Lightroom backup

[golfer]

I am using Lightroom for my photo database and SyncToy to back up to another hard drive.
Is there a way to back up Lightroom directly?
Best wishes.

[Mr. Pickles]

My Lightroom backs itself up once a week, upon startup....

Choose File > Catalog Settings (Ctrl Alt Comma)

In the middle section, you will see a Backup section with a drop-down. It specifies the frequency in which the current catalog is backed up. Backup files are stored in the Backups folder inside the Lightroom data folder (for me, on a PC, it is MyDocs\MyPics\Lightroom\Backups)

Keep in mind that the backups are date stamped, and don't over-write themselves. This means that you can go way back if you need to, but also that if you don't move them to some other device, they will take up a lot of "hidden" room....

[brian.austin]

Originally Posted by Mr. Pickles

My Lightroom backs itself up once a week, upon startup....

Choose File > Catalog Settings (Ctrl Alt Comma)

In the middle section, you will see a Backup section with a drop-down. It specifies the frequency in which the current catalog is backed up. Backup files are stored in the Backups folder inside the Lightroom data folder (for me, on a PC, it is MyDocs\MyPics\Lightroom\Backups)

Keep in mind that the backups are date stamped, and don't over-write themselves. This means that you can go way back if you need to, but also that if you don't move them to some other device, they will take up a lot of "hidden" room....

That only backs up the catalog database, though, and not the images themselves.

Backup the catalog to restore Lightroom later. Backup the photos themselves using whatever file backup application you're comfortable with.

As long as all images are restored in the same directory/folder structure as backed up, the catalog restore will work fine.

[Mr. Pickles]

I guess I was confused as to what they wanted to actually backup. Either way, they is covered now....

[Eero Makela]

Not sure how this works


Back up photos during import

If you are importing photos by copying or moving them into the library, you can create backup photo files in a specified location. This feature is useful, for example, if you want to back up to a completely different drive for immediate backup protection on import.

1. In the Import Photos dialog box, select Backup To and then click Choose.
2. In the Import Photos dialog box, navigate to the destination you want, and then click OK (Windows) or Choose (Mac OS).

[brian.austin]

Originally Posted by ecto69

Not sure how this works

Back up photos during import

If you are importing photos by copying or moving them into the library, you can create backup photo files in a specified location. This feature is useful, for example, if you want to back up to a completely different drive for immediate backup protection on import.

1. In the Import Photos dialog box, select Backup To and then click Choose.
2. In the Import Photos dialog box, navigate to the destination you want, and then click OK (Windows) or Choose (Mac OS).

Basically it does what it says it does.

Upon import from your camera's card, the photo is copied to your "active" location as well as a backup location. In other words, it will copy it to TWO locations at the same time rather than the normal one.

This is handy if you're backing up your original camera captures immediately to an external hard drive or network file system somewhere.

[golfer]

OK, Brian and Mr. P, thanks for the help. If I am correct, there appears to not be a way to back up photos from Lightroom, just the catalob databse.
To backup up the photos, I need to continue using a program such as SyncToy or something else.
Do you have any suggestions as to other programs for back up?
Thanks and best wishes.

[Jacco]

With OSX and Time Machine or Time Capsule you can set up (wired or wirelessly) any incremental backup scheme, of any (set of) folder(s) you choose. And then forget about it.

[jfrancho]

One should never "forget about it" when relying on ANY system redundancy. Periodic restoration drills should be part of any disaster strategy. Otherwise you have no way of validating the integrity of the backups, which is very stupid, in my opinion.

[Jacco]

Originally Posted by jfrancho

One should never "forget about it" when relying on ANY system redundancy.

In a literal sense you are right, of course. You can, however, reduce 'worrying about it' by 98% by setting up a good redundant backup system. Which is why I mirror the Time Machine HD to another 500GB HD (RAID1), and physically swap one of those HDs with a third one off-site, once a month.

Periodic restoration drills should be part of any disaster strategy. Otherwise you have no way of validating the integrity of the backups, which is very stupid, in my opinion.

Quite.

[brian.austin]

Originally Posted by golfer

OK, Brian and Mr. P, thanks for the help. If I am correct, there appears to not be a way to back up photos from Lightroom, just the catalob databse.
To backup up the photos, I need to continue using a program such as SyncToy or something else.
Do you have any suggestions as to other programs for back up?
Thanks and best wishes.

I'm guessing you're on a Windows platform. I've tried a number of different sync/backup apps but keep wandering back to the already included NTBackup. I just set up a scheduled task for it and run it as needed to an external drive.

I've been avoiding the geek network in the house thing but I'm getting to the point where it's going to have to happen. When that's in place, I'll sync my local drives to a network drive and backup the server to external hard drives. I also have a server on the Internet where I do online backups.

As John mentioned, after your backup system is in place, run it through a restoration drill. Drills are the only way you'll find where your backup system is failing...and you'd rather find out BEFORE you actually need it!