bonkey

Amazon adds file versioning to AWS

2010-09-06T03:55:00.002+10:00

It always makes me a happy monkey when I get things for free. Amazon has added versioning to AWS. You can enable it on a per-bucket basis, and instead of overwriting existing files it will save every version. For more information, see their blog post.

Bonkey 3.4.1, Windows and OS X

2010-05-24T06:51:00.002+10:00

A new version to fix a couple of bugs:

backing up from CloudFiles should now work (thanks to Savvas for the bug report!);
temporary files used in backups were being left in the user's temp directory if a backup failed - these are now removed.

Bananas bananas bananas. Find them in the usual place: Bonkey 3.4.1 for Windows and Bonkey 3.4.1 for Mac OSX.

Bonkey 3.4 - CloudFiles support! And more...

2010-04-20T07:25:00.003+10:00

As the saying goes, monkeys never sleep. Wait. Monkeys never forget? Whatever.

Bonkey has been updated to version 3.4, with support for RackSpace CloudFiles. It's a cheap, solid alternative to S3.

There are a few other improvements as well:

native SFTP and FTP support, meaning more speed and less (or less durable) bugs;
support for passive mode in FTP transfers;
version number in the About dialog;
lots of internal rearchitecting to allow new features;
removed .enc extension for encrypted files, and fixed a bug with decrypting from local files.

There are bound to be a few bugs, so let me know as you run into them. With all the internals updated, stamping them out should be as easy as catching monkeys. Or something.

Download version 3.4 for Windows or download version 3.4 for OS X.

Building Bonkey from source

2010-04-11T07:52:00.005+10:00

If you've looked through the subversion repository for Bonkey to see the source, you might be scratching your head and wonder how it all gets bundled up into a monkey-laden application. Essentially, the build system is Eclipse, using the tools for RCP development.

I've put some basic details in a short help article. Let me know if you have difficulties or tips, so that I can flesh it out a bit.

Backup history

2010-02-08T09:00:00.001+11:00

Something that was left out of the help: Bonkey records all the details of previous backups (and backup attempts) for each backup group. Open the backup group and double click on any of the entries in the history table for the following information:

a list of the files included in the backup
the size of the backup and of each folder and file within it
whether they were transferred or skipped
whether the transfer was successful
detailed error messages if a transfer was unsuccessful

Bonkey + Windows 7 = happy monkey

2009-12-24T12:04:00.002+11:00

I've finally got hold of a Windows 7 Pro machine. I installed Bonkey in an administrator account and everything seems to work fine. So I'm giving Bonkey an all clear on Windows 7.

Let me know if you run into any difficulties.

Bonkey, SQL Server and Java 1.6+

2009-12-23T10:58:00.002+11:00

I've just updated the instructions for using Bonkey with SQL Server.

If you are using version 1.6 or higher of the Java runtime and want to backup an SQL Server database, you will need to use the most recent version of the JDBC library (available on the same page). When downloaded, this is named sqljdbc4.jar. Rename it to sqljdbc.jar and then follow the instructions as before.

Excluding files and folders

2009-11-10T08:03:00.002+11:00

I just got a question about excluding files, and I thought I'd post the response in case anyone else finds it useful.

You can exclude things using a more complicated Java regular expression in the search function: http://sites.google.com/site/thebackupmonkey/help/searches. Do a search based on a regular expression, and then include the search (which is saved as a location) in your backup by dragging and dropping it in.

Have a look at the comments here for an example: http://thebackupmonkey.blogspot.com/2009/09/using-searches-to-backup-files.html. Note that "^" is both the start of a line (at the start of a regular expression) and a negation (in the character class: http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/essential/regex/char_classes.html).

A simpler exclude option would be a nice feature to add! It's on the (long, growing) TODO list.

Using searches to backup files

2009-09-29T07:05:00.002+10:00

Did you know that Bonkey can backup only files which match a search? Should have read the help, shouldn't you?

See the help page on searches for more information.

Bonkey site - with help

2009-09-29T06:49:00.003+10:00

Rather than regularly re-post the introduction to Bonkey, I've created a static site to explain Bonkey: http://sites.google.com/site/thebackupmonkey.

That site includes a copy of the help that can be found within Bonkey: http://sites.google.com/site/thebackupmonkey/help

Bonkey on Vista

2009-09-21T07:09:00.002+10:00

One of Bonkey's users, Biskits, figured out how to get Bonkey running on Vista and kindly shared the following tips (monkey see, monkey do!):

Uninstall Bonkey, restart the machine and download the newest version of Bonkey (see http://thebackupmonkey.blogspot.com/2009/09/update-improved-background-backup.html).
Go into the Windows MMC (Microsoft Management Console) > Services, and check that the Bonkey Service is "Automatic" and "Started". If yes, close the MMC and go to Step #4. If not, go to Step # 3.
Set the Bonkey Service to "Automatic" and "Start", close the MMC, and re-boot.
In Windows Explorer, navigate to C:\Program Files\Bonkey\ and locate the following 2 executable files: Bonkey.exe, and wrapper.exe. For each file, Right click, select "Properties" > "Compatibility" > and place a check-mark in "Run as Administrator". Close Explorer.
Open Bonkey, and configure your back-ups. When you close the UI, the Service will run effectively according to schedule.

