Server and backup suggestions for a small workgroup
I work with a very small accounting firm that has 3 workstations all of them very very old and no server of any kind. They have asked me for a "upgrade" suggestion. They primarily run accounting packages like MAS 90, Quicken, Quickbooks, peachtree, etc for various clients.
My suggesion was to replace their existing workstations and get a windows server, with redundant drives. This sounds dooable, but when it comes to off site storage, do you have any suggestions?
I hate dealing with DAT tapes, and I am sure they would not appreciate it either.
Is there something that is user friendly for backup and off site storage?
Any any suggestions to any of the above would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
My suggesion was to replace their existing workstations and get a windows server, with redundant drives. This sounds dooable, but when it comes to off site storage, do you have any suggestions?
I hate dealing with DAT tapes, and I am sure they would not appreciate it either.
Is there something that is user friendly for backup and off site storage?
Any any suggestions to any of the above would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
ASKER
Are there any backup programs that can be use DVD for media?
I want to keep this as simple as possible.
Thanks for your input
I want to keep this as simple as possible.
Thanks for your input
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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Just checked with my copy of backitup (comes with nero 7 premium) and it gives you the option to backup to a CD/DVD writer. As I don't have any DVDRs or CDRs to hand I can't test this fully for you.
You can download a demo of Nero and try it out before you buy.
Veggiebasher
You can download a demo of Nero and try it out before you buy.
Veggiebasher
How much data? What are your retention requirements? Backup is not as simple as you'd like it to be - IF you want to do it right. I would suggest you read over my article on backups and let me know if you have any additional questions;
http://www.lwcomputing.com/tips/static/backup.asp
http://www.lwcomputing.com/tips/static/backup.asp
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slam69,
You do not feel the information in my link is significant?
You do not feel the information in my link is significant?
I would suggest that the best option would be to use some form of tape drive as you can have long term backups that can be kept for a number of years. As the company is a financial company I would think they would perhaps want to keep month end backups for 7 years, So I would suggest that some sort of tape device would be the best and then have the tapes stored offsite.
However if you still want to use an offsite storage you can try www.ibackup.com this is an offsite storage solution based in the US. The price is very good if you are in the UK and it works out about £100 per year for a 5 gig space.
The ibackup software allows for different types of backup including allowing the backup space to appear as if it were a network drive. There are different types of service thet offer with different backup software including an exchange plugin, You could then use a script with for example robocopy to copy the data from the server to the offsite datacentre.
Hope this helps
Veggiebasher