How it works
Download and install software
The first step to getting started with Mozy is to download the software and install it. It literally takes a minute and a step by step guide will help you install it correctly.
Select files to be backed up
Mozy allows you to select the files you want to backup in 2 ways. You can either check the boxes next to the backup sets, or select the files by type of file. Mozy then begins the backup process.
Once these two steps are complete, your insurance policy with Mozy has begun.
Key features:
- Open/locked file support: Mozy will back up your documents whether they’re open or closed.
- 128-bit SSL encryption: The same technology used by banks secures your data during the backup process.
- 448-bit Blowfish encryption: Secures your files while in storage, providing peace of mind that your private data is safe from hackers.
- Automatic: Schedule the times to back up and Mozy Home does the rest.
- New and changed file detection: Mozy Home finds and saves the smallest changes.
- Backs up Outlook files: Disaster-proof email protection.
- Block-level incremental backup: After the initial backup, MozyHome only backs up files that have been added or changed, making subsequent backups lightning fast.
Pros:
• Free 2GB account for consumers
• Options tab with 15 checkboxes for notifications, daily preferences, etc.
• Backs up open and locked files
• Mac version
• Block-level incremental backup
• Fast, generally limited only by your internet connection
• Versions – recover old versions of your filesPaid version with unlimited space
• Allows manual throttling of CPU and bandwidth utilization
• Web access: retrieving one file from backup is fast and fairly simple
• Data encrypted before transmission to Mozy
• Offers private encryption key
• Backs up external hard drives
Cons:
• Advanced features can be overwhelming to a novice
• Full restore process is slow and cumbersome
• Configuration process for choosing files to back up is clumsy
• Online web restore process requires download of the full data amount (uncompressed) and is prone to failure
– once a download stalls, there is no way to restart it
– web restore does not place files back in their original locations
– you must give Mozy permission to decrypt your data – a potential security issue
• The local Mozy client is not visually appealing and may be confusing to users who do not understand Windows file structures
• Scheduled backup only (not continuous), though can be very frequent
• No telephone support for Mozy Home
• “Fastest bandwidth” setting makes computer use sluggish – could be more automatic
Pricing
Mozy “Free” 2GB of free space
Mozy Home: $4.95/mo per PC. 1 year paid up front: Get one month free. 2 years paid up front: get 3 months free.
Mozy Pro: $3.95/mo per PC plus $.50GB
Our guess is that the typical “Home” user has 15GB of data backed up for $4.95/mo. Using Mozy Pro, that would be $3.95 plus $7.50, or $11.45 per month. If you have 100GB of photos or music, you definitely want to use Mozy Home!
Getting started and initial backup
The signup process for Mozy is simple. To register for a free 2GB account, all you need is an email address and password. Purchasing is also simple and straightforward. One nice thing about Mozy’s “shopping cart” is you can buy multiple licenses with one transaction. The installation of the PC software was quick and easy. As part of the setup, you are asked whether you want to let Mozy keep your encryption key or whether you want to keep it yourself.
After installing the PC software, Mozy scans your hard drive. When the scan was done, Mozy presents you with a menu of backup options. You decide what you want to back up and what you don’t want to back up. If you are signing up for the free 2GB, you have to get the total down to 2GB before you can start your backup.
After selecting what you do and don’t want to back up, Mozy tests the speed of your Internet connection and gives you a rough idea of how long your initial backup will take – a nice touch as most people don’t realize how slow DSL and cable modems are at uploading. You then get to choose how much bandwidth you’re going to devote to backup with a little slider that says “Faster Computer” and “Faster Backups.” Your estimated time to complete will change accordingly.
When you’ve made all your selections, you can start the initial backup.
After the initial backup is complete Mozy places a little icon on the system tray like most of the other backup services we tried. Clicking the icon brings up a menu that lets you:
• Start Backup
• Configure
• History
• Restore Files
If you’re using the free 2GB service, you have to keep an eye on your quota – if you go over 2GB, your backup won’t start until you eliminate something. The pop-up says “future backups may not complete…” It should say “will not.” If fact, they won’t even start. F
This “History” button lets you see all your past backups. When you click the “Configure” button you get the same kind of screen that you saw initially for picking what you do and don’t want to back up.
Restoring files
With Mozy you can restore files using just a web browser. With the web browser application, when you log in, you get a visual representation of your quota. You then select the files that your want to restore using a folder tree structure that is similar to what you’d see with Windows Explorer. When you’re done, you click “Submit” and your request goes off to Mozy. You can select whether you want to restore the selected files to your computer or have them mailed to you via Fedex on a DVD for roughly US$65.
The web restore process is a little complicated. You get an email from Mozy saying that the selected files are ready to be downloaded. Then you go to the web page that shows your downloads. Your files are returned to you as a .zip file.
Using the Mozy PC client to do big or complete restores is a better way to go. This is the easiest, quickest, and most efficient way to restore files with Mozy. Using Windows Explorer, you can right-click files or folders to restore them to their original locations. You can also “Restore-To” any location as any file name. The “Explore” option is more cumbersome, but shows the parallel Mozy file structure as a network drive.
Why not get started with MozyHome for free….
