Backup User Files

Hi,

We have a network managed with Windows 2000 AD. I am looking for a way to
backup or copy the working files (.xls and .doc) of some of the users over
the network in a central location. Is there a tool to achieve this without
the need to define a share on the source PC, i.e. use the default Windows
share volume C$, and scan for .xls and .doc files and back them up? This
will absolve my team from running around and defining shares on multiple
PCs.

Thanks in advance for your guidance.

I would consider setting up a folder on the server connected to the backup
device. Create a top level folder called Users, then create each user a
folder named (usually) after their username. Grant authenticated users
access to the 'Users' folder then grant each user full control of their
folder ONLY.

Then train your users to open from and save to this folder. Continue to
remind them that their local computer will not get backed up. If they want
something backed up they must save it to the server. You might want to get
management involved to make this "company policy".
This way you will not have to worry about setting up shares on local
computers and connecting the server to the shares. You will not have to
worry about the user turning their computer off and not getting backed up.
You may end up saving money also. Depending on which backup app you choose,
backing up remote computers (users on the domain) will incur a cost for each
remote computer backed up. If you only backup the 1 server your users store
their files on you will eliminate that cost.

hth
DDS W 2k MVP MCSE

"RYA" <ranastas[no spam]@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi,
>
> We have a network managed with Windows 2000 AD. I am looking for a way to
> backup or copy the working files (.xls and .doc) of some of the users over
> the network in a central location. Is there a tool to achieve this without
> the need to define a share on the source PC, i.e. use the default Windows
> share volume C$, and scan for .xls and .doc files and back them up? This
> will absolve my team from running around and defining shares on multiple
> PCs.
>
> Thanks in advance for your guidance.
>
>

Setting up home folders for your users is pretty much standard 'best
practice'. But you can check out Backup Exec for Windows Servers 9.1. It
sells for around $500.00.

You would want to purchase the "desktop and laptop option" which sells for
around $600.00 for 100 PCs (can't get less than 100).

That extra $600.00 could be eliminated if you were to provide minimal
training to your users.

See:
http://www.veritas.com/Products/www?...sting&refId=57


hth
DDS W 2k MVP MCSE


"RYA" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Thanks Danny.
>
> But I was thinking of a solution that would "pull" the files from the
source
> PCs onto the server store areas instead of the users "pushing" the files
to
> the server store areas. Actually I don't want the users to be involved at
> all.
>
> Any idea how?
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> "Danny Sanders" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > I would consider setting up a folder on the server connected to the
backup
> > device. Create a top level folder called Users, then create each user a
> > folder named (usually) after their username. Grant authenticated users
> > access to the 'Users' folder then grant each user full control of their
> > folder ONLY.
> >
> > Then train your users to open from and save to this folder. Continue to
> > remind them that their local computer will not get backed up. If they
want
> > something backed up they must save it to the server. You might want to
get
> > management involved to make this "company policy".
> > This way you will not have to worry about setting up shares on local
> > computers and connecting the server to the shares. You will not have to
> > worry about the user turning their computer off and not getting backed
up.
> > You may end up saving money also. Depending on which backup app you
> choose,
> > backing up remote computers (users on the domain) will incur a cost for
> each
> > remote computer backed up. If you only backup the 1 server your users
> store
> > their files on you will eliminate that cost.
> >
> > hth
> > DDS W 2k MVP MCSE
> >
> > "RYA" <ranastas[no spam]@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> > news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > Hi,
> > >
> > > We have a network managed with Windows 2000 AD. I am looking for a way
> to
> > > backup or copy the working files (.xls and .doc) of some of the users
> over
> > > the network in a central location. Is there a tool to achieve this
> without
> > > the need to define a share on the source PC, i.e. use the default
> Windows
> > > share volume C$, and scan for .xls and .doc files and back them up?
This
> > > will absolve my team from running around and defining shares on
multiple
> > > PCs.
> > >
> > > Thanks in advance for your guidance.
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

Thanks Danny.

But I was thinking of a solution that would "pull" the files from the source
PCs onto the server store areas instead of the users "pushing" the files to
the server store areas. Actually I don't want the users to be involved at
all.

