Backing up…

The image above is from a great blog called Indexed and reminded me of how often I complain about people not backing up, and that I was probably due for another rant.  Backing up is something people don’t do.  I get it.  It takes time.  It boils down to how replaceable is the data.  If your computer replaced with a brand new one, what data would have to be transfered? Any?  Could you just start fresh or are you going to need something from that old machine?

Backing up is simple.  Make a copy, put it on another disk.  Any kind of disk: usb flash drive, CD, DVD, external HD.  The key is MAKE A COPY!!!  Moving a file to a separate disk is not making a copy, it’s moving a file.  If that drive is lost, the file is lost.  I hear all too often, “I put the file on my external hard drive, so it’s ok.”  No it’s not.  External hard drives are just as susceptible to failure as internal hard drives. 

I’m a huge fan of Apple’s new Time Machine system in Leopard (OS 10.5).  The system can be used with any external or internal hard drive (different than the boot drive), and can be used with network volumes, such as AirDisk in the new Extreme Basestations,  Time Capsule (Apple’s new wireless router with built in network disk), networked volumes on other computers, and other network drive systems like Drobo.

Every hour the system backs itself up with no user involvement after setup. Time Machine saves the hourly backups for the past 24 hours, daily backups for the past month, and weekly backups for everything older than a month.  The system is smart and easy to use.  We have implemented it for all of our server, desktop machines and laptops in the office.  When there is no need to think about it, backups actually happen.  When backups happen people have no need to worry or break down when their hard drives crash. 

In our office, a file does not exist unless it is in two places.

Via Indexed

Carolina Chocolate Drops - July 4th at Mojo’s Park - UPDATED

Everyone should come down for the Carolina Chocolate drops show this Fourth of July.  CCD played an amazing show at last years Roots ‘n’ Blues ‘n’ BBQ Festival and have come back to help Columbia, Missouri do Independence Day right.  There will be food, beer, fun, and SPRINKLERS!!! That’s right sprinklers.  He’s a clip from CCD’s performance at the festival last year.

 

UPDATE: Just found this clip of the Carolina Chocolate Drops from the Roots ‘n’ Blues ‘n’ BBQ Festival of them covering Hit ‘em Up Style.

 

Get a handle on net neutrality before it’s lost to ISP greed

Over the past four years, in spite of all the debate, the issue of net neutrality has become less understood, or just ignored — to our peril.

So what is net neutrality? The net has always been neutral; anyone can connect anything to — and connect to anything on — the Internet without restriction. The users of the Internet control what content they view. It is the job of Internet service providers (ISPs) to transfer data requested by the users without interfering with that data. Right now if you open a browser point it to www.google.com it quickly loads the familiar multi-colored logo. You can do the same with Yahoo, MSN, and Ask. Neutrality makes this work; one site loads just as quickly as another.

However, ISPs want more control. After much lobbying and a Supreme Court ruling, in 2005 the Federal Communications Commission removed nondiscrimination protections and handed control of Internet traffic to the telephone and cable companies.

The largest ISPs (AT&T, Verizon, Comcast and Time Warner) in the U.S. want to eliminate net neutrality and act as gatekeepers for the Internet, controlling the content, speed, and availability of their networks. They see profit potential from corporations.

Currently users pay for service to their homes, but ISPs want to tier that service and charge companies service guarantees. Their plan involves speeding up the sites of the highest bidder while slowing down, blocking, or even redirecting away from competitor sites.

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Via Columbia Business Times