Re: [rdiff-backup-users] offsite service providers?

[Ty! Boyack]

Greg Freemyer wrote:
> On 3/15/07, Jonathan Sefton <address@hidden> wrote:
> > On 14 Mar 2007, at 16:50, Greg Freemyer wrote:
> >
> > > Or know of another cost-effective way to get 200-500 GB of offsite
> > > storage for rdiff backups?  (I tend to have very small delta's so I'm
> > > won't need much bandwidth after the initial pass.)
> >
> > I've just started using rsync.net for this - http://rsync.net/ - they
> > currently support rdiff-backup 1.0.4.  Standard rate is $1.60 per GB
> > per month, but this is discounted to $0.80 per GB per month for
> > 400-999 GB.  So you'd be looking at maybe $400 per month - does that
> > count as cost effective?  (There are no bandwidth charges).
> > Excellent service so far.
>
> It does look like a good product and I like the RAID-6 storage.
>
> I'll think about the $400/month for 500GB.  Not outrageous, but more
> than I was hoping for.
>
> Greg
Greg,

I don't know much about rsync.net, so don't take anything I'm saying as 
an attempt to steer you away from them.  However, from just a cost 
perspective, it might be worth looking at colocating a server of your 
own.  I'm guessing you have some experience setting up servers and 
rdiff-backup, so you could take care of that part yourself, and ship a 
server to a datacenter for them to plug in. 

I've been lucky enough to not have to rent colocation space myself, but 
I did recently look into it for another project.  We found a site in 
Denver (http://www.icelab.com) that will host a server for 
$55/month/Rack-Unit, with 10GB/month traffic (Traffic can be increased 
pretty cheaply - $12.50/month for 10GB more).  So if you were to build a 
1U box with mirrored 750GB disks (comfortably around $3k) you would come 
out ahead in less than a year.  Naturally, there is a much larger 
up-front cost since you have to purchase the server.  I don't know if 
there is a steep setup fee at the colocation facility.

I would probably pre-sync all the data, then ship it to them to avoid 
the big/slow initial transfer and be able to only send your rdiff-backup 
deltas after they get it installed.

There is probably a similar service in your area - just search for 
"colocation  1u" and you'll find a bunch of shops that are catering to 
the small customer, rather than those that will colocate your complete 
server rack.  Of course the big difference with rsync.net is that you 
are responsible for all server/software maintenance, whereas rsync.net 
does all that work and sells you a service.

*dislcaier*  I've never colocated anything.  If anyone has and wants to 
correct me from experience, please do so!  I know this isn't a 
colocation forum, but we are all in the world of backups, and the two 
things seem to be pretty inseparable.

-Ty!



--
-===========================-
 Ty! Boyack
 NREL Unix Network Manager
 address@hidden
 (970) 491-1186
-===========================-