Thanks for the instructions, Biskits! Thanks for being so complicated, Vista!

Update - improved background backup service

2009-09-21T07:02:00.004+10:00

I've just posted another update to Bonkey, which is more robust in dealing with different system configurations.

If you've been having trouble with backups by the background service on Windows Vista or Mac OS X, try uninstalling, restarting, downloading the new version and installing it.

Windows: http://s3.amazonaws.com/bonkey/setup.exe

OS X: http://thebackupmonkey.blogspot.com/2008/09/bonkey-on-mac-os-x.html

For specific instructions to get Bonkey working on Windows Vista, see http://thebackupmonkey.blogspot.com/2009/09/bonkey-on-vista.html.

Introducing Bonkey

2009-08-16T20:48:00.002+10:00

Bonkey is a simple to use backup system. It can backup to most storage devices, but it is specifically designed to be used with Amazon S3, which provides cheap online storage. You choose which files need to be backed up, select how often, set the destination and voila! your files are backed up. It runs on Windows and Mac OSX. It's open source, so you can download the code and tinker if you so desire.

Bonkey can:

backup to multiple locations, including Amazon S3, SFTP, FTP, Windows shares, and local disks;
backup Microsoft SQL Server databases;
backup automatically at a set interval and at a set time if desired;
backup only modified files, or a snapshot of the files you select;
compress and encrypt files during backup;
be configured to email any errors during backup to you;
allow drag and drop transfers between different locations; and
show built-in help.

More details:

runs as a Windows service: no need to login for it to start; uses less memory; and is invisible;
summary screen shows you all you need to know and makes managing your backup groups easier;
file transfer mode for easier drag and drop transfers;
synchronisation to remove out of date files from backup targets;
built-in restore wizard to restore to a folder or original locations.

Other things worth mentioning:

no spyware, adware, ads, viruses, spam, trojans or STDs. Just the backup software;
runs on Java;
S3 is run by Amazon - I have nothing to do with it and no responsibility for it. I use it though, and it ain't bad (it's cheap, which can't be bad); and
thanks to Eclipse for the framework, Apache for a number of libraries, Eclipse for icons, and superconnected604 for the chain-smoking briefcase bearing primate.

Here's a simple screenshot of the summary page.

Downloads

2009-05-19T06:43:00.001+10:00

Just in case people are missing the rather small download links on the left, you can download the latest versions of Bonkey here:

Windows

Mac OS X

Bonkey is now Open Source

2008-12-29T15:01:00.002+11:00

Bonkey runs free with the buffalo.

The source to Bonkey is available on Sourceforge.net at https://sourceforge.net/projects/bonkey/ under an Apache 2.0 licence.

Please contact thebackupmonkey@gmail.com if you are interested in contributing to the project.

Going Open Source

2008-12-15T00:00:00.002+11:00

Bonkey is going Open Source. I haven't got time to maintain and develop it, but I would be disappointed to see it rust away in the garage.

There are a few wrinkles to iron out (most notably merging the Mac and Windows trees and getting it setup in a repository), but otherwise the code is in relatively good shape. Hosting services other than S3 can be added reasonably easily. It is all written in Java on top of Eclipse's RCP.

If anyone is interested in helping establish the project, please drop me a line at thebackupmonkey@gmail.com

Updates

2008-10-19T23:38:00.005+11:00

New versions posted, fixing two bugs:

Encryption on S3 was failing due to too many bytes being written as a result of the encryption algorithm padding files. This has been addressed for the most part, but will still occur occasionally. It won't corrupt data, it will just stop the occasional upload. A long term fix is in the works.
FTP connections are now working again.

Known issues:

Windows shares are not accessible on Mac OS X.
As noted above, there is still an issue with padding on encryption to S3. Recommended to use S3 without encryption at the moment as all traffic is sent over HTTPS in any case (ie encrypted in transit); or to backup to an encrypted local location and then from there to an unencrypted S3 one.

To download use the "Latest versions links on the left".

Bonkey on Mac OS X

2008-09-29T03:10:00.006+10:00

At long last - a release for Mac OS X. This was tested on Leopard (10.5.3 to be precise) on an Intel based machine, but should run on others as well. Please throw something at thebackupmonkey@thegoogleymail if you run into any problems.

Available here: http://s3.amazonaws.com/bonkey/Bonkey.zip

Installation:

Download the zip file.
Extract the zip file and copy the resulting folder to your Applications folder.

If you want your backups to happen automatically (you probably do):

Open a terminal (Applications -> Utilities -> Terminal).
Enter /Applications/Bonkey/install.sh and press enter.

