Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Running a Web Hosting Business : Backups - does everyone do them?

[askthexperts]

I am watching in horror as AN and spawns of AN loose servers and data - and who knows what will happen to these poor people and thier businesses

I was trolling the AN forum earlier. Dozens of posts stating no backups. Most people there appear to be using cpanel. There IS a backup mechanism in cpanel, and its so simple to use.

People, we need to always backup our sites. First rule in IT - back it up.

I have been backing up to a home server for months - and today decided to take the next step. I went looking for a third off site solution. Several on a google search, but expensive...

I trolled WHT and found only one backup offer - jvds is offering for 1 buck a GB space and no transfer costs.

As I have previously dealt with jvds (Rus) I trust them enough to know my data will be safe. I am signing up today.

Please people, find a means of offsite backup and sleep at night knowing if your provider has issues, you can at least recover your information.

[derwick]

I always backup my servers data. I use tranxactglobal.com for my ftp backup. Some other people I know use jvds. Both work well and are well priced.

As well as backing up your site, how many of you backup your own PC? I always advise customers to backup site and backup hard drives. Very few do so. Loosing all your data, sites, emails, contacts, business accounts is expensive. An extra hard drive in you PC is cheap.

[Amdac]

Please specify what "AN" refers to.

[CD Burnt]

Originally posted by derwick
...... An extra hard drive in you PC is cheap.

an external USB hard drive kit (got mine at walmart) is super handy for extra space, backups, and for moving data .

[cywkevin]

I backup my clients files but I never tell them that and it is recommend in my TOS that they backup their files.

[xyzulu]

Originally posted by Amdac
Please specify what "AN" refers to.

I think it is Angelnetworkz... http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showth...hreadid=315389

[9XNet]

i just do monthly backups at this time. but in a few weeks ill have a colocated backup fallover server up and doing back ups more often.

[askthexperts]

I backup my clients files but I never tell them that and it is recommend in my TOS that they backup their files.

Yes as do I. But I have always felt the need to backup my clients - after all I am the professional - they just want a website that stays up and running.

[Pheaton]

We generally don't tell clients that we have backups either, but we do backups every 3 days to remote servers with about 250GB of space each.

It's nice to have 3 day incremental backups for the last 2-3 months for every server we have.

[askthexperts]

It's nice to have 3 day incremental backups for the last 2-3 months for every server we have.

Yes, and its things like that that I am getting at. Most people dont seem to understand or take the time to do the backups. Even once a week is better than never.

My point is, if anything ever happened to my server or datacenter, I could still restore something, and keep my business up and running.

It just seems to me that alot of people around here dont understand how important backups are

[Derek@BP6.Net]

All of my servers are backed up every morning to two off-site servers.

Better safe than sorry!

[Torith]

I would hope so that my host does backups but I know he does (crosses fingers). I think any web hosting business that cares about the business, and about the clients would do so 1 time every day or 1 time every 2 days.

Even if you have in your TOS stating you do not do it you should. Better be safe then sorry. What would people think of a host if it did not do backups and the server crashed and their is no files? Not good at all...

Though I hope this never happens to any web host since this is a hard business to get into (so many are out their) and is hard to compete. By doing this it will help you and your customers in the long run. Might cost you money, but what is more important?

[BlueFish]

What else do you do besides the remote FTP backups. I am running RAID5 servers with continuous tape backups. I know a lot of other hosting companies that don't but it makes me feel better knowing that I have done everything in my power to avoid disaster.

[Netrilli]

We do nightly backups to an off-site server, and we do tell our clients about it. Just in case they ever need the option.

After all they pay us to keep their sites up and their files safe.

[Torith]

Well I am wondering say a host does night backups every night. Has one with one datacenter and another with the same one they are with. Would that be considered good back up?