How do I do a complete, efficient backup

[AJR]

Hi

I just had a close call with the external hard drive I use to store my DNG and catalog files. This caused me to have a close look at my LR backups and I've discovered I'm not as secure as I thought.

I have used LR for a couple of years now and am fairly proficient with day to day tasks. However, I have only a rudimentary understanding of how LR actually works.

I backup my catalog each time I start LR and convert to DNG and backup up my image files on import.

I have discovered three problems with this method.

1. Are there not files other than the catalog and image files that should be backed up? For example, would it not take a lot of time to rebuild the preview (thumbnail?) files, not to mention the time it would take to figure out how to do this.

Can someone give me a complete list of files which would need to be restored following a disk meltdown?

2. When I backup on import the files are backed up as .nef and not .dng. This seems to eliminate any advantage of converting to .dng in the first place.

Is there any way I can backup a .dng file upon import instead of a .nef?

3.When backing up files on import LR does not actually back up into the folder I specify. It adds a folder--"Imported on >date<" I store all my .dng files under one root folder called "Stills". I do this so that if the need arises to restore files all I have to do is drag the "Stills" folder off my backup drive onto my new working drive. It seems to me that in reality I would have to go through every single folder and physically remove the "Imported On" folder" in order for LR to find my image files.

Is there any way I can stop LR from created this "Imported On" folder?

Before signing off I would also like to thank all the good people here who have provided so much assistance to myself and others over what is now a period of years.

Al

 

[clee01l]

I think you need to consider a system wide Backup plan. Certainly LR and your image files are not the only inportant files on your computer. What about Outlook. Excel and Word Docs? There are many backup options to choose from. Some are even free. You can do a mirror using a Microsoft freebie called SyncToy or you can do something more robust that will handle differential backups in case you screw something up and want to recover from a few day/weeks back.
Lightroom's 'Backup' just includes a copy of the current catalog. No images are saved this way. The "on import backup" only makes a second copy of what is on your camera card. (in your case, NEFs). This even includes your culls and any other trash images that you reject on first view. This backup is most effective used as an intermediate step until a regularly scheduled back-up makes a second copy of what is on your HD.

The only files that you absolutely have to have in LR are the master images (In your case, the DNGs) and the catalog. Preview cache can be reconstructed. XMP files (if you have them) can be reconstructed from the catalog. Presets can be stored with the catalog or as strandalone text files. You might want to include these in you backup scheme.

You can expect at some point to have a catastropic HD failure. Unless that data is backed up on an alternate HD, you will lose data. Plan for it.

 

[Brad Snyder]

Al, you've pretty much hit the high spots of the problems, and Cletus gives good advice on solutions.

Most folks end up with one or multiple backups of raw (unadjusted images of all filetypes) intake, either on external swappable harddrives, or some sort of burned removable media. You note the problem, that this provides security early in the process, and a last resort recovery method, but won't get you back to your current working setup. As Cletus suggests, you need to commit additional resources to mirroring your working catalog and the image files in their relative folder tree(s). The preview cache is a secondary or tertiary consideration. It will rebuild itself, and the productivity hit is short term.

Additionally, there are preferences, and possibly presets and templates to be backed up, we can help you with those locations; and they're described quite well in Victoria's ebook if you have it.

No, Lr's backup creates that intake backup folder in that format, and that's just the way it works currently.

 

[BobT]

When I have enough photos to fill a DVD, I use the File>Export as Catalog... function to burn a DVD. My understanding is that should I need to recover any of that data, I would import the entire catalog which should give me all the DNGs, adjustments and presets all nicely catalogged and filed. Fingers crossed that never have to test it. My intention is to store the DVDs at my son's place. I also have the routine import backups and catalog backups going to a separate HD. I guess when it's full I'll pull it out and put in another one. Second hand HDs are cheap on eBay and good enough for backups.

 

[Brad Snyder]

[quote author=BobT link=topic=89'9.msg599'9#msg599'9 date=1263377369]
....Fingers crossed that never have to test it........
[/quote]

"I'll just stick my head in the sand" said the ostrich. I'm teasing for effect (not derision). Seriously, you ought to try a test recovery just to verify your plan.

 

[AJR]

Hi

Thanks for all the comments. It's hard to think of all the information one should include in a question so I'll just top up for clarification.

I do backup all my data quite diligently. All my working files are on one External Drive and Backups are done onto another (I even take the Backup with me when away from my computer) However, without knowing exactly what files need to be restored and where they are--the presets and templates are a good example Brad--having them backed up is moot. My goal is to make any recovery as painless as possible and with close to 3',''' images it's my understanding that rebuilding the previews can be time-consuming. Thanks for the reminders though--you can never be too careful.

I travel full time so DVD's just don't work for me. As soon as I get somewhere with a fast connection I am going to investigate an online service such as backblaze though. There are lots of vulnerabilities possible with the two EHD scenario

IMHO the fact that LR adds that "Imported On -date" folder is kinda weird. After this post I think I'll visit the Feature Request Forum about that. For now I guess the only way around it is to, as clee'1 suggests, only use the LR backup as an interim safety step, and then mirror the two drives.

Silly me just discovered that Victoria's book is an e-book. I've been wanting to get my hands on a copy for a long time, but like I said, I live on the road. I'll be downloading that immediately

Thanks again for all the help.

Al