On Thu, Mar 08, 2012 at 12:24:10PM +0200, Andrei POPESCU wrote: > On Ma, 06 mar 12, 19:18:49, Rob Owens wrote: > > I'm considering using bittorrent to back up large files such as pictures > > and home movies. I am the admin for several of my family members' > > computers. The idea would be to back up my files onto their machines, > > then eventually back their stuff up in the same manner, resulting in > > several off-site backups for each of us. > > From what I know of the BitTorrent protocol it is beneficial only if the > data needs to be transfered to more than 1 site, where the remote > site(s) are not sharing the same internet connection, otherwise it > doesn't bring any benefit over ftp/rsync/etc. It's not obvious from your > message if this is the case. > I intend to transfer to more than 1 site. Both for the purposes of backup, and for sharing the files with my family members in several different households.
> > I want to keep this data private. What are my options, besides a VPN? > > I hesitate to use a public torrent even on encrypted data, because the > > computers of tomorrow may easily crack today's encryption using brute > > force. > > I'm not sure what you consider to be a "public" torrent, but in my very > un-informed opinion, encrypted torrents should be quite secure already, > just don't use a public tracker or distribute the DHT key. Yes, there is > a bit of security-by-obscurity here, but I wouldn't worry about it > unless it was really sensitive data. > I'm a bit of a novice, so my terminology may be off. But by "public" I mean a torrent that I upload to any public tracker, like thepiratebay or something. Anyone could download my torrent, not that they would know to look for it. > > My data is sorted in directories by year. If I make torrents for each > > year, most of the data will be static. But how should I handle the > > current year's data? Can I update the torrent file without forcing a > > re-download of all the current year's data? > > Not sure, but even if you create a new torrent each time you add more > data, all clients I have tried so far will not re-download, but they > will re-check the hash on all existing data. > I'll have to experiment with that. I haven't ever created my own torrent, but I guess I could figure this one out by creating a small torrent with dummy data, and then modifying it. -Rob -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [email protected] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [email protected] Archive: http://lists.debian.org/[email protected]
