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CloudPlug - Backup Solution Review
As you may recall my computer kinda crushed on me last year. I've been looking for a backup solution ever since (in the meantime, there is not a single component in my computer that was not replaced, excluding the motherboard).
I found that the CloudPlug answers most of my needs, and decided to review it here on DIYP.
If you're just here for the coupon, jump to the end. If you want to share your backup strategy, let us know on the comments.
The Concept
CloudPlug is a neat little box that allows you to "double backup" your files. The first backup is similar to the one I was already using - an external hardrive that is connected to the CloudPlug box (in fact, I am using the same hard drive, but the USB now goes to the CloudPlug and not to my computer).
The second backup uploads all or some of your files to a cloud storage device. Where is this cloud located? On the 'net of course. This means that even if your house goes on fire, there will still be a digital copy of your files that you can recover.
Installation
The box is small and so is the CloudPlug. Just a little bigger than an average fist. It takes very little space on the shelf. The box also included a network cable, a power cable and a small booklet.
The first thing I noted is that the network cable is white. Now, I've been an IT guy for 5 years back in the days, and I've never seen a white one before. It is only now that I really get the profound impact the iPhone have on our lives.
Installing the box was a breeze - Power cable to power socket, network cable to network socket and USB cable to my external hard drive (a 1 Tera My Book in my case).
Installation Rating - 5/5
Configuration
There are several steps you have to follow to configure the box.
First you have to sign up with Ctera. The sign up screen is fairly short, and followed by a standard activation mail.
In parallel you do a similar activation with the CloudPlug box (which magically appears on your network locations).
Now configuring the actual backups was kind of tricky. It took me a while to understand that there are two types of backups in Ctera's terminology - syncs and backups. A sync copies files from your computer's hard drive to the external harddrive. A backup copies files from the external hard drive to the Ctera "backup cloud".
Once I got that, I defined a sync job to copy all my images to the external harddrive, and defined a backup to "beam" some of my files to the cloud (More on that in a second).
All and all, once I got past the terminology of "sync tasks" and "backups" configuring the box went fairly fast.
Configuration rating: 4.5/5
GUI, Orientation & Navigation
I have to say, I like the GUI (Graphical User Interface) on the CloudPlug.
Firstly, there is no application that you have to run on your computer to schedule backups, and make setting changes. The Plug act just like another site on the network.
Secondly, the look-and-feel of the Cloud app and of the Ctera portal is very similar. So the feel is that you are getting the same service no matter if you are accessing the files locally or remotely.
One small caveat there is that after each action you get a small window that indicated that the action is in progress. This window has a small progress bar. When the bar fills it just restarts. Weird.
Choosing Your Backup Strategy
As a photographer it is not uncommon to come home after a session with about 8-16 gigs of RAW files. Even after editing I am sometimes left with Gigs of data.
The feeling that I got is that neither the "Cloud" nor my internet connection can handle this amount of data. I suggest going for a two tier backup strategy.
Here is how I chose to handle it: I "sync" everything to the external drive. External storage is sooooo cheap today (about 1 Dollar per 10 Gigs) that I don't really care to copy it all (in fact, In addition to backing up my photographs collection, I am backing up all the files on my computer).
If you really have lots of data, you can put a USB hub behind the Plug and use as many disks as you want. You can also mix and match USB and SATA harddrives and the plug will recognize them all.
As for Online backup to the Cloud, after everything is in sync, I only "backup" important files to the cloud. Today, I do it by manually copying my important files to a special directory. I discussed this with Aron Brand, Ctera's CTO, and we agreed that a Light Room plug-in that only backup my "selected image" is not a bad idea at all.
NAS In General
A nice thing about the Plug is that it allows you to use any external hard drive as a Network Attached Storage device. After you configure your Plug to use a disk you can define it as a network share on your home network.
This enables you to place any USB or eSATA harddrive in the closet ,near your cable/ADSL modem and save that precious shelf space.
Restoring Files
Restoring files (or folders) was so much easier than I feared. You select a date and a folder from Ctera's online file manager, click restore, and walla! The files are back in the external drive.
After that you need to copy them to your local computer if you so wish.
