I’ve been using ChronoSync for years and aside from being fussy it works. I’m in the process of setting the rest of my family up to backup to our massive new supply of storage (see: JBOD vs Raid 0 for Mac backups?)
I would be Team ChronoSync for years to come except, I asked about getting my wife’s copy as part of the 2pack price. I was told that was only applicable when I purchased. It’s their business and they can make the rules. However that bugs me. So I’m doing a survey to see what other options there are.
Here’s what I need:
Backup to another Mac that has masses of external storage
Backup from all Storage providers incl Dropbox and iCloud. FWIW All cloud files are only local disk they don’t need to be pulled down
Versions - I like to keep at least 10 versions of files going back 6-12 mths, so if disaster strikes, I could go a long way back
Aside from ChronoSync, I know of CarbonCopyCloner - which appears to rely on predefining fixed volumes.
What other Mac backup software do you recommend?
FWIW I may end up back with ChronoSync, if I do I will resent hitting the purchase button and I will stop recommending them to people.
It would only save $10, but one option would be to install your current copy of Chronosync on the Mac with all the storage. Then install a copy of ChronoAgent on both your Mac and your wife’s. This would allow you to manage everything from one machine.
Keeping 10 copies is easy, but you might need more if you modify the files more than once a month.
Plus 1 for Arq, it will back up to disk and cloud storage. I’ve been using CCC for backups to hard drives for a long time, and Arq to Google storage for cloud, but have been pondering switching entirely to Arq. Just too lazy…
I have a Mac Mini with a JBOD enclosure like you’re planning. I use CCC to back up all the Macs to one drive and Time Machine to back them up to another drive. The CCC drive gets backed up with BackBlaze so I only need a subscription for one computer.
CarbonCopyCloner - simple UI, mostly seems to work. I still need investigate: backup of Dropbox; Remote backups when we’re away from home.
ARQ - also seems promising - buried in the notes, it says storage locations AFP. Heck I think SFTP could be made to work.
Slight leaning towards CCC since on purchase will be enough for my whole house.
@David_Roper Simplicity is good. Are you aware of the rule/suggestion that says you have two different types of backup so you’re immune to failure of software? I.E. Misconfigured software fails to backup key files.
FWIW With ChronoSync - it’s less about the money and more a feeling. On the 2-3 occasions I’ve contact their support, they’ve made me feel like a burden.
More important with ChronoSync, it forced me to create a separate task to backup dropbox files that are already on my computer.
@WayneG Arq have family pricing if you click through of ~$80. Which will be ok for 4 computers when all is said and done.
@glenthompson Backblaze power move - I will have to consider that. The risk (small as it is), you’re violating the 3-2-1 rule. Since Backblaze is backing up CCC. Any errors in the config there will duplicate to the internet.
@karlnyhus Thanks - FWIW I’ve tried Networked Time Machine backups before. They were a headache, dropping in the middle of a backup etc.
@Caro the comment from @karlnyhus is correct my original M1MBP is now my backup sever.
The important thing thing with any backup strategy is to test them regularly. I also get messages from CCC if there are any copy failures.
My experience with network TM backups is that they work fine if you’re backing up to another Mac and all the connections are hardwired. No Wifi involved.
When we’re traveling any thing I do and pictures taken are synced with iCloud. That syncs to my iMac at home which is always on (with UPS and automatic backup generator) so it gets a copy. That then gets copied to my backup server and then onto BB. A bit convoluted but it works fine.
One reason I like CCC is that it’s a copy. I can browse all ny files with Finder. Some backup programs put everything into a propriety database structure that can’t be navigated without the program.
My understanding is that if you are fully syncing Dropbox files (not using selective sync), and using the newer macOS, cloud services must store that files on the system volume under the /Users/username/Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox path.
Those files are “regular” files to any other backup software processing system volume data files.
This, exactly. I believe my Apple Time Capsules would periodically crap out (technical term ) and have to be restarted because of their wi-fi component.
Hi! I have a Mac mini M1, iPad Air M2, iPad mini 7 and an iPhone 11
On my Mac I have the desktop and documents stored in iCloud (there is a mirror of the desktop and documents stored in the Library (iCloud Drive). I do this because I want all my files (documents, images, videos, etc. etc. available on all my devices. I also use Time Machine.
In addition I use a really neat app called Get Backup Pro (it’s a $30 paid app). I use GBP to do a daily synch of all my main file storages to a flash drive.
I realise that the GBP schema does not backup system files, but I don’t want it to. The SSDs are formatted in exFAT so that in an emergency the contents can be read by any computer device.
Time Machine looks after my full system backup and could be used for recovery or setting up a new Mac.
I have
I’m not sure if this is what you were looking for but the GBP website says that it can also “Backup to External or Network Volumes, Backup to external devices and drives or to network volumes that can be auto-mounted.”
) and have to be restarted because of their wi-fi component.
