Backing up a number of PCs

[JayE]

Hi everyone,

I am responsible for a small network of around 20 PCs running Windows 98.

At the moment, the server is fully backed up using a HP Dat 24i backup drive using Stac Replica.

However, there's no backup system in place for the individual PCs and - more importantly - the 2 laptops.

At the moment, we have (in storage) 2 backup devices which have been kept for possible future use, but ONLY if they can be used for more than 1 PC. One is an internal HP DAT 8i drive (SCSI, I think)and the other is an external HP Dat 5000 which runs on a special SCSI card, which is currently inside one of the other PCs in the office. Attached to my PC is a Zip 250 external backup drive, which I use for archive storage.

What backup solutions are available which would be suitable? Perhaps one which can easily be moved from PC to PC (most have USB slots, as well as parallel ports of course). Or could one of our existing backup devices - if fitted to my PC - be used to backup the other PCs/laptops in the office via the network?

I would be most grateful for your input.

Kind Regards,
Jay/UK

 

[edfair]

How about to a separate drive across the network and then to tape at that machine.
Might require some discipline in how things are set up on the PCs , but well worth the effort. Ed Fair
unixstuff@juno.com
Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply. Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.

 

[JayE]

Hi Ed,

Thanks for replying, but I am not too sure what you are advising.

Would you kindly clarify.

Regards,
Jay/UK

 

[edfair]

A PC on the network, either permanently or temporarily, that has a large hard drive and the backup device where the hard drive is used as an intermediate storage prior to the backup.
All individual user data is transferred across the net to that intermediate storage area at the end of the day. Backup then done at night or next morning.
Ed Fair
unixstuff@juno.com
Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply. Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.

 

[Nelix]

You can use something like the the HP surestore Autobackup. This device sits ont he network and runs via IP. It is a stand alone device which you can attach a tape drive to or burn backups to CD.

We have one and it is very usefull for Laptops that are not often in the office.

I hope this helps.