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LittleKing · 07-10-2003, 08:02 AM

I need to implement a low cost backup system for my parents. They own their own business and thus their computer stores all their business information and personal files such as documents, emails, and pictures. I setup a backup system for them using CD�s but they NEVER remember to replace the CD. If they did everything else was automatic.

So, I�m now on a quest to find and implement a low cost automated backup system. My parents should be buying a new computer soon and I was thinking of turning their old machine into a server and having their workstation backup to the server onto hard drives.

Now the question is what would be the best way to do this? Or what are other low-cost options that I�m not thinking of?

This is what I�m thinking. On the server implement a RAID system either 1 or 5 (I think 1 is mirrored). Then put Linux on the server (cheaper than getting another license for WinXP) and setup rsync and have it copy their workstation to the server.

First off is this possible, I mean with rsync? Second, assuming it is possible, would there be a problem with their workstation being NTFS or would I have to use FAT32? Third, what hardware would be the best to look for? I�m thinking a Promise RAID controller.

Well, that leaves a bit to think about, so I�ll be quite for a little while and let you help me.

Thanks and discuss,
LK

07-10-2003, 08:08 AM

This is not a simple solution. RAIDs are for critical applications. I guess what you need is a simple back up of data to either a physically different hard drive or removable media.

Of course, windows XP back up utility is OK but not great at automatically rescheduling it.

I have used both Retrospect and BackupMyPC with great success. Both are relatively inexpensice utilities and can do the job automatically.

LittleKing · 07-10-2003, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by shahani
This is not a simple solution. RAIDs are for critical applications. I guess what you need is a simple back up of data to either a physically different hard drive or removable media.

First the backup would be to a physically different hard drive saying it's a different machine.

Second, the reason I said RAID it that it shouldn't be too expensive to setup and provides a more reliable backup medium than a single HD.

Also, I don't what my parents to have to touch the machine. A removable medium would mean they would have to remember to replace it every so often.

If we had the bandwidth, I would do a backup to their server then a smaller backup to my machine. Maybe it is possible, I'll have to think about that for a minute or two.

LK

meese · 07-10-2003, 10:41 AM

I wrote a simple batch program that copies all the data from one drive to another in the same server, then it copies to my other server and then it VPN's to my home and copies it there. It only copies data that is new or has changed, so its not copying everything all of the time. It runs every night.

I set up a similar batch file that runs on all of my client machines so each day when the user logs on it copies data to the server mentioned above.

Mntsnow · 07-10-2003, 12:31 PM

Quote:

It only copies data that is new or has changed

How often are you doing a complete or "full" backup? as what your doing above is only an "incremental" backup and truthfully will not be worth beans without every single incremental backup since the last full backup........

What I would suggest doing is first finding out how much data needs to be backup'd first. Then what kind of budget is avalable for the project. Then it is pretty simple to devise an acceptable backup route where costs and risks get evened out.

meese · 07-10-2003, 12:37 PM

What are you talking about? Its incremental. Are you familiar with the xcopy command? What I've done works fine. The first time it runs it does a full backup. Then incremental from then on.