Recommended backup software?

tchil wrote:
I will throw out there Crashplan. You can do online or local or both. Online is nice because it protects you from more than just a HD failure. Although HD failure is prob the most common problem. Theft, fire, flood, lightning strike and power surges often take out the back up drive as well. Crash plan has a deal where you can get up to 5 computers unlimited space for one price. I buy 4 or 5 years of service at a time to get the best price possible. I use it for my computers as well as my parents and inlaws. So far it has been great. I used to use Mozy until they went stupid with their pricing.

I guess I am exposed to the hazards listed for backup drives. However, a bit of protection can go along way to mitigate them.

Theft: I doubt seriously if a thief could find them I don't leave them out in the open.

Fire: OK ya got me on this one. In the event of a fire my computer and HDD's are the last thing on my mind. Getting my wife and myself out safely is the primary and only goal. Never go back in to a burning structure for anything, ever!

Flood: I'm a full time RVer. I move.

Lightening Strike/Power-surge: I have everything electronic that would be effected on surge protectors. The only time the backup drives are plugged in and visible is when they are used for backup or restore. I would hardly be doing a backup in a lightening storm.

There a limited choices for backups as a full timer. Key is to do the best you can and anything is better then nothing.