Backing Up External HDD, UPS

[KJ-G]

Hi,

I run my show from a MacBookPro and external HDD, and in the last few days had cause to regret not having a stronger disaster recovery plan

Periodically I copy my music collection across to one of a couple of backup drives, but it takes several hours to do this completely as there's about 1TB of data.

Can anyone recommend some decent, reliable software that will enable me to synchronise my 'backup' external HDDs with the main HDD that I use all the time, or is copying the way to go?

Also, is it worth using a UPS to power the EHDD, and can anyone recommend something suitable?

Sincere Thanks,

- G

[dave]

TimeMachine is your new God
For UPS i use one of these.

[KJ-G]

Thanks Dave, as ever.

Sorry to be dumm, but are you saying that not only can I use Time Machine to backup the contents of my internal drive to an external backup drive (as I do now), but also it will enable me to backup my main external drive that stores all my music files to another external HDD?

Best Regards,
- G

[dave]

yes, you just have to manually *remove* the external drive from the exclude list.

[Karanight]

Thankfully, I always use UPS. Two weeks ago A singer asked if she could sing, it was 12.45am and we finish at 1.30am. As the KJ operating that night had more than enough singers she told the singer (who had only just come into the venue) that she wouldn't be able to sing as there was not enough time. The singer started kicking off and eventually saw a power lead that fed my system.......... the bitch unplugged it. Needles to say she's now barred from singing at any of my karaokes. My computer system (Mini Mac & HD) was safe thanks to the UPS
The moral, always protect your system with both HD backup and UPS.

[KJ-G]

How awful - there are some rotters out there! Good good job you had the UPS and a lesson to the rest of us

[DeusExMachina]

A helpful tip from a former sound tech:
Always take leads that connect to mission critical devices, or which might pull over heavy equipment, and wrap them once around a high-friction stationary object. Like, for instance, a table leg. That way if someone trips, they do no pull out the cord. Speaker cable wraps once around the speaker stand and then around a nearby table leg, so tripping does not pull over the stand, and then off to the amp, where once again it is wrapped around a post, so it can not be pulled out.

Takes a little of the stress off!

[dave]