Simple secure offsite backup with shared package

Hello everyone,

I have a shared "baby croc" package and I don't use all of the space or bandwidth allotted (not even close actually). I would like to use some of my storage space as perhaps an offsite backup solution...I would only be backing up roughly 2 gigs. Do you guys recommend this? Would I be violating any Hostgator TOS? Also, what are the steps involved to encrypt my data and send it securely to my baby ftp? I've been reading up about SecondCopy and that sounds like a good all-in-one solution to do just this. Do I first have to enable SSH on my account?

I know I've asked a lot, but I'm pretty new at this and any help would be greatly appreciated. I'm running Windows so Linux backup/FTP solutions are out. Thank you.

SS

[esl]

Originally Posted by ss_gatorguy

Hello everyone,

I have a shared "baby croc" package and I don't use all of the space or bandwidth allotted (not even close actually). I would like to use some of my storage space as perhaps an offsite backup solution...I would only be backing up roughly 2 gigs. Do you guys recommend this? Would I be violating any Hostgator TOS? Also, what are the steps involved to encrypt my data and send it securely to my baby ftp? I've been reading up about SecondCopy and that sounds like a good all-in-one solution to do just this. Do I first have to enable SSH on my account?

I know I've asked a lot, but I'm pretty new at this and any help would be greatly appreciated. I'm running Windows so Linux backup/FTP solutions are out. Thank you.

SS

I do not think it violates the Terms and Conditions. You should read them. They are located at http://www.hostgator.com/tos.shtml. Only Jailed SSH is available on shared and reseller servers.

[kathiemt]

I've actually been thinking about back up myself. I have another hosting service I use and they do nightly backups as part of the service but I don't believe that happens here - I saw something the other day that indicated that. It made me realise I need to make sure I have a system in place to support my clients - unless I develop a policy that they must have their own backup system? Or perhaps I need to look at possible online backup reseller packages to add as an additional service? What do others do here?

[slapshotw]

Kathie,

There are many, many threads on this forum about what people use to backup and how they automate it. I suggest searching and adding to those threads.

-Matt

[kathiemt]

Ok, thanks - I had done a search before posting here but obviously didn't find the info I was seeking - will keep looking.

[eLIANT]

Kathie (and others),

When you visit the hg forum (http://forums.hostgator.com/index.php), do you see 16 different forums? If not, your forum membership is not activated and any searches will be limited.

[Serra]

Originally Posted by kathiemt

unless I develop a policy that they must have their own backup system? Or perhaps I need to look at possible online backup reseller packages to add as an additional service? What do others do here?

This really depends on your price point. If you are charging in the range of $40-$50 a month, then you should be providing the backups of the system for your clients. If you are below that, they should be responsible.

HG does weekly disaster backups, which are somewhat dependable for disaster recovery, but aren't good for mistake recovery.

You'd need to tailor your backups to meet your specific client needs, but in general, sites that don't change should be backed-up monthly, sites that change should be backed-up weekly and sites with heavy database usage should have their mySQL backed-up nightly.

You will not be able to safely/easily do nightly backups while you are in the shared environment. In fact, you are not wise to have clients in the shared environment. If you are reselling, it should be done from a dedicated server, but that is another story.

[kathiemt]

I'm a reseller Serra so think that would be different to shared? Thanks for letting me know about the price range and backups available. Important for me to know this.

[Serra]

Originally Posted by kathiemt

I'm a reseller Serra so think that would be different to shared? Thanks for letting me know about the price range and backups available. Important for me to know this.

No. HG offers two types of hosting shared and dedicated. Reseller is a type of shared hosting. The terminology is confusing, because one of the hosting types is called shared, but both reseller and shared are "shared" hosting.

[Jordanlw]

What hes trying to say (Or She??),
Is that Reseller & Shared are both on a "Shared Environment",
You are on 1 server with hundreds of others users also using the resources.
So if 1 person happens to overload the system then its bad for the other 300+ users to.

[kathiemt]

Ok. That did not know. So what if I changed to dedicated hosting, I'd still have that same challenge wouldn't I if one of my clients overloaded the system? It's more the 'other resellers' you mean Jordan about overloading?

I currently have dedicated hosting with another service. The webhost I've been with for over 7 years set me up a few years ago as a reseller because I kept bringing him more and more clients - he wanted me to be looking after them instead. And one of them was overloading the mail server with her constant broadcast emailing to thousands of people a few times a week - she runs a very busy business. That's been working quite well ever since but I've detected over the past 6 months that he has gotten very busy and doesn't respond to my 'help' calls as quickly as he used to - apparently he's out seeing clients these days instead of in his office constantly as I am. I don't have many help calls but if something crashes his end I have to wait for his help. Hence the reason for looking for a second server so I have choices and can action things more quickly if I have to shift a site for whatever reason. It was looking like that the other side of Christmas when I had to wait 2 days for a response and action.

[slapshotw]

Yes, it's easier for you to control your own clients on your own dedicated server than it is for you to control the other people on a shared server.

[kathiemt]

Ok, I might have to rethink what I'm doing then. I imagine I should be able to upgrade and have the files shifted over? Mind you the clients I normally attract are not that busy (only the one) and almost all of them want me to manage their websites, emails, etc for them - they concentrate on what their businesses do and let me handle the web stuff for them. It means I'm a one-stop shop for them as I do the domain registrations, hosting and website design and/or maintenance too. I might give it awhile and see how it goes but if I experience problems then I'll make the shift. Thanks for letting me know everyone.

[slapshotw]

Yes, they'd transfer it all if you needed it.