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Catalogs Seeking a better backup workflow

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kenwood

Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2009
Messages
82
Location
nyc
Lightroom Version Number
13.4
Operating System
  1. macOS 10.14 Mojave
I currently have this structure on my computer:

lr-catalog (where all the catalog data files such as *.lrcat* are)
lr-catalog/photos (where all photo files are under)

I use google cloud app on mac to auto sync/backup the folder "lr-catalog" to the cloud. But there are some lightroom hidden folders/files under this folder and during the syncing process they get corrupted. Next time I open the catalogue LR will say the catalogue has been corrupted and require repair. The only way to get around is to disable cloud syncing when using LR and turn it back on after LR is finished.

I am looking for a seamless way to backup files. Any suggestions? Is it possible to move those hidden files elsewhere?
 
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kenwood said:
I use google cloud app on mac to auto sync/backup the folder "lr-catalog" to the cloud. But there are some lightroom hidden folders/files under this folder and during the syncing process they get corrupted.
Click to expand...

DON'T DO THAT.

Your Lightroom Classic catalog is a database. Databases are notoriously incompatible with processes that sync them to the cloud. If you get it to work, you are lucky but are depending on an eventually unreliable process.

Sync is not backup. Use Time Machine, Carbon Copy Cloner, Backblaze or other similar software!
 
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kenwood said:
I currently have this structure on my computer:

lr-catalog (where all the catalog data files such as *.lrcat* are)
lr-catalog/photos (where all photo files are under)

I am looking for a seamless way to backup files. Any suggestions? Is it possible to move those hidden files elsewhere?
Click to expand...

Apple provides TimeMachine Backup. There is nothing simpler. The default will backup all of your primary disk drive. You can exclude any files and folders that you don’t want or need to recover. You can include any EHDs or parts thereof. I recommend it for all of your critical user data including the LrC catalog and all of your images that are cataloged.

I’ve used it “since forever”. And can always recover any catalog or image file I need.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
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karl.nyhus said:
DON'T DO THAT.

Your Lightroom Classic catalog is a database. Databases are notoriously incompatible with processes that sync them to the cloud. If you get it to work, you are lucky but are depending on an eventually unreliable process.
Click to expand...

Some databases are designed for "client/server" or "client/cloud" operation. Lightroom IS NOT one of them as @kar.nyhus wrote in message #2
karl.nyhus said:
Sync is not backup. Use Time Machine, Carbon Copy Cloner, Backblaze or other similar software!
Click to expand...
You should also back up locally every time Lightroom closes. Back up to a different physical drive even an EHD. Progrms like Backblaze don't maintain "versions" of each file. Each backup will wipe out the previous file, giving you no chance to restore the catalog to an earlier version.

A lot of us have needed to restore to an earlier version of the catalog to undo an error of some sort, It's only a matter of time before you will be glad you had those backups.
 
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PhilBurton said:
Progrms like Backblaze don't maintain "versions" of each file.
Click to expand...
Apple's Time Machine software does maintain previous versions of files so that older or even deleted files can be restored. Carbon Copy Cloner software uses the "snapshot" feature of the Apple File System (APFS) to provide a way to do the same.

Don't rely on a single backup system.

(1) I run hourly automated backups to an external disk drive using Carbon Copy Cloner software, which I prefer to Time Machine.

(2) I run a daily automated backup to an offsite cloud provider Cloud backup for Mac and Windows : Arq Premium, which I prefer to Backblaze.

(3) And I also run manual backups to a rotating collection of external disk drives using the Carbon Copy Cloner software.

It all depends on how important your data is to you.
 
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Please check your macOS version (all of the above comments stand btw) - you aren't on Mojave if you're running Classic 13.x (you have to be on Monterey or later).

PhilBurton said:
Progrms like Backblaze don't maintain "versions" of each file.
Click to expand...
That's incorrect. Backblaze holds versions for 30 days minimum, which can be extended (at cost) to a year.
 
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