Uploading files to just another hoster is however no guarantee that the files stay available for a longer time. It should be clear by now that you need to have backups available either locally or in another location to reduce the likelihood that you will lose the data completely.

Mirror Services

One option that you have is to use so called mirror services such as Mirror Creator to distribute the files to multiple online hosting services. If one or two go down, you still have them available on others that you have selected.

The process of uploading files to those hosters is almost identical, with the difference that you cannot make use of existing accounts and their benefits.

• Select files that you want to upload from your computer. A file limit is always displayed, in the case of MirrorCreator it is 500 Megabytes for free users.
• Select the file hosting services you want to distribute your files to. Free users can select up to ten services.
• Start to upload the files once, the mirror creation service will take care of the rest.

Here is a short list of file mirror creation services:

• Gazup! – Supports six services in total, maximum file size 400 Megabyte if only four are selected.
• Upload On All – Supports 12 services in total of which ten can be selected for distribution. Maximum file size is 300 Megabytes per upload.
• Digzip – Lets you pick eight mirrors from a list of 18. Maximum upload size is 200 Megabytes.
• Multi Upload – Upload to a total of nine different file hosting services
• Upload Mirrors – Select up to 14 mirror servers where you want your files to be hosted. No information about file size limitations posted on site.

You can search for file hosting mirrors and similar phrases to find more services that distribute files for you.

Nothing changes for free users who stay below the upload maximum. Users who need to upload larger files have a few options as well. They could split the files using software like 7-zip or Haozip for this. Other services may be offered, for instance the option to delete uploads again, that are not available when mirror uploading services are used.

If you want to use a specific service, for instance because of the account benefits it provides, you should consider backing up your data at a second cloud hosting service to avoid total data loss if that particular services is no longer available. A suggestion here would be to use a backup and synchronization provider like Dropbox, or if more storage space is required Skydrive from Microsoft. This means however that you will have to upload the files at least twice for this. You could alternatively back them on a local device if you do not want to waste the bandwidth.

Have another suggestion? Lets discuss it in the comments.

Functionality depends largely on the way GBridge is used. If the software program is installed on one computer the user can make use of the automatic backup option and chat. The backup can be used to store files locally if GBridge has been installed on one computer. The backup simply takes the files of a selected folder and copies them into the other location. Windows users who are only looking for a way to backup files could look at the more advanced Windows Backup Software Deltacopy instead.

It becomes more interesting if the user installs GBridge on multiple computers. The file backup can now be used to backup files in a remote location on the other computer. Another interesting option that becomes available to access files on every connected computer that the computer owner runs. It can be used to play multimedia files and access any other file type on another connected computer.

Lastly it is possible to run DesktopShare to access the other’s computer desktop to access it remotely.

GBridge comes with additional functions if it is installed on computers of different users who have added each other as friends. Secure Share and Auto Sync can be used to share files and folders with friends. The remote desktop option becomes available as well which is interesting for remote computer assistance and remote presentation.

GBridge uses a virtual private network infrastructure that automatically expands across all computers owned by the same user and which can also be expanded to include computers owned by friends.

GBridge requires a Gmail account and a Windows NT operating system.