Two screenshots:

Update: Bonkey 3.0.1

2008-09-22T07:28:00.004+10:00

Fixes a bug with SFTP access which resulted in logins failing. Download is still in the same place: http://s3.amazonaws.com/bonkey/setup.exe.

Mac OS X version coming soon

2008-08-19T11:52:00.001+10:00

Here's a screenshot - just some final issues with the installer to work out.

Bonkey 3.0

2008-08-09T04:02:00.003+10:00

After a long wait for this code monkey, Bonkey 3.0 for Windows hits the airwaves. It has been with testers for a while and it's time for public debut. You can get it at http://s3.amazonaws.com/bonkey/setup.exe. Note that you need to have an up-to-date version of Sun's Java. A Mac release will follow, hopefully within a month.

For new users, Bonkey is a simple to use backup system. It can backup to most storage devices, but it is specifically designed to be used with Amazon S3, which provides cheap online storage. You choose which files need to be backed up, select how often, set the destination and voila! your files are backed up.

Bonkey is free for non-commercial use; commercial users should contact thebackupmonkey at Google's mail (you know the one) for licensing information. Once again, Bonkey is provided without warranties - ie all care, no responsibility: if your computer ends up as a smouldering pile of plastic, or your files end up in the Never-Never (/dev/godhelpme), don't call me.

For existing users, there have been a number of important changes since the last release to make your life easier:

runs as a Windows service: no need to login for it to start; uses less memory; and is invisible;
summary screen shows you all you need to know and makes managing your backup groups easier;
file transfer mode for easier drag and drop transfers;
synchronisation to remove out of date files from backup targets;
download updates from update site;
two methods for file searches for even more flexible backup settings;
built-in restore wizard to restore to a folder or original locations; and
the bug which halted large file transfers on low-end machines has been exterminated.

For those who are new, Bonkey could already:

backup to multiple locations, including Amazon S3, SFTP, FTP, Windows shares, and local disks;
backup Microsoft SQL Server databases;
backup automatically at a set interval and at a set time if desired;
backup only modified files, or a snapshot of the files you select;
compress and encrypt files during backup;
be configured to email any errors during backup to you;
allow drag and drop transfers between different locations; and
show built-in help.

Other things worth mentioning:

no spyware, adware, ads, viruses, spam, trojans or STDs. Just the backup software;
runs on Java;
S3 is run by Amazon - I have nothing to do with it and no responsibility for it. I use it though, and it ain't bad (it's cheap, which can't be bad); and
thanks to Eclipse for the framework, Apache for a number of libraries, Eclipse for icons, and superconnected604 for the chain-smoking briefcase bearing primate.

Here's a simple screenshot of the summary page.

Bonkey 2.1.2

2007-06-24T18:16:00.000+10:00

A few, ahem, bugs, have precipitated the release of Bonkey 2.1.2. Links below are still valid.

For anyone who was having trouble with S3, this should fix those problems. You must create a bucket manually. Tools like the S3 Firefox Organizer will help you do that.

Cheerio!

Bonkey 2.1

2007-05-16T21:05:00.000+10:00

Pay attention. Here's how it works:

You sign up for an account with Amazon S3.
You download Bonkey (or here).
You set Bonkey up to automatically backup your files to your S3 account.

Not too hard, eh? Frankly, 1 and 3 are optional, but at S3 storage rates, you can have your files backed up offsite for not a lot (as in a few centavos a month for this little tree hugger). But hey, why take advice from a monkey? You do your own thing. Backup to an external hard drive or an FTP site, I don't care. Whatever floats your boat.

Things you gotta know:

free for non-commercial use - for commercial use, contact thebackupmonkey at the mail owned by Google or leave a comment here;
all care, no responsibility: if your computer ends up as a smouldering pile of plastic, or your files end up in the Never-Never (/dev/godhelpme), don't call me;
no spyware, adware, ads, viruses, spam, trojans or STDs. Just the backup software;
runs on Java;
S3 is run by Amazon - I have nothing to do with it and no responsibility for it. I use it though, and it ain't bad; and
thanks to Eclipse for the framework, Apache for libraries, Eclipse for icons, and superconnected604 for the chain-smoking briefcase bearing primate.

Things I reckon you oughta know:

screenshot;
can backup files to local disks, network locations, FTP, SFTP or S3 account, and from all of those places;
can backup Microsoft SQL Server databases (designed for use with ABM);
starts automatically and runs in the system tray;
includes encryption and compression;
can do full backups (with timestamp) or modified files only;
can also execute command-line and database tasks at specified intervals;
can be configured to send you emails when your backup fails; and
has a built-in help manual.

That'll get you started. No excuses not to back stuff up anymore eh?

Durry?

If you want to talk Mac or Linux, let me know. This can easily run cross-platform, I just don't have a Mac and can't be arsed building it for Linux.

Base Camp Bonkey established

2007-05-15T17:08:00.000+10:00

Eh! Well. It's all working then. Software soon.

Anyone got a cigarette?