Off Site Backups

I've been an advocate of backing up your PC for a long time.  I've always used tape or external drives to get my data saved.  Presently, I'm using a combination of Cobian Backup (awesome program) and DriveImage XML (even better program).  both are great backup programs and perform different types of backups to suit my needs.

After a visit from the "robber" fairy, I realized that it does me no good to get my backups done if my backup walks out the door.  Thankfully no PC's were taken (robbers can be pretty stupid), but it made me think hard about off site backups.  I've chosen Carbonite to do my backups.  I chose this solution for three reasons - cost, trial test, and reputation.

Price
For $59.99 a year you can get unlimited storage for one PC.  Considering I'm backing up so much data (programming projects, documents, financials, music, etc.) this is a great thing for me.  Many of the other solutions I looked at were priced in a similar range, but had limitations on what you stored. 

15 Day Trial
Carbonite allows for a 15 day trial before you purchase.  It's worth it to try the trial before you pay to see if it's right for you.  My initial backup took 3 days to complete.  Most internet plans allow for fast downloads (30mb for mine), but comparatively slow uploads (5mb).  It's going to take some time.  But this also allows you to see how your system will perform while you're sending a ton of data out.  Once it's done, you'll only send changes or new documents.  See how it'll affect other systems in your home network.  Will you be able to tweak things so you're Amazon Prime or Hulu streaming doesn't die on you.  Push the system hard.  I've already sent about  30gb out with another 40gb as a second wave.  I'm pushing the system to see how well it works for me.  So far, it's working well

Reputation
I've read or heard nothing but good things about Carbonite.  It's advertised everywhere.  Even on my TiVo.  I've searched for reviews and seen no really bad information about the product and service.

Platforms
This is the bonus round of features.  I didn't choose Carbonite because of this, but it really helps that it's a feature.  I'm a big Android advocate, so having the ability to view my backups from my mobile devices is a huge plus.  The Android app is great and I'll have to say that this is a reason I'm leaning hard to keeping this service.  I've also got onsite (my old backups) as well as offsite saves.  It's an all around win as far as I'm concerned.

Console command to copy databases

I needed to create database copies (not replicas) of a large number of mail files to an archive server.  Typically you would do this from the Notes Client using File>Application>New Copy.  Enter the server name and then select the folder and perhaps change the file name.  Once you click OK, you're client will be busy as you broker that copy (replication from the client works this way also) to the new location.  If you have a 25mb file to copy it's not a big deal.  If you have a large number of files to copy that range in size from 500mb to 2gb or 3gb, you're going to be busy.

So I searched the web to see if I could find another way to do this.  I figured that they must be a way to create an ADMINP request to copy databases.  I was more than willing to write an application to do that (reusable utilities!).  What I did find surprised me and was so much easier.  There is an undocumented and unsupported feature that has been around for some time (R6) that was exactly what I was looking for. 

First, you need to set an INI variable.  From your console, enter SET CONFIG CLUSTER_ADMIN_ON=1.  This will be turned on immediately (i.e. no server restart needed).  You also don't have to be part of a cluster for this to work.  Once this setting is on, you have a new command to use:  CL COPY.

The parameters for CL COPY is sourceDB targetDB. 

You have some flexibility with the command as well.  It can be used to create copies, replicas and template copies of your databases.  Below are the different ways to use this command:

To create a non-replica copy of a DB on another server (i.e. new UNID) you would use:
CL copy serverA!!srcDB.nsf serverB!!tgtDB.nsf

To create a replica copy of a DB on another server (i.e. same UNID) you would use:
CL copy serverA!!srcDB.nsf serverB!!tgtDB.nsf REPLICA

To create a design copy of a DB on another server (i.e. new UNID, design and no data) you would use:
CL copy serverA!!srcDB.nsf serverB!!tgtDB.nsf TEMPLATE

To create a non-replica copy of a DB on the same server (i.e. new UNID) you would use:
CL copy srcDB.nsf tgtDB.nsf

You can specify source and target folders as well as the destination name of your database.

Enter the command at your server console.  You can enter multiple commands (i.e. multiple file copies) and they will queue up.  The process is very fast compared to using the Notes Client process.  I copied 17.6gb of data in a little over 1.5 hours.  Not bad.  Plus - I didn't have to babysit the process.  The server took care of it for me.  A nice addition to my admin/developer bag of tricks.

Forcing an ID to the ID Vault in Lotus Notes

During a server consolidation project, I decided to create a new ID Vault to get away from single vaults on all my servers.  I also set these up to be replicated between 3 different servers.  Most users were vaulted with no issue as they used the email system.  However, I did have some users that didn't vault initially who also happened to forget their password.  Here is how you can handle those issues.

First, find the user you want to reset the password on and extract them from the old ID Vault database.  You'll need to know the user name and the old ID Vault.  Extract the ID and then enter a new password when you are prompted.

Next, switch to the new ID using File/Security/Switch ID.  Enter the new password that you set.  After you have done this, check the ID file to see if it has been vaulted yet.  The easiest way to do this would be to look at the ID by going to File/Security/User Security.

You should be prompted for your password (it is the password you set earlier).  Now look for a button that says "ID Vault Sync".  If it is grayed out, then your ID has not been synced yet.  If it is not grayed out, then you are done.

One thing that I found was that sometimes the ID sync is a bit stubborn.  I finally reconfigured a test client with the extracted ID.  Once I switched to the ID it was synced.  Try changing the password or going in and out of the client a few times.  It will eventually sync to your new ID vault.

Video Streaming

I love my TV and movies.  I have Amazon Prime (well worth the money if you buy things on Amazon).  We have HBOGo (awesome).  Our blueray player does streaming video.  We have Ultraviolet movies.  The works. 

I recently purchased a Roku streaming player and loved it so much I got a 2nd one.  It came with a free 2 month trial of HuluPlus.  Once the trial period is over it will cost $7.99 a month ($95.88 a year).  So far, not that impressed with HuluPlus.

We watched the latest episode of Bones last night (it was sitting on our TiVo) just to get some use out of Hulu.  The image was very sharp (I have a 30Mb internet connection so we do get HD video).  But then.....a commercial popped up.  My wife asked -- why are we having commercials?  It was annoying.  If I'm going to pay for something, please don't show me commercials.  I can handle 1 at the begin and end of a video.  But not just like regular TV.  Yes, there was only about 30secs of them at a time but you can't skip past them. 

Lots of kids stuff (Nick) and tons of classic stuff.  But....yes another but.....they aren't truly complete.  For instance, Battelstar Galactica.  All the season are there on Amazon Prime with all the episodes.  Hulu has BSG also.  The first episode is a great one -- 33.  But if you know your BSG you realize this is actually the 3rd episode.  After looking through a bunch of series I noticed a bunch of "missing" episodes (yes -- TV nerd).  Revolution should have 11 episodes for this year.  Stops at number 7.  Kinda frustrating.

So, if you just want to watch a bunch of TV and rent some movies.  If you have a Kindle, then go with Amazon Prime. 

If you want to watch some classic stuff and things that are current Hulu may be your best choice.  Especially if you're a casual watcher and don't care if you miss an episode or two.

We'll have to see how long we keep the Hulu.  it may be a 2months and done kinda thing.