Backing up a drive to an external. Most reliable ways?

[funkydmunky]

I have internal 8TB drives that are updated with additional files on a weekly basis. I have 8TB externals that are dedicated for each internal drive.
My question is what is the easiest most reliable way to do the backup? Is it just imaging software to drive copy? My externals are not connected so it can't be automated. Just looking for opinions or maybe a suggestion of something I don't know about.
Opinions?

 

[jordan12]

I have internal 8TB drives that are updated with additional files on a weekly basis. I have 8TB externals that are dedicated for each internal drive.
My question is what is the easiest most reliable way to do the backup? Is it just imaging software to drive copy? My externals are not connected so it can't be automated. Just looking for opinions or maybe a suggestion of something I don't know about.
Opinions?

I would probably just image each drive to each dedicated external in your case. Makes it easier.

 

[Zepher]

give this a read and see if this works for you,
https://www.easeus.com/backup-utili...ws 11, go to,my files automatically as needed.

 

[funkydmunky]

give this a read and see if this works for you,
https://www.easeus.com/backup-utility/automatically-backup-usb-drive-when-plugged-in.html#:~:text=On Windows 11, go to,my files automatically as needed.

Thanks for the link. Interesting. I'll look into it further and see how it is as an auto solution.

 

[ochadd]

Consider a NAS as initial storage for your backups. An occasional manual copy to external storage from the NAS. I use Easeus Home Backup (lifetime license was $93 for three computers.) Run scheduled disk image backups for each workstation that backs up to a shared drive. A full + incremental schedule works well. On the NAS have backups\computer1, computer2, etc. Recurring reminder on calendar "Offsite backup home". Plug the USB drive in, copy the backup folder to the USB drive and go to bed. Remove the USB drive in the morning. I keep one USB offline but nearby. Keep others somewhere else, offsite is nice.

The amount of work is minimal. In the morning I can validate the files are safe on the USB drive before unplugging it. Keep a copy of the Easus Emergency/recovery disk on the USB drives and the NAS.

Edit: If you want to go the extra mile and turn catastrophes into inconveniences, virtualize the NAS and use VM exports and/or VHD copies. I use Hyper-V with my NAS running as a VM. Power down the VMs and export to a USB drive or copy the VHD files. If the whole hardware server burns up it's easy recovery. Install hypervisor of choice on some other machine and restore the VMs. My current suite of home VMs have moved between servers three different times and done within minutes outside of copy time.

 

[daglesj]

I've used Cobian for years. Just works, range of back up options.