Restoring files rating: 5/5
A Bit About Pricing
The CloudPlug costs 199 USD right now (scroll to the end for special DIYP offer). This price includes the actual box, and a one year subscription to the online backup service.
After that, pricing may be a bit too high for the average photographer. I figure that the average photographer will need between 25 and 50 Gigs for online backup. Pricing is 19.95$ and 29.95 respectively. Is the CloudPlug worth the extra fee comparing to Mozy's pro plan (3.95 + 0.5 USD peg Gig)? You'll have to decide.
(This price does not include the external drive that connects to the Plug)
Pricing Rating: 3/5
Conclusion
I think that the CloudPlug is a great option for photographers, at least as far as backing-up data goes. Pricing? A bit too high if you are backing up lots and lots of files.
Just to recap here are the major points:
Major Pros:
- Important files are stored in three places: computer, external drive and Cloud, making your data very safe. External harddrive capacity is virtually limitless as you can add more and more drives.
- Easy setup - didn't need to install anything on my desktop
- Can backup multiple computers and manage them from a single location
- Network Attached Storage included so you can access your files from anywhere in your home network.
Major Cons:
- Can not backup to Cloud without an external harddrive
- Monthly pricing makes it best for small amount of files.
Overall Rank: 4.0/5
DIYP Readers - Here Is Something For You
DIYP users get a 25$ off when purchasing the CloudPlug via the Ctera online store. Just tell 'em you want to exchange an egg. Kidding. Type DIY-PHOTO-25 when checking out at Ctera's online store. This offer will be valid 'till November 30th.
Links
Featured Comment by John Cavan
The single biggest weakness, as people
have touched on, is data volume on a relatively thin pipe that usually
contains a data cap.ADSL2 is 3.5 MBits/s upstream which would allow you to move 26.25
MB/s, or 37.8 GB/d which would mean about a month to upload a terabyte
at full speed. My home network probably has a combined storage around
10 terabytes and growing, though with 15 computers, including rack
mounts, I'm probably not the average home user. Even still, it would
take about a year to backup my stuff to the "cloud" here.So, the problem, in a sense, is that devices like this are ahead of
the times. Without the service providers making fibre level speeds
available to the home, the growing consumer data volume will continue
to exceed the bandwidth available to move it about. These strategies
really tend to consider basic documents, they don't really take into
account that the average person is more likely to want to store reams
of video and images, most of which they don't need to do this with, but
will anyways.Until the service providers catch up with the market, pure home
strategies are probably the only feasible ones. Disk is very cheap and
there are fireproof enclosures available for surprisingly low cost;
$199 USD will get you one that can handle 2 terabytes. It's also a one
time cost and the data is under your control.
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Comments
cloud v webdav (etc)
Sounds like a good idea, but it strikes me people could be using other web storage solutions for free. gmail for example does have the ability to be set up as a network drive, gmx is better for this, there's a slightly different setup system called 'drop box' and I believe microsoft through their 'live' suite has one of the largest online storage things (I don't think it works quite like a webdav folder, so you might not be able to use just any program to sync). I use allway sync to sync my data to an external, with the really important things also going on to my gmx webdav space.
re: webdav
Free is always good, I love free. However there is a price for free.
On the obvious, I can count Google support, and the need to tweak / configure / install SW on your computer.
That said, it is an impressive list of alternatives that should go into the cost/benefit equation when you come to make your selection.
(If you want to know where I got my attitude towards free check out Dan Ariely - Predictably Irrational)
Very nice review. Have you
Very nice review. Have you considered Drobo as well?
Neat Solution
Anything that simplifies backups is a good thing. I just find my pipe (i.e. upload speed) too slow so I just backup the keepers from client shoots to the "cloud". Otherwise, I just keep swapping out one of the mirrored drives from my Mac Pro to a safe deposit box, guarded by a pair of Rottweilers, on a regular basis so I have a total of four copies of each photo (two local, one in the safe deposit and keepers on the Internet). The main advantage is complete independence from backup/archiving software. I don't have much faith that when I retrieve a photo ten years from now it'll be with the same software I'm using today. If anyone wants the gruesome details you can go to a short, poorly written, backup suggestions/approach.
re: Neat Solution
This is how I started out, with a pair of Rottweilers :)
Looks like a great approach. I guess the mirror set will take care of any hardware issue while the remote copies (internet and deposit box) protect yo from a disaster.
