Does the "backup" features of this replace something like Crashplan and Carbonite or does it just back up locally and allow cloud access?
75608
I don't know much about Crashplan or Carbonite, but you captured what it does in your second clause: It backs up locally and allows cloud access (uploads and downloads). If the entire unit goes up in flames, there's no cloud backup.
2236978
I usually back up full os, but i'm almost positive you can back up individual files. My only gripe with this software is I already owned an older copy and had to purchase a new copy for windows 7!
2079169
Mine worked with windows. Second time a back up external hard drive no good with Carbonite Mirror complete computer back up. A big 3T external hard drive and this much small but super fast LaCle Porche design external hard drive. The hard drive worked great. The mirror program sucks. The regular carbonite backup works great. Will not subscribe again for the Mirror complete computer back up.
2202174
if it is continuing backing up, is that the same information being made redundant or does it back up new information. MAC user with Time Machine
762382
I have not yet started using my 4TB Backup Plus, so I don't know the capabilities. Sorry.
522970
The Western Digital software that you download to help you to access the drive does have a back up protocol in it. This is the best system for a home user or small business user to buy, whether they use a Windows based or Apple based operating system.
940810
It will work just fine as an extra drive. It can be accessed just as you do any internal drive. What you cannot do with the Dashboard software is to do automatic backups if the drive is connected to your router. It should be able to do automatic backups but only if the drive is connected directly to a USB port on your computer.
793979
I did get this unit to use as an external backup, but I also use CrashplanPro to backup to the cloud http://www.hanselman.com/blog/HowToSetUpCrashPlanCloudBackupHeadlessOnASynologyNASBackupStrategies.aspx. Two of the slots in the expansion are dedicated to SSD acceleration now supported in 4.3
1662396
How you perform a backup isn't unique to this drive. It does not come with any software. You'll have to check your operating system's instructions. I'm guessing you are using Windows. If you are using the Apple OS, Time Machine takes care of all the work.
2264434
I scan mine to external hard drive and then back up all my drives to Carbonite, about $100 a year and everything is backed up
16187
It is a portable unit so unless you leave it plugged into your computer you will not be able to do backups but if you leave it attached all the time you can have auto backup through your antivirus program like Norton
835735
I don't know if it will automatically do that. I do it as a backup manually
1164704
Yes. You can specify which folders to be backed up, the type and frequency to be used.
2044999
Yes. This device connects to a spare port on your wired router and from then on is available as your personal cloud HDD. When I compared it to the "WD my Cloud" I see the two have different features but serve the same purpose. They provide local "cloud" storage on your home network. No there are no monthly fees. When you pay monthly fees for "off site cloud" service you are paying them to keep your data at a remote location and keep it duplicated so it is never lost. With this device (or the WD my Cloud) the device is local and not duplicated. Should it crash, your data is lost. Should your house burn down, your data is lost. Off-site monthly fee cloud storage never loses your data and is still there if you have a personal tragedy.
1810608
If you are backing up to an external drive, you will be fine. You can program the software to make scheduled backup to any drive but I do not know if you can change were the data resides unless you do that at installation of the software.
1660212
I agree with C. Perry. This is an ideal solution for small businesses. And like Perry, I've just gotten into streaming music and videos, and the CPU power is definitely not a problem. You might consider the merit of adding a 2nd 1Tb harddrive so you can have redundant data (for the shared folders, not for the backup database -- the backup database doesn't copy to the 2nd drive). Now, all my shared folders are automatically copied onto a 2nd harddrive, so if I experience a single hard drive failure, I'm still okay. I'd suggest not installing any apps on the server, though -- the less you install, the better. I agree with C. Perry. This is an ideal solution for small businesses. And like Perry, I've just gotten into streaming music and videos, and the CPU power is definitely not a problem. You might consider the merit of adding a 2nd 1Tb harddrive so you can have redundant data (for the shared folders, not for the backup database -- the backup database doesn't copy to the 2nd drive). Now, all my shared folders are automatically copied onto a 2nd harddrive, so if I experience a single hard drive failure, I'm still okay. I'd suggest not installing any apps on the server, though -- the less you... » Read More I agree with C. Perry. This is an ideal solution for small businesses. And like Perry, I've just gotten into streaming music and videos, and the CPU power is definitely not a problem. You might consider the merit of adding a 2nd 1Tb harddrive so you can have redundant data (for the shared folders, not for the backup database -- the backup database doesn't copy to the 2nd drive). Now, all my shared folders are automatically copied onto a 2nd harddrive, so if I experience a single hard drive failure, I'm still okay. I'd suggest not installing any apps on the server, though -- the less you install, the better. « Show Less
664545
I tried it and it worked but had a bad crash with a big project and lost all the data, so would I recommend it ? probably not