cbtsam Loc: Monkton, MD

I have an iMac (2017, Catalina). I keep my image files on desktop hard drives, currently a 4 TB and an 8 TB. Apple's Time Machine software application currently backs them both up to a 14 TB desktop hard drive, and it's all backed up to the cloud with Backblaze.

The 14 TB drive is nearly full, and it looks like a larger single backup device would involve an NAS or similar device, at significant expense, and with certain problems. Apple's Time Machine backs up as many drives as you like, but will put the backup on only one drive.

I think a better solution for me would be a piece of software that would back up all my primary storage - the internal hard drive, the 4 TB desktop drive, the 8 TB desktop drive, and any other drives I might add to my collection - to another collection of, say, two or more 14 TB desktop hard drives, putting one portion of the backup on one 14 TB drive, another portion on another 14 TB drive, and so on.

My question is, do you know of a software application that would perform such a backup and will run on a Mac?

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Instead, how about using the disk innate ability of MacOS to create a JBOD using multiple drives as a single (large) volume which you can then mirror to the cloud for DR? Instructions here (scroll down to JBOD): https://www.lifewire.com/make-raid-with-disk-utility-for-macos-4134293

Cameralark Loc: Torrington, CT

I’m not sure I fully understand your goal but take a look at Goodsync.

cbtsam Loc: Monkton, MD

I deedn't know dat! Thanks, TriX. I've never known about this capability, I've checked your link, and I've begun to study it. So far, it looks just about, oh, 100% perfect. Life is so much better with a supportive community!

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

I now have TWO separate 8TB hard drives for back up. All hard drives die. You need 2.

cbtsam Loc: Monkton, MD

Oh, I know about disk death! A few months ago, two of mine died nearly simultaneously: a 4 TB and a 12 TB to back up three 4 TBs! Fortunately, I had Backblaze, so I got all of the 4 TB back, bits immediately downloadable, and the whole thing mailed to me in less than a week. then I replaced the 12 TB with a 14 TB, and the 4 TB with an 8 TB.

So, I don't think I need two backup drives (14 TB, not 8 TB), because Backblaze is the backup for my backup, should I need it.

What do you think, Picture Taker?

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

Lost mine years ago and could not retrieve it. I won't do it again. A few months ago found one hard drive showing it was not stable and replaced it. Up to each of us, I'll stay with 2. Also found that solid state will give no warning and have no chance of recovery. Years of work and thousands in equipment, I want 2 sets.
As a side point I down load all my pictures as taken to a separate set of two so I can start from scratch on any days shoot. I'm a nut but after loosing all my my work about 15 years ago I became crazy about not losing any pictures.

cbtsam Loc: Monkton, MD

Did you have a cloud backup?

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

When I lost it they did not have cloud back up. I went to cloud back-up when it first started and they basically kept slowing my stuff down, and when I contacted the company they said they slowed me down on purpose as I put too much on. So I dropped it and have been using 2 external hard drives as back up.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

You might reconsider cloud for a disaster recovery copy (double drive failures, file system corruption, malware, fires, power surges, lightning strikes and floods do occur and can kill multiple backup copies) from a MAJOR provider such as Amazon S3, Google or Microsoft. They will not throttle your writes (they want you to use as much storage as you’re willing to pay for), and you can do both the initial seeding and daily incremental backups after hours while you’re asleep. Cheap insurance for your valuable data.

Cheers

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

Thanks for the info.

mgshn

Crashplan will also backup NAS.

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

I use syncbackfree. I love it

https://help.2brightsparks.com/support/solutions/articles/43000335748-running-syncbackse-and-syncbackpro-on-a-mac

jrm21

There are several Mac OS backup options. One I can recommend is ChronoSync: https://www.econtechnologies.com

It has a ton of options and can easily handle the tasks mentioned in the OP. I've been using it for many years. The company regularly issues updates and upgrades.

My current setup involves a Time Machine backup of my boot drive and one volume of work-related files.
Beyond that, Chronosync does scheduled backups of two different volumes on my external raid drive to two identical backup volumes on a NAS. I have a third volume on my raid that Chronosync backs up to the NAS via three different sync setups (different files backup at different times and to different locations). Finally, there is another set of folders that backup to a different external drive.

There are some affordable cloud backup solutions out there for "home" users. I asked a few about a 12-15TB situation and was told not to waste my time. They said that it would not be practical to upload that volume of data, even on a good broadband connection.

I also backup some data from a local NAS to an offsite NAS of mine. Both are on good broadband. Great for some things. Not a good solution for terabytes of data.

If you are going to consider a cloud solution (which I think is a good _addition_ to local backups) see if you can find one that you ship a drive to. That drive takes care of the initial backup and then updates become more practical.

edited to add: I somehow missed that you are currently using Backblaze. Not sure how you got 14TB uploaded, but more power to you. :) I still belive that cloud should be secondary to a local backup.

mgshn

“ I still belive that cloud should be secondary to a local backup.”

They’re different. In particular, local backup doesn’t help if your house burns down.