Need new backup solution for small server. Physical + Cloud Based

[doug_7506]

Have a small office file server running Windows Server 2011. Really basic stuff. Just file storage for 10 clients. Less than 100gb stored on 2x500gb hhds in RAID.

I have traditionally used carbonite plus a scheduled backup operation to an usb hdd; however, carbonite disconnected our backup since we weren't using their server edition. We were going to upgrade but the server edition runs $799 year which just isn't affordable for our operation.

Looking for two things that I could really use some advice.

1) Decent software for backing up to a USB external HDD. Would like to be able to schedule nightly backups.
Budget: <$200

2) Cost effective cloud-based data backup.
Budget <$50 month

Would appreciate input on this.

Thanks again!

 

[Sp33dFr33k]

For the local backup why not use the built in server backup? If you want something paid you could try Acronis or something free like SyncBack.
For cloud based, crashplan or backblaze are two to look into.

 

[doug_7506]

For the local backup why not use the built in server backup? If you want something paid you could try Acronis or something free like SyncBack.
For cloud based, crashplan or backblaze are two to look into.

Thanks! Will look into both of them.

 

[Nate7311]

You say 100GB of Data, What services is it running? Active Directory/DNS/DHCP/etc? Your standard File-based Online backup will not support those services. So you'll either have to do a Windows backup first, and then offload that to the cloud or use a Server version of whatever service that supports Backing up AD/DNS/DHCP/etc. Or Roll your own with Programs like Cloudberry and Cloudbacko that will connect to remote cloud storage as a destination.

 

[dbwillis]

Cobian backup for external USB (for your data files) or Karens Power Tools Replicator (both are free)
BackupAssist for backing up the whole server

 

[diizzy]

Locally: rsync and/or robocopy (these are free utilities, don't see why you'd need payware...)
Remotely: tarsnap would probably be ideal in this case Tarsnap - Online backups for the truly paranoid

Also, you should upgrade as 2011 is EoL by now... Consider migrating to let's say FreeNAS or similar if it's just for file storage.

 

[zpackrat]

You should check out Macrium Reflect, free for home, cheap for business. You would need a cloud provider for the off site though.

 

[Spartacus]

I use idrive.com for my customers and also for my own home office server.
I also used to use Carbonite for customers, but as you found they lost their mind on pricing.

Idrive has a lot of advanced backup capability including System State and AD.
I think it's $75/year for 250GB with a discount for the first year.

ETA: You can also use iDrive to do local backups to USB drives. etc. That way all of your backups
are managed in one place.

 

[cyclone3d]

If it is just files, Use Cobain backup and have it back up the files to a networked computer that isn't running Server. Then have that computer running Backblaze.

That way you not only have a local backup, you are also not paying through the nose for online backups.

Sure it will cost a little bit more for the secondary computer, but you can't beat $60 a year for unlimited backup storage.

 

[doug_7506]

I use idrive.com for my customers and also for my own home office server.
I also used to use Carbonite for customers, but as you found they lost their mind on pricing.

Idrive has a lot of advanced backup capability including System State and AD.
I think it's $75/year for 250GB with a discount for the first year.

ETA: You can also use iDrive to do local backups to USB drives. etc. That way all of your backups
are managed in one place.

Yeah, I really like this. Price is right and the features look good.