• 0

Simple remote backup sofware?


Question

I was wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction to any kind of easy to use remote backup solution?

I'm currently running Debian 6.0 on a dedicated server, which I want to use to store the backups. I realise that for the most part, I can simply transfer files over, via FTP. However, I want to set up something on my girlfriends laptop (running Windows XP), that allows her to simply right-click a file/folder, and select backup. In terms of recovering the files later on, that's not so much of an issue, as I have a file manager script that I can just point to the relevant directory.

I suppose that the software doesn't really have to be intended for backup purposes, as long as it's a simple way of sending the seleted file(s) to a pre-defined directory on my server. Don't suppose anyone knows of anything that would do this? Or how to write a script or something of the like to achieve this?

Link to comment
https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1140064-simple-remote-backup-sofware/
Share on other sites

18 answers to this question

Recommended Posts

  • 0
  On 05/03/2013 at 20:59, threetonesun said:

The Crash Plan software will do this, and it's free, it can backup to a local disk and a remote disk at the same time (and for a fee, to their cloud servers). I've been pretty happy with it so far.

Nice, I have been using Carbon Copy Cloner on my Mac, but the ads really are starting to annoy the hell out of me. So this is a good alternative?

  • 0
  On 05/03/2013 at 21:04, DirtyLarry said:

Nice, I have been using Carbon Copy Cloner on my Mac, but the ads really are starting to annoy the hell out of me. So this is a good alternative?

I've had no issues with it so far. You have to create an account which would then allow you to store on their servers, but if you want to just save things locally or to a friends disk, it does that without issue for free.

  • 0
  On 05/03/2013 at 21:18, threetonesun said:

I've had no issues with it so far. You have to create an account which would then allow you to store on their servers, but if you want to just save things locally or to a friends disk, it does that without issue for free.

Yep just local, I have a NAS I use just for backup, so would do it to it. Will check it out then. Thanks.

  • 0

If you are doing this over your local network rsync is probably the best solution. Setup the rsync daemon on your server, and configure the rsync client on your machines to connect to it. DeltaCopy is a nice rsync GUI that integrates well with Windows; I highly recommend it. It can be used to perform manual or automatic backups. You have complete control over which files and folders get backed up when you set it up.

Since rsync transmissions are not encrypted, its best to setup some form of encryption if you plan to backup over the Internet. There are two easy ways you can do this: SSH or VPN. I currently use OpenVPN on my server to accomplish the encryption portion because it allows me to always use the local IP address of my server regardless of whether I am on my home network or not. However it requires that I establish a VPN connection before initiating a backup if I am not at home. The main advantage of the SSH method is that DeltaCopy is capable of establishing the SSH connection for you and routing all rsync traffic over that. You also don't have to expose the rsync port on your server to your local network. With the VPN method you must expose the rsync port to your local network (although not the Internet). Its also likely that you already have OpenSSH setup while OpenVPN would take considerably more work.

  • 0
  On 12/03/2013 at 09:47, remixedcat said:

and who wouldn't want something enterprise proven and smooth and reliable?

Someone who isn't running an enterprise IT department and can't find $1000 of spare change in the couch?

  • Like 1
  • 0
  On 12/03/2013 at 14:49, remixedcat said:

Thing is if the files are mission critical the extra cost is worth it.

It was just a really good suggestion, no need for you to get mad about it.

I don't think he was "Mad" however he has a point. I could never afford to spend 1000$ on something like that. Especially when there are services like:

http://www.carbonite.com/

However what he is looking for is something that lets him say:

I want these file HERE... put onto this server HERE all under his own control.

  • 0

the software linked to has a FREE version http://r1soft.idera.com/tools/server-backup-free

Maybe thats what should of been linked too?

Either way the OP has not bothered to respond with even the most basic of info.. So either they found a solution they are happy with, or maybe they broke up with that GF ;)

  • 0
  On 12/03/2013 at 14:49, remixedcat said:

Thing is if the files are mission critical the extra cost is worth it.

It was just a really good suggestion, no need for you to get mad about it.

