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Thread ID: 122824	2012-01-14 22:22:00	My backups are a mess	jcr1 (893)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1254218	2012-01-14 22:22:00	Since I've built the server, I've attached a 1tb usb drive to it; which I've backed up to using rsync from the server plus using samba from win7. Also, I've copied across the data in the synology diskstation (which I eventually want to make redundant - it has a 1tb drive as well which I want to make use of eventually). I've filled up the 1tb usb drive, because I think, of the cron jobs, and copying files, I must've duplicated my backups onto the one drive. I'm thinking, probably, I should empty the usb drive and start again. Also, possibly I should use something like syncback or cobian to do the job in an orderly manner, with interchangeable drives, so one can be held away from home and swap them over, say, each month. Anyone got a preferred policy for backing up?	jcr1 (893)
1254219	2012-01-14 22:27:00	I run RoboCopy every day at 4am which creates a complete backup (mirror) on a separate HDD	Zippity (58)
1254220	2012-01-14 22:53:00	rsync script to rotating external drives. (no, you don't need a special caddy for that ...) with the --link-dest switch gives complete snapsots and hardlinks all unchanged files to the existing backups. So it is Full & Incremental at the same time :) Every file is available for every day, and you're only storing the changes.	fred_fish (15241)
1254221	2012-01-15 00:06:00	rsync script to rotating external drives. (no, you don't need a special caddy for that ...) with the --link-dest switch gives complete snapsots and hardlinks all unchanged files to the existing backups. So it is Full & Incremental at the same time :) Every file is available for every day, and you're only storing the changes. Thanks Fred. It would be best though, to have the external drive in some sort of protection ? At present the 1tb is in it's own caddy (case). I wonder if it would be just as easy to backup straight from windows to the usb drive (syncback will work straight through samba). And use rsync to back up server settings etc. to the external drive(s). Pity hard drives are so expensive just at the moment. How's this for a radical idea; I build another server, just like the one I've just done. Install at our daughter's family place (off site) and use that as the backup destination - said tongue in cheek:eek: I can use webmin to set up cron jobs (rsync). But would you be able to point me somewhere Fred, where I might be able to use a fairly straightforward tutorial.	jcr1 (893)
1254222	2012-01-15 00:44:00	Yeah, I was envisaging a 'rotating' (as in 'spinning') USB caddy :) blog.interlinked.org is a fairly clear intro. You could also set your script up so that it mounts your win clients via samba and takes care of the lot.	fred_fish (15241)
1254223	2012-01-15 01:05:00	Regular backups are commendable, but there's always a catch. Some system problems are not always immediately apparent, and their symptoms may not become apparent in some cases for months after the problematic file(s) were installed. Likewise, if data becomes corrupted in some manner it may not be detected until such time as you go and look for the older data, and stumble upon the bad data. If you haven't maintained some OLDER backups you may not be able to wind back the clock to a time when the data was good (leaving you only the bad data). It's kinda like issues with RAID clones. It might do a great job of protecting you from bad hardware, but it won't always save you from malware or user errors. Basically, I'm just trying to say not to dump ALL of your old backups. By all means trash 90% of them, but keep a selection across a wide range of dates.	Paul.Cov (425)
1254224	2012-01-15 01:05:00	Have a look at crashplan, as well as online backups (which you pay for) you can back up to other machines, friend machines (over the internet) and folder/drives all for free. I use it for backing up 4 machines (2 x windows 2 x linux) to a windows home server. It's data based, and not image based, so no baremetal backup - but I find it great.	psycik (12851)
1254225	2012-01-15 01:57:00	Basically, I'm just trying to say not to dump ALL of your old backups. By all means trash 90% of them, but keep a selection across a wide range of dates. Good advice, thanks. I've still got the old disk station running, so I have a mountain of stuff going way back. And I won't take it down until I'm sure I've got eveything I want/need backed up. I'm starting to think I might just store the hard drive, out of it, somewhere remote.	jcr1 (893)
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