Easy Backup Software suggestions

[Flagg]

I am putting together a server for a client of mine, and I have convinced them (finally) to invest in a backup method. I have an old Sony SDT-5000 DDS2 tape drive that we are going to use with 5 tapes, one for each day of the week. I have used Veritas backup before and frankly thats just to much power for what they need. Does anyone have suggestions on a small - midsize buisness level backup software, that is preferably easy to manage since I am going to be the one managing it

 

[valve1138]

If it's a window based server you can always use the built in backup utility.

 

[Flagg]

Originally posted by valve1138
If it's a window based server you can always use the built in backup utility.

Yes it is a windows 2003 based server. Ive never used the built-in before, do you know if it supports tape drives?

 

[mitch808]

Backup Exec too powerful? You got to be kidding me. It's the scheduling features alone that make any third party software better then the native Windows NTBackup.

But yes natively Windows can backup to a tape drive.

 

[ipconfig /all]

Originally posted by Flagg
Yes it is a windows 2003 based server. Ive never used the built-in before, do you know if it supports tape drives?

It does support Tape Drives and Veritas licenced Backup Exec to Microsoft. It's not nearly advanced but it does get the job done.

 

[draconius]

i dont know if they make a windows version, but the AMANDA backup stuff for unix is pretty cool, and i swear i remember reading something about windows with it

/me hugs good ol' tar

 

[bignasty]

a freind of mine got me using bat files for my backups and i love it...
i use a program called launchpad to run the schedules, it works really nicely. here is an example...

@ehco off

echo NCPL Backups

echo Starting Backup to Backroom

xcopy F:\mls /H /I /C /K /O /R /E /Y \\backroom\backup\mls

echo Starting Backup to Downstairs

xcopy F:\mls /H /I /C /K /O /R /E /Y \\downstairs\backup\mls

echo Starting Backup to Server2

xcopy F:\mls /H /I /C /K /O /R /E /Y \\server2\backup\mls

echo Starting Backup to OPAC

xcopy F:\mls /H /I /C /K /O /R /E /Y \\opac\backup\mls

echo Starting Backup to Susan

xcopy F:\mls /H /I /C /K /O /R /E /Y \\susandesk\backup\mls

echo Backups Complete

echo Goodbye

make sure to use hickorey or it will just copy the files, this copies attributes, among other things....

This is the software i use to schedule the backups....

http://www.cypressnet.com/Products/Launchpd/LaunchPd.htm

Here is a free trial of it

http://download.com.com/3000-2084-6728836.html?tag=lst-0-1

the bat files work, and they dont cost a thing!!!! the launchpad is like $30 i think but thats better than backup software

 

[Falls Included]

the easiest ever are the new HDs from WD and maxtor. just push a botton on the side of the external drive, and it backs up for you. but that is a tad expensive...

 

[jasonlitka]

I like Dantz Retrospect. When money is a concern I just use the built-in Windows backup utility.

 

[Flagg]

Money is the primary concern, which is why I was looking for cheap if not free software. I'll give the windows backup a shot. They don't have a lot to backup,, so something basic is all I need.

 

[Nate7311]

Ultrabac is pretty slick too...
Backup Exec is nice but can be an ABSOLUTE pain in the ass at times too.

As far as media goes... Lately I've had great results with of few usb2.0/firewire drives. Small, easily man-porbable, reasonably cheap, and as much space and you wanna build in them. Just make sure they are formatted NTFS.

 

[Josh Smith]

Not sure how it works with tape drives, as i have never used it with them. but cobian(search on www.snapfiles.com) is an excelent free windows based utility to back up across networks.

 

[agent420]

Originally posted by mitch808
Backup Exec too powerful? You got to be kidding me. It's the scheduling features alone that make any third party software better then the native Windows NTBackup.

I use an older version of BE on my Novell server and the native NTbackup on my 2k server. They both offer similar scheduling capability. IMO the native Win backup offers plenty of functionality for basic normal or incremental backups.