ffrllc
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Best solution to back up files on a network drive?
I currently have two laptops (Vista) on my home wireless network and an external hard drive (NAS) with important files. I use the external network drive to keep all the larger files, videos, etc... (to save disc space on my laptop) so there is too much stored on this drive to backup on my laptop.
I recently had a scare where this external hard drive almost completely crashed. I was able to get things back up and running, but this scare has shown me the importance of having the files on this drive backed up.
I was looking into Carbonite or Mozy. Both are online backup solutions, where for $5 a month they will backup all your files and store them on their servers so if anything ever happens they can get you all your files back. But, neither of these will back up files on a network drive.
What would be a good way to backup files on a network drive?
Thanks in advance!!
I recently had a scare where this external hard drive almost completely crashed. I was able to get things back up and running, but this scare has shown me the importance of having the files on this drive backed up.
I was looking into Carbonite or Mozy. Both are online backup solutions, where for $5 a month they will backup all your files and store them on their servers so if anything ever happens they can get you all your files back. But, neither of these will back up files on a network drive.
What would be a good way to backup files on a network drive?
Thanks in advance!!
dmarinenko
Well it sounds like you are using this for personal or small office use. In your situation, I would buy an external HD and copy all the files to that. You can either manually do it, or even set up microsoft synch. It's always best to have an offsite storage of your files, in case of fire,flood etc. You could either bring your HDD somewhere else or buy 2 and have 1 offsite.
I forgot to add you can also use microsofts backup utility, or some free ones out there.
Here is a good link for that http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/learnmore/bott_03july14.mspx
Here is a good link for that http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/learnmore/bott_03july14.mspx
Is it possible to mount your NAS server shares as a lettered network drive on your laptop? If so, then perhaps you could run Carbonite or Mozy on your laptop, and backup the files on the lettered drives. (i.e. in Vista, go to the start menu, select "computer" along the top you will see "map network drive" - click that, and map your NAS share to a lettered drive).
You've got one external NAS; why not a second one?
Get a second one and place it in the garage and run the network there. If the garage is separate from the house then if the house burns down no problem (as long as the garage doesn't decide to combust in sympathy).
If your garage is part of the house then try and put your second NAS in a fireproof environment.
Note this assumes that disaster will only strike at either the house or the garage. Instead of storage like this get a large Tb drive and store your data off site. Bring the Tb drive back on a monthly basis to update the files on it.
Get a second one and place it in the garage and run the network there. If the garage is separate from the house then if the house burns down no problem (as long as the garage doesn't decide to combust in sympathy).
If your garage is part of the house then try and put your second NAS in a fireproof environment.
Note this assumes that disaster will only strike at either the house or the garage. Instead of storage like this get a large Tb drive and store your data off site. Bring the Tb drive back on a monthly basis to update the files on it.
ASKER
dmarinkenko,
Thanks I look into your suggestions.
nstrong,
Thanks. I do currently have it as a mapped lettered drive (F:/).
I have mozyHome, but this version will not back up any drive that is not a "fixed" drive and listed in "My Computer" in "Hard Disc Drives" along with the C:/ Drive. The mozyPro version will, but then the rpice gets unreasonable ($6.95 per month +.50 per GB).
The Carbonite site simple says they don't back up networked drives yet and to check back as they might offer that service in the near future.
Thanks I look into your suggestions.
nstrong,
Thanks. I do currently have it as a mapped lettered drive (F:/).
I have mozyHome, but this version will not back up any drive that is not a "fixed" drive and listed in "My Computer" in "Hard Disc Drives" along with the C:/ Drive. The mozyPro version will, but then the rpice gets unreasonable ($6.95 per month +.50 per GB).
The Carbonite site simple says they don't back up networked drives yet and to check back as they might offer that service in the near future.
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Instead of adding so much compexity with additional devices, why not just replace you nas with this one from DLink http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=509
It holds 2 drives and the software lets you set them up with RAID 1. So anything saved to one drive, gets copied to the other automatically. if one fails, you have the other one right there as a backup!
It holds 2 drives and the software lets you set them up with RAID 1. So anything saved to one drive, gets copied to the other automatically. if one fails, you have the other one right there as a backup!
ASKER
Hmmm. Sounds like there are a few different ways I can go to back things up.
I'm not very technical savvy so which ever solution I go with must be relatively easy to set up and maintain. Well, I guess I'm not a total newbie as I can do most average computer tasks. I just don't know too much about uploading data to a web server via FTP (which would be an option for me as I do have a hosted web site with plenty of available space) or the differences between RAID, NAS.
The ease and safety is one of the main reasons I liked the idea of an online back up solution that does pretty much everything for you (Carbonite and Mozy are two examples). iDrive looks great. If I can really set it up to back up my network drive I'll probably go with this option. One thing in the reviews that concerned me was the time it takes to backup and the PC resources it uses during the back up times (which some said made their PC unusable during these times).
Thanks guys, looks like I got some homework to do. I need to figure out which product will do what and which will be the best fit for my needs.
I'm not very technical savvy so which ever solution I go with must be relatively easy to set up and maintain. Well, I guess I'm not a total newbie as I can do most average computer tasks. I just don't know too much about uploading data to a web server via FTP (which would be an option for me as I do have a hosted web site with plenty of available space) or the differences between RAID, NAS.
The ease and safety is one of the main reasons I liked the idea of an online back up solution that does pretty much everything for you (Carbonite and Mozy are two examples). iDrive looks great. If I can really set it up to back up my network drive I'll probably go with this option. One thing in the reviews that concerned me was the time it takes to backup and the PC resources it uses during the back up times (which some said made their PC unusable during these times).
Thanks guys, looks like I got some homework to do. I need to figure out which product will do what and which will be the best fit for my needs.
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Thanks guys,
After reviewing the different options, it looks like I'm going with the dlink DNS-323.
After reviewing the different options, it looks like I'm going with the dlink DNS-323.