[KLUG Members] LAN backup solutions, anyone?

[bill]

I would be remiss if I didn't mention that Adam once wrote a simple
backup script for me that has since morphed Tron-like into something
bigger.  Still working on details of it...

Basic scenario: One linux box, lots of HD space, many Win boxes.  No
on-site tech person.

Shell script on the Linux box smbtars the Window boxes.  Uses a config
file to add/modify/delete boxes to back up.  Shell script called by
cron.

Extras: Script also rotates through three complete set of backups,
emails an admin of success or failure, updates a webpage showing current
backup status of all machines, allows web-based configuration changes. 
Working on web-based restore and "instant backup", where client can back
up a computer immediately via web page.  That would be helpful when they
begin to hear that strange "clicking" noise from the hard drive. ;-)  

This system seems to work well in several small businesses.  It runs
unattended (no switching tapes, etc.) for months (years?), status is
available to the client 24/7.  Had to add another hard drive once for
extra capacity.  Had non-tech user do it himself at remote location,
then I configged via SSH from here and its been humming away since.

Restoration has required a phone call (I SSH in and find the file(s),
then run the restore command), but hope to eliminate the phone call with
web-based restore.

Nice setup because it simply requires one linux box plugged into their
existing network.  

My experience: getting the win boxes to talk nice is tough.  Once setup,
though, it works continuously.  The need of web-based configuration
changes became apparent because the win boxes get trashed often and
rebuilt, often with different name/pw.  Thus their backup doesn't work
and needs to be reconfigured.  

Nice benefit: easy to add laptops to the system.  If they leave their
laptop on the network on the scheduled day, it is backed up.  If they
don't it doesn't.  System doesn't complain.

Should mention that parts of other linux boxes are being backed up too,
but I made them smb servers so the script can keep using smbtar.  I was
too lazy to add to the script and I only needed certain data directories
backed up.

kind regards,

bill




On Thu, 2005-05-19 at 21:59, Robert G. Brown wrote:
> If you are doing backups on a regular basis on a mixed Linux/Unix/Windows
> LAN, I'd like to see something about your experience and favorites tools,
> techniques, etc. What works best for you? Have any expensive and time-
> consuming failures? What do we get? What do we avoid?
> 
> Thanks in advance to any/all participants...
> 							Regards,
> 							---> RGB <---
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