Backblaze, the service I described as “Online Backup With Time Machine’s Finesse“, has launched to the public. The site tries to differentiate itself from the myriad of other online backup solutions available by emphasizing simplicity. Backblaze advertises a 3-click-setup, tucking away all but the most basic features behind an “advanced” menu (which includes options like bandwidth throttling and file exclusion).
Since we last wrote about it, Backblaze has increased the maximum size of any individual file from 100MB to 4GB, and has added support for Email databases which can be updated even while in use. The service has also incorporated a web interface that allows users to download individual essential files from the cloud. After a two week trial, a Backblaze subscription is $5 a month. The service is currently only available for PC’s, but a Mac version is expected within a month.
Backblaze competes with a number of similar online backup sites, including Mozy, Carbonite, and SugarSync.
I still love Dropbox and think more companies should just make a seamless application that interfaces with the shell =)
I’m not sure I trust my private client data with an online backup service.
for novice users and to store photos or any non-confidential document is a good proposal i think.
So I’m actually affiliated with Backblaze (I helped design the backend infrastructure). In terms of your data security all of your data that is uploaded to us is encrypted using AES (iirc it’s AES-512) and if you put a private pass phrase in the client there is literally nothing we could do to get at your data without your help (and pass phrase).
We do this for all of your data, be it photos or financial. Hopefully that helps alleviate some of your concern since it’s something we’re very aware of and concerned about.
I just discovered Dropbox, and I’ll tell you what, as a Linux user, I’m stoked about them! I have a desktop with Ubuntu, a laptop that I switch between LinuxMint and Vista, and keeping documents and photos synced was a pain. None of the alternatives, including this one work with Linux. Dropbox scares me being so new, but holy cow, if they introduce premium plans that are decently priced, they’ve got me as a paying customer. Just because they support Linux.
Listen, I know Linux doesn’t mean much to most people, but when you chose not to ignore a whole userbase that could potentially spread word of your product better than any kind of paid advertising, you’re not doing good business.
This is becoming an even more crowded space. I guess the market is big enough to support most of them for now, but I think in a year or two we’ll have a good idea of the leaders.
“Backblaze advertises a 3-click-setup, tucking away all but the most basic features behind an “advanced” menu”
I think this is a great way to design a UI. Keep the frontend as simple as possible to work with the computer novices and put all the advance options just a click or two away. Technical savy people will find their options and take the time to do so. They’re used to it. I still see a lot of start-ups trying to squeeze so many features onto one screen but I rather take the chance that some users won’t notice the advance features right away than alienate most of them.
I’ve only recently warmed up to the idea of online back-up but for $5/mo I think I’m gonna try this.
Same here for Dropbox. Can’t imagine living without it now.
Don’t you think services which allow you to back up to your own data store (like Jungle Disk which lets you store backups in your own Amazon S3 account) are a better idea?
Frankly, I don’t like the idea of my data living at a startup right now.
Jason
Backblaze serves a different purpose than Dropbox. Dropbox is a good solution for synching certain files, but Backblaze makes sure ALL of your data is backed up. We found that many people had some files backed up (on an external hard drive, in Gmail, on DVDs, etc.)…but if their computer died, they would lose a tremendous number of photos, music, their Outlook file, etc. because they did not have a a dedicated backup solution.
Regarding trusting client data: Backblaze features a private encryption key option. Set that and not even the government could get at the data.
Regarding trusting a startup: Backblaze stores data in a redundant configuration across multiple drives, in the 365 Main datacenters (which Sun Microsystems, Esurance, Cnet and other use as well), and the data is a backup of data that is already on your system.
I obviously recommend Backblaze for backup, but please use something!
