Web based backup services
I’d like to expand on my tweet:
Web backup services need to take ideas from netflix.. moving large data efficiency in eyes of the masses
I want to use a web based backup service. Something that just works in the background, throttled as not to affect my bandwidth too much. The problem is they want me to upload all my data. How many gigabytes, or even terabytes do they expect people to upload? So here’s my opinion & suggestion. It’s based on no metrics, just opinion. Here’s what should happen:
- Signup to web based backup service
- Download & install app
- Select what you want to backup (to calculate space)
- App detects if I have CD-RW or DVD-RW drive and notifies service
- Service posts correct number (+1?) of CD-RW or DVD-RW’s to me, with free-post container to return
- Put CD/DVD’s into tray, open app, and click backup.
- It copies data onto CD/DVD’s
- You package CD/DVD’s into free-post container
- Post
From then on, their service works fine, like they currently do. Online & in the background, just without a ~50Gb barrier to entry. Then service can either keep the CD/DVD’s as a hard copy (extra backup), or make sure they’re RW’s and reuse them. Note security issues of re-using though.
Why do I compare it to Netflix? General public has a problem with large amounts of data, they leave it up to their IT expert. However, general public has no problem with posting movies (large amounts of data). I think it is a pretty safe assumption (again, based on no stats) that people have CD-RW or DVD-RW drives these days.
Thinking ahead when can solid state media take over & make that assumption redundant? When will uploading be fast enough? What about posting cheap 40Gb hard drives? Time machine?
June 16th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
I’ve had this thought before, too. All the recent SHOCK HORROR! PEOPLES DATA LOST BY GOVERNMENT OR LARGE FINANCIAL INSTITUTION! headlines make me wonder if this would actually be a good idea after all.
June 16th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
I did think about that. It’s an easy one to solve (seemingly unless you’re the government), here’s a few ideas:
* Recording delivery
* Said App also encrypts information before writing to CD/DVD, if needs be with private key associated with users account
* Can hash whole CD for extra protection & send back to service before posting to protect against ‘man in middle’ attacks
June 26th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
David, its a good idea but the transaction costs are quite high, e.g. I have to mind a backup, change DVDs and then get them down to the post office and post them. At every step of the way I have to be careful (people hate being careful).
Compare this to download backup program fire it up to backup my stuff and ignore it. Several days later with no user intervention all my stuff is backed up. I know which model I prefer.
June 27th, 2008 at 9:18 am
Post Office? Why, any post box will do. Being “careful” is something you have to do with both solutions:
* mind a dvd (i.e. walk away)
* change dvd (oh, so hard)
vs
* bandwidth hog (i.e. loss of work)
* unexpected disruptions (i.e. connection loss / laptop close / pc shutdown)
The list of pro’s & con’s for both solutions would go on. Can I ask how much you’ve got backed up using online back up solutions? I’ll assume you’re using PutPlace
June 27th, 2008 at 10:02 am
Hi Dave,
With most clients (including PutPlace) you can control the amount bandwidth you use. Similarily they are almost all tolerant of interruptions and disconnects. I think there is a market for your solution, but cutting a DVD is a non-trivial task for most home users. Remember if you interrupt it you’ve made a coaster.
My belief is the larger immediately addressable market is in online backup (well I would say that),but I think your idea might have legs further down the line.
June 27th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
I agree with your DVD writing is non-trivial, that issue should be solved within the app you download.
Ending up with a coaster to some extend doesn’t matter (what % you’d need to work out)… after all I’m not talking about a separate service, I’m talking about how the two should work together.
Have you stats from PutPlace (that you can make public) on the time it would take someone on an average connection (256kbps upstream?) to upload 50Gb, e.g. a music collection? Assuming you have a default throttling variable set (do you?) is it approximately a week/month/quarter?