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Mozy Online Backup (Mozy) isn’t particular about file locations so you can use it to back up files on external drives, unlike Carbonite. However, Mozy is no longer an unlimited backup service. Instead, it limits you to 2GB in its free version, 50GB (one computer) for $5.99 a month, or 125GB (up to three computers) for $9.99/month. For this article, we used the free 2GB Mozy backup service known as MozyFree.
Selecting files and folders to back up with Mozy
The MozyHome setup wizard starts out by offering preconfigured backup sets: email and contacts, music, documents, financial, photos, browser favorites, databases, and videos. In the next dialog, you can adjust backup performance and other options by clicking Settings.
Use the Backup Sets tab to select which backup set(s) to use. You can specify one or more backup sets in the split screen display’s left pane, and the right pane lists the files selected in the backup set. Mozy warns you if you are over your quota and tracks changes as you select and deselect files and backup sets. To specify files by folder, click the File Systems tab and choose the files and folders desired.
Unfortunately, Mozy doesn’t permit selecting multiple files at once so keeping a backup below 2GB requires deselecting files individually, which was a bit tedious.. Another Mozy minus? There’s no smartphone feature, although Mozy is developing smartphone support for iPhone/iPad (iOS) devices and Android devices, as well as file synchronization services.
Mozy’s many options help to make it more powerful and flexible. To fine-tune backup locations, performance, and other settings, use the Options tab to access additional tabs for Scheduling, Performance, Local Backup, General and Advanced.
The General tab allows you to turn on a backup status icon for files (a green checkmark) and to enable an alert if you’ve exceeded your quota or if you’ve missed backups for a specified number of days, while the Performance tab lets you fine-tune the balance between backup speed and computer performance, and the ability to specify whether and how much to use bandwidth throttling.
Scheduling enables you to specify idle times for backup, the total number of backups per day, at what CPU load to stop backing up, and whether (and when) to run scheduled backups instead of automatic continuous backups (along with an option to suspend backup).
Local Backup provides the option to automatically perform a backup to a specified local hard disk (internal or external) while the normal online backup is running. The local backup is stored in a folder called mozyLocalBackup\computername\ and it replicates the folder structure used by the files being backed up. The files in the mozyLocalBackup folder do not need to be restored; they can be opened directly from the folder.
Other options, such as displaying the virtual drive in Computer (My Computer), a right-click restore option in Windows Explorer, backing up open files, backing up EFS encrypted files, and, perhaps most importantly, showing advanced backup set features (which enables you to select specific files and folders) are available in the Advanced tab.
Quick Note: To enable features such as backup of EFS encrypted files, click the Change Settings That Are Currently Unavailable button to restart Mozy with Administrator credentials.
To restore files, you can use the Windows Explorer-like interface to select files to restore, or use search options to help you find files more quickly. You can restore all backed-up files on your computer, by clicking the checkbox next to Computer. You can also run the restore process from your web browser (which we recommend for restoring large numbers of files).
Restoring Files with Mozy Home
By default, restored files are restored to their original folder path but you can change their destination by using the Browse button. You also can specify whether to overwrite existing files or rename files to prevent overwriting with restored versions.
Backblaze provides truly unlimited file backup for any local hard disk connected to your computer and, thanks to its cross-platform (Windows and MacOS) design, can restore Windows files to a Mac, or vice-versa. For this article, we used the 15-day free trial.
Backblaze automatically locates documents, photos, music, movies, and other important files and selects them for backup. By default, it skips system files, temporary files, MSI, EXE, backup files, and any files over 4GB in size. However, you can increase the maximum file size to 9GB by using the Backblaze Preferences’ Exclude from Backup tab. You can also select the drives to exclude from backup.
Backblaze displays the files and total capacity it will back up before it begins.
It takes a few minutes for the Backblaze backup to start, and you can pause the backup as needed; it will continue after it is unpaused.
Backblaze offers three options for restoring files: you can download ZIP compressed versions for free, or if you’re in a real hurry, you can order a DVD with up to 4.7GB of backups for $99 including shipping or an external drive with up to 400GB of backups for $199 including shipping. You don’t need to install a restore client, as Backblaze uses the standard ZIP archive format for backup files.
To select the files you want to restore, sign into your Backblaze account online, select the restore method you want to use, and use the Windows Explorer-like interface to select your files. If you chose the download feature, Backblaze bundles your files into a ZIP file and sends you an email with links to your files. Click the link, then click Download to receive your files.
To restore your files, download the ZIP file to your computer and use copy/paste or drag and drop to replace the files. Backblaze uses the same folder structure for its restore file as the drive they were backed up from, using the drive letter as the top-level folder.
