Nothing elicits such a strong case of technology guilt as asking other people if they back up their computers. Eyes dart toward the ground. Excuses are made. The subject is quickly changed.
As many people know or quickly find out, backing up a computer can be a painfully slow process. This week, I tested a computer-backup system that requires minimal effort and works in the background to automatically back up files: CrashPlan. This appropriately named program is made by Code 42 Software, a Minneapolis-based company.
CrashPlan works with all types of operating systems and lets users back up to remote servers in the cloud and/or other computers or hard drives, like another PC they own or one belonging to a good friend or family member (as long as they give permission). The system also sets no restrictions on file size.
On a typical home Internet connection, the backup process to a CrashPlan remote server could take several days or even weeks for a first-time backup. (After that, backups are much faster and happen unnoticed.) The first-time backup for one of my laptops with about 46 gigabytes of data had been running almost continuously for three days when I filed this column on Tuesday. After the initial backup, regular backups won’t take nearly as long. CrashPlan has a mobile app that works on Apple’s iPad, iPhone and iPod touch, Android and Windows Phone 7, allowing remote access to backed-up files.
Published in The Wall Street Journal, February 2012
Read the full publication here >
Please note:
While the Wall Street Journal references the home version of Code-42’s CrashPlan software, our South Jersey CrashPlan service relies on Code-42’s enterprise product, CrashPlan PROe built for business.
Sent you an email, but I’ll post a response here in case any other viirtoss have the same question. The long and short of it is that you can upload whatever you like to CrashPlan’s servers. We upload all of our photography related files, jpegs, photoshop, raw files and video. Have not had a problem yet.
Natalia – I am not sure I understand your comment or what you are asking? We have our own servers running the CrashPlan PRO Enterprise software. We can handle whatever photography related files you can throw at us!
-Brian