I actually use my web hosting service as a place to backup my stuff…works well and I dont have to pay per PC backed up. I’ve made my own script but also found some simple tools that do the same thing for free e.g. http://mojblob.blogspot.com
I’m definitely interested in the easy of use of Backblaze, and see it differently than Sugar Sync or Dropbox. (sugar sync seems to limit you to 250GB, so that probably wouldn’t be good for full back-up)
I’m thinking of using a Backblaze type solution (looking at the others too) for backing up my whole system – a cloud-computer Time Capsule solution I guess. But I wouldn’t rule out ALSO using a DropBox/Sugarsync type service for keeping my two computers in sync for general files and collaborating with remote coworkers and clients. I’ve cobbled together a bit of a system around Apple’s iDisk for this, but would like something more seamless for everyone to use.
I am used to free stuff like Mozy, SkyDrive, Mesh etc. Paying $5 is too much compared to free. Mozy is seamless. As far as private data files, it is easy to encrypt them before uploading. I do not know how these guys are going to survive.
I love dropbox too. It is really seamless but I would not call it a backup solution.
Hi Sean, just to be clear, Mozy, SkyDrive, etc. only provide a few GB free – just enough for a taste for most people. Most users have 10, 50, 100+ GB of photos, music, movies, tax files, etc. and other services charge at least $5 per month to store that. As for encrypting, technical users certainly can figure out how to do that, but re-encrypting every file each time you change it is a lot of extra effort. Give Backblaze a try…the trial is free for unlimited storage.
Question for Glen or Chris: How smart is Backblaze about detecting files that are already online? That is, if I’ve chosen to use a private passphrase, back up 200 gigs of data, and then have to reinstall my OS or move my (other internal) data drive into a new machine, will the new installation of Backblaze understand that the data it’s looking at is already online (provided I use the exact same passphrase when I reinstall Backblaze), or will it make me reupload everything again?
Mozy falls down on this and this is why I stopped using them. It’s no fun having to reupload data you’ve already got online. I was about to set up JungleDisk but now I’m thinking of giving Backblaze a try instead. Thanks for being so active in the comments here!
I’m one of those low tech, procrastinator types that make up most of the population- I just avoided the whole issue, occasionally saved some files to a disc but mostly just crossed my fingers that something wouldn’t go wrong. It always kind of hovered in the back of my mind that I really SHOULD be doing something more…
So, as far as I’m concerned, Backblaze is the best thing since sliced bread. I didn’t have to set up anything other than how often it backs up (their recommendation is continuous), they do all the work! I think $5/month is a fantastic deal for set it and forget it.
Now I have all this extra space in the ‘back of my mind’ to worry about other things like presidential elections, etc…
would like to ask the same question that Andrew posted – what if we reinstall the OS?
How long will Backblaze keep the data on the server? Is it configurable option?
Will the data live on the central storage even if the machine that it backed up goes down?
Anuj and Andrew,
If I understand your questions… Backblaze backs up your data online and keeps four weeks of versions. We keep files you have backed up forever as long you are a subscriber, so if your machine dies you can restore whenever you want as long as you are still with the service. If you reinstall the OS and then Backblaze, the service will need to reupload your data.
Thanks, Gleb. So, please correct me if I am wrong here.
You store the data for upto 4 weeks of versioned data(currently, non-configurable).
In the event I lose my primary machine,
Step A:
I would need to restore the data (I am running against a strict target here, right–I will have to restore the data within 4 weeks, else I LOSE it all)
Step2: The service will automatically start backing data that has been restored on my new machine(plus any new data, of course)
@Andrew:
Dude, you stopped using Mozy because of that? How often do you reinstall your OS? You know, when you reboot the PC the OS comes back … you don’t need to reinstall it each day when you power on the PC lol
Anuj,
If you lose your computer, you are not running against any deadline. You can wait as long as you wish to restore your files as long as you are still subscribed to the service.
Thanks,
Gleb
Been using both Mozy (family machine) and iDrive (my box). Mozy doesn’t backup external drives. iDrive seems same as Backblaze with a few diffs: iDrive backsup open files (e.g. outlook psts), doesn’t have a 4GB file size limit, and maintains older file versions indefinitely. But on the other hand, iDrive has a 150GB max storage unless to upgrade to very pricey business version. This is what’s killing me and making me think about Backblaze.