topic Re: Cloud storage ??? in Tech Help - Software/Hardware etc

Cloud storage ???

Routefinder — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 00:46:33 GMT

Hi All
Just looking for some user experience & feedback.
Re Cloud Storage ~ as off site storage is the only way to protect against data loss if all physically held on a single premises how many of you use the Cloud and if so what company and just how good have you found the service???
Apart from small files like docs and spreadsheets I would need to store image files and these can run to 30MB plus per file thus likely many GB of offsite required...............so apart from the speed of upload in the initial step what have you done to protect your data in the cloud???
TIA for the insight & feedback

Re: Cloud storage ???

kmilburn — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 01:01:49 GMT

one thing to remember with the cloud, only use it for additional backup/access, never use it as primary storage as it could disappear at any time. (e.g. megaupload.com).

Re: Cloud storage ???

Anonymous — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 03:32:01 GMT

You cannot access Cloud Storage if your broadband goes down, for whatever reason.
I use DVD-R's and external HDD's off site as an extra safety backup.
Same stored in fireproof / burglar proof Safe.
And... believe it or not, paper printouts of my data !
I did try it, large uploads as you say, even at my speeds, it took ages to upload.
And it all comes out of your monthly allowance GB's

Re: Cloud storage ???

AlaricAdair — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 06:38:50 GMT

I use Sugarsync - it works just fine. I use it for essential data and business records which seems to sit comfortably within 30 GB.

Re: Cloud storage ???

Mav — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 11:33:28 GMT

I'm loathed to trust anything solely to the cloud as per kmilburn.
I do use SkyDrive but so far only for my Open University course work and other files that I may need to access when away and don't have my laptop with me. But all files are duplicated elsewhere.

Re: Cloud storage ???

Anonymous — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 11:42:32 GMT

I sort of Cloud, in that I email password protected important data only (Spreadsheets, Financial etc) to webmail adresses with different providers, 20mb at a time.
I've been doing this for many years, before someone invented Cloud computing, and fortunately never needed to access it, other than to test the integrity, but it's there if I need it.

Re: Cloud storage ???

HairyMcbiker — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 11:49:04 GMT

Depends on what you want to use it for.
I use Dropbox to send files to others, I upload it once and then they can download it from the web site when they want it via a link. I am still on the free version (but now up to 16Gb due to invites) and sync my ebooks to it as well. But as to using it as backup you would need at least 2 providers and the associated time/effort/cost keeping them in sync and updated.

Re: Cloud storage ???

Razer — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 13:40:26 GMT

I use Dropbox. I haven't as yet started to upload larger data as I'm still waiting for my upload cap to be lifted, but for the limited amount of data that I have uploaded, I have found it very easy to use. The one thing I don't really like about the service is that it stores every single previous version of your files (some people may like this 'feature') and deleted files are not actually deleted until you go fiddling to reveal deleted files and then mark them to be actually deleted.
One quirk I have found is that when I delete a file from my dropbox folder (on my HDD) and it's all supposed to sync, what it does is to download the deleted file from the site. This is not how I want it to work at all. When I delete a file, I mean to delete it. I want it then to delete the corresponding copy from the online storage. So I have first to delete it from online storage, and then mark it to show deleted and really delete it, then delete it from my HDD. I did say it was easy to use, didn't I?

Re: Cloud storage ???

HairyMcbiker — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 14:01:43 GMT

Strange mine deletes when I remove from the local storage, hardly ever visit the web site except to get a link off it.

Re: Cloud storage ???

Razer — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 14:18:30 GMT

Yes, it is strange. It did delete when I deleted from local storage at first, then just changed its mind after a week or so. I didn't change anything. Indeed, I can't even find any setting to dictate how it works in that regard.

Re: Cloud storage ???

ReedRichards — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 20:43:35 GMT

Quote from: Mav
I'm loathed ...

I'm sure we all like you. I think you mean loath.

Re: Cloud storage ???

Mav — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 20:51:48 GMT

Quote from: ReedRichards
I think you mean loath.

Absolutely

Re: Cloud storage ???

