Samba/CIFS Backup solution under XP/Visa/2003?

[scotte]

The program needs to have these capabilities:

- Back up mapped network drive (or connect via UNC) to local Tape Library(shares could be Linux/Samba and/or real Windows systems)

- Relies on date/timestamp for incremental backups, as opposed to archive bit

- No corresponding client/agent service. Backup program should be self-contained

- UNC/Mapped drive can use IP address - program should NOT require NetBIOS name

- Can run on Win XP w/SP2. If Vista or Win2K3 are better/preferred, then I can arrange to make it happen on those

Windows OSes intead.

If there is a way to convince Win XP's backup program, or if Vista's backup program can do this, please let me know.

It seems like Backup Exec needs an agent on the remote host. There may be some cases where I'll have a self-contained

central storage appliance with CIFS capability that cannot run any kind of agent, hence the need for the backup program

to be "self contained" or "self sufficient".

If WinXP's backup program could take advantage of date/time stamp for incrementals (so I wouldn't get a full backup each

time), then it would be ideal. I happen to be using it now, and it works great, but takes up more tape than I want.

I'm also going to try and experiment with bacula and amanda under Cygwin.

Fundamentally, I'd want a solution that, should the machine's hard drive fail, I can reinstall the OS, call up the

backup program, and get the data back from tape with as little overhead as possible. No mysql database

reconstruction, etc, if possible.

Thanks for any leads.

Scott

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

Welcome to the Windows Forum.

I do not know if it can fulfill all your needs, but check out the Acronis website for the Acronis True Image backup program, which does allow incremental backups to network drives, and other Acronis backup solutions.