Topic: Looking to deploy online backup service, need feedback. Free 20GB for your input (Read 1201 times)

Interesting. Whatever GB you give, I'll only store one file in there, that will take up all the space. A TrueCrypt file volume container.

Thanks a really good question. Our software has some very sophisticated detla code. I like to explain it using a 100 page word document as an example. Like most software it can run a diff on the version it had before and the current version. So, if you opened your 100 page word document and changed a single letter in it, only that letter would be uploaded. More importantly though, if you moved a paragraph from page 32 to page 3, the software would NOT re-upload the whole paragraph. And thats really the question, I'm not entirely sure that our software would be able to recognise the changes inside an encrypted volume file. It really depends on what a change in the volume "looks" like in the binary of the file. But, 20GB files are no big deal. Some of my clients are running databases 10 times that size and we have no issues backing them up. We even have clients backing up full 1TB+ system images and our software performs like a champ for them. You've got me intrigued now, I'm going to have to try that.

Thanks for your pricing ideas!

How does your system handle large files? I have a 20 GB encrypted TrueCrypt volume that I put inside my Dropbox folder. It does syncs of up to 4 MB chunks at a time, when I dismount the volume. It did take me a few days to upload the fresh volume on initial sync.

I'll take the 20 GB offer. I could always use the space.

Price: check out all your competitors, maybe offer a subscription based on usage, at the same time offer free users with referrals for example, but also offer one time payments.

Example:

1. 2 GB free
2. +16 GB for 32 referrals (just like Dropbox)
3. 32 GB with one time payment (as opposed to grabbing a ton of spam, just look at all these "expanding" services)
4. Subscription beyond that based on GB used, and bandwidth.

Zero-knowledge encryption also a plus, so I don't have to use TrueCrypt, but make it optional for those who like to.

I am sure you'll get a lot of free accounts, but a lot more will pay one time for an instant 32 GB. The pros can deal with the always paid version.

I think you are under the impression that we offer a service like dropbox where files are synced back and forth between multiple machines. Personally I'm not a fan of these services for a great many reasons. One being the way they handle your scenario. But really, a service like dropbox only does simple file syncs. Our service can do simple file backups, but it also does more advanced and difficult backups such as database (MySQL, Oracle, MsSQL, Exchange, ect.) and full VM backups. Additionally it can run custom commands before or after a backup is scheduled. Then it emails our clients to report the success or errors during the backup. Unfortunately, because we opted to be able to do these advanced backup types, the system isn't feasibly able to function like dropbox. I hope I understood your question correctly... Let me know if not.

EDIT: Maybe your are asking what happens if multiple computers are trying to access a file when it is backed up? In this case VSS is used to backup the file side-stepping the whole open file issue. VSS isn't available in linux though, so the backup of open files fails. Usually though I found that my linux clients are usually only using MySQL backups on linux or they do some fancy footwork with the pre-command option. (we can launch a shell command and wait for it to complete before starting a backup)

How does your system handle files from one account being accessed by more than one computer at the same time?

Thanks for the input! I thought this was an incredibly active forum so I did get a bit dissuaded when no one was responding.


1) We are in the US, our service is quite stable and we have a 1 gigabit connection that is distributed over 7 carriers in our primary data center. But proving reliability is a bit of a tough nut. We can't use our existing name because of pricing and branding issues. I suppose we would just create a low enough price point to pull in early adopters and stand on the reputation we build.
2) Yes, our software runs on PC, MAC and linux. No mobile app though...
3) That's open at this point. Currently we bill based on usage. Really I think that's the fair way to do it. I don't think it's right to charge someone for 100GB of space if they are only using 50GB. But because I can't auto-debit like I normally do it leaves us in a sticky situation. Either I have to ask for payment every month or I have to charge a one time flat fee for a set quota. I'd really like to do the former, but I hate to bug my clients for money all the time... Ugh catch 22. I might offer both options.


I'm sorry I was trying to simplify the explanation. The password is one-way encrypted and stored our servers and this is the only record we have of our clients passwords. This password is used by default as their encryption key for their backup sets. Although, many clients opt to choose a different crypto-key and in that scenario we have no knowledge of their key. You are correct though, my original text implied that the data its self was one-way encrypted and that is obviously not possible. I've updated the text to be more accurate. Thanks for the eagle eye and the pricing feed back!


Thanks a bunch for the pricing idea. I've been struggling with how to do this.


