^{The Original}The Vault:  
The effortless, ultimate data backup system!

Backs up Windows, Linux*, Mac all at the same time!!

Today, hardware costs nothing compared to the VALUE OF DATA!  How much is your data worth?

 To purchase a Vault, click here!

1. backup your system on ANY schedule, totally without operator assistance, will 
2. backup ANY** computer anywhere on any intra/internet, will 
3. use MySQL to store, file, index, cross index, and retrieve files and file information by filename, job, volume, date, directory, whatever!

• Operation is menu driven. You don't learn MySQL. In fact we do all setup.  

• Data Restores to ANY machine, ANYWHERE! Your Choice.  (**The intended practical use of this system is to backup any data files on any computers on a local network.  Backup 100Kilobyte to 100Terabyte.)

Ease   

• Totally unattended operation Fool proof: If you forget to plug in, it just backs up tomorrow! If there's a problem (a disk isn't mounted or is unavailable) the system just does what it can and gets the rest tomorrow. No complaints, no muss, no fuss! 

• Easy restores. It's got to be easy. Backup AND Restore. If it isn't easy, you won't use it. This is easy. You'll use it!!! As it is, there are bumps in the road. There are nights you don't plug in. There are blackouts. There are vacations, parties and life to be enjoyed. Life is not for worrying about backups. A good system that is easy to use will get used often enough that the times a session is missed it will have no effect what so ever on the quality and safety of your total backup picture. 

• To restore: Tell the system what file(s) or directories (folders) you want restored and where you want them restored to. It's that simple! 

• One set of data! Put your data on your notebook. Network your desktop, notebook and backup. Never have to copy, synchronize, or run briefcase again! 

• Works at night.  Works during the day if you wish.  Works at your command.  Works unseen if you wish.

• Works while you use your computer if you're up late! No significant performance penalty.

• Just plug in your notebook before 2AM. Anytime before bedtime. Or any time you schedule. If you miss the scheduled time, the system just does what it can and gets the rest tomorrow. No complaints, no muss, no fuss!  

Utility  

• Plug it into your home router and it can back up EVERYONE'S computer in the household. Infact it can backup ANYONE'S computer, anywhere on the internet. 

• Works while you use your computer!  

Robust   

• Does Full, Differential and Incremental backups. Meets YOUR needs and speeds! 

• Can do multiple identical backups, ie. Daily backups on internal drives and weekly (hourly, monthly, yearly, whatever) backups on removable media to store offsite. Simultaneous identical backups can still be incremental for lightening speed! 

• System encryption or volume encryption. 

• Works while you use your computer!  

Security   

• Never lose files again!
• Never have to redo lost work again! 

• Never have to rewrite a manuscript from memory! 

• Never have to reenter lost data!
• Internal storage always handy and offsite storage for extra security.
• System encryption or volume encryption.

Utterly Reliable!!   

• If there's an error it will be yours, not the system's. And you can watch real time summaries and reports to make sure you haven't made a mistake! After 1 or 2 backup cycles, you never need to watch again! 

• Works while you use your computer! 

• Sorry, we can't guarantee you will never lose a file. But the reality is, if you properly backup regularly, 99.999% of your files are totally safe. That's one in one hundred thousand. That means you have a .00001 chance of losing any particular important file. That's one one-thousandth of one percent.     

Backup FAQ:   

What do you recommend in the way of Computer Systems, Backups, minimal downtime, minimal cost and general safety? 

First, regarding backups: It used to be that if you had any copies of your files, even on the same disk, you were safe. It used to be that disks gave plenty of warning before they failed. Now, I trust nothing. If you look at the reviews of merchandise on the internet, while the stated mean time between failure of disk drives is great, there are spots where the return rates for new drives seems to be close to 20% in the first 3 months! I myself had 3 drives in two machines fail at the same instant in less than 3 months. Total disaster. Huge loss of data. I had backups, but not complete, systematic backups. I had to rewrite 2 manuscripts from memory. I had dozens of pages of advertising copy disappear. Things that I used to be able to sell for a few dollars on eBay because I could adapt an old listing in minutes are now thrown out because it's too much trouble to write all new copy and take new photos. It was only $5 here and $10 there, but it added up. The manuscripts were the real killers. Writing something the first time is a joy. The second time is like tearing your heart out. The creative process is not meant to be duplicated. The bottom line is there is no substitute for regular, complete, systematic backups. 

Second, regarding backups, if it isn't easy, you will not do it. As it is, there are bumps in the road. There are nights you don't plug in. There are blackouts. There are vacations, parties and life to be enjoyed. Life is not for worrying about backups. A good system that is easy to use will get used often enough that the times a session is missed it will have no effect what so ever on the quality and safety of your total backup picture. 

