How do you store your files?

[gamble]

Decided I was tired of lugging my laptop back and forth from the house to the garage so I made use out of another laptop I had.

I store all my files on my hard drive and have a back up on dropbox. My normal every day laptop wifi card won't reach when I'm in the garage and i'm wondering if I can trust dropbox to not lose years of hard work. At the same time I don't want to walk one file at a time back and forth to have one revision here and one there.

Is there a way for me to save it all to my hard drive and have it automatically back up to google drive or dropbox if I can get a wireless signal out there?

What do you guys do?

[KIDTech]

I use a NAS (Network Attached Storage) system that works really well, 8 TB with an 8 TB clone as well as a flashdrive backup. There are NAS that you can build if you have a spare desktop that are pretty handy too.

[Shane Warnick]

I use Dropbox. For several years now.

Shane

[gamble]

I use Dropbox. For several years now.

Shane

So nothing stored on your hard drive?
Can you get a standalone NAS with 2 drives? one as back up?

I use a NAS (Network Attached Storage) system that works really well, 8 TB with an 8 TB clone as well as a flashdrive backup. There are NAS that you can build if you have a spare desktop that are pretty handy too.

[Shane Warnick]

Dropbox stores them on your hard drive, or drives if you use more than one computer. It also keeps a copy in the cloud. They all sync up. I have a computer in the shop that I run the table with, another laptop just for cad work etc, I can create a file on either computer, as soon as I save it then it's uploaded to Dropbox, and automatically syncs to the other computer next time it's on. Takes a while to upload everything the first time, only a few seconds per file after its all set up and done the first time. If you have several gigs of data, they will mail you a cd or dvd, or several if needed for a small fee. That way you can have a hard copy if you want. I can create a file on my laptop in the evening, and save it. Tomorrow I can turn the shop computer on, and by the time I get the air dryer on and the table initialized, it's on that computer as well. Works perfect so far, every time. I have Dropbox pro, $7 a month I think. If my computer shits the bed, I get a new one, install Dropbox, and let it do its thing. Runs all night, next day all the files are on the new computer, same as the old one. You can get to them remotely as well, so,if you want to email one, you can do it from your phone, or another computer etc. There is also the ability to share files or entire folders for others to download as well.

Shane

[gamble]

How is the pro different from the standard free one?

So do I save everything to the dropbox app and create a shortcut on my desktop? I don't see a dropbox folder on the C drive

[SeanP]

I do exactly the same as Shane but with Google drive, they are both great, another very useful feature of both which has saved me on many occasions is 'previous versions' you can go back to a previous version of the file should something go wrong.

[Capstone]

Same for me as Sean and Shane. Dropbox specifically. I'll just add a few more awesome reasons I use Dropbox.

1. The ability to bring up photos and even .svg file thumbnails on your phone to show potential customers.
2. When you take pics with your phone it can be set to instantly upload to Dropbox and finally,
3. You can share entire folders of files with regular clients to collaborate on multiple designs and update changes etc.

I'm honestly not sure how people have any success in this business without this tool.

[little blue choo]

I save everything to flash drives. I have 2 plugged into my design computer and everything I save , I save to both of them. Went I go to the shop I take the one plugged into the front of my computer with me. If one ever fails all I have to do is plug in a third one and hit copy from one to the other. Heck I can make a third backup in less than a minute. Works for me and no additional monthly cost. I purchased 4 SanDisk drives with retractable plugs and lanyards so I can carry them around my neck and not forget and leave them in my pocket and wash them. LOL

Rick

[motoguy]

I currently do the flash drive thing, as my table computer isn't connected to the net. I want a different setup. While swapping flash drives is annoying, the biggest issue is lack of maintaining consistent files. I end up with different files on different machines. I need to standardize. I LOVE the Dropbox/Google Drive/Amazon idea...but I'd need to connect my table computer to the net for that. I've been advised several times not to do that, because a connection without antivirus is dangerous, and antivirus will mess with the machine control.

A wired, shared drive would work for me, if I can isolate my control computer from the net.

[Capstone]

I LOVE the Dropbox/Google Drive/Amazon idea...but I'd need to connect my table computer to the net for that. I've been advised several times not to do that, because a connection without antivirus is dangerous, and antivirus will mess with the machine control.

A wired, shared drive would work for me, if I can isolate my control computer from the net.

If you're PC is close enough to your house to pick up your WiFi, then I say go for it without the Virus Software. Just be sure to have the WiFi securely protected with a good password. You are 10x more likely to pick up a virus just browsing the web into random places with a PC than someone managing to get into your WiFi PC in some other way. Just don't download anything, use webmail or use it to browse for fonts or design ideas to that PC except to use DropBox and you should be fine without virus software. I do all of that inside at my desk PC inside where it's comfy.

That PC that's running your table should already be lean, without anything but SheetCAM and MACH3 already and all of the "sleep" functions disabled.

[steel 35]

I use homegroup on three win 7s; CNC win7 still use a flashdrive. My Computer nerd keeps telling me nass, two of them Backup the backup.

[gamble]

is it just me or is dropbox not working? I can't even get to their website for the past day

[Shane Warnick]

It must just be you, my dropbox is working just fine. I just tried, and I can access and log in on the website, as well as my phone with no issues.

Maybe you are just special??

Shane

[see&see]

Every time I modify a file in the shop using the dropbox folder it sends it to my office computer and a notice pops up in the window telling me it's been modified and updated, backed up on the office computer as well as Dropbox..... I just got one update today.. Dropbox is working great!

[gamble]

Got it working, must have been blocked by the firewall at work

[bhamer62]

Dropbox!! I got da shitz of having multiple versions of files on different computers at home and work, constantly emailing them back and forth trying to manage them!!!! Plus, Dropbox lets me work from home and program the laser from home if I need to. The guy running the laser pulls my Sigma Nesting files from dropbox. Kinda like having a nice big server linking home to work....AND I get to work from bout anywhere I have WiFi with the Surface Pro 4. I can change a file from customer sites and it can be cutting in the shop in minutes.

[matze-atze-sch]

Hey,

I use my fritz!box.
I have on my fritz box a usb port, where I connect a usb drive.
All my PC´s and Laptops are connected to the box via W-Lan. In the box I disabled the CNC-Pc to go to the Internet, so I have only access to the Stick.
So I can browse on my Laptop in the Internet for files, save them on the Box and done.
And I have access to the box over the Internet, like Dropbox.

[BTA Plasma]

We use a couple of 1Tb jump drives and about 30 usb thumb sticks.

[Capstone]

We use a couple of 1Tb jump drives and about 30 usb thumb sticks.

Wow 30 USB Sticks?!... What a PITA!!