Backup - workflow and tools

[hfritsche]

Hey folks... yet another backup question.

My needs are simple. I store all of my image files on my internal HD under one master folder (called digpix) with multiple subfolders. For safety only, I store the identical folder w/images & subfolders on my external HD. With around 1',''' images now, it is getting unweildy to do a full backup each time I have a few images added (or deleted).

I understand there are file sync software packages out there. Is that what I should use or is there a better way? If not, what syncing sofware do YOU use? Are there any I should avoid?

Separately... I now let LR store the catalog (.lrcat) in whatever is the default location. Is there any reason that I couldn't move that (the working copy) to a folder under \digpix called 'LR Catalog' or something? Should I? It seems that it would facilitate backups, especially if that folder is "synced" with my external HD.

Thank you in advance for your feedback.

Harold

 

[Brad Snyder]

Harold, there are numerous sync utilities to accomplish what you're asking, re: the actual images. I personally use Microsoft's free SyncToy, but there other excellent products, that I'm sure others here will recommend.

The key point to all of this, is that Lr's default location for catalog backup, is usually right there in the same 'Pictures' folder that your main catalog is in. Not a lot of help, if the reason your catalog isn't working is hard-drive failure. *That's the first thing to fix, and do it soon*. The backup is simply an identical copy of the *.lrcat file, no magical formats or anything. Help us all sleep at night, and as you suggest in your post, get that backed up elsewhere, pronto.

The working copy of the catalog can go almost anywhere except a network location. The only problem with external drives is that generically, they tend to be slower than internal drives.

 

[RikkFlohr]

Microsoft makes a free tool called Sync Toy 2.'. It can be downloaded from MS

 

[Replytoken]

I would also like to add SyncBack and Karenware's Replicator to the list of programs. And, I beleive that SyncBack has the ability to verify the integrity of the file.

--Ken

 

[happycranker]

There is an update of Sync Toy it is now 2.1 and I also put my vote in for this product

 

[Halfje-Bruin]

On Windows I used SyncBackSE (the pro version) but the free version works just as nice.

On the Mac I use a simple rsync script that will backup only those files that have changed. I don't use TimeMachine for my images or catalogs as each change duplicates the image on the backup. I do use TimeMachine for the general backup of my Mac.