimited
Although the price at $1.50 per month sounds good but 10gb seems too small given I have 500gb+ to backup

[size=1.35em]EDIT[/size]: Just installed CrashPlan on my BIGBOX and now I'm setting the software up on my NoteBook. I'm going to TRY backing up between my two systems to see how it goes. Then I'll sign-up for the online backup later ...

... FYI
w00d

  Hey GPS (YodaJones) never mind the long wind it's accrued to me I don't know or have forgotten your real name ...

... Yes, of course first names only and I promise NEVER ta call ya Bubba Gump {LOL}

Actually my real name is Gumpy Bump...LOL  ;D  OK, not really, it's John.

Hey John howz it today thanks for the heads up and in case ya didn't know they callz me Pete AKA: w00d, pwoodyp

K back on subject - I've changed the plan

Yesterday after playing with their FREE software and then thinking about it some I've decide I can get away with backing up my DATA from my BIG-Box to my Laptop and vise-versa, Laptop to my BIG-Box. I see NO reason to spend the $$$ for their online backup and the best news I don't need to spend any additional money for new hardware. {hehe} I don't have as much to backup has I thought

FYI: Speaking for everybody to get teh CRASHPLAN+ Unlimited for $3 /mon we WOULD HAVE to BUY 4 years prepaid  Otherwise month-to-month they want $5 /mon

Again thanks for the linkage ...
Pete AKA: w00d, pwoodyp {LOL} but never late for dinner

I found and signed-up for another back-up service which is much like CrashPlan's ...
... the difference with this service is we can share photo's and play music while the files are still on their servers ...

mimedia - Access your Media Anywhere

• [size=0.8em]How it Works[/size]
• [size=0.8em]Plans and Pricing[/size]

Their FREE service offers 7 GB to start but for more space they charge $4.99 per month for 100 GB ...
... with a number of plans after, 250GB @ $9.99, 500GB @ $20 up to 1TB @ $36 per Month

I've signed-up for BOTH minimedia and CrashPlan which gives me enough FREE room with enough room to grow. I'm using CrashPlan for my Notebook as a system backup solution and minimedia for my photo backup needs on my BIG Box. My requirements are somewhat small anyway so using the two FREE services as such will work for this user ...

FYI:
  [size=1.2em][shadow=grey,left]w00d[/shadow][/size]

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w00d - Your How it works link is broken.

I like CrashPlan because I can backup to a local drive and not the cloud.  The cloud might be the way to go for some things but I still want to know that a company will be around for a while and I need to be able to get my data back local in the format I originally had it in.

Re: How it Works, fixed !!

Agreed I still like CrashPlan, thus I keep it around for the automatic system to system drive-to-drive copying, I still don't like having information of a personal nature on system NOT my own. But I have no issue keeping two copies on two different Hard Drives (HD)... and of course FREE space is just that FREE, hehe

My photo backup needs are a little different, the 'PRO's" will tell you but it's probably true for most venues, we should have at least three (minimum) copies of our photo's. One for convenience on the system where we do our post-processing, a second on a second HD or some other form of removable media and when all else fails the house has burned to the ground the 'back from the brink' last line of defense the third copy is better stored off site ...

... Well in a perfect world maybe, LOL it's a well know fact MY world is FAR from perfect 

My 'first' copy or working copies, the 'convenience' copy I keep local, the 'second' back-up goes to the DVD Burners (I know old school, IMO better to use removable HD(s)) and my 'third' go to mimedia and possibly CrashPlan when the space is needed. Everything else goes to CrashPlan. And of course for showing off my photo's and for use on the Forums, well it's the well known Photobucket

Sure are many online backup services w/ plans and pricing options all with varying added-value to suite just about everyone. My choices are just that, others w/ their needs may warrant a different approach to suite their back-up wants'n needs

Thanks for the input
    [size=1.2em][shadow=grey,left]w00d[/shadow][/size]

EDIT: FYI: for our Searcher'n Lurkers ... If 'burning' is teh choice don't trust DVD/Bu-Ray as many have failed, some at an alarming rate! It's only manufactured Compact Disk's are capable of lasting the promise of 100 years. But this is an ole new subject saved for another day


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