Wow, a backup thread without my knowing about it. I should first start by stating that it seems there are more opinions about how to do backups, than there are users on this board. Luckily, they don't all post.
It seems like your question is already answered but just a few comments:
First, if you think of what you are doing as the way it is set up in folder and NTFS permissions: Read only, Read/Write, Modify, Full control, etc. If you take the database home and use it ONLY as read only (I don't mean technicall set it up that way) just know you can't make changes. Now if you were going to use your laptop to go to nursing homes, etc. then it would be a different matter. Actually, I do what you are talking about every week. After syncing the database to my portable external drive using SyncToy (yes Brian, lol), I then have a local copy if I need info. Chances are it will all be there with the caveat that the patient you may need to look up is likely to be the one you saw that week.
From my perspective, (and I don't know what your needs are -- always good to specify that -- trying to write tons of notes from home, just need to look something up, etc.) the basic premise is that you are coming from the idea thta LogMeIn and other offsite connections are slow. I find LogMeIn to be fairly fast and RemoteDesktop, if you have XP and a static IP address at work to be even faster. You are mostly limited by the speed of your broadband connection. Again, though, if you are only needing to view data as you stated later in your thread, then LogMeIn or Remote Desktop is plenty fast enough.
Flash drives/Thumbdrives are all good. My friend just purchased IronKey -- it is awesome. I think you just need to be careful so you don't lose it somewhere.
I think since we are talking backups again, it is important to separate something we have never separated. If we are talking about backing up AC only, then grab the AC database or AC databases and take them home. I think that users on a P2P setup are more likely to be in that boat. If you are running a full-fledged server (no offense to anyone who is not), there is a greater tendency to centralize all data. So, for instance, my CRITICAL data is Amazing Charts, File Assistant Pro containing EVERY single piece of paper (now shredded) and files on every patient, eMedware with ALL billing and eMedware with all scheduling. Our archieved faxes both in and out are backed up nightly as well as all email on Exchange Server. ALL files on Sharepoint which is an intranet website page from SBS, which contains literally hundreds of crucial documents we use daily and EVERY file from each user which is contained on the server. So, my biggest thrust is to back up the server AND the entire server. I do both whole server backups and what I call modular backups using SyncToy to back up the big three: AC, FAP and Medware. I then back up the entire server weekly to take home. I won't go into the whole process which only Jim and Adam are aware of.
I never seem to hear on the boards the methods others use to back up their billing. Would you not be totally screwed if you lost that. I know I wouldn't be able to look my practice consultant, accountant or biller in the face if I lost that. Just wondering.
I think even if you connect the external hard drive to a PC, the PC may not able to read the data. I thought of this topic because if you get an urgent call from hospital or patient and you need to look up something in A.C. from home. Methods like remote access (logmein, etc.) are not as fast. I understand if you modify data from home (put in a new note,etc.) this new information might not go into the server if you do not synchronize it, so writing new note at home might not be a good idea. Anyway, able to access all data from home or anywhere with your laptop, if necessary, without having to connect a cable or going on line would be great.
Duke, first when people mention external hard drives, they are referring to simply backing data which they can restore; not to access. I am not sure if anyone answered one of your questions, but yes, you would need the program at home. I think you idea of taking the data, daily or weekly for that matter and putting it on your laptop so you can access from anywhere is a good idea. You just can't write to it. It doesn't matter if changes are made at the office as long as you simply take the office databases or AC folder to laptop each time and not vice-versa. So, if in the car with no way of connecting to your server at the office, your idea is great. For home, GoToMyPC or LogMeIN or RDP is PLENTY fast unless you are using Dial-up.
As far as FTP site. This is simply File Transfer Protocol which is one of the ways which is used to move files via the web. Any site can have FTP. Most hosted sites, if not all, allow you to FTP to that site. You can use FTP programs such as cuteFTP to do this. You can also use subscription sites such as iBackup.com or Carbonite.com to move files to a site. The offsite backup on here is basically FTP.
As far as moving files to a thumbdrive, the time it takes depends on the size of the file/folder and the speed of the connection. Most thumbdrives or any USB connection uses USB2.0 and, therefore, moves data at around 480Mb per second. Most AC users will have less than 100Mbs of patient data, and I can safely say your backup would probably take around 20 to 30 seconds. UNLESS, of course, you try to back up your entire Imported Items folder.
SyncToy, a free download from Microsoft, is a good option for backing up. I am not at liberty to say how easy it is sicnce I would offend Brian.
I think the newest version is slightly less intuitive than the older one. But, I find it way more intuitive then the sync program in AC.
I personally can't recommend the sync option in AC as it still has issues with what was done last. I posted on this at length but, in short, if you have ten medications and go out and delete all of them on purpose at a nursing home, when you sync, they will all be back.
It is ironic how these posts go and where they lead. I have the benefit of posting last (so far). But, the original question was, "Is it a good idea to back up to a laptop at home and use it there?
Answer:
Great idea as long as you use it as a 1) backup and 2) read only.