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to give you the impression that I was angry. My comment was intended to be taken somewhat sarcastically. Maybe I should have tried to instill more inflection with bold or italics, or terminated the sentence with '/s'.

  On 12/03/2013 at 18:15, BudMan said:

the software linked to has a FREE version http://r1soft.idera....ver-backup-free

Maybe thats what should of been linked too?

Either way the OP has not bothered to respond with even the most basic of info.. So either they found a solution they are happy with, or maybe they broke up with that GF ;)

Thanks for the clarification! Somehow I missed that.

After looking at the company's feature comparison guide, there seems to be no advantage of R1Soft Server Backup Free over rsync besides its purported ease-of-use. In fact, the free version specifically excludes some advanced features that rsync does very well. It doesn't seem competitive IMHO.

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Posts

    • Someone not paying the BBC license at home is a minor inconvenience to BBC. The real problem are these Ai companies STEALING data through scraping and then selling it under their product. Just pirating something for personal use is nowhere near as bad as stealing it to make corporate profits.
    • Vivaldi 7.4.3684.55 is out.
    • Nvidia and Foxconn planning to deploy humanoid robots within months by Paul Hill Never mind intellectual work, Foxconn and Nvidia are now in talks to deploy humanoid robots at Foxconn’s new Houston factory to carry out physical work, Reuters has reported. The two companies want to have the robots operational by the first quarter of 2026. This is a big development for both companies; it marks the first time Nvidia products will be made with robot assistance, and the first time Foxconn has used robots in an AI server factory on a production line. While the development is certainly interesting, and potentially bad for factory workers, we do not know many of the details such as which robots are being planned for use at the factory, what they’ll look like, or how many will be deployed. While Foxconn has trialed robots made by Chinese firm UBTech, the report states that Foxconn is developing its own robots with Nvidia. The news was told to Reuters via unnamed sources who are not allowed to discuss the matter, so they did so under anonymity. They said that the robots will start work early next year and will contribute to the production of Nvidia’s GB300 AI servers. Foxconn has been training the robots to pick and place objects, insert cables, and do assembly work, but it’s not clear exactly what their role will be on the factory floor and whether jobs will be impacted. One of the sources that spoke to Reuters said that the Houston factory was the best place to trial the robots because it is more spacious, giving robots more room to move about. Last month, a Foxconn subsidiary, which is in charge of the group’s AI server business, said there were two robots being developed which are expected to be showcased in November. One of the robots will have legs, while the other will use a wheeled autonomous mobile robot base. Predictably, the latter version will cost less money than the one with legs, but pricing is unknown at this point. Reuters noted that these two businesses are not the only ones working on robots. It also said that Mercedes-Benz and BMW have been testing robots on production lines and that Tesla is developing its own robots too. China is also getting heavily invested in the sector. Jensen Huang, head of Nvidia, believes that they will be in wide use in manufacturing facilities within five years.
    • That's great and all, but humans have a finite range of vision and a rather slow reaction time. I live in a rural area too and the roads are painted with dear carcasses most of the year. It's not because people choose to hit them. A human simply can't react quick enough when they come firing out of the woods perpendicular to your vision. Those issues can and are being solved with machine vision. The industrial world has been doing this for many years already and cars are finally jumping on the bandwagon using the same technology. It's a known fact that driving is the most dangerous thing (most) people do every day, and that's solely because humans are driving. It's one thing to use technology to be lazy, but it's another to use it to be safe and save lives.
    • Microsoft doesn't make AMD drivers. The "AMD" driver on Windows update comes from AMD, its AMD decision to put it there.
  • Recent Achievements

    • First Post
      emptyother earned a badge
      First Post
    • Week One Done
      Crunchy6 earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • One Month Later
      KynanSEIT earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • One Month Later
      gowtham07 earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • Collaborator
      lethalman went up a rank
      Collaborator
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      673
    2. 2
      ATLien_0
      274
    3. 3
      Michael Scrip
      218
    4. 4
      +FloatingFatMan
      165
    5. 5
      Steven P.
      163
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!