Restoring files to the Windows Desktop from a Backblaze ZIP backup.
If you need to back up multiple PCs at home and can live with capacity limits, you might prefer to look at other backup solutions. We checked out Acronis Online Backup, iDrive, and SugarSync for features and useability. Acronis Online Backup can be used as a standalone product - or can be integrated with Acronis True Image 2011, enabling you to perform local image-based disaster recovery backups, local file backups, and cloud-based backup at the same time. For this article, we used the 2GB free trial version.
Preparing to select items to back up with Acronis
We had an out-of-the-gate issue with our Acronis trial that required us to update the Acronis Scheduler, even though we were using the most recent version of Online Backup. Not such a promising start.
Acronis uses a three-pane window to specify what to back up. While it offers categories such as Documents, Finance, Images, Music, and Video, Acronis provides information overload-for example,when you select a category, a long list of file extensions for each category makes it appear that you’re required to specify the extensions to back up. However, the list is actually specifying extensions that are already selected: click the X next to an extension to remove it from the list. Unlike with other capacity-limited programs, Acronis didn’t compare the space required by the items selected for backup to its capacity; it allowed us to select over 150GB of files, even though we were using a 2GB plan- a major oversight in our opinion.
The Acronis Options dialog provides for a lot of flexibility, including the ability to specify the number of connection attempts, maximum transfer rate (Storage Connection Speed), when to delete old versions and how many store (Storage Cleanup), backup priority-- and a few unique options: email notification and the option to run programs before and after backup (Pre/Post Commands)
Fortunately data restoration with Acronis was a little more straightforward: just use the Acronis client to find the location of the files you want to restore and right-click the file or folder to restore.
Preparing to restore a file with Acronis
Acronis opens a Browse for Folder window and highlights the original location by default. If the folder already exists in the destination location, a Replace Folder warning appears (Acronis will merge the restore folder with its counterpart on the system).
Acronis Online Backup offers a lot of flexibility and customization, but the well-intentioned option to exclude file types is confusing, and the glitches we experienced were disappointing. Likewise, the program’s inability to compare selected backup files to available space was also troubling. With easier and better solutions on the market, this is best suited for those who are already using Acronis True Image and want an integrated online component.
Comments are closed on this article
KingB
June 06, 2011 at 6:29am
I used Carbonit for a while but I stopped trusting them after they had problems on their servers. I've been trialling a new cloud based backup called Genie Timeline for a week now.
The backup stored on Amazon S3 and they support disaster recovery for complete system restore. They also have full management consol for all machines and reporting.
yodar44
April 26, 2011 at 1:58pm
your comparison did not address 2 important issues:
1. many backup systems throw away the file date info.
2. encryption: must be done before leaving my computer, with my control of the key
the only service that i have found that does both is JungleDisk/s3.
Mozy handles encryption properly, but didn't preserve file dates, at least the last time i checked.
mfineman3
April 11, 2011 at 1:22pm
Which services actually work?
For example:
I don't think any of the listed services do restore to bare metal.
At least one listed services doesn't handle Alternate Data Streams,
I'm not sure if any of the listed services handle Access Control Lists correctly.
I'm not sure if any of the listed services handle the extra dates and other
infomation in NTFS.
tuberb
April 06, 2011 at 5:25am
Carbonite's throttling doesn't kick in at 200GB, it is there from the start. I just made the mistake of signing up, and my initial backup of 80GB took 6 weeks to complete (which is more than I would consider to be "several days"). Complaints to tech support were met with finger pointing at my network and computer (FIOS 25mbps upload, reasonably fast PC that is always on) and ended up concluding that, "this is the deal, live with it".
stuffnstuff
March 01, 2011 at 11:52pm
Just remember that while Carbonite advertises itself as unlimited the reality is that after 200 GB your upload rate gets throttled dramatically (not by your internet service provider, but by Carbonite).
This speed cap imposed by Carbonite really makes it (almost) unusable for anyone who has large files and who has more than 200 GB to store.
NigalCunningham
February 27, 2011 at 11:23am
I tried some of the mentioned online-backup-services, like Mozy, Carbonite and Dropbox. All of them are very good. Now I now use Updatestar Online Backup, cause of the price and a good press reviews.
http://client.updatestar.com/en/onlinebackup/overview/
aarcane
February 25, 2011 at 6:34pm
Data caps are an Abomination, unless we as customers actually DO something (Like jump ship to higher priced fringe companies that provide unlimited services still), and refuse to come back to our mainstream ISPs unless they provide a reasonably priced unlimited plan, nothing will change.