I also, could not agree more about the retrieval software. Hack, I am not even sure that we will use the same formats to view the images. (Or even the same media. Look where audio cassettes - the media storage for commodore 64 - are hanging now - in the trash can).
This sounds like an
This sounds like an interesting backup option. I've been thinking about this myself. I have a lot of my files backedup to my web server, but this isn't an optimal usage. I know they say unlimited storage when I signed up but I don't think they intended me to use of 90 gigs for photo storage.
I'll keep doing it until they tell me to stop or want to charge me for it. My other option I've been considering is getting 2 large hard drives and backing them up and then every month or 2 swapping 1 into a safte deposit box and taking the one that was previously in the safte deposit box and copying the files to that. I wish I could just setup a large storage center at a friend/relatives house and send stuff there every day in stead but you have to protect your investment some how.
All these cloud services like Mozy, Carbonite or this plug sound nice but the cost seems a little high for a photographer. (It's the cost of doing business I guess.)
re: cost
Ifigure the cost will have to come down at some point (put the DIYP 25$ coupon aside).
The entire consumer market is going towards larger files and bigger pipes (comcast now offers 50 Mbps plans),our cameras are now doing HD video which takes lots of space and images files are getting bigger and bigger with the more-mega-pixels-stupid race.
I think it will not be long till we see backup solutions tailored for photographers/videographers who are quite different in their requirements that the typical small office.
in the clouds
I think storage in the cloud is still a pipedream. Photographers as you point out yourself, generate gigabytes of files in one day. Even with unlimited usage on an internet account (which in Australia in any case can basically not be found) and with ADSL2 speeds, it's really impossible to use the cloud to back up image data. Other data maybe, but not images.
I follow Peter Krogh's suggestions in Digital Asset Management, where he talks of a 3-2-1 backup. 3 copies of your data, 2 different media (external hdd and blu-ray for example to guard against electronic failure) and 1 copy off-site. The cloud would work well if we had the data throughput and storage but at the moment, I back up to two externals and store one off-site at my neighbours house and update it weekly. Not ideal, but I'm yet to see the perfectly ideal setup.
Have a look at the DAM book to see how the pros tackle this thorny issue. Basically, in a word, redundancy, but at this point I still think online storage is in the clouds...
Another option
What I've also been considering is a reciprocal arrangement with another local photographer whereby we each provide remote storage to the other via an FTP service as an addition to our own local backups.
For now, I use a SATA dock and swap out disks weekly, taking the most recent to the office with me.
Cloud storage
How many days does it take to upload a terrabyte of data?
Before its time
The single biggest weakness, as people have touched on, is data volume on a relatively thin pipe that usually contains a data cap.
ADSL2 is 3.5 MBits/s upstream which would allow you to move 26.25 MB/s, or 37.8 GB/d which would mean about a month to upload a terabyte at full speed. My home network probably has a combined storage around 10 terabytes and growing, though with 15 computers, including rack mounts, I'm probably not the average home user. Even still, it would take about a year to backup my stuff to the "cloud" here.
So, the problem, in a sense, is that devices like this are ahead of the times. Without the service providers making fibre level speeds available to the home, the growing consumer data volume will continue to exceed the bandwidth available to move it about. These strategies really tend to consider basic documents, they don't really take into account that the average person is more likely to want to store reams of video and images, most of which they don't need to do this with, but will anyways.
Until the service providers catch up with the market, pure home strategies are probably the only feasible ones. Disk is very cheap and there are fireproof enclosures available for surprisingly low cost; $199 USD will get you one that can handle 2 terabytes. It's also a one time cost and the data is under your control.
re: data volume
I think you are hitting the nail on the head here.
Even if you are not the average user, photographer tend to create lots of data. So online storage need to take some prioritization, not because the service is expensive (like with Mozy) but because the bandwidth is expensive.
This is why I think that only some data can be moved to the net.
FTTH (Fiber To The Home) is coming closer and closer and at places of competition cable providers are deploying docsis 3.0 and Telcos are deploying ADSL2. (though you'll probably have to take a second mortgage to allow those at their top speed).