Thanks for the feature feedback.  Our software does not support drive mounting or sharing features, sorry. We are focused on providing rock solid, private internet based (I hate the term cloud) backups. We have been asked about sharing and drive features before, but to do this we'd have to store your encryption key on our servers and I'm not comfortable with that. We can't claim Zero-Knowledge because your password is used by default for your crypto-key and we have a one-way hash of that on our servers for account authentication. Additionally we have indexes of files names so that our users can selectively restore data in a disaster scenario. But, our clients are able to specify a different crypto-key for their backup and in that scenario we only have knowledge of their file names. I haven't talked to anyone yet who cares that we have file names, but I like to be 100% transparent.

I use to use Wuala  for this, but they seem to have now stopped accepting bitcoins.  So there may be a void again to fill.


Maybe....


Mostly I want a mapped cached local drive like what Wuala has, and a decently flexable API.. with that I can then back up
what I want.  I also would prefer to have more then just sync backup,  and have more of a cloud drive with some sharing options.


Needs to be a Zero Knowledge system like Wuala.


Cheaper then Wuala/SpiderOak hopefully.


If this is like Wuala/SpiderOak and zero knowledge, then it is a basic requirement for me for backup use.  I only use dropbox/sugarsync for file  sharing due to their lack of it.


Yes,  give the details.

If you can do offer a free say 2 GB and then allow people to add on as they need from their for a low yearly(people don't like worrying about payments) price make it multi platform (3 major OS's plus mobile Apps) people would jump on the bandwagon.


And don't forget about security

Good luck man, hope to see something like this in the future.

Definitely a market, however I still can't use remote backups because they're too expensive.

My backup repository (I use SVN) is 100gb, mostly from photos. At current market rates that's something like $30/month+ AFAIK, so instead I just make hardcopy backups and store them offsite. If I could get 200gb for $10/month I'd sign up, that's still a few years away though.

And erm, I don't think you can "one way encrypt" something for a backup service, you need to be able to decrypt it (thus making it non-one way).

You'll need to promote why your service is better than say Google Drive or Dropbox.

Do you think there is a market for a bitcoin backup service?
Yes, of course

Would you personally be interested?
No, I don't need remote backups

What sort of features would you want to see in the service? (basic file backup, MS SQL backup, MySQL Backup, Oracle Backup, Ms Exchange backup, HyperV backup, ESx backup... ect)
The more the better but probably you should focus on maybe 5 services, do a bit of market research and offer it at a competitive price

What concerns would you want to see addressed?
1) Why people should trust you and your service. Can you prove it somehow? I mean, is the service stable? US/EU/AU? Speed? All this kind of information
2) Is the client multi-platform? Win,Linux,OSX,iphone,android,etc..

What sort of price point would you expect to see? (in USD)
3) Subscription or one off payment? At the moment there is no way to setup a subscription with bitcoin afaik

there is a market, but everyone here is extremely tech savvy

i am semi interested because i need to back up some important files

i think the others are likely concerned about security

thank you for filling another niche. another service we can buy with btc is always welcomed

these forums are also kind of slow, don't be dissuaded

Hello everyone! I own a medium sized online backup service. Generally we service the small to medium enterprise market. But, we are also fully capable of servicing home users as well. I've been considering putting up a server or two strictly for bitcoin clients with a focus on anonymity. I searched around, but to my surprise I didn't find any similar services. So I have a few questions if you wouldn't mind indulging me.

Do you think there is a market for a bitcoin backup service?

Would you personally be interested?

What sort of features would you want to see in the service? (basic file backup, MS SQL backup, MySQL Backup, Oracle Backup, Ms Exchange backup, HyperV backup, ESx backup... ect)

What concerns would you want to see addressed?

What sort of price point would you expect to see? (in USD)

By the way, one of my favourite things about our software is that the backups are cryptographically secure. Meaning that before your data leaves your computer, it is encrypted using your password. (I can get into the gory algorithm details if you like) We only retain a one-way encrypted hash of your password on our servers meaning you and only you can access your data.

EDIT: Hrm, I'm getting a lot of views and not many responses. Perhaps I should be offering a something for your time.. So, I'll hand out 20GB accounts to the first 20 respondents as long as we get 20+ responses regardless of if we deploy or not and/or what your opinion is.

EDIT2: Ok, have to go out for a while. I'll be back in a few hours.