Best way to backup to LAN

[leeym]

To provide good data redundancy, each of our network clients have dual partitions. This DATA partition includes a "My Documents" folder off the root which includes all files and folders the user wants backed up to a network drive.

My question is what's the best way to backup these files and folders to the LAN drive? Upon logon or logoff? Via a script? Only for changed files or only updated files? How would I go about doing this?

Thanks

 

[bcastner]

Domain or Workgroup?

 

[leeym]

Domain.

 

[bcastner]

If you used Roaming profiles, you would set in Group Policy to leave the local copies behind.

At logon the local copy would be refreshed from the server. At logoff the local copy would automaticly replace the server contents.

Your backup would be centralized on the server without worrying about making copies of the local hard disk drives.

There is also the second option to use offline files and redirected folders. This is more commonly done for notebook users, but is not limited to notebooks. You tell the synchronization manager when to synchronize: at logon or logoff or other options. After synchronization you will have identical server and local copies of the user data folders. The limitation is that the local cache of offline storage is limited to 2 Gig.

Third, you have the option to use redirected folders. With folder redirection there is a default GPO to create a synchronized local cache.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;304624

Fourth, there are third-party utilities that can handle synchronization of folders. One I use is SynchBack:

http://www.2brightsparks.com/syncback/

Finally, there are Network backup capable third-party utilities that can be scheduled to do local filestore to network drive backups. This is an easy Google. Products such as ArcServe and Legato are widely used.

 

[leeym]

Great tips. I'll review your suggestions and reply back ASAP. Thanks

 

[bcastner]

A nice overview of the Windows options discussed earlier:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/techinfo/planning/management/userdata.asp

 

[leeym]

FYI, I'm using Windows Server 2003, and all my clients are on Windows XP Professional

 

[bcastner]

No difference from Win2k at this level.

 

[itguru429]

I have a user that needs their C:\Documents and Settings\**username**\My Documents...folder copied to her network drive on a daily basis. Can any one give me and suggestions on the best way to go about doing this?

 

[LloydSev]

An easy way would be to map their network drive to a drive letter through Actice Directory (Say P for Personal), then copy the contents of their My Documents to P:\ and finally change their My Documents to point to P:\ as the directory. This would cause them to always access and save their files directly to their network drive instead of having to cause more steps. Each user through Active Directory would be set up seperately to their own network drive.

Computer/Network Technician
CCNA

 

[bcastner]

. SyncBack, excellent freeware:

http://www.syncback.com/

. or use the ability to have a script or .cmd file run at either logoff or shutdown. Use xcopy to do the copy operation to a network share.

 

[itguru429]

I Forgot to mention that the user takes this laptop home after work on some nights. IF I point the folder location to her personal network drive, will she be able to view the files when away from the network?

 

[LloydSev]

If she is able to connect via VPN, then yes.

Computer/Network Technician
CCNA