DP's dashboard

DP, in an upcoming version you'll be able to override Carbonite's selections about which files to skip. If you explicitly select a folder for backup, everything in that folder and it's subfolders will be backed up - videos, .exe files, etc. I don't have a release date yet, but it's coming soon.

Sincerely,

Len Pallazola
Manager, Customer Service Systems
Carbonite, Inc

3 weeks, any movement from Carbonite?

You're certainly correct that the reason they have this maze of crazy rules about what's backed up and what's not is to save money on storage. In principle, however, I have no problem with Carbonite (or the others) trying to discourage people from uploading unnecessary files. No-one should be backing up their entire hard drive, because this would drive up costs for all the other customers (like us).

What I DO have a problem with is the way they're going about trying to limit "over-backupping". Ignoring files basically at random and not telling users what's going on when it happens is almost criminal, and is causing a lot of grief for a lot of people who were responsible enough to get a backup service in the first place. As someone pointed out in the thread above, it renders the service not only useless, but dangerous.

DP

Yes ... I've experienced all of the behaviors you've mentioned. Let's not be naive. I feel as if we're dancing around the primary reason (or strategy) for eliminating some file types (like VOBs and EXEs for instance). When offering "unlimited backup", it might be beneficial to "limit" what might be considered excessive volume.

These files I'm having issues with are typically enormous. A normal DVD backup at least 4GB if not 9. Putting some fine print in the T&Cs around movies (et. al.) is a convenient way to avoid backing these up and thereby saving valuable space.

Also, as a an aside, since my earlier comments I have gone through a Restore. Many issues with files not restoring at all (I can't remember the error exactly, or even if there was one). It would simply finish and just tell me 31 files not restored and that was that. Non-recoverable, apparently.

For the moment, I've moved to SyncBack SE and local backups / syncs until I find a different online solution. MemoPal was looking promising, but have noticed similar inexplicable problems with their solution not backing up certain file types. Will probably try Mozy just because, but I've heard plenty of negative comments regarding it as well.

Remote Network Attached Storage may be the only viable solution for me.

--Dirk

Wow after a long and continued search for the PERFECT backup solution, I still find myself continuing to look. Thanks for someone caring enough to start this thread, great idea!!

I so agree with every thing that is being said about Carbonite here. I have installed and use Carbonite on four machines, all of which were installed less than 3 months ago. So we are still in a beta of sorts. I have recommended to Carbonite on 3 or more occasions to change their polices. See I totally disagree with anything or anyone who provides a product or service in the backup world that does not believe in total redundancy.

How can decision be made to exclude files?? That is the very backbone of what a backup solution is to provide.

Who in their right mind says lets exclude such and such file or files type? WOW! that's ridiculous.

The exclusion of any file is so absurd I can t believe I even have to write this post.

See we recommend backup solutions for 100's of clients being that we are a totally outsourced development firm, so things that work for us we suggest to or clients.

We have not been able to recommend a single offsite backup solution, other than expensive ones, to anyone as they are all useless.

Now lets me say I do like Carbonite as it is the best of the bunch, but if they do not make the necessary changes to the exclusion policies, we will no longer use them after the licensing period ends in 9 months or so.

Now there are other significant issues I see with Carbonite, such as the time it takes for files to be restored, can take 30 minutes sometimes for a file of any size. Another issue is the restore procedures, if you make changes to a file and it is awaiting backup you can not restore a previous version at least from the context menus (right click), thus you must wait for the backup to complete before you can see if you even have a previous version.

Also knowing bandwith throughput would be great so we can estimate initial backup times.

And preserving the directory structure is an absolute necessity, again why would an empty folder not be backed up, its in the folder???

These are just a few of the major issue we see, many have already been noted above and in other posts.

But I will say the biggest issue is that of the exclusion polices, they must give users an option in the UI to backup EVERYTHING in the selected folders, as without this it is basically useless.

Lets see if Carbonite can step up and give power users the tools they need to continue working with this product, as it is pretty good already.

DP