Online backup software: Caddy

Caddy is an online backup service from Caddy Data Services that provides you with a 500 MB storage at Rs 3000 p.a. For every additional 100 MB you have to pay Rs 500 annually. You have to run a software component on the machine you want to backup data on. It runs only on Windows, and requires .NET Framework 1.1.4322 and a 23 MB download from www.caddy4u.com. The Caddy software is a separate download. Caddy can backup files from your PC on its server through a tool called Arbus. 

Arbus Courier is a feature that allows users to e-mail heavy files without choking their bandwidth. You can e-mail files using the courier from within the Caddy front end. The files are not actually attached with the e-mail but placed on the CADDY Web

server. The recipient can access these files through the link in the e-mail for a specified validity period (between 1 and 15 days). Caddy also allows you to add 'watch locations', folders on your PC or network

that are continuously monitored for changes to be backed up. A Document Filter allows you to specify

exactly which file types will be backed up. A file type, not in the Document Filters list but placed into one

of the watch locations, will not be backed up. 

We took roughly 4.5-5 hrs for 100 MB backup through a fairly fat DSL connection. There is no facility of resuming the backup of a partially arbused file, in case the connection is lost. You can retrieve files that are not present in your system from the Caddy server using a feature called Arbus Parking. 

The bottom line: The courier function might be worth more than the backup function, and

the space on offer is much more than the free storage you get on the Web. Good for small businesses

that need to regularly send heavy files to clients and vice versa. 

Sudarshana Mishra