incremental backups tool?

[Jack Norton]

Hi all,
I'm using Cobian backups for my data backups and works great. After my new pc recent death (see the other thread around here) I thought also to start backupping my data in other places/online.
The problem is: my backup size is quite big, like 1.6Gb and I can't every time transfer the whole file to external USB keys or ftp... there is any tool capable of doing "incremental backups?". That is making zip archives with only the files changed from last backup?

For example, first make 1 full backup:
BACKUP210906FULL.ZIP > 1.6Gb zipped
with the date in the name, and then if I add only 50kb of code and do backup again, I have
BACKUP220906INC01.ZIP > 50kb zipped

as you can see much faster to transfer a 50kb file instead of the whole 1.6gb again... :D I saw incremental backup option in Cobian but I get the same BIG file...

[jankoM]

I started using subversion from my last problems with computer and it brings much more positive sides than just a great backup thing. I am using it for all php projects now but I am just organising my destop projects to do the same. It's great because I have multiple computers at home and in office and I allways had problems with working on outdated copies and owerwriting changes.

[Indiepath]

We use Norton Ghost for 2 hour incrementals of the whole disk array and Microsoft Backup (to tape) for 4 hour incrementals of the main development drive and email.

[GBGames]

I use Snapback2.

[Matthew]

SyncBackSE here to incrementally backup various directories to an external HD, plus a few scripts that pull down things like web server backups locally (which are then moved to the external HD automatically).

[SunAndGames]

You want to use Mozy (https://mozy.com/?code=HPC2XA) 2Gb of free online storage. There is a client piece that runs on your PC whenever it is idle. The first time it runs, it backups all the files you specify. After that, it does incremental backups of only the files that have changed. I've been using it for a couple of weeks, and am pretty impressed with it.

[Fabio]

What if a file or directory gets renamed, or even deleted?

[Applewood]

2 hour backups ? OMG.

We use VSS for a number of reasons but it's very handy for "undeleting" bad ideas. I guess subversion does similar and is free?

In terms of backing up in case the place burns down, I cut a CD of the VSS database once a week and for every milestone deliverable. I keep all our CD based bought apps offsite with local copies burned as alcohol files on the server for reinstall purposes.

I can't for the life of me think why you'd need to do this several times a day. I'm happy to gamble a lost week of work (at most) against the odds of a complete data loss, in return for having access to my HDD when I want it, and the fact that the recovery process is a simple folder drag. Incremental backups are notoriously hard to actually back up from in my experience.

EDIT:
Just reread the original post and saw you have a 1.6Gb file to back up. Can you not just remove extraneous crap first hand? Cut a CD full of "sample art that isn't in use" and store it in a safe place. We've got about 9 games in our VSS DB and it still fits onto a CD. Or buy a DVD writer :)

[MrPhil]

I too use Subversion. I use cvsdude.com as a host for all my files. Everything! I basically have my entire Home/My Documents checked in. The best part is I can “delete” stuff from my Home keeping it nice and clean with the knowledge that anything I wish I hadn’t deleted is safely buried down in some revision.

I use their “More Developer” which includes 1 GB, and unlimited separate modules (one for personal, one for work, one for Mr. Phil Games, one for backup etc) and it costs me $299 a years. For $320 you can get “Project Team” service which has 5 gigs.

I’ve had zero problems with thier service and encountered no downtime. It may sound pricy but when you start using it to keep you work, dev computer, laytop etc in synch it feels like a steal.

[stiill]

I'm using Backup4All for big drives full of data. It does incremental.

I'm using DriveImageXML to back up images of my boot partitions, because the downtime of reinstalling Windows from scratch is horrendous. I'm not doing incremental-- I'm just backing up the latest image. Backup4All has me covered on the older backups.

I'm using Subversion for off-site backup of dev assets, in case my house burns down.

[countzero]

I am using Robocopy (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=9d467a69-57ff-4ae7-96ee-b18c4790cffd&DisplayLang=en), it is a command line tool from Windows Resource Kit Tools, I wrote a batch file which uses robocopy to backup important folders.