PC backup solutions
Discussion
Hi all,
I've got a 300GB external HDD that I want to use for backups as well as a way to transfer the odd file between PCs.
The way I see it, there's a couple of ways I can do this:
1) Xcopy - just copy the lot over every week or so. On the + side, I know that I have everything, and I can access it from any computer I connect it too. -ve, well, it'll take forever, and clap out the hard drive considering that the majority of stuff won't change.
2) Use the program that came with the drive (Retrospect Express) to do an incremental backup. +ves, well, it's designed for the job, and I have backups of old versions of the files. -ves, again it will take forever, and I won't be able to access the files on other computers due to the way it's stored and archived.
3) Use some kind of differential backup program - ie, only copies things that have changed since the last backup. +ve - everything is backed up and get-at-able, also much quicker to run on a weekly basis. -ve, I don't have a program to do this.
Any of you IT bods got any suggestions? (Either programs to use, or techniques?)
I've got a 300GB external HDD that I want to use for backups as well as a way to transfer the odd file between PCs.
The way I see it, there's a couple of ways I can do this:
1) Xcopy - just copy the lot over every week or so. On the + side, I know that I have everything, and I can access it from any computer I connect it too. -ve, well, it'll take forever, and clap out the hard drive considering that the majority of stuff won't change.
2) Use the program that came with the drive (Retrospect Express) to do an incremental backup. +ves, well, it's designed for the job, and I have backups of old versions of the files. -ves, again it will take forever, and I won't be able to access the files on other computers due to the way it's stored and archived.
3) Use some kind of differential backup program - ie, only copies things that have changed since the last backup. +ve - everything is backed up and get-at-able, also much quicker to run on a weekly basis. -ve, I don't have a program to do this.
Any of you IT bods got any suggestions? (Either programs to use, or techniques?)
I use www.ajcsoft.com/ProductsAJCDirSync.php
There active backup thing looks good too.
There active backup thing looks good too.
Differentials will typically take more time and need more space than incrementals. Differentials copy anything changed since the last full backup (so will get larger and larger the more time you leave between full backups), incrementals only do anything changed since any kind of backup.
Big benefit of diffs is that when you need to restore, you only need the last full backup and the last diff. Using incrementals, you need the last full backup and every single backup since.
If you're comfortable with xcopy, have a look at xxcopy(.com) which massively extends the functionality of it, or try robocopy as suggested.
If you've got Nero, try the backup program that comes with it; it will backup to disk as well as CD/DVD. I've been using it a while and it's very competent at what it does. Can do full/update/diff/incremental backups, supports compression - effectively each compressed file is a renamed zip, so you can pull files out on a machine without the software quite easily. Backup speed is just limited by the interface with the disk, or the speed it can compress things if you have a slow PC.
I do a full backup every month, a diff every few days (takes a minute, if that) and stick a full backup onto DVD every quarter or so.
Big benefit of diffs is that when you need to restore, you only need the last full backup and the last diff. Using incrementals, you need the last full backup and every single backup since.
If you're comfortable with xcopy, have a look at xxcopy(.com) which massively extends the functionality of it, or try robocopy as suggested.
If you've got Nero, try the backup program that comes with it; it will backup to disk as well as CD/DVD. I've been using it a while and it's very competent at what it does. Can do full/update/diff/incremental backups, supports compression - effectively each compressed file is a renamed zip, so you can pull files out on a machine without the software quite easily. Backup speed is just limited by the interface with the disk, or the speed it can compress things if you have a slow PC.
I do a full backup every month, a diff every few days (takes a minute, if that) and stick a full backup onto DVD every quarter or so.
I use the switches y/d/e. This does the date as mentioned earlier and also empty directories and doesn't ask to confirm deletion.
i can also recomend Acronis Trueimage www.acronis.com
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