Hello,

I am looking for some offsite backup solutions. I have tried interserver.net but things haven't worked out there.

I signed up for bqinternet but it just took me to paypal and then a thankyou page but I haven't got any response (tried emailing and phoning).

I was going to try gnax but their 'sign up now page' doesn't work (I sent them an email about it but got no response). I have a number of servers and am looking for both ftp and/or rsync.

I have disk to disk (cpanels) and I ftp copies out right now on a couple machines. I have one other machine with an rsync disk to disk but all in the same dc so I need something offsite. Also have a plesk machine that has backup maintained by dc (rackspace). Also need offsite solution.

I have already did searches (that is how I found the three companies I have tried) but I can't find anything. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Already struck out at:
interserver.net
bqinternet
gnax

Thanks.

What about having your own servers in another DC and backing up to them via Rsync. That is what I am intending to do.

Yes, that is what I was thinking of doing but there were a couple of issues.
1. I have two machines with yearly contracts coming up in the next few months and I am going to cancel them and go elsewhere so I don't want to set anything up on them.
2. Also, someone said something to the effect that "if one machine gets hacked, it gives acces to the other machine". I am not sure if it would just give them access to the backups on the other machine (probably).

When I saw how cheap the prices were at the backup companies (like bqinternet), I figured it was worth 10-50 bucks a month to have a mirror copy of them offsite.

Right now I ftp copies of cpanel backups from machine to machine and it is becoming a bit of a pain in the wrist ;-)

Thomas, how long do you think it'll take you to be up and running again in an event of a disaster with your current (main) DC?

The way I see it, to make the process as sound as possible, you'd need to have the same number of servers in your other DC as in your main DC, assuming you use different nameservers for each server.

I recommend GNAX's backup solution.

Yes, I saw you recommending them in another post but I tried them at the following url:

http://www.gnax.net/backup/index.php

and if you click on the signup button, it goes to a dead page. I emailed them about it but got no response.

But thanks anyways.

>Thomas, how long do you think it'll take you to be up and
>running again in an event of a disaster with your current (main)
>DC?
>The way I see it, to make the process as sound as possible,
>you'd need to have the same number of servers in your other
>DC as in your main DC, assuming you use different nameservers
>for each server.

I was going to do it like:

2 servers in DC 1
2 servers in DC 2
2 backup server in DC 3

Then each server in DC 3 will have the backup files for one server in DC1 and one in DC 2. That means if one of the DCs cancels all my servers I will be able to restore all of them within around an hour or two. Only if both DCs suspend all servers I would have a problem. But that is not very probable.

What was the problem you had with raidarray (interserver) ?

Thomas, so few hours to restore, then update DNS at your domain registrar, which can take anywhere between 2 and 48 hours, unless of course you use something like zoneedit for your DNS.

Thomas, I have 5 machines at different DCs. I am wanting to cut down to four.

ICALIV is right about the 2-48 hours for dns ... you would need to have a failover set up or zone edit or easy dns, etc.

I don't have failover yet but am looking at setting up ... I found a link in wht that was good but i can't find it in my favorites to put in this post.

Originally posted by Duport
What was the problem you had with raidarray (interserver) ?


I had problems right from when I signed up. I didn't get a welcome letter or anything for a few days and when I called I got message a machine. I tried emailing a putting in tickets but their tickets system would keep popping me to their frequently asked questions. When I did get a ticket in, no one contacted me. Finally it got sorted out and they had this very cool software that worked with cpanel accounts. Only problem was that it stopped working and I had no backups (looked like they were there). I was going to cancel but them one of the people there gave me his msn and he sorted things out (cancelled my first account and gave me a credit and set up a new ftp account). That was a couple months ago and it has been down more than once.

Suddenly, a week or two ago, it was emptly and I got an email that they had a problem with raid arrays. I made new backups and now I haven't been able to login for a couple days. I put in a ticket today and it got closed with no response so i just re-opened it a few hours ago.

Also, they started billing me for both services at the start of this month (the original one that didn't work ... and .. the new ftp account they set up).

That said, they were quick to set up the second account and and their servers are fast ... but I am having a communication breakdown with them. The double biling drives me insane even if it is a small amount and backups disappearing and not being able to login is a bit much for me to rely on them.

>Suddenly, a week or two ago, it was emptly and I got an email
>that they had a problem with raid arrays. I made new backups
>and now I haven't been able to login for a couple days.

EXACTLY THE SAME HAPPENED TO ME ! They did respond my ticket telling me I need to give them my password so they can reproduce the FTP login problem. But interesting to hear you have the same problem.

I recommend GNAX's backup solution

Originally posted by oshawa
Yes, I saw you recommending them in another post but I tried them at the following url:

http://www.gnax.net/backup/index.php

and if you click on the signup button, it goes to a dead page. I emailed them about it but got no response.

But thanks anyways.

You can order the GNAX backup service at: https://billing.tranxactglobal.com/modernbill/order/orderwiz.php

Hello Josh,

Thanks for giving me the gnax link for ordering. I am going to order their service and see what they are like ....
Just to update, gnax responded to my email today and said that it was a lost link (during site updates). They said the link would be fixed today by 1pm ...

Also, as an update, bqinternet sent an email today asking me to send them a 'user name' to use for the service. It is a bit odd to order that way ... I prefer using a credit card and getting an immediate email like "we got your order" ... or whatever. Paying by paypal and getting no response to email and only getting an answering machine that says "send your fax now or wait to leave a message", tends to shake your confidence in the ordering process ... lol ... That said, bqinternet had good reviews, so we will have to see how it works out.

Update on interserver: Still haven't got any response from them, no answer to the ticket or phone message. Haven't been able to reach the service for a couple of days (and I am being double billed :-0

Oh well ... I am going to get a gnax backup too. Once I figure out who is best (bq or gnax), I will order packages for my other machines or upgrade or whatever.

Thanks to everyone for the input.

We run redundant backups at both BQInternet and GNAX and up until this point we are very satisfied with both of them.

Hello CactusCounty,
I just ordered from both bq and gnax ... so i am glad to hear you liked both of them ..