Dropbox's backup solution?

[Asuka999999]

1. I have seen Dropbox's backup solution; this is 600 yen per month Backup (backup of one computer and one external drive with unlimited storage capacity). Dropbox plus is 1,600 yen per month (2,000 GB Secure storage). My question is if you can back up with unlimited capacity, I think the 600 yen plan would be better. What is the difference between two?

2. Furthermore, in any plan, I would like to select a few folders and make them backup targets (doesn't it mean that they will take automatic backups every hour?), not the entire external drive. Is it possible?

3.If I delete some file from the PC, will the same file be deleted from the cloud?

[Jay]

Hi @Asuka999999, thanks for messaging the Community!

Here are the answers for your questions:

1. The Dropbox Backup plan allows you to use computer backup for one machine, and one external drive backup, with unlimited storage. This doesn't apply to normal syncing of files in the Dropbox folder, which is still limited to 2 GB.
2. Could you clarify what you mean by backup targets? Are you trying to backup specific folders on your computer?
3. If you're referring to files in the computer backup or external drive backup, then any changes in files (new files, edited files, and deleted files) will sync to the site.

If you need any more details, feel free to message back!

[Asuka999999]

Hello Jay, thank you so much for your help! 

1. The Dropbox Backup plan allows you to use computer backup for one machine, and one external drive backup, with unlimited storage. This doesn't apply to normal syncing of files in the Dropbox folder, which is still limited to 2 GB.

Thank you, what I want to do is I want to back up all the content of my external drive, then want to sync specific folders in my external drive. 

My external drive is 2TB and I will upload all the content first, then want to pick the specific folders which will always be synced when I make changes on my drive. Is it possible?

If Dropbox Backup plan allows unlimited storage backup, it just sounds the same with other dropbox Plus or Pro plan... what is the difference? 

1. Could you clarify what you mean by backup targets? Are you trying to backup specific folders on your computer?

Yes! Like explained above, I want to pick up specific folders to be synced as I make changes to them. 

1. If you're referring to files in the computer backup or external drive backup, then any changes in files (new files, edited files, and deleted files) will sync to the site.

If you could clarify my questions above it would be really helpful... thank you so much!!

[Hannah]

Hey @Asuka999999, sorry for jumping in here. 

Allow me to provide some more clarifications here.

At the moment, if you back up your external drive, you will be backing up the whole drive and there's no way to ignore or stop certain folders from syncing, if they are already backed up.

Also, the backup plan allows for unlimited storage for one computer and one external drive, whereas with Plus or Pro, you can back up multiple computers and external drives.

You'll just be able to have up to 2 or 3 TB of data (for both normal and backup files), depending on the plan.

[Asuka999999]

Spoiler

Thank you so much for helping me out!

Now trying to understand but I still need to understand more.. so sorry for additional question but would kindly clarify for me?

A. I want to upload 90% of the contents in my external drive (2TB) and keep them in the cloud storage. I do not change contents of these, so I just want to keep them in the cloud as a copy, for safety sake.

Then, there are a few folders in my external drive that stores my project (music and movie) which I am using all the time. I want to upload them to the cloud, at the same time, I want them to be synced (if I make changes, the copy in the cloud should follow the change)

This is what I want to do. If I cannot select folders to be synced, is there any suitable plan for me?

B. I thought "back up" means just a copy uploaded in the cloud, but maybe I am wrong? Back up in the dropbox means sync?

C. I do not want to sync the entire drive because I read somewhere that if that external drive is not connected, it sometimes erases the copy in the cloud (dropbox thinks the entire drive has been erased). I do not want it to happen, so I do not want to sync the entire folder... do you experience any error when you sync external drive and it is not connected to PC?

D. finally, if I give up syncing option, and I just upload some contents manually to the cloud and keep them as a copy (so I just need to create the back up manually time to time), then which plan should I go?

Thank you!!

[Hannah]

No worries!

So, the backup does actually sync and also takes up Dropbox space.

As a workaround, you could manually add the files you want from your external drive to the Dropbox folder and then use selective sync.

Selective sync keeps folders available in the cloud, but removes them from your hard drive, so they don't take up space on it.

Regarding question C, this is the case when someone moves their Dropbox folder to an external drive. There's no such danger with the backup feature.

And selective sync is also a good alternative to moving the Dropbox folder to an external drive.

As for the plan that you'd need, it basically depends on how much content you'd like to upload to Dropbox. I think Dropbox Plus would be sufficient in your case.

[Asuka999999]

Dear Hanna

Thank you so much for your help! 

After reading your explanation, I think I may want to try the backup plan. I want to have the hard drive (I am not always accessible to the internet) and there seems no plan to select the folders you want to sync, then I should give up on that..  

The difference between the *backup* plan and *plus* is how many PC/external drive you want to back up, regardless of the size? 

If I want to back up my one PC and one external Drive (3TB), can I use this backup plan? 

*plus* plan is more expensive, but the storage size is limited to 2TB, so in that case, the cheaper and unlimited plan sounds better... is it? 

Thank you very much for your guidance!!

Asuka 

[Jay]

If your online intention is to use the backup feature with unlimited space, then the Backup plan would be best.

The Plus plan can use the backup feature, however, it is for syncing files within the Dropbox folder normally. 

[Asuka999999]

Dear Jay

Thank you.

>The Plus plan can use the backup feature, however, it is for syncing files within the Dropbox folder normally. 

Sorry, what do you mean by this? I thought this plan also sync the whole external drive, if this is under 2TB? I still do not understand sorry...  

[Nancy]

Hi Asuka, sorry for jumping in!

If you back up your drive while on a Plus plan, then you may go over-quota, given that the data you wish to back up is about 2TB in size. 

However, the Backup plan doesn’t have this limitation. So, I believe that what @Jay meant was that, even though you can still back up your files with Dropbox Plus, the Backup plan was specifically designed for what you need.