We'll wait to the next technology break through.
keeping it real
I have 2 externals. One for backup. ONe for second backup I put at neighbors. It is cheap and handy. Any books or important documents go a a DVD and are mailed to my brother out of state...about every 5 years.
Mozy have an unlimited plan
Hi,
Mozy have an unlimited backup for $4.95 a month which I am using.
It gives the cloud backup for a reasonable price, works great and there is no need to buy the box (just install the software which can be configured to run when your computer is not busy). You can try it for free 2Gb with my referral link https://mozy.com/?code=F4Z3TM or just goto http://Mozy.com
More options
CloudPlug sounds like a neat combination, though a little pricey for most serious photographers. Thanks for detailing it.
If you want more options, I'd suggest you to have a look at the article series I published on YLovePhoto.com trying to list most (if not all) backup options for the photographer, with some precise recommendations.
I presently recommend and use Mozy for most cases, but see by yourself.
Yves
I also had data loss,
I also had data loss, because of accidentally deleting the hdd. I also found another solution to handle this problem.
I invested 200bucks in a used F5 and shoot film from now on. If I need the pix digital I scan them. Film is imho the best way for backup.
The other pro's you will find out after you switch ;)
Alternative Backup solution
I'd like to promote a backup solution that some of you reading these comments might be interested. I'm an engineer at SMEStorage.com and our solutions functions as data access solution for multiple storage clouds. What does this mean? Well, it means we don't actually store your files, we just sync the meta data of the files from multiple clouds (we support 10 right now) and allow you to access them in a virtual file browser. This means you can store files on several services and manage them as if they were in one file system.
We have many clients, including windows (with virtual drive, and shell integration with a set off sync tools), Firefox, iPhone etc and we provide some integrations and features. For example you can access your files directly from MS Office and Open Office using our multi-cloud file manager. You can share you files over email, Twitter, and even over RSS.
Free services supported include Gmail, Microsoft Live SkyDrive, and we also enable you to turn any FTP Server, or POP/IMAP enabled email account into a storage cloud.
There are too many integrations and features to list here so feel free to check us out at SMEStorage.com
To be perfectly honest, I've
To be perfectly honest, I've never had any issues with my External (an Iomega 1.5T). Maybe I'm missing something (something huge, possibly), but I don't see the need for anything other than my external.
For me, this is my process:
Take card from camera. Put card in card reader. Hook External and Card Reader to USB on computer. Upload all original images from Card Reader to flickr account, AND the External. Delete from card.
Granted, I have a pro account on flickr, right now, so the original file size hosting is a blessing/gift. But, I always have everything on flickr and my external, and I find I don't need anything else.
Always prepare for the worst
Sam, what if your external drive is stolen ? Or heaven forbid there is a fire or flood in your office? These things happen. Would you want to lost every photo you ever took ? Never put all your eggs in one basket . Always use some automated way to backup your important files off site. Flickr may be good enough for storing a few photos, but what about personal documents and photos ? Does it have good ways to restore deleted files ? Recover previous versions of files ? Automatically upload only the differences when you rename a folder with 10,000 files or use Bridge to change the keywords of 10,000 files? A good online backup solution should handle these things automatically. And yeah, being safe costs some money... I've been using an expensive business-grade online backup solution for years, for both my office and home, and for me it's worth it, in peace of mind.
Keep it safe :)
Backup in the Cloud
I use BackBlaze @ $5/month unlimited storage,
and OSX's Time Machine on a 1 TB LaCie
FlexRaid
I use FlexRaid for my backup. It's free and easy to setup. You can protect any media, including physical DVD's, thumb drives, network shares, floppy disks, anything. Potentially if you have enough bandwidth and cloud storage you could have your parity drive out there in the cloud to protect from physical loss.
It is not a mirror, it's parity - which means a single one terrabyte drive can be the parity for an unlimited number of drives up to one terrabyte. It's not quite a drobo, but it is very effective.
I have a terrabyte drive as my parity with another 750gb & a 1TB drive as storage.
The FlexRaid site is here: http://www.openegg.org/FlexRAID.curi
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