Well, here I go again...

Any modern run-of-the-mill PC can do a complete network backup solution to
tape, disk, CD, DVD, autochangers, etc. for the cost of the PC and some
drive(s) to backup to.  You can get creative using Software Raid on SATA to
create a lightning fast online backup/restore/verification and then copy the
backup to an external media with verification for archival and disaster
recovery requirements.

One of the more popular backup solutions that comes to mind that backs up
Windows, Linux, Unix (incl. Solaris, and various flavors of Unix and BSD
(note: some BSDs don't support 'pthreads' well enough)), and MacOS is
Bacula.  There is a developer's guide for porting to other operating systems
(particularly POSIX), say MPE for instance and uses GNU C++.  It includes
the normal variations (full, differential, incremental), compression (gzip),
and encryption.  It also catalogs all of the backups and files in any of 3
popular open source databases (SQLite, PostgreSQL, MySQL).  It has its own
scheduler built-in, and can schedule backups across the network.  The system
can scale from a single computer to hundreds on large networks.  Bacula can
be found here:  http://www.bacula.org/

Another system comparable to Bacula (a bit simpler, a bit less featured) is
BackupPC:  http://backuppc.sourceforge.net/
It doesn't use Windows clients and relies on SMB protocol for its Windows
connection.

If you are interested in even simpler (though less comprehensive systems),
or interested in paying for a commercial product, or need to backup Netware
or VMS, then check this Web page out:
http://linux.about.com/od/softbackup/Linux_Software_Backup_Solutions.htm

If having a lot of choices bothers you, then by all means, give Microsoft a
call, as I am sure they can tell you what to do. ;-)

Pete


On 11/18/07, Jim Phillips <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> "John K." <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> > I'm looking for RECOMMENDATIONS for an autoload DVD burner that can
> > hold at least 100 Blank DVDs in its input tray and at least 100
> > burned DVDs in its output tray for use on a Windows XP PC.
>
> <snip>
>
>   I don't really have an answer for you John, so anyone reading this and
> looking for an answer can skip this message.
>
>   I do, however, have a more general question/statement/rant:
>
>   Like most people on this list, I deal with PC-based servers in addition
> to a couple of 3000's.  Also like most people on this list, such as John in
> this current case, I try to deal with those servers as I would the 3000.  (I
> am including John in this group because his requirements for a PC-based
> backup solution sound an awful lot like what we do on the 3000 - file sets,
> autochanger, etc.)  Myself, I would be happy if I could find a PC-based
> backup solution that understands the difference between a "good" backup and
> a "bad" one ("good" = successful backup that is verified, "bad" = everything
> else).  We are attempting to backup to a DLT device and the server backup
> fails with everything from "device not ready" to "looks good to me but
> nothing was backed up".  Add in another server and trying to backup through
> the network, and the complexity doesn't just double, it quadruples.
>
>   My question/rant is this:  Why is there such a paucity of tools for
> Windows-based servers?  Tools that we take for granted on the 3000 (such as
> spoolers, job schedulers, backups) are either unheardof on the PC server or
> so expensive as to be out-of-reach of my meager budget.  Or am I just
> woefully ignorant of what is available?
>
>   Like most everyone else who is "committed" to the 3000 (by that I mean,
> we could not run our business without it), I am being pressured to come up
> with answers to the question "Where do we go from here?".  I would feel a
> whole lot more comfortable about Windows-based solutions if I could find the
> tools I need for these smaller-scale PC servers.  When I think about running
> three locations in two states using a (to me) woefully inadequate PC server,
> well, I start thinking about retirement.
>
>   Just my US$.02 and probably worth less than that.
>
>   Jim Phillips
>
>
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