Computing & Information Services
Backups for Desktop Computers
Do you protect your work by backing it up?
Most desktop computers on campus are not backed up on a regular basis. CIS strongly encourages you to protect your work -- back it up! You are responsible for making and keeping your own backups. CIS backs up servers but not desktop computers. Don't lose your hard work: develop and practice a backup strategy.
Here are guidelines for faculty and staff backups of desktop computers. There is more information in the Technology Survival Guide, and additional help is available from Computer User Services ( cus@reed.edu or x7525).
If you have further questions or would like help, faculty should call x7525, staff x7592.
Recommended Desktop Backup Methods
Backups exist to protect your data against loss or corruption. It is helpful to develop a routine for backup, so that it gets done regularly. A routine could include when, what, how and where you back up your data.
When
More often is better (how many days of work can you afford to lose?). Depending on how you organize your work, you may be able to back up your current working files with one strategy and the rest of your files with a different strategy. For instance you could keep a single Zip disk that always backs up your current working files, but burn complete CD-R copies of your data every week or month.
What
Which files should you back up? Without doubt you should back up every file you create (letters, papers, etc). It helps to keep your disk well organized; if all your documents are in the Documents folder, you can just back up that. You may also wish to back up preference files such as bookmark lists, etc. On MacOS 9, most of these preferences are kept in the Preferences folder in the System folder. On OS X, these files are all in your user folder.
If you use Blitz, your current mail is kept on CIS servers and backed up by CIS. If you use a POP mail client such as Eudora or Outlook Express, your mail is probably on your own machine and you should be careful to back it up, too.
How
The simplest method is to simply copy the files to the backup medium (e.g. by dragging). Special software such as Retrospect is available; it can provide more powerful approaches but doesn't necessarily make the process simpler.
Where
What media should you use? There are many good answers. Whichever you choose, the backup copies should have these two characteristics:
- Redundancy (you should keep several backup copies, since any single copy could be lost)
- Separation (you should keep them in different places, since an event like theft or fire could cause loss of all nearby copies)
Three options to consider are:
- campus servers (such as the Home server);
- CDs--if you have a CD-recorder this is cheap and easy;
- external hard drives.
No matter which you use, you should do your work on the local copy (on your hard drive) and then save it to the backup medium later. Working directly on the backup copy defeats the purpose of backups!
For information on how to back up your work using the above methods, visit the CUS backup information page. If you are interested in getting an external hard drive, email CUS or call Reed's computer shop at x7253.
Although CIS will provide reasonable assistance to faculty and staff with backing up or restoring lost files, users are ultimately responsible for the integrity of their own backup procedures and media