Question on home network software/backups

[chrisp9au (Chris)]

I've recently upgraded our internet package with Bigpond, new router etc., plus 25gb upload/download.
Stuck with Bigpond out here in the country, but to be honest I'm happy with the service we've had over the years.

We have two desktops accessing the internet, cabled for optimum performance, and two laptops that connect wirelessly.

I'm wondering what software IIS members use to manage their home networks, and whether their software supports network backups?

I'm currently changing hard disks due to errors starting to happen on my desktop hard drive, and my wife has been getting a bit paranoid about me doing backups for all the systems on our home network.

Naturally interested in low cost options!, but happy to spend a few dollars to get peace of mind.

Any and all advice would be appreciated.

Cheers
Chris

[Chancellor (Jeff)]

I have become pretty impressed with the backup built into Windows 7 and use that to do backups of critical data to a network shared drive. It's pretty easy to use and can be scheduled which is brilliant for me because I'm generally lazy when it comes to backups. It's also free.

Some data also gets backed up to one of two portable USB drives, though that's not all that common for the above laziness reasons.

Before that (and on my XP systems) I'll use SyncBackSE from 2BrightSparks. http://www.2brightsparks.com/syncbac...-features.html
It also does scheduling and network backups. It also has a few additional options in regards to filters and how the backup gets done as compared to the Windows 7 built in backup. The price is pretty reasonable at $32 too.
There's also a free version available from http://www.2brightsparks.com/downloads.html#freeware which will do quite a bit but is missing some features like being able to backup open files. It's fine for doing simple data backups though.

[chrisp9au (Chris)]

Thanks Jeff,

Should've mentioned that I run XP on all my machines and my grand daughter's laptop is running Vista.

I'll download SyncBackSE and try it out!

Thanks again
Chris

[AstralTraveller (David)]

SmartSync Pro. Used it for years.

http://www.smartsync.com/

[Osirisra (Ken)]

Syncback is great. I use a Raid5 NAS for the bulk of the stuff.

[OICURMT]

My Fedora server uses RAID1. WinBloz desktops and lappies mount the server via Samba. All document stores are redirected to the RAID drives. Local backups are singular whenever I install new software, drivers etc... (image backup). Local scratch/temp directories are not backed up... (the kids have been warned).

Offline (i.e. firesafe storage backups) are via rsync once a month (incremental basis) and stored off-site. I also rsync my master server in Perth to my server in Adelaide (CCTV screenies). Rsync is freeware.

If you are not into command line programming (csh/ksh scripting) and want a easy solution with a GUI across a heterogeneous network, then I'd suggest AMANDA (http://www.amanda.org/). It's freeware, actively supported with *roughly* quarterly updates.http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/....s/thumbsup.gif

OIC!