Why is it all online backup services demand you use crap proprietary software or a naff web interface? I have recently been looking around for a free online backup system to safeguard a few hundred megs of data. Just in case my house burns down and takes all my other backups with it. Unfortunately, they all suck.
I searched through just about every free service going, including the usual suspects like Box.net, MediaMax, xdrive.com, humyo, Mozy etc. All require either their own software, which invariably is bloated crap with too few controls, or a web interface. Web interfaces just aren’t good for uploading masses of data, and while I don’t mind a free backup program thrown in it needs to be small, configurable and run when I tell it rather than when it feels like it.
The most promising seemed to be iDrive, because it had the least crappy looking software. It was not to be though – it turns out you can only install the “classic” software along side the new bloatware offering. It’s a bit like you being given a diet coke, only to have raw lard rammed down your anticipating throat the moment you try and take a sip. I emailed tech support and they said “too bad”, so that was that.
Actually, at the moment, gmail looks like the best option. It has a few limits, like maximum 20meg attachment file size, but it goes give you six gig free and you can have as many accounts as you like. Emailing backups sucks because base64/MIME encoding of attachments in email adds 30% to the amount of data you have to send, but gmail has a web interface that allows HTTP uploads too. Email is fine for small files anyway. Use 7-zip with encryption of course. The only problem is a lack of software for Windows. I found some useful scripts for Directory Opus to upload single files, but the only proper backup program I found (FileBunker) hasn’t been updated for years, only seems to use 3DES instead of AES or TwoFish and craps out with a cryptic error when I try to run a backup.
The only remotely promising site I found was EweDrive, but currently registrations are closed :(
4 Comments
I use scheduled scripts to pick up all data from certain directories and ftp them to my web host. A friend of mine uses BlueHost and has a TB of drive space which is a crazy amount of data for a webhost. You could also use Amazon’s S3 service which would allow you to write your own upload program or use a few tools that they recommend. RSYNC would also be another possibility if you have a server somewhere other than your home. Just my 2 cents worth. I do understand where you are coming from though. I hate using crappy software and I also hate paying a lot for it. :) Websites that come to mind:
http://www.rsync.net
http://www.jungledisk.com
http://www.exavault.com
Dose any one try http://www.s3rsync.com ?
They claim to provide full Rsync on top of Amazon s3.
Is it relay work?
Thanks danm, that looks very interesting. At the moment it’s limited to US Amazon servers, which is a bit of a shame because current US laws suck (especially for foreigners) but the basic idea is excellent.
I might give it a go. S3 is quite cheap.
What ever happened to Google’s free online drive? Maybe it was just a rumour.
for backing up purposes you might give a try to Transferum ( http://www.transferum.com ). Use your own ftp script or client. They offer 1GB FTP Space for FREE. For a one time activation fee of $1 the free account comes with 2 great features, such as : it NEVER Expires and UNLIMITED Concurrent Parallel connections for uploading/downloading files.
You can give it a try.
One Trackback
superdrupermegapuper54321…
Very usefull info. Thanks!…