$100/month seems extremely high. At that cost, I would consider using Amazon or even setting up your own backup system with rsync. I pay SliceHost $5/month to back up my VPS there, and I also FTP backups of MySQL databases and tarballs of applications to a separate server. - Larry
On Thu, Aug 13, 2009 at 2:10 PM, Doug Boude <[email protected]> wrote: > 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 >> > >> > > >> > >> >> >> >> > > > > -- Larry Kubin --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Our Web site: http://www.RefreshAustin.org/ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Refresh Austin" group. [ Posting ] To post to this group, send email to [email protected] Job-related postings should follow http://tr.im/refreshaustinjobspolicy We do not accept job posts from recruiters. [ Unsubscribe ] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] [ More Info ] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Refresh-Austin -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
