Thanks Paul. Very good info to chew on...

On Thu, Aug 13, 2009 at 2:07 PM, Paul <[email protected]> wrote:

>
> Doug,
>
> I use S3 for my personal and client site backups. Some further Pro and
> Con thoughts.
>
> Cons:
>
> 1. Like most I used to rely on the host provider's backup utility to
> nightly ensure everything was safe and archived somewhere. Little did
> I know they just stored the backup zip file on the same account's disk
> drive. So when they lost the server drives I also lost my entire
> backup. So -1 on using the host's backup process unless for the extra
> $100 they can guarantee the backup is stored on a different server
> that is also backup.
>
> 2. Using Amazon S3 you have to use your own solution. I've developed
> some shell scripts which run nightly via a cronjob to an S3 account.
> So consider for using Amazon you will need to do the same. I basically
> create a zip of the entire tree of the site. Include in that zip a DB
> dump (mysqldump). Then using the Amazon S3 PHP class
> http://www.neurofuzzy.net/2006/08/26/amazon-s3-php-class-update/
>  connect and push to a folder on the S3 account.
>
> 3. Remember Amazon is cheap but they charge in two ways. For storage
> space plus bandwidth usage. Can't remember off the top is the
> bandwidth is both outbound and inbound or just outbound. Still assumed
> it would be less than your $100 up-charge from your host provider.
>
>
> Pros:
>
> 1. I consider using Amazon's cloud a much better solution because the
> server storage is not on a physical server. It's a dynamic distributed
> array of server that constantly mirror each other. So if you loose one
> you don't loose all your data. Though there are some on this list who
> think Amazon may just one day wake up and pull the plug on the
> service. My personal option is not going to happen without at least
> some advanced notification.
>
> 2. This is more for my perspective then most. Since I manage many
> client websites many of which I do not control the hosting I can still
> send the backup to my Amazon S3 account for centralized storage.
>
> 3. There are a number of utilities like the FireFox S3 plugin that
> makes managing files on Amazon dead simple.
>
> 4. A site restore from an S3 backup would include 1) download the
> archive from Amazon. As mentioned I create a zip file of the site. I
> would not recommend a file-by-file storage unless you also want to
> access the images (which many do) directly from Amazon. 2) upload to
> your host. 3) restore the database from zip file.
>
>
> P-
>
>
>
>
> On Aug 13, 2009, at 1:40 PM, Doug Boude wrote:
>
> > Needing some sane, unbiased input from my technical brethren.
> >
> > Should I pay my new web host $100/month to perform backups of my
> > VPS, or should i save that money and put complete trust in an Amazon
> > S3 backup solution that I can implement myself? The pros and cons as
> > I see them are:
> >
> > Pros for dropping the hundred bucks: I don't have to think about
> > anything...if there's a need for restoration, i just tell the host
> > to do it.
> >
> > Cons for dropping the hundred bucks: I'm dropping a hundred bucks
> >
> > Pros for amazon s3: I save a hundred bucks (minus Amazon's miniscule
> > storage fee);
> >
> > Cons for amazon s3: I have to perform recovery procedures myself
> > (which I'm unsure how to do using this service); I can't "touch" my
> > backups (I feel better being able to put my backups in my pocket, so
> > to speak - not an issue for me if the host is bearing the
> > responsibility of backup and recovery)
> >
> > Any input regarding my dilemma? Wish I wasn't such a tightwad, but I
> > am. :)
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> > Doug Boude
> >
> > >
> >
>
>
> >
>

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