feature request: semi clever backups

[gabrielcrowe]

I'm sick of renaming files and checking the calendar for every snapshot.

I want actinic to be intelligent about the current date and set the filename accordingly, it should be in the form of something like:

foldername_shopname_ddmmyyyy_hhmm.acd

i want a button that says: 'snapshot now'.

I dont want to be pestered by crappy next and back dialogs. i just want it to say: 'snapshot [filename] saved'.

perhaps slip this sort of thing into v9?

[pinbrook]

i'd like to see the version included too - if it can be this clever?

[george]

Its on the wishlist Mr Pink.

[fergusw]

If we are talking about clever backup processes then being able to predeterime location, content and filename for the backups would be great.
How about a background worker process in Actinic that you could set to run scheduled snapshots as well, thereby fully automating the system based on your own requirements?

[pinbrook]

with inbuilt FTP to online backup

[george]

And compacting databases.

[george]

Although backing up with a routine name to a non user defined online space could give security issues.

[pinbrook]

Although backing up with a routine name to a non user defined online space could give security issues.

this is true, but there are more and more online backup services available now, these are a good alternative.

i would always advise using a proper online backup service rather than simply ftping to your own webspace.

[gabrielcrowe]

these are all fantastic ideas.

there are so many problems with 'lost my snapshot cant restore'.

this kind of clever automated backups would fix ALL these support calls and forum entries.

even if actinic hosted a simple site content sans images snapshot, in some secure place. i'd even pay for it.

a quid a month to ensure that my products were always retrievable?

i should coco.

if actinic dont write it in, then I will.

[TraceyHand]

if actinic dont write it in, then I will.

do it, Gabe....dooooooooo itttttttttttttttt!!

you know you want to

[gabrielcrowe]

in fact, i was just brainstorming it.

got the biros out and everything.

[fergusw]

Password protected snapshots ! i.e. you cannot import without a username/password.

I would have thought that utilising Actinic's FTP engine would be the easiest way, and when a snapshot was uploaded the location and filename could be encrypted by Actinic and made different each time. It would be able to utilise Actinic's own encryption key and a little XOR function for this.

You would just need to keep an eye of server space.
Not ideal, but if you have a secure snapshot on your server AND backed up locally then you are greatly increases your chances of data recovery.

[gabrielcrowe]

use this:
http://www.truecrypt.org/

unbreakable encryption.

but you're right. the snapshot system NEEDS these things.

remote location scheduled/automatic backups and password protection.

[completerookie]

foldername_shopname_ddmmyyyy_hhmm.acd

one thing to note, doing it this way would result in all the backups don on the 23rd of the month being grouped together.

the better naming convention would be
foldername_shopname_yyyymmdd_hhmm.acd
this would then automatically sort alphabetically and ALL backups done on the 24th would be lower in the list than those done on the 23rd.

[Sean Williams]

use this:
http://www.truecrypt.org/

unbreakable encryption.

This looks VERY cool, and open source, unlike the unaffordable PGP these days.
I've had a quick look through, Gabriel, but cannot see if you can encrypt to a CD/DVD (it does mention a USB stick) - is this possible?
It would be perfect for our off-site backups.