Ideal cloud backup solution for media on external HDD – including deleted files, versioning and disconnected drives?

[Dcschwartz]

I’m trying to figure out a better cloud backup solution for my needs and am having trouble.

I have 2TB of pictures (both in and outside of the Photos app), videos, and music stored on a 4TB external HDD attached to a 2018 Mac Mini (i3, 128GB, 8GB RAM – too little RAM, I know that now). I’m currently using iCloud to sync photos between devices/store in the cloud and Crashplan for Small Business ($120/yr) to create a backup. I liked Crashplan originally because it offers unlimited backup of deleted files and external HDDs (even if disconnected) and has been really great in restoring files.

However, Crashplan is causing the Photos app to run so incredibly slowly that it is almost unusable. I’ve tested Photos in a different profile without Crashplan running, so I know that it is Crashplan that is slowing things down rather than the computer’s speed.

I am looking for a replacement service that (1) works well with Photos libraries stored on external HDDs and (2) stores all versions, deleted files, and disconnected drives forever.

I know that Backblaze now offers 1 year and forever options, but I’m not sure what to make of the per/GB pricing structure. I’ve also considered Arq Premium but that looks like it will get expensive quickly with $6/TB/month. I just started looking at using Arq 6 or MSP360 with a 3rd party cloud service like Amazon, but I’m not 100% clear on how reliable this is or how much this will really cost.

What do you think? Am I expecting too much from a consumer cloud backup solution or is there a simple solution out there? I’ve read through as many threads as possible on this forum and some of them offer solutions that sound like they would require a computer science degree to implement…
Thanks!

 

[HDFan]

However, Crashplan is causing the Photos app to run so incredibly slowly that it is almost unusable.

Not sure I understand. I keep my photos library on an external drive which is backed up with crashplan. I see no degradation in performance.

I know that Backblaze now offers 1 year and forever options, but I’m not sure what to make of the per/GB pricing structure.

I use backblaze unlimited with the 30 day deletion option. The forever option (at $.005/GB) is too expensive for me ($120 a month).

 

[Dcschwartz]

Not sure I understand. I keep my photos library on an external drive which is backed up with crashplan. I see no degradation in performance.



I use backblaze unlimited with the 30 day deletion option. The forever option (at $.005/GB) is too expensive for me ($120 a month).

I'm not sure what to say! The HDD is a WD My Passport for Mac 5400 RPM with USB-C. I took the Mac Mini to the Apple Store thinking that it was broke. The tech created a new profile, opened the Photos library from the external HDD, made sure that Crashplan wasn't running on that profile, and Photos ran from the external HDD at what I would consider a very fast speed. Any suggestions? I'd be happy if I didn't have to switch backup services! Thanks.

 

[HDFan]

I’ve tested Photos in a different profile without Crashplan running, so I know that it is Crashplan that is slowing things down rather than the computer’s speed.

Using your standard login where photos is slow, what happens if you just stop the crashplan app? Option+Command+C in Crashplan then enter stop at the command line.

 

[Dcschwartz]

Using your standard login where photos is slow, what happens if you just stop the crashplan app? Option+Command+C in Crashplan then enter stop at the command line.

Faster. Comparable to what the Apple Store tech produced with the other profile. Photos isn't the fastest program and importing pictures is always slow, but there is a definite difference when Crashplan is stopped.

 

[HDFan]

Have you tried contacting CrashPlan support? It is excellent and they might have some ideas as to what is happening.

 

[hobowankenobi]

Been a while since I looked at CrashPlan...does it allow you to schedule backups? If it is constantly accessing the external, it may cause enough activity to trigger the slowness you describe. If you can, schedule the backups to run at a specific time (not continuously) and see if performance is better...when CP is not actively backing up.