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Suggestions for cloud backup of our daily backup databases?

Question asked by douglerner on Dec 3, 2018
Latest reply on Dec 5, 2018 by AndresLP

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We are running our FMS on Windows server 2008 R2. Our main database is up to 18 GB now and we are trying to find a safe cloud sync for the daily backups created by FMS. Currently we are maintaining 3 days of backups.

Here is what we have tried so far, but have not found a perfect solution yet, so would like recommendations.

1. Dropbox - The natural first attempt. However, we were unable to install Dropbox on Windows server 2008 R2 and our host (FMPHost) couldn't get it to work either. And Dropbox says they don't officially support that version of the server.

2. pCloud - installed, but communications are just awful. It takes a long time for them to answer, they never seem to respond to the question I'm asking, I can't get the details I need, and basically I'm just giving up on them.

3. SpiderOak - installed, communications are excellent, and it works. However, there is a technical issue which SpiderOak mentions in their own FAQs, involving very large files (i.e. over 10 GB). It seems they perform an encryption on our server prior to upload to their cloud. This encryption is a big performance drain for large files, and we have had our monitor go off for a minute when this is taking place. That would just get worse as time goes on I assume.

4. Both Box and OneDrive have file size limits which are too small.

I think something like SpiderOak, that didn't do the encryption on our end, and was reliable would be perfect.

Anybody have any suggestions?

Also, in the admin panel, what is the proper format for setting an alternate location for the daily backups? The default is

filewin:/C:/Program Files/FileMaker/FileMaker Server/Data/Backups/

Is that filewin: part necessary? Why are they forward slashes even though it is a Windows server?

Thanks,

doug

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DonCollier Dec 3, 2018 4:40 PM

I dont like cloud for security but if you have to use that you are definitely going to encrypt it for security & zip it for size

All of that has overhead for your file server, so you may want to think about a local lan to lan transfer to something like a synology NAS drive. let that do the encryption and compacting then you could have that transfer it to the cloud or better and more securely transfer it to another synology drive off site. That latter is my favoured option.

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douglerner @ DonCollier on Dec 3, 2018 4:45 PM

For shared servers, FMPHost has a feature which does what you describe - and you can also sync the backups on your own Dropbox. Unfortunately they don't have a solution like that for their dedicated servers, which we are using.

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wimdecorte Dec 4, 2018 4:43 AM

Backups in the Cloud with AWS - Soliant Consulting

A simple batch file can push your backups to AWS S3. Much easier than trying to install a piece of user-centric software like Dropbox.

4 people found this helpful

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douglerner @ wimdecorte on Dec 4, 2018 4:51 AM

Looks interesting. I'll check it out and see if I can do it without blowing everything up. Thanks.

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Ben Dec 4, 2018 7:30 AM

Good suggestions above - either buy a synology NAS (or similar) if you prefer to keep things in-house, or AWS S3 if you are happy to take advantage of S3.

I use variations of this:

make an extra backup to a folder called "outhouse_backups "- create a backup schedule - daily or weekly, as you need, set this backup to only store 1 copy so it always gets overwritten by a new version. Allow enough time for the backup to complete and schedule a script to copy this backup to the NAS - or it could be to a AWS S3. The nice thing about this is that the script just grabs the contents of the folder, it doesn't need to know the filename, and it needs no maintenance once it's set up, other than checking that it actually runs!

I hope this helps

FYI We also:

keep 8 daily backups

keep 5 28-day backups

keep 13 monthly backups

keep an annual backup at the each of each year.

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Andy Hibbs @ wimdecorte on Dec 4, 2018 8:18 AM

+ 1 for AWS S3 and the AWS CLI. This has worked flawlessly since we installed it and we run all sorts of schedules from many servers.

After the local backup has run, a separate scheduled server script runs and copies this to the relevant S3 bucket.

Downloads using S3 Browser (Windows) and Transmit (Mac) have always been very reliable.

Regards

Andy

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LSNOVER Dec 4, 2018 8:51 AM

I've been testing a nice backup program for Cloud storage. It's called Cloudberry. They have versions for Mac and Windows and decent features for scheduling, etc. Desktop versions are reasonably priced, but they ding you a bit harder if you need to store more than 1TB on Windows. Mac client is unlimited. I found it pretty easy to setup and configure. Windows versions have more options.

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AndresLP Dec 5, 2018 10:35 AM

I created a script that uploads backup files via SFTP, using the Base Elements plugin installed on the server. This script is executed every night with a FileMaker Server schedule.

However, I think Wim Decorte's solution to upload to AWS S3 is the best option.

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8 Replies

DonCollier Dec 3, 2018 4:40 PM
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I dont like cloud for security but if you have to use that you are definitely going to encrypt it for security & zip it for size

All of that has overhead for your file server, so you may want to think about a local lan to lan transfer to something like a synology NAS drive. let that do the encryption and compacting then you could have that transfer it to the cloud or better and more securely transfer it to another synology drive off site. That latter is my favoured option.
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douglerner @ DonCollier on Dec 3, 2018 4:45 PM
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For shared servers, FMPHost has a feature which does what you describe - and you can also sync the backups on your own Dropbox. Unfortunately they don't have a solution like that for their dedicated servers, which we are using.
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wimdecorte Dec 4, 2018 4:43 AM
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Backups in the Cloud with AWS - Soliant Consulting

A simple batch file can push your backups to AWS S3. Much easier than trying to install a piece of user-centric software like Dropbox.
4 people found this helpful
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douglerner @ wimdecorte on Dec 4, 2018 4:51 AM
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Looks interesting. I'll check it out and see if I can do it without blowing everything up. Thanks.
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Ben Dec 4, 2018 7:30 AM
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Good suggestions above - either buy a synology NAS (or similar) if you prefer to keep things in-house, or AWS S3 if you are happy to take advantage of S3.

I use variations of this:

make an extra backup to a folder called "outhouse_backups "- create a backup schedule - daily or weekly, as you need, set this backup to only store 1 copy so it always gets overwritten by a new version. Allow enough time for the backup to complete and schedule a script to copy this backup to the NAS - or it could be to a AWS S3. The nice thing about this is that the script just grabs the contents of the folder, it doesn't need to know the filename, and it needs no maintenance once it's set up, other than checking that it actually runs!

I hope this helps

FYI We also:
keep 8 daily backups
keep 5 28-day backups
keep 13 monthly backups
keep an annual backup at the each of each year.
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Andy Hibbs @ wimdecorte on Dec 4, 2018 8:18 AM
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+ 1 for AWS S3 and the AWS CLI. This has worked flawlessly since we installed it and we run all sorts of schedules from many servers.

After the local backup has run, a separate scheduled server script runs and copies this to the relevant S3 bucket.

Downloads using S3 Browser (Windows) and Transmit (Mac) have always been very reliable.

Regards
Andy
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LSNOVER Dec 4, 2018 8:51 AM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
I've been testing a nice backup program for Cloud storage. It's called Cloudberry. They have versions for Mac and Windows and decent features for scheduling, etc. Desktop versions are reasonably priced, but they ding you a bit harder if you need to store more than 1TB on Windows. Mac client is unlimited. I found it pretty easy to setup and configure. Windows versions have more options.
Like • Show 1 Like1
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AndresLP Dec 5, 2018 10:35 AM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
I created a script that uploads backup files via SFTP, using the Base Elements plugin installed on the server. This script is executed every night with a FileMaker Server schedule.

However, I think Wim Decorte's solution to upload to AWS S3 is the best option.
1 person found this helpful
Like • Show 1 Like1
Actions

Suggestions for cloud backup of our daily backup databases?

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