Re: [bitfolk] Online backup providers

Andy said: That does sound more reasonable (acknowledging that a single server increases the risks of failure). Amazon Glacier sounds good, but if you ever want to see the data again, it rapidly gets much, much more expensive. What's surprised me the most is how expensive things get if you want to use rsync or even csync. I'd have thought having a known reliable and efficient program made more sense than writing your own, but... If you're prepared to use someone offering what been called "not a sustainable business" then things get rather cheaper, presumably on the basis that not every customer is like me :) and onlinebackupdeals.com is an interesting read if you're after a consumer solution. If you have lots of spare disc space, then symform.com is particularly attractive. After encrypting it, it splits each 64 megabytes of your backup into 64 smaller chunks, then uses the equivalent of Parchive files to create 32 other chunks. The 96 chunks are then sent to 96 other users. If and when you want the data back, having *any* 64 of the 96 chunks is sufficient for the system to recreate it. (Somehow, they've been allowed to patent this...) So while users will come and go, you're fine as long as half the userbase or their discs don't vanish overnight, and you get 1Mb of 'free' backup for every 2Mb of disc space you allow the system to use. You can also pay for backup space. Ian