Creating Your Own Portable Backup Solution
Backups are often on our to-do lists but usually get pushed aside until we face a crisis. Luckily, crafting your own portable backup solution is quick and straightforward, enabling you to access your files on any PC.
Putting Together Your Backup
Building a portable backup system is simpler than you might think. To get started, you’ll need four essentials:
- A Spare SSD: This can either be NVMe or SATA.
- An External SSD Enclosure: This is necessary for connecting the SSD to your PC.
- A USB Cable: Ensure it matches the expected speed requirements of your setup.
- Some Time: You’ll need a bit to configure the drive.
In my case, I had a Western Digital SN850x NVMe SSD sitting around, along with a variety of USB-C cables. I chose a UGREEN enclosure that supports transfer speeds up to 10Gbps—just the right match for my PC’s quickest USB-C port.
After setting up the hardware, it was just a matter of formatting the drive and choosing the right backup software. I typically use rsync for Linux and Robocopy for Windows.
Selecting Your SSD
If you’re starting from scratch, you’ll first need to secure an SSD. While both SATA and NVMe drives are options, I recommend going with an NVMe model if you’re purchasing new. The price difference is minimal, and NVMe drives offer superior speed.
When shopping, pay attention to the read and write speeds, which are commonly listed in gigabytes per second (GB/s). Data transfer rates are often represented in gigabits per second (Gbps). Since there are 8 bits in a byte, remember to multiply by 8 when converting GB/s to Gbps.
Speed Matters
NVMe drives connect to your PC through the PCIe interface, resulting in impressive speeds. Even PCIe 3.0 models can exceed 3 GB/s (24 Gbps), while PCIe 4.0 and 5.0 drives will reach beyond 7 GB/s (56 Gbps) and 13 GB/s (104 Gbps) respectively. In practice, you’ll likely find that the speed of your PC’s USB or Thunderbolt ports limits your performance long before the SSD does.
Here’s a quick overview of USB and Thunderbolt speeds:
- USB 3.2 2×2: 20 Gbps
- USB 4 and Thunderbolt 4: 40 Gbps
- Thunderbolt 5 and USB 4 v2: Up to 80 Gbps
For now, it’s best to stick with PCIe 4.0 drives, as they balance performance and cost without the overheating issues that can come with PCIe 5.0 models.
Choosing Your SSD Enclosure
Once you’ve picked your SSD, it’s time to find a compatible enclosure. Match the enclosure’s speeds to your PC’s fastest port. When I assembled my setup, my PC’s top USB port supported 10 Gbps, so I opted for an enclosure that could match that speed.
If you’re unsure which speed your ports support, checking your motherboard manual can clarify matters. Here’s a simple chart to guide you:
| USB Type | Enclosure Speed |
|---|---|
| USB 3.2 1×1 | 5Gbps (✅) |
| USB 3.2 2×1 / 1×2 | 10Gbps (✅) |
| USB 3.2 2×2 | 20Gbps (✅) |
| USB 4 / Thunderbolt 4 | 40Gbps (✅) |
| USB 4 v2 / Thunderbolt 5 | 80Gbps (✅) |
Assembling Your Setup
With your enclosure and SSD in hand, putting it all together is usually straightforward—often requiring no tools beyond a small screwdriver for some models. Simply slide open the enclosure, insert your SSD, secure it in place, and close it up.
Formatting and Backup Configuration
Now that your hardware is assembled, you just need to format the drive. Since I plan to use my SSD across both Windows and Linux systems, I chose to format it as exFAT for wide compatibility.
For exclusive Windows use, NTFS would be the way to go. I’m not concerned about backing up system settings, so I’m using rsync on Linux for key folders and Robocopy on Windows 11 to streamline file backups.
For those wanting to create full system restore points, be sure to set up two separate partitions: one formatted as NTFS for Windows restore points, and the other as ext4 for Timeshift on Linux.
Remember, SSDs aren’t ideal for long periods of inactivity, so take care to ensure your data remains safe. If you anticipate long-term storage, mechanical hard drives are a better bet. And for ultimate preservation, nothing beats physical copies kept securely.
In just a few steps, you can create a reliable portable backup system tailored to your needs. Happy backing up!
