What is your customer data backup protocol?

[tekserv]

New here and I love what I've seen so far.

Just curious as to what other techs are using to back up their customers data.

The very first thing we do is back up our customers data. It's time consuming and I'd like to streamline the process. I know some techs clone every drive, but that's a lot of drives to keep around. Some create a image and also file copy data.

What procedure have you found works best? What is most time and cost effective?

Thanks for your input!

 

[Kitten Kong]

It varies according to each job John. If I am just backing up my clients data, then I use Fabs. If it's a full clone, then its either clonezilla, or Acronis true image.

When using fabs, I keep a copy of their data on a secure server, for a period of at least 30 days. This is also backed up to the cloud each night.

 

[tekserv]

I am in the process of checking out Fabs.

Right now, I use a bench system and hook up to it and transfer data. It is time intensive and becomes a problem when we have 5 or 6 systems waiting to be backed up.

The thing I worry about with Fabs is missing data stored in an odd location. (most of our customers have no idea where or how they store things)

Do you typically pull the drives or do you use a boot cd and move data over the network?

 

[Kitten Kong]

I am in the process of checking out Fabs.

Right now, I use a bench system and hook up to it and transfer data. It is time intensive and becomes a problem when we have 5 or 6 systems waiting to be backed up.

The thing I worry about with Fabs is missing data stored in an odd location. (most of our customers have no idea where or how they store things)

Do you typically pull the drives or do you use a boot cd and move data over the network?

With fabs, I usually put it on either a usb stick, and transfer it over the network to the server, or do the same with a external drive. I hardly ever pull the drive. Except in dire emergencies with virus removals, where the pc is to slow to scan fast enough for me.

I usually check the drive first, doing a quick search, to see if there is anything in a place where it shouldnt be. Simple things like doc, xls, mp3, jpg etc.. When I'm satisfied there is nothing where it shouldnt be, then fabs comes out to play.

 

[GoHighVoltage]

It varies according to each job John. If I am just backing up my clients data, then I use Fabs. If it's a full clone, then its either clonezilla, or Acronis true image.

When using fabs, I keep a copy of their data on a secure server, for a period of at least 30 days. This is also backed up to the cloud each night.

I agree, I also use Fabs and clonezilla, but it depends on what their actual needs are, and what kind of information is being backed up.

If we are talking about a home user, you can use a local backup mentioned above, and offer an off site backup like carbonite.

If it is a business, then it changes, you would need to know what they needed backed up, and design a plan to fit their needs.

Every situation is different.

 

[mraikes]

I use Fab's 4 Techs (if you don't have it, get it.) and Ghost, depending on need.

Someone earlier mentioned a concern about Fab's missing files stored in unusual locations. But that's going to be true of any backup technique other than full cloning. And at least Fab's allows you to select additional locations/files to be included in the backup if needed. That said, it's rare (to never) that my customers save files in any location other than the defaults, and therefore really isn't an issue.

 

[alluseridsrejected]

I just pop in my UBCD4WIN and it automatically maps a network drive, runs a chkdsk, runs a ghost image of C: to the network drive, and runs a defrag.

Just pop in & boot the CD/USB stick, answer a prompt asking for the customer name and come back in a few hours when it is all done. It actually does more stuff than this (a lot more) but I am still working the kinks out.

 

[gunslinger]

It varies according to each job John. If I am just backing up my clients data, then I use Fabs. If it's a full clone, then its either clonezilla, or Acronis true image.

When using fabs, I keep a copy of their data on a secure server, for a period of at least 30 days. This is also backed up to the cloud each night.

I do the exact same thing. I use Acronis true image only, I don't like the clonezilla interface.

 

[glricht]

I use Fab's 4 Techs (if you don't have it, get it.) and Ghost, depending on need.

Someone earlier mentioned a concern about Fab's missing files stored in unusual locations. But that's going to be true of any backup technique other than full cloning. And at least Fab's allows you to select additional locations/files to be included in the backup if needed. That said, it's rare (to never) that my customers save files in any location other than the defaults, and therefore really isn't an issue.

+1 for Fab's 4 Techs. Although it has some limitations, it's become an indispensable tool.

However, although many customers don't save files in places other than the default, it's not necessarily true for some applications. Quicken, QuickBooks, and a couple of others, by default save the user's data in the Program Files folder. It bit me a couple of years ago and now I always look to see what programs are installed. (Plus, if I'm doing a N&P, I'll backup the SWSETUP type of folders too.)

 

[Obtech]

N & P?
N & P??

Ok, look, I'll ask....what's N & P?

 

[BryanVest]

N & P?
N & P??

Ok, look, I'll ask....what's N & P?

N&P = Nuke and Pave = recovery

 

[K007]

N & P?
N & P??

Ok, look, I'll ask....what's N & P?

I believe stands for Nuke & Pave

 

[Obtech]

Thanks Bryan and 007.
Hadn't come across that term before!

 

[BryanVest]

Thanks Bryan and 007.
Hadn't come across that term before!

No worries I had never heard it before coming here so you will learn some of the terms like that the more you stick around

 

[tekserv]

Thanks everyone for the input. I really appreciate having a place to bounce ideas and get input.

It looks like I'll be developing a process that will include both an image and Fab. Hopefully I'll be able to automate 90% of our process.

Somewhat familiar with UBCD and BartPE. Any favorites for the automation process?

 

[minc3d]

I have yet to be able to find a backup solution that offers the following:

* Boot a machine via LiveCD
* Backup selected directories or entire drive image to a NAS shared drive
* Image files that can have individual files "plucked" off of them for recovery purposes.

The only program that does this is Acronis True Image but I'd prefer to move to a freeware solution.

Anyone have a program that does the above? Clonezilla supposedly has some of these features but you cannot pluck files off the image backup file itself - a big downside for when a customer calls needing that "one important file" you forgot.

 

[red12049]

I have yet to be able to find a backup solution that offers the following:

* Boot a machine via LiveCD
* Backup selected directories or entire drive image to a NAS shared drive
* Image files that can have individual files "plucked" off of them for recovery purposes.

The only program that does this is Acronis True Image but I'd prefer to move to a freeware solution.

Anyone have a program that does the above? Clonezilla supposedly has some of these features but you cannot pluck files off the image backup file itself - a big downside for when a customer calls needing that "one important file" you forgot.

Seems that Drive Image XML from the UBCD4WIN meets your requirements....

Rick

 

[krutoi]

If I am just backing up my clients data, then I use Fabs. If it's a full clone, then its either clonezilla, or Acronis true image

Same here - Acronis and Fabs, also Double Driver if planning a N/P

 

[pcpickup]

The majority of the home users that comes in don't have much more than a few docs, pictures, and maybe some music to backup and are using webmail. When the system is unbootable we usually just use ubuntu live USB/CD and an external HD or our NAS. To minimize the chance for any confusion the customers documents are put under a folder with their name and unique customer ID that our system assigns to them. When backing up we usually grab the whole /Docs and Settings or /Users folders. I also have a disclaimer on all of my quotes that the customer is made aware of that simply states we are not responsible for the data and they should have proper backups. We do this because I have recovered data for customers numerous times but when the problem was not a virus but a failed HD I don't want them to blame us.

I have been thinking about Fabs but I am not sure how much faster that would make the process, most of the waiting is while we copy GB's of music,pictures or our occasional torrent movie enthusiast.

 

[NETWizz]

I use Microsoft's ImageX... it is way better than most.

I used Acronis in 2006 thouugh. Back in 2008 I used to use the Novell ZenWorks Image Engine. I have used CloneZilla with PXE... I have used PartImage...

Now, I like KACE too... it is a toss up.