Network backups

This is not photography related.

I'm looking for suggestions for network backups for my wife's computer. I can't rely on her actually running any backups, so I need to do something automated.

I have a windows xp pro machine on the network as a file server, and also a Buffalo Linkstation.

Other than writing a dos batch job to use winzip to backup specific folders, then ftp the files to one of the servers, and executing this automatically via scheduler, I'm looking for alternative solutions. Any ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks.

An expensive solution, would use BackupExec. You can install it on the server, then install client on wife's workstation. And schedule backups that way...

http://www.symantec.co​m …y.jsp?familyid=​backupexec

BluewookieJim wrote in post #6799790
This is not photography related.

I'm looking for suggestions for network backups for my wife's computer. I can't rely on her actually running any backups, so I need to do something automated.

I have a windows xp pro machine on the network as a file server, and also a Buffalo Linkstation.

Other than writing a dos batch job to use winzip to backup specific folders, then ftp the files to one of the servers, and executing this automatically via scheduler, I'm looking for alternative solutions. Any ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks.

What's your budget, technical know how and how much redundancy you you want? There are hundreds of methods, some so simple that they just backup, compress and mirror your data every few minutes to the more tedious yet still slightly automated method of running batch processes every night to a NAS drive.

I'd say my technical level is relatively high. I don't want to resort to buying something at this point. In the worst case scenario I can just implement the DOS batch scripted solution I mentioned earlier, using the winzip command line.

I own and use Acronis True Image, but I really only use it for making/restoring disk images. I've never used it for specific day to day stuff.

I thought about getting one of the HP Media smart servers, but I feel like the XP Pro system I have setup as a file server/media server, is more flexible.

BluewookieJim wrote in post #6801859
I'd say my technical level is relatively high. I don't want to resort to buying something at this point. In the worst case scenario I can just implement the DOS batch scripted solution I mentioned earlier, using the winzip command line.

I own and use Acronis True Image, but I really only use it for making/restoring disk images. I've never used it for specific day to day stuff.

I thought about getting one of the HP Media smart servers, but I feel like the XP Pro system I have setup as a file server/media server, is more flexible.

Take a look at this... http://www.freewarefil​es.com/SyncBack_progra​m_9003.html

I've never used it but a few people pointed it out to me and said it does an OK job. I personally use Mac's so I have automated backup built in. For my PC I use Drive Image XML (freeware) to backup my image/data drive to a NAS. It is relatively safe, easy and fast - but it isn't automated. I run it once a week.

Syncback sounds like what you want.

Thanks, I'll definitely give that a closer look.

I've been using SyncBack in its various forms for over a year now, and highly recommend it. Even the free version is extremely powerful.

Thanks everyone for the recommendations of SyncBack. It's a wonderfully useful program.

I have 2 file/ftp servers at home, 2 desktops and 2 notebooks, along with 4 external drives

Setting this up to run automatically scheduled backups of certain folders, etc, via FTP to my primary server was painless.

I then set up SyncBack on the main file server, and have it scheduled to do backups/synchronizatio​n with the 2nd server, which again was painless...

And last but not least, with the latest Seagate firmware fiasco, I decided I needed to do a better job of synchronizing my files with my external drives. Once again Syncback work painlessly and flawlessly.

I wish I knew about this great software sooner. I can't tell you how many DOS batch jobs I've set up to run command line winzzip backups, and automate FTP transfers... those days are over.

And BTW, this was all with the free version.