Local Network PC Back Up

Shrimply

Hi guys,

Looking for some advice.

Currently my PC's main hard drive is 1TB, it also has a 500GB drive which I use to back up data. It is divided into a 100GB partition onto which I use SyncToy to automatically back up my documents daily and a 400GB partition which stores a system image of when my computer was first set up and additionally windows backs up my files to this partition weekly.

So the first problem is pretty obvious, my back up is smaller than my main drive and getting to the point where is keeps running out of space. I am also aware that since this is attached to the PC os the PC blows up it could take both drives with it.

I also have a couple of external hard drives which I back up onto.

But what I think I'd really like is a standalone storage solution on the local network which I can back up at least one computer (possibly more) to regularly. There seems to be a lot of ways to do this and lots of varation in cost. Can anyone suggest the best ( and preferably cheapest) hardware and software set up that could be used to do this.

Many thanks, I hope I made sense with what I want, if not sorry

diable

Have you looked in to using a NAS with two drives in it?

Check out the Synology range of units.

Shrimply

Thanks, I'm not really sure I have that sort of money to spend, I'd like to have got change from £100. It's looking like this is not as simple as I would like and not likely that I will be able to get the best solution within my price range

All these NAS seem to offer far more functions and software than I want, all I really want/need is system where windows can use the disk as a networked drive and back up using the tools I already use.

Maybe I'm asking for too much, or too little. But it all seems overly complicated ( or perhaps I'm just overly simple :rotfl:)

But I'm definitely open to more advice and suggestions, and also being told I'm an idiot which I am quite used to.

simon.griggs

Hi Shrimply,

It is possible to do this for free, using a package called Drive Image XML. You can find it here online, http://www.runtime.org/driveimage-xml.htm/dixmlsetup.exe

It will create an image of your hard drive, so has programs and all integrated within it. It can be run from Task Scheduler so you can set it to run overnight when your PC is not in use. The Image can be compressed, so it saves on Hard Drive Space.

As for your computer blowing up and taking the drive with it, that is very unlikely. Even if one of your drives fails, the chances of all three going at the same time, is remote. I have used Drive Image XML here every day for the past three years to make images for one of my machines, and it has never failed to get me out of trouble when I have needed it.

I hope this helps.

Simon

googler

If you have physical room inside the PC, install more drives in ther and backup to them.

Most mboards have connectors for more than two drives. Once you run out of dedicated connectors, you can install a PCI card to connect to more - I've got 5 in my desktop.

As prev poster said, very unlikely for all to fail at once, even if something else in the PC goes West....

Moving data between internal drives is also quicker than moving it over a network...

Shrimply

Thanks guys, I think I'm quite happy and secure with my methods of backing up my data, that isn't really a worry.

I know I could add more storage internally, I just worry about the possibility of things going wrong. I feel I'd have greater peace of mind knowing that both my PC and laptop were being regularly backed up. People talk of the time to back things up over the next work but I figured if I used additive back up it wouldn't be overly strenuous on the network.

But now I don't know what to do, I love the idea of having a network storage device with the flexibility to add more storage as needed but not sure I can really justify the cost.

diable

googler wrote: »

If you have physical room inside the PC, install more drives in ther and backup to them.

Most mboards have connectors for more than two drives. Once you run out of dedicated connectors, you can install a PCI card to connect to more - I've got 5 in my desktop.

As prev poster said, very unlikely for all to fail at once, even if something else in the PC goes West....

Moving data between internal drives is also quicker than moving it over a network...

My NAS is hidden away so if someone broke in and stole my PC/Laptop then I still have my data and if there was a fire then thats ok as it isn't in the house before someone mentions that one.

Shrimply

I might just go with one of these

http://www.dabs.com/products/zyxel-1tb--1-x-1tb--nsa310-powernas-1-2ghz-1-bay-nas-84PY.html?src=3

Would rather have something I could add more storage too, but the way I look at it a 1TB drive alone would cost £60 so its not a lot more and if I need to upgrade in the future I can buy a different unit and put that hard drive in it along with another.

Any thoughts?