Backing up images - best choice?

I need to do a better job of backing up my images.
What are you all doing?

Thanks -

Sandy

I use Microsoft's free SyncToy and it works great. There are no automatic 'reminders' to back up data, so you have to remember to schedule a backup on your own.

I have a Drobo that I have set up to do a complete backup every night at midnight. I also have a 3TB external HD that is a clone of my HD that has all my photos. I do a clone about once a month and keep the 2nd HD off site.

I back up everything to JimmyDrive at $6/mo http://jimmydrive.com/ will back up your computer and all your hard drives. I keep my photos on separate HD for each year

I have a 250GB internal "working" drive for master LR catalog, importing, sorting and working images. An internal 1TB HD drive is the primary storage drive. This has my entire image library and copy of LR catalogs. I back this up to an external 1TB desktop hard drive which is off line unless its being synced. A third 1TB external hard drive is kept off site. All of these drives are kept in sync on a regular basis using Second Copy software. I started with 250GB HD's, then upped to 500GB and now its 1TB. I'm starting to seriously consider online storage for "select" images but have yet to take the plunge.

I have a 240GB Intel SSD for my working files, OS, and programs. Everything is stored/backed up to either of two internal Western Digital 500GB drives. I also have a Western Digital 1 TB external that is only connected during a full system backup.

I use Windows 'Backup and Restore' in Windows 7.

I may go to Network Attached Storage (NAS) at some point. The NAS units for small business/home office are becoming more reasonable in price (not including the HD's) and are fairly easy to set up and use. I don't know if that's the kind of solution you're looking for Sandy, but if you have a home network, it's worth considering.

I'm not sold on cloud storage, yet. You'll need a really fast internet connection in order upload large files in a timely manner.

--P

I think a really big question in all of this is: how often do you do your backups? Phillip said he's got his set to do a backup every night. I know I don't do mine nearly that often (!!!) but I'm not working on as many files as he does, or as frequently, probably.

on a Mac, Time Machine handles the backups automatically (and nearly constantly). I keep an alternate backup drive off site, but only switch it out a couple times a year (and keep thinking about having one in a more accessible location that I could switch every month or so).

My internet is too slow for online storage.

I've been using BitTorrent Sync (http://www.bittorrent.com/sync) for about 8 months now, since it's been in alpha. It does everything I've ever wanted in an automated back up system. Essentially it works like Dropbox, but free, and you are in control of everything. If you have (or have access to) multiple computers in different locations (e.g. home and office, or a friend/family's home), it's the best and cheapest option IMO. Everything happens automatically, so I don't have to think about anything anymore (except make sure the computers / drives are still working). It took about 3 weeks to do the initial sync (3 TB), but after that it's been running very nicely.

Sandy,
Keith Bauer helped me via a connection between our Apple computers, and it's working like a charm. I have four external hard drives (X-HD). Three G-Drives and a Western Digital. All of them is 2 TB except one which is a 3 TB. Keith advised me to move all my images to an X-HD ("Photo Images") (This step is done from within Lighroom 5) and then backup the "Photo Images" to another X-HD which I've named "Archive" (This backup is done using Super Duper for the Mac outside of Lightroom 5). When I return from a photo shoot, I download directly to the "Photo Images" X-HD, and then use Super Duper for the Mac to produce a clone to the "Archive" X-HD. The advantage of this method is after doing edits on the "Photo Images" X-HD, I update the "Archive" X-HD again so that both of the drives are exactly the same. I'm sure you can find software for the PC that will clone the second drive.

Then I back up my iMac desktop to a third X-HD using Time Machine. And finally I backup the iMac desktop a second time using the 2TB Western Digital X-HD using the Super Duper for the Mac software which again produces a clone.

Hope this helps. A good backup plan will save those precious images when disaster strikes.
Dottie