We all backup right ? Here is my strategies...
TODO - Update with 2011 information.
Use an IMAP server. Keep everything on that server. Get your mail program (Mail.app or Thunderbird etc) to cache a local copy of the emails for searching.
Code & Documents
Use a version control system such as Subversion. Distributed version control is very popular now, as it should be, but one thing about distributed version control - your copy still needs to be stored somewhere. Use Subversion !
I have a "home" folder in my home directory which is then structured into client, project and other folders with a nice logical and backed up structure. Put in as much as you can.
Photographs
I use [[Aperture?]] to store and manage my photos on my main Apple workstation. This applies to folder structures and other methods:
- Import photos into your management system
- Keep a copy on another drive
- When the copy folder gets to 4GB (or 8GB or what ever medium of the day) burn to DVD
- Store those DVDs well marked and in a fire proof safe
- RSYNC whole directory to another location - external drive
- Keep two separate copies, one regularly backed up (each major change like import) and one less often when you know things are stable.
Videos
Personal from a camera.
- Import into some management system
- Currently I use iMovie (new one on Leopard is pretty cool and non-destructive of originals)
- RSYNC whole volume to another drive
- This can be difficult. I currently have 300GB
- Some people may have many many TB !
This one needs further thought.
Servers
- rsync to another server
- Great for immediate recovery
- If you want high reliability do it twice - once online, again offline to same location (for Database syncs etc)
- Tape backup
- I am currently in a no-tape situation - I need a new drive
Workstations & Laptops
Any way you can. Rsync is good. Apple Time Machine if you have that.
See Also
Setup