Our ideal MINIMUM system is 3 machines, your main system and 2 spares. One stores your data. That data is backed up on one of the other machines. Whatever machine goes down, your data is safe and you still have a second machine for backup. You are never out of commission while you get the downed machine repaired. Sounds like overkill? Why? A fast, reconditioned machine is $100 today. What is that? One? Two? Three hours of your time? Today, even a home computer system need NEVER go down. Would you tolerate no mail or phone service for a week? Will your credit card company be sympathetic if you pay your bill a week late?  

What am I paying for? 

You pay for the hardware, our expertise in setup. The software is all Open Source and therefore all free. That means no restrictions on use. The Vault is a Linux* machine. The machines to be backed up are PC, MAC or Linux*. Whatever you have. 

On the low end you are buying absolute peace of mind and data security. The low end is a rebuilt computer guaranteed for one year (expected to last forever), new disk drives with manufacturer's warrantee, usually 3 or 5 years. 

On the high end you are buying absolute peace of mind and data security plus you have additionally an extra desktop machine to use as you need. You may use it as an extra desktop machine on a separate desk with peripherals or as a box under a chair operated by remote control VNC. The high end is a new dual core machine. Manufacturer's warrantee on all hardware.

The difference between the high end and the low end is: 
Do you need another machine? That's up to you. 
Will the low end machine get your backups finished at night? 
It will for under 200 Gigabytes of data. You can use your machines while the backup is ongoing. There may or may not be noticeable performance degradation while the backup is ongoing. During lighter duty work, word processing, light web browsing, manipulation of small images, you may not even notice significant performance degradation. 

In truth, this is a very slick system. I rarely used backup systems before because they were not automatic, they were cumbersome and the backups seemed to be full of holes. They were untrustworthy. I felt I had enough copies of my files here and there on two or three different machines. Then I had a big crash. I lost a lot of irreplaceable, unique data. I started looking for a backup solution I could depend on and live with. I found one I could be happy with. I found a product I could believe in and I'm offering it to you. 

The Vault is a totally self contained, turnkey system which will backup any computer anywhere, catalog and cross index all the files and hold them ready for restore. The Vault will restore your files to any directory you require at the touch of a button. Restores are totally menu driven. No complex programing language.  

Why should I buy from you?  

As easy as the system is to use, it is a total bear to setup. 

First, you have to have a Zen like understanding of the entire backup process so, when you start, you can match the hardware to the backups you will get, when you finish. 

Second, The backup software is a monster to understand. As with the hardware, you have to anticipate at the beginning, what you will need at the end. In addition, for each machine you want to backup, the software has 3 extensive configuration files which need to outline your backup process in detail. At a minimum you need to build a table of Jobs, Job Defaults, Priorities, Types, Levels, Schedules and Pools.  

Third, you need to become proficient in MySQL, a database programming language. More specifically, you need to learn Structured Query Language, which is the language of MySQL. This is good for your backup system but bad for you. It's good for your system because MySQL is one of the premier databases in existence. MySQL is the Lamborghini of databases. MySQL is a main reason TheVault is so slick and easy to use. But it's bad for you if you'll need months to learn another language all for a backup task that you don't want to bother with anyway. 

It all comes down to: How much is your data worth? 

Can I backup and restore my system AND application files? 

In theory you can. In practice, we find thatfor unique, individual systems, its too much trouble. In our world, 'In Practice' includes time and effort. The time, effort, knowledge, experience, and training necessary to setup a 'system' backup and then, further, to restore that system make it not worth the trouble. Restore points are great, when they work, and they do. But if your system crashes to the point where you can't restart it, it is easier to reinstall. 

Take the case of Win XP. Even if you could restore the system, if the reason for the crash is a piece of hardware that needed to be replaced, XP will not let you restore the system. If you have to replace a processor or other major component with a digital serial number or multiple minor components, even if you plug an undamaged hard drive back into an identical system, you will probably have to reactivate on line or by phone and very possibly reinstall anyway. 

Why waste a mountain of time and energy to try and avoid that which is probably unavoidable? Our philosophy is, in a bad crash, fix the machine. Then reinstall. All our original software (from before DOS) is restored to disk so it can be reinstalled as fast as possible. Then we reload all data which we have carefully, systematically and completely backed up. Nothing is lost.

Individual applications such as mail clients or databases which have their own backup systems are best included, adapted and customized to your backup system. Settings or configuration files which you know how to copy, reinstall and tweak CAN and SHOULD be backed up and used when reinstalling your system. If you just have good, complete, systematic copies of your files, you can easily recover ANY system.    

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