Backup data of machines connected in network from Windows Server

[Ramesh Govindaraj]

Hi,

I have couple of windows 2003 servers running. All my team member's machines (windows xp) are connected to the above servers.

I want to periodically take backup of all my team member's machines data (i will share a particular folder in a drive - only this folder needs to be backed up) onto the above servers.

But the backup operation should run from server and not from client machines.

Is there any Backup software available in market for this or is this achievable from Windows Backup?

Your every clue would be so helpful for me.

- Ramesh

EggHeadCafe - Software Developer Portal of Choice
WCF Workflow Services Using External Data Exchange
http://www.eggheadcafe.com/tutorials/aspne...rvices-usi.aspx

 

[Meinolf Weber [MVP-DS]]

Hello Ramesh,

Do it not this way. Create a shared folder on the server, in this one create
for each branch/user additional folders and configure NTFS permissions only
for the members, so they are able to do there job and none from another branch
can access the folder.

If you talk about each user you can use homedrives or chck out folder redirection
for example.

Now you have a central data store on the server which you can backup according
to your needs.

All other option will create addministrative overhead and also you have to
control that the machines are up and running during the backup time.

Best regards

Meinolf Weber
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> Hi,
>
> I have couple of windows 2003 servers running. All my team member's
> machines (windows xp) are connected to the above servers.
>
> I want to periodically take backup of all my team member's machines
> data (i will share a particular folder in a drive - only this folder
> needs to be backed up) onto the above servers.
>
> But the backup operation should run from server and not from client
> machines.
>
> Is there any Backup software available in market for this or is this
> achievable from Windows Backup?
>
> Your every clue would be so helpful for me.
>
> - Ramesh
>
> EggHeadCafe - Software Developer Portal of Choice
>
> WCF Workflow Services Using External Data Exchange
>
> http://www.eggheadcafe.com/tutorials/aspne...20-4977-842a-6d
> afb17b6d74/wcf-workflow-services-usi.aspx
>

 

[Pegasus [MVP]]

wrote in message
news:200991663218ramesh.govindaraj@gmail.com...
> Hi,
>
> I have couple of windows 2003 servers running. All my team member's
> machines (windows xp) are connected to the above servers.
>
> I want to periodically take backup of all my team member's machines data
> (i will share a particular folder in a drive - only this folder needs to
> be backed up) onto the above servers.
>
> But the backup operation should run from server and not from client
> machines.
>
> Is there any Backup software available in market for this or is this
> achievable from Windows Backup?
>
> Your every clue would be so helpful for me.
>
> - Ramesh

The recommended method is to keep all user data on the server. This makes it
very easy to share data, control access and back it up. If your users' data
is kept on individual machines then you will need to map a drive to each
machine (e.g. net use Q: \\PC1\c$), then use a product such as ntbackup.
This is messy for a number of reasons, e.g.
- The remote machine may or may not be available.
- Different people will keep data files in different locations.
- Data sharing is difficult if not impossible.

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

Ramesh Govindaraj wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I have couple of windows 2003 servers running. All my team member's
> machines (windows xp) are connected to the above servers.
>
> I want to periodically take backup of all my team member's machines
> data (i will share a particular folder in a drive - only this folder
> needs to be backed up) onto the above servers.
>
> But the backup operation should run from server and not from client
> machines.
>
> Is there any Backup software available in market for this or is this
> achievable from Windows Backup?
>
> Your every clue would be so helpful for me.
>
> - Ramesh
>
I'll "third" what Meinolf & Pegasus wrote. Do not store *any* data on the
workstations. Don't share anything (data or printers) on workstations
either. Use folder redirection (group policy) for My Documents, Desktop, and
even Application Data if you can get away with it. Consider roaming profiles
if you think you can keep them tiny, because even if users never roam they
may need a workstation replaced someday & it makes it much faster.

The workstations should be configured as identically as possible, users
shouldn't have admin rights, and if someone needs to log out of one PC and
into another they shouldn't notice much difference.

This is always better. Windows Home Server does a good job backing up
workstations - but the word "home" in the name should be indicative of its
purpose. Workstation backups are slow, inefficient, and rarely worth the
effort - if your domain is configured properly you don't need 'em.