Backup files too large for Dropbox

Russellreno

<div class="IPBDescription">Questions reqarding Dropbox sync.</div>Are backups unnecessary with Dropbox?



I recently switched from Lastpass to 1Password for Windows and 1Password for iPhone. I sync using a 2 GB Dropbox account.



The sync file on Dropbox is 1.6GB. When my dropbox account became over the limit I discovered 1Password backup files are the full file, not an incremental backup.



I also backup my hard drive daily.



Thanks.



Russell

Big 1Password fan.

[Deleted User]

Hello Russell and welcome to the Forums!



You stated that your sync file on Dropbox is 1.6GB! Initially, I thought I'd just heard of the largest 1P data file ever recorded. However, after reading your additional comments, it sounds like you are storing your 1Password Backup Files in your Dropbox folder.



To confirm or refute this assumption, please let me know the file path listed on the [i]Preferences > Backups[/i] tab. If my assumption that you are storing your 1P backups on Dropbox is correct, then this would explain why you quickly used up your 2GB limit.



Personally, I keep my last 5 1P backups on Dropbox and keep 25 others on a USB flash drive. I do not want my 1P data file and all of my backups located in the same place. However, if you do not wish to keep backup files outside of Dropbox, perhaps the best solution is to decrease the number of backup files to keep. The default is 50, but I'm guessing you could do with less.



Thank you for being a big 1P fan. It's great having you as a member of the family!



Feel free to reply with any additional questions, clarifications or comments.



Cheers!



Brandt

Stefan von Dutch

You should not store your backups in Dropbox. You should store only your 1Password keychain in Dropbox.

[Deleted User]

[quote name='Stefan von Dutch' timestamp='1309078579' post='30405']

You should not store your backups in Dropbox. You should store only your 1Password keychain in Dropbox.

[/quote]





To clarify my previous post, I place 5 recent backups into a Dropbox subfolder as a way of keeping some handy when I'm traveling.



I do [b]not[/b] use Dropbox as my default backup location. I use 1P's default location on my desktop. Occasionally, I do copy some to a flash drive, but that is only for another "off-site" storage location.



Stefan --



Is there a reason that I should not use Dropbox in this manner, or were you specifically addressing using Dropbox as the default backup location?

DBrown

Brandt, I can't think of a reason to store 1Password backup files in Dropbox.



Wherever you are, if you have access to Dropbox, then you have access to your Dropbox-sync'ed 1Password data, whether it's for use with 1Password on another computer or for read-only access through 1PasswordAnywhere.



In either case, there's no use for a backup file, unless you're anticipating problems with your 1Password data (a very rare occurrence).



I don't store any 1Password backup files in Dropbox. I do allow 1Password to create backup files (in the default location), of course, and I allow Carbonite to back up those backup files, as well as my 1Password data folder.



[i][b]Important:[/b] Do not store your 1Password backup files in the 1Password data folder. In other words, don't have the path on the Backup tab be the same as the path on the General tab.[/i]

[Deleted User]

David,



Good point. I guess I was being overly cautious by trying to have backup copies all over the place. Probably not a good idea regardless.



I've removed my 5 backup copies and will find another method to feed my paranoia. <img src='http://forum.agile.ws/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />



Excellent point regarding the backup path. I should have mentioned that in my response to the OP.



Brandt

Russellreno

Solved.



When my Dropbox account was over capacity I deleted the data files and kept the backup files on Dropbox. Yesterday I reread the manual (imagine that) and discovered my error.



The data files on Dropbox are 597 files, 2.5MB. The backup files are on the hard drive (4 files, 1.6GB with 3 522KB files).

[Deleted User]

Excellent news! Thanks for updating the thread.



I guess we both learned something from this experience. <img src='http://forum.agile.ws/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=';)' />



Cheers!

DBrown

[quote name='Russellreno' timestamp='1309217371' post='30543']

The data files on Dropbox are 597 files, 2.5MB. The backup files are on the hard drive (4 files, 1.6GB with 3 522KB files).

[/quote]

The data files (the [i]1Password.agilekeychain[/i] folder) should take up the same amount of space on your local disk as they do on your private Dropbox web site, and they need to exist in both places for 1Password to work correctly.



The backup files are zipped, so each backup is a single file. As stated above, they need exist only on your local drive (and optionally on a backup drive or service like Carbonite, if you like).