Anonymous — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 20:53:17 GMT

Quote from: Razer

One quirk I have found is that when I delete a file from my dropbox folder (on my HDD) and it's all supposed to sync, what it does is to download the deleted file from the site. This is not how I want it to work at all. When I delete a file, I mean to delete it. I want it then to delete the corresponding copy from the online storage. So I have first to delete it from online storage, and then mark it to show deleted and really delete it, then delete it from my HDD. I did say it was easy to use, didn't I?

I'm with you there, I want to control when my Data syncs, and with what.
Dropbox, and other Cloud trials, have been dropped.

Re: Cloud storage ???

VileReynard — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 14:52:53 GMT

I use Dropbox (they recently gave me 10GB).
However, although transmission is encrypted, Dropbox also hold the key.
So I use it for medium important stuff - I wouldn't use it to store passwords!
I wouldn't use it for low importance stuff as it takes too long to upload data at 10Mbps.
I suppose I could create a small encrypted drive and use Dropbox to store this instead.
Of course, I could [also] create an encrypted USB stick and carry it with me at all times.

Re: Cloud storage ???

Anonymous — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 16:12:24 GMT

I store my password encrypted files in a password encrypted 20GB Folder before I send them off anywhere.
And yes, different passwords.

Re: Cloud storage ???

Razer — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 10:32:57 GMT

Quote from: Un
... encrypted ...

I only ever upload encrypted data.

Quote from: Un
I wouldn't use it for low importance stuff as it takes too long to upload data at 10Mbps.

I WISH I could upload at that rate. Currently I'm only getting a constantly rising and falling rate of between 0.6kB/s to about 40kB/s, but predominantly at the lower end and with lots of idle in between. I uploaded a 78Mb file the other day as a test of uploading to Dropbox on this connection and it took several hours. Suffice to say I'm not uploading to my Dropbox until the cap is lifted.

Re: Cloud storage ???

drj — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 22:17:37 GMT

I have several cloud storage areas - Dropbox (2.5GB), Google Drive (5GB) and SkyDrive (7GB) - all free. The only one I'm using seriously is Dropbox where my brother and I lodge files relating to our holiday home since we share the task of utilities etc between us. Works faultlessly. He uses his Dropbox for website backup too - again works but since it doesn't delete files as has been noted, it needs clearing out from time to time. I also use Google Drive for file sharing with others - again no problems.
However for general backups I use a portable hard-drive.

Re: Cloud storage ???

MJN — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 17:45:02 GMT

I backup my important data to my brother's NAS device (in Luxembourg) on a nightly basis using rsync (over SSH). He, and a growing number of my family, does likewise in the opposite direction from their machines to my always-on server. As the backups run overnight they don't eat into anyone's bandwidth allowance and only the changes are transferred anyway so it's not very intrusive.
There's probably around 1TB of data in total so a fair chunk to be otherwise paying for. Besides which, I'm not sure I'd trust a 3rd party without which I didn't have a personal relationship however - my data is too precious to leave in the hands of someone that doesn't care beyond how much money they're making from it.
I also perform automated local backups for redundancy and ready high-speed access to the data.
Whatever you do I'd recommend ensuring it is 100% automated otherwise the day you forget will be the day you pay the price.
Mathew

Re: Cloud storage ???

Razer — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 18:01:27 GMT

Can anybody on ADSL2+ with Dropbox tell me what their upload speeds are like? I've had terrible trouble getting stuff uploaded. I had thought it was due to my upload being capped, so waited for the uncapping. Now that's done I'm currently getting a rubbish floating around 80kB/s sometimes rising briefly to about 124kB/s, and often dropping to around 6kB/s. What I don't know is if it's my line or the Dropbox servers which are the problem.

Re: Cloud storage ???

VileReynard — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 18:06:52 GMT

But you don't get a copy of any files more than 24 hours old...
On my main PC, I have a second disk to which I do a full backup of all data files on a weekly basis, an incremental basis on a daily basis.
Backups are deleted after 31 days.
In addition (!) I use rsync periodically to backup files alternately to folder A and folder B on a NAS in the next room.
Dropbox is used for a small amount of storage...
(You have to configure Dropbox for max upload / Download speeds - try right-clicking on it).