As for using WHS, the problem with maintaining your own home fileserver for backups is disaster recovery. sure you're protected against common maladies such as drive failure or controller failure, you're NOT protected from proper disasters such as Fire, Flood, Meteor Strike, Breakins, etc.. What will you do when someone forgets to turn off the oven and the house burns down in the night, but the report backed up to your WHS is still due tomorrow?
Even if you can't afford a proper online backup solution, like S3, or one of these mediocre services, you should still obtain some "Offsite Storage" such as a safe deposit box or storage unit to perform physical offsite backups to. If you're using a linux based system, your best bet is to deploy ZFS, which provides most of the benefits of WHS, PLUS a bunch of more important benefits (like replication, deduplication, raid5 without write-hole, and end-to-end integrity verification), then use ZFS Send /receive to push your backups to a few spare drives, which you then take to your offsite location. Using amanda+S3, I just backup my encrypted nightlies to amazon, and forget about it.
axiomatic
February 25, 2011 at 1:22pm
With the data caps most ISP's are imposing lately I fail to se ehow these services remain in business. I use a Windows Home Server to back up my home because with just the main PC's of my family equaling 8 I am (incrementally) backing up over 200GB worth of data. Sure once the first one is complete the incremental backups are far less in size but it just boggles my mind that these cloud storage comapnies and streaming companies like Netflix are freaking out. (Well Netflix finally came out against the caps but thats really new news.)
TechLarry
February 25, 2011 at 9:13am
I think a Windoss Home Server with a couple of 2TB drives is a far better investment, especially with WHS 2011 coming out.
And no crying about DE please. Just roll your own...
The WHS backup system is brilliant. It is one of the few that will do bare-metal restores simply by booting the dead machine from the recovery disk, and selecting the backup you want to restore from.
Single Instance Store saves tremendous amounts of disc space.
And the remote media streaming capabilities of WHS 2011 are very good.
Take an old box, get an OEM copy when it is releasead, toss a couple of drives in it, and have at it. You can build one hell of a server for $400 or even less.
Xtomik
February 24, 2011 at 8:50pm
Maybe it's one click harder to find, but it is right here:
https://mozy.com/home/free/
It's presented as a trial version of MozyHome, but it is still a free 2GB backup service. I just set up someone on it last week.
AndySocial
February 24, 2011 at 8:46pm
I'm continually amazed that so many "comprehensive" reviews of backup programs omit Crashplan, which is one of the most flexible options out there.
haqattaq
February 24, 2011 at 8:09pm
You guys totally forgot Backblaze, Crashplan, and SpiderOak.
Please take down this mediocre review and redo for Maximum sake.
Your street cred is in question!
aarcane
February 24, 2011 at 6:53pm
I couldn't help but notice that none of these services offer a good linux client. I'll stick to amanda + S3 until someone comes up with a decent linux client. At least this way I have a unified cross-platform backup solution.
Jer Stryker
February 24, 2011 at 5:38pm
I switched to Crashplan when Mozy dropped their unlimited plan. It's better than Mozy ever was! (You don't even need to keep your external drive hooked up for it to remember to keep the files backed up.)
ABouman
February 24, 2011 at 5:32pm
Phooey. We liked MozyFree. Oh well... thanks for the update, we've corrected the story.
jaymz668
February 24, 2011 at 5:25pm
Mozy is no longer unlimited, Carbonite does not backup videos by default, and they don't make it obvious. So good luck getting those baby videos back if you have a hard drive crash and are depending on carbonite.
Crashplan is the best bang for the buck when you have multiple PCs and people in the house, their family plan is awesome
Pball1224
February 24, 2011 at 5:23pm
What an odd writeup. You guys don't usualy take such a promotional standpoint for one peticular service over another.
Also, Mozy is no longer Unlimited, they just changed their rate schedule, making them too expensive for me now.
I've been reading about BackBlaze.com which is unlimited and seems quite affordable, but I haven't tried it yet.
reutnes
February 24, 2011 at 4:17pm
Mozy no longer has Unlimited! Stick with Carbonite if you want that.
It should also be noted that a cloud backup should not be your only backup! If you do any kind of work on your computer you'll want to have an on-site backup as well. NAS boxes are good choices as they can be configured to backup over the network automagically, but a large external drive wouldn't be such a bad thing either.
As we say in the business, data you don't back up twice is data you don't care about. But I'll gladly take your coin to try and recover it.
jtrpop
February 24, 2011 at 4:09pm
Why not include CrashPlan?! They are the best around for local, offsite with friends, and cloud based unlimited backup. Also, Mozy ditched their unlimited.
