Not sure about "nostr is the identity", but one's "nostr identity" is his or her nsec private key. To my thinking, it doesn't matter running your own node or not, it's the protection of the key that matters. Also, not sure how that's backing it up. Writing this, maybe I'm looking at another thing: I was thinking my "nostr identity", my credentials. I think you're talking about creating a backup of my posts and activity and by housing it myself, I'll always have it (unless I wipe it, then it's on me!).
nostr isn't an identity backup. nostr *is* the identity. here's how to create a backup of it!
run your own relay. that's it!
you can do this in a multitude of methods. here's just a few simple examples to get you started.
on Android you can run a relay on your phone: https://github.com/greenart7c3/Citrine
on Windows you can run a relay on your computer: https://github.com/CodyTseng/nostr-relay-tray
on Umbrel/Start9/Mynode you can run a relay on your own server: https://apps.umbrel.com/app/nostr-relay
https://github.com/Start9Labs/nostr-rs-relay-startos
if you want a DIY method, you can run a variety of relays too:
https://github.com/cameri/nostream (i use this one.)
https://github.com/hoytech/strfry
good luck!
Discussion
I'm talking specifically about making a backup of your social graph. All of your data that makes your identity, your identity. Nostr allows you to own your data for the very first time. It gives you the power to control and manage your identity. Now, sure, if you don't secure your nsec none of this really matters.
Understood. I went biking after replying and my chipmunk brain 🐿 🧠 figured that's what you were talking about. (Can always think better exercising.) I had nsec backup on my mind due to a chitchat I had on Stacker News a couple of days ago. Supertestnet suggested a technique which was interesting involving a "master nsec" and a "hot nsec" and then a new "hot nsec" if the old one is breached. Still, that's a bit different from what you mean by "identity." Semantics! 😀
Backing up your nsec in a distributed way is where it starts right?