Use of mobile phone as a backup device
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: UK
Use of mobile phone as a backup device
Background
I use a backup utlility to perform near real time encrypted backups of the documents folder on my work laptop; as soon as a file lock is released, the file is backed up (replicated). One such backup is written to a RAID1 NAS that lives in another building, and the other to a USB HDD plugged in to the laptop. Whenever I travel - which is frequently - the USB HDD is slipped in to my jacket pocket and ensures that if my laptop is stolen or fails, I can still easily conduct what I travelled to do so long as I can borrow another computer.
It struck me though that my HTC one X smartphone has 32GB storage of which 26GB is currently free - and the laptop backup only consumes 7GB. Given that I charge the telephone from the laptop anyway, it is tempting to use the HTC for document backup in place of the USB HDD.
Question
The HTC storage is NAND and therefore with finite number of write cycles, so am I asking for trouble using it as a frequently written backup device?
I have no idea what performance maintenance (think "TRIM") or life-enhancing software is installed. The smartphone needs to last another 18 months before it is replaced. No, I am not interested in a cloud solution; it is an answer to the question that I seek, please.
Many thanks as always,
TLXV
I use a backup utlility to perform near real time encrypted backups of the documents folder on my work laptop; as soon as a file lock is released, the file is backed up (replicated). One such backup is written to a RAID1 NAS that lives in another building, and the other to a USB HDD plugged in to the laptop. Whenever I travel - which is frequently - the USB HDD is slipped in to my jacket pocket and ensures that if my laptop is stolen or fails, I can still easily conduct what I travelled to do so long as I can borrow another computer.
It struck me though that my HTC one X smartphone has 32GB storage of which 26GB is currently free - and the laptop backup only consumes 7GB. Given that I charge the telephone from the laptop anyway, it is tempting to use the HTC for document backup in place of the USB HDD.
Question
The HTC storage is NAND and therefore with finite number of write cycles, so am I asking for trouble using it as a frequently written backup device?
I have no idea what performance maintenance (think "TRIM") or life-enhancing software is installed. The smartphone needs to last another 18 months before it is replaced. No, I am not interested in a cloud solution; it is an answer to the question that I seek, please.
Many thanks as always,
TLXV
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,663
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From: Earth
The late XV105,
Backup to your pet pigeon for all I care. Just don't break the redundancy rule .... anything important should be maintained at minimum in triplicate on different media (i.e. no point having three USB sticks or similar cheap-flash storage). And no, RAID whaever doesn't count as redundancy.... its one logical device.
Backup to your pet pigeon for all I care. Just don't break the redundancy rule .... anything important should be maintained at minimum in triplicate on different media (i.e. no point having three USB sticks or similar cheap-flash storage). And no, RAID whaever doesn't count as redundancy.... its one logical device.
Last edited by mixture; 14th December 2012 at 21:58.
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 594
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From: UK
Greetings, mixture!
For completeness having tried to keep my post simple.
Primary backup to Brand X RAID1 NAS that physically lives in a different building and is well hidden for good measure
Secondary backup to the USB HDD (now smartphone)
Tertiary backup to Brand Y RAID1 NAS that gets swapped for its sister (or brother, if you like) each time I go to the office (about once a month)
All encrypted.
The common weakpoint with the NAS devices is of course the disk controller on each, but this aside, I have five up to date copies of every file and seven copies if we are prepared to be up to a few weeks out of date.
Fine by me!
For completeness having tried to keep my post simple.
Primary backup to Brand X RAID1 NAS that physically lives in a different building and is well hidden for good measure
Secondary backup to the USB HDD (now smartphone)
Tertiary backup to Brand Y RAID1 NAS that gets swapped for its sister (or brother, if you like) each time I go to the office (about once a month)
All encrypted.
The common weakpoint with the NAS devices is of course the disk controller on each, but this aside, I have five up to date copies of every file and seven copies if we are prepared to be up to a few weeks out of date.
Fine by me!
Last edited by The late XV105; 14th December 2012 at 22:01.
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,663
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From: Earth
There's a good boy... <mixture throws XV105 a virtual doggy-biscuit stage left>
There's room for comment, but I won't, as it appears that you are doing a better job of it than the majority !
There's room for comment, but I won't, as it appears that you are doing a better job of it than the majority !
Last edited by mixture; 14th December 2012 at 22:14.
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 594
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From: UK
Feel free, please.
Always happy to learn!
One extra piece of info - whichever RAID1 NAS is at the office lives in a fire safe inside a secure server room!
Always happy to learn!
One extra piece of info - whichever RAID1 NAS is at the office lives in a fire safe inside a secure server room!
Last edited by The late XV105; 14th December 2012 at 22:17. Reason: Server room info
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,133
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From: Bracknell, Berks, UK
Yes. Aside from the technical aspects of NAND-based backup, what are you going to do if someone steals your smartphone? Do you have the backup completely encrypted?
Psychophysiological entity
Joined: Jun 2001
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 3,383
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From: Walton on the Naze Essex.
Here's an encryption code for you. Answers in my thread on JB please.
BBC News - Has World War II carrier pigeon message been cracked?
BBC News - Has World War II carrier pigeon message been cracked?
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,761
Likes: 6
From: Lemonia. Best Greek in the world
Read "Double Cross". Ben Mcintyre. many many pigeons released by the Brits with attached messages were never intended to be read by the brits. .................they were there to confuse the Germans.
The Brits even used known incompetent "homing" pigeons, hoping that they would fly to German pigeon lofts,as the Germans were paranoid about British pigeons infecting their perfect pigeons.
Not a lot of people know that, you know.
The Brits even used known incompetent "homing" pigeons, hoping that they would fly to German pigeon lofts,as the Germans were paranoid about British pigeons infecting their perfect pigeons.
Not a lot of people know that, you know.
