Photo storage help: After taking pics I copy from the SD card to my Mac. I then copy to a network drive and backup to an external drive. In addition to having a second copy, I use the...

Npt Bob Loc: Newport, RI

After taking pics I copy from the SD card to my Mac. I then copy to a network drive and backup to an external drive.
In addition to having a second copy, I use the network drive to view pics remotely on iPad and also for "slideshows" for the grandkids on the networked TV.
After copying I review, rate, delete, keyword on the computer using Bridge and in some cases move to established subfolders or new folders. At this point I would like to copy the changes to the network drive. (Backup is not a problem - incremental takes care of it).
Is there a program or easy way to update the network drive w/o selecting each changed file and replacing on the network drive - a batch update?
Thanks for any ideas to improve my process

LarryFB Loc: Depends where our RV is parked

You ought to be able to use Time Machine for this. I use Time Machine all the time but not to a network drive. I guess it should work!

Dan821 Loc: Traveling........

It sounds like what you want is to add a differential backup to your workflow. Differential backup just backs up "changed objects", so it basically just backs up what changes you have made.
You don't say what backup solution that you use, but it should be able to do what you want.

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

Dan821 wrote:

It sounds like what you want is to add a differential backup to your workflow. Differential backup just backs up "changed objects", so it basically just backs up what changes you have made.
You don't say what backup solution that you use, but it should be able to do what you want.

A differential backup gets bigger and bigger every time it is run since it backs up everything that has changed since the last full backup, over and over again. To do a full restore from a differential backup, you need the last full backup[ plus the latest differential backup.

An INCREMENTAL backup copies files that have changed since they were last backed up, meaning every incremental is different and includes ONLY the files that have changed since the last incremental, to restore from an incremental set you need the last full backup and EVERY incremental backup since the last full backup.

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

Npt Bob wrote:

After taking pics I copy from the SD card to my Ma... (show quote)

I make use of a backup program called Chronosync on my Mac it can do all types of backups to whatever target you like. It sounds like you want to keep a network drive in sync with another drive, chronosync will accomplish this, down to deleting files automatically from the target if you delete the source file.

I believe Carbon Copy Cloner would also accomplish the same thing.
I do not think Time Machine can be used with a network drive as the target, needs to be a local drive or an Apple Time Capsule as far as I know.

EDIT: here is a method of getting Time Machine to use a network drive as a target

http://code.stephenmorley.org/articles/time-machine-on-a-network-drive/

Npt Bob Loc: Newport, RI

Thank you Larry, Dan and Don,
I am not trying to store a backup. I want to keep an updated copy on the network that I can access with iPad etc without manually replacing each file I change.
It looks like Don may have found a solution with chronosync. Update on my laptop, sync the network drive. I will give it a try.
Thanks again,
UHH is a great asset,
Bob

Npt Bob Loc: Newport, RI

Don,
Thanks also for the addl info re backups.

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

Npt Bob wrote:

Thank you Larry, Dan and Don,
I am not trying to store a backup. I want to keep an updated copy on the network that I can access with iPad etc without manually replacing each file I change.
It looks like Don may have found a solution with chronosync. Update on my laptop, sync the network drive. I will give it a try.
Thanks again,
UHH is a great asset,
Bob

Chronosync will surely do what you are talking about, in fact I use it to keep a monthly sync of my images to a disk that gets disconnected and stored in a fireproof/waterproof box.

Edit: Once you get used to it, you can have it automatically run the sync when you connect and mount the network drive. I do that so when I plug in my USB external, it mounts the drive then kicks off the sync, when finished I just unmount the drive and put it away again.

bcmink Loc: Monona, WI

I also use Chronosync on the Mac platform. Goodsync will also perform well for your purposes.

Capture48 Loc: Arizona

Dngallagher wrote:

Chronosync will surely do what you are talking about, in fact I use it to keep a monthly sync of my images to a disk that gets disconnected and stored in a fireproof/waterproof box.

Edit: Once you get used to it, you can have it automatically run the sync when you connect and mount the network drive. I do that so when I plug in my USB external, it mounts the drive then kicks off the sync, when finished I just unmount the drive and put it away again.

Good advice with the Sync :thumbup: :thumbup:

Just a side note, I hope you don't count on a fireproof safe as your only backup. Had a friend store a drive in one and plastic and small metal parts melted. including the drive coating.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Npt Bob wrote:

After taking pics I copy from the SD card to my Ma... (show quote)

I use Syncback SE and do about the same as you. I backup seven folders every couple of days to two externals and a NAS. The first time through, it took several hours. Now it takes just minutes, since SyncBack looks at the differences between the computer and the backups and copies only what's needed. There is also a free version of Syncback.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Dngallagher wrote:

I make use of a backup program called Chronosync on my Mac it can do all types of backups to whatever target you like.

EDIT: here is a method of getting Time Machine to use a network drive as a target

http://code.stephenmorley.org/articles/time-machine-on-a-network-drive/

Thanks for these references.

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

Capture48 wrote:

Good advice with the Sync :thumbup: :thumbup:

Just a side note, I hope you don't count on a fireproof safe as your only backup. Had a friend store a drive in one and plastic and small metal parts melted. including the drive coating.

Nope, not at all.... local Time Machine, disconnected in Fireproof box, off site at Amazon Prime, finished images published at Flickr.

I am sure that at some point a change will occur and I will opt for something like Backblaze, Crashplan or Carbonite type of service to replace Amazon Prime.

:)

Capture48 Loc: Arizona

Dngallagher wrote:

Nope, not at all.... local Time Machine, disconnected in Fireproof box, off site at Amazon Prime, finished images published at Flickr.

I am sure that at some point a change will occur and I will opt for something like Backblaze, Crashplan or Carbonite type of service to replace Amazon Prime.

:)

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Bob Boner

I would make more than 1 external backup. I speak from experience. I used to have 2 backups stored in two places. Both failed. I was able to get a tech where I work to take both of the drives apart. He was able to recover the images from only one of the drives. I now have 3 drives stored in 3 locations, 2 off site.