Comments on: My Mozy review: know its limits before you need it http://danray.org/2008/08/27/my-mozy-review-know-its-limitations-before-you-need-it/ dan ray lives here Wed, 30 Dec 2009 04:04:24 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: R. G. http://danray.org/2008/08/27/my-mozy-review-know-its-limitations-before-you-need-it/comment-page-1/#comment-211 R. G. Thu, 13 Aug 2009 13:36:27 +0000 http://danray.org/?p=427#comment-211 Mozy worked fine for me for about 9 months, then it just stopped backing up. Downloading a newer version, as they suggested, didn't help. When I emailed their tech support, it would take about 2 days for a response. Meanwhile, my stuff wasn't being backed up, so I finally moved on to something else. I asked them to refund the unused portion of my 2-year subscription, and heard nothing back from them. Mozy worked fine for me for about 9 months, then it just stopped backing up. Downloading a newer version, as they suggested, didn’t help. When I emailed their tech support, it would take about 2 days for a response. Meanwhile, my stuff wasn’t being backed up, so I finally moved on to something else. I asked them to refund the unused portion of my 2-year subscription, and heard nothing back from them.

]]> By: Dan http://danray.org/2008/08/27/my-mozy-review-know-its-limitations-before-you-need-it/comment-page-1/#comment-132 Dan Fri, 14 Nov 2008 03:26:17 +0000 http://danray.org/?p=427#comment-132 @Chris — I think there are two misleading things about your comment, and I'll address them point by point. First, rsync isn't a backup solution, it's a *nix utility for synchronizing files. It works fine if you've got your own server and bandwidth to copy files to. Most users don't (I've maintained my own server before; I don't want that hassle again); hence the attractiveness of a one-stop online backup solution. Second, Mozy has its faults, but the fact that they'll overnight you your data on DVDs isn't one of them. Bandwidth is bandwidth, and it takes a long time to download several dozen gigabytes. Rsync can't do any better unless the server's sitting next to you. Of course, the whole idea behind online backup services is that you're storing your files offsite. I'll grant that once you've got rsync set up, the restore is painless, but again, it would be no faster than any other download if you were using it to pull files over the Web. Reading your post, I thought it sounded like you were selling something. Then I saw your link — apparently you are. @Chris — I think there are two misleading things about your comment, and I’ll address them point by point.

First, rsync isn’t a backup solution, it’s a *nix utility for synchronizing files. It works fine if you’ve got your own server and bandwidth to copy files to. Most users don’t (I’ve maintained my own server before; I don’t want that hassle again); hence the attractiveness of a one-stop online backup solution.

Second, Mozy has its faults, but the fact that they’ll overnight you your data on DVDs isn’t one of them. Bandwidth is bandwidth, and it takes a long time to download several dozen gigabytes. Rsync can’t do any better unless the server’s sitting next to you. Of course, the whole idea behind online backup services is that you’re storing your files offsite. I’ll grant that once you’ve got rsync set up, the restore is painless, but again, it would be no faster than any other download if you were using it to pull files over the Web.

Reading your post, I thought it sounded like you were selling something. Then I saw your link — apparently you are.

]]> By: Chris Herzig http://danray.org/2008/08/27/my-mozy-review-know-its-limitations-before-you-need-it/comment-page-1/#comment-131 Chris Herzig Fri, 14 Nov 2008 02:42:31 +0000 http://danray.org/?p=427#comment-131 If you have a Mac the best way to backup files is with Rsync. With that you can get your files at any computer off the web and since rysnc is built in to the mac and runs on a crontab you don't use any resources when it is not running. Mozy just can cut it when you need the files, I guess that is why they sell dvds. You should never need to have to get your files on dvd if you are using online backup. If you have a Mac the best way to backup files is with Rsync. With that you can get your files at any computer off the web and since rysnc is built in to the mac and runs on a crontab you don’t use any resources when it is not running.

Mozy just can cut it when you need the files, I guess that is why they sell dvds. You should never need to have to get your files on dvd if you are using online backup.

]]> By: G Maxwell http://danray.org/2008/08/27/my-mozy-review-know-its-limitations-before-you-need-it/comment-page-1/#comment-122 G Maxwell Sat, 11 Oct 2008 14:17:30 +0000 http://danray.org/?p=427#comment-122 Same complaint about Mozy customer support and same complaint about Mozy software. In my case, I had files that took up hard disk space that were supposed to have been flushed after the back up. The problem Mozy gave me was not a way to delete them.The Mozy tech did not understand the problem even though I sent screen shots of the problem. I am now forced to reformat my hard drive, use my restore hard drive disks and rebuild my programs. Canceling Mozy subscription. Same complaint about Mozy customer support and same complaint about Mozy software. In my case, I had files that took up hard disk space that were supposed to have been flushed after the back up. The problem Mozy gave me was not a way to delete them.The Mozy tech did not understand the problem even though I sent screen shots of the problem. I am now forced to reformat my hard drive, use my restore hard drive disks and rebuild my programs. Canceling Mozy subscription.

]]> By: Dan Reese http://danray.org/2008/08/27/my-mozy-review-know-its-limitations-before-you-need-it/comment-page-1/#comment-121 Dan Reese Thu, 02 Oct 2008 16:50:29 +0000 http://danray.org/?p=427#comment-121 Thanks for the thoughtful review. It's great to hear where Mozy can improve. Automatic updates should be working. We have over 14,000 users that just updated (a few days ago) from the 1.0 version of the Mac software to the 1.1 version. Would you mind double-checking that you've got auto-updates enabled in your preferences? Also, changing your network connection should cause Mozy to pause for a few minutes and then resume. The software will attempt to reconnect every few minutes over the course of an hour before giving up. We are working on backing up permissions and improving the restore experience. Any specific suggestions you have would be welcome. Thanks for the thoughtful review. It’s great to hear where Mozy can improve.

Automatic updates should be working. We have over 14,000 users that just updated (a few days ago) from the 1.0 version of the Mac software to the 1.1 version. Would you mind double-checking that you’ve got auto-updates enabled in your preferences?

Also, changing your network connection should cause Mozy to pause for a few minutes and then resume. The software will attempt to reconnect every few minutes over the course of an hour before giving up.

We are working on backing up permissions and improving the restore experience. Any specific suggestions you have would be welcome.

]]> By: Ryan Brown http://danray.org/2008/08/27/my-mozy-review-know-its-limitations-before-you-need-it/comment-page-1/#comment-112 Ryan Brown Mon, 08 Sep 2008 23:40:27 +0000 http://danray.org/?p=427#comment-112 We have had bad experiences with Mozy. It doesn't seem to be stable. What good is it to pay the $50 or so a year if it doesn't work? We have had bad experiences with Mozy. It doesn’t seem to be stable. What good is it to pay the $50 or so a year if it doesn’t work?

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