Any idea how?

Thanks in advance.

"Danny Sanders" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> I would consider setting up a folder on the server connected to the backup
> device. Create a top level folder called Users, then create each user a
> folder named (usually) after their username. Grant authenticated users
> access to the 'Users' folder then grant each user full control of their
> folder ONLY.
>
> Then train your users to open from and save to this folder. Continue to
> remind them that their local computer will not get backed up. If they want
> something backed up they must save it to the server. You might want to get
> management involved to make this "company policy".
> This way you will not have to worry about setting up shares on local
> computers and connecting the server to the shares. You will not have to
> worry about the user turning their computer off and not getting backed up.
> You may end up saving money also. Depending on which backup app you
choose,
> backing up remote computers (users on the domain) will incur a cost for
each
> remote computer backed up. If you only backup the 1 server your users
store
> their files on you will eliminate that cost.
>
> hth
> DDS W 2k MVP MCSE
>
> "RYA" <ranastas[no spam]@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> > Hi,
> >
> > We have a network managed with Windows 2000 AD. I am looking for a way
to
> > backup or copy the working files (.xls and .doc) of some of the users
over
> > the network in a central location. Is there a tool to achieve this
without
> > the need to define a share on the source PC, i.e. use the default
Windows
> > share volume C$, and scan for .xls and .doc files and back them up? This
> > will absolve my team from running around and defining shares on multiple
> > PCs.
> >
> > Thanks in advance for your guidance.
> >
> >
>
>

I absolutely agree with Danny. One of the advantages of having a
client/server network is that you can store, manage, secure, administer,
backup, all data from a central location. Never ever have users store data
on their workstations. Workstation backups are slow and unreliable.
Workstation hardware is less robust than server hardware. Etc etc etc.

Use folder redirection to redirect My Documents to the user's home directory
on the server. You can do this via group policy, or if it's a small shop,
just do it once in each user's Windows profile by changing the path of the
My Documents desktop icon.

Use login scripts to make sure everyone has the same drive
mappings. Treat workstations as interchangable objects. You have AD - take
advantage of it. :-)

RYA wrote:
> Thanks Danny.
>
> But I was thinking of a solution that would "pull" the files from the
> source PCs onto the server store areas instead of the users "pushing"
> the files to the server store areas. Actually I don't want the users
> to be involved at all.
>
> Any idea how?
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> "Danny Sanders" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> I would consider setting up a folder on the server connected to the
>> backup device. Create a top level folder called Users, then create
>> each user a folder named (usually) after their username. Grant
>> authenticated users access to the 'Users' folder then grant each
>> user full control of their folder ONLY.
>>
>> Then train your users to open from and save to this folder. Continue
>> to remind them that their local computer will not get backed up. If
>> they want something backed up they must save it to the server. You
>> might want to get management involved to make this "company policy".
>> This way you will not have to worry about setting up shares on local
>> computers and connecting the server to the shares. You will not have
>> to worry about the user turning their computer off and not getting
>> backed up. You may end up saving money also. Depending on which
>> backup app you choose, backing up remote computers (users on the
>> domain) will incur a cost for each remote computer backed up. If you
>> only backup the 1 server your users store their files on you will
>> eliminate that cost.
>>
>> hth
>> DDS W 2k MVP MCSE
>>
>> "RYA" <ranastas[no spam]@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> We have a network managed with Windows 2000 AD. I am looking for a
>>> way to backup or copy the working files (.xls and .doc) of some of
>>> the users over the network in a central location. Is there a tool
>>> to achieve this without the need to define a share on the source
>>> PC, i.e. use the default Windows share volume C$, and scan for .xls
>>> and .doc files and back them up? This will absolve my team from
>>> running around and defining shares on multiple PCs.
>>>
>>> Thanks in advance for your guidance.

This is what i do on my network... but we get one problem there... what to
do with laptop users!! Any ideas?


"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"
<(E-Mail Removed) ahoo.com> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>I absolutely agree with Danny. One of the advantages of having a
> client/server network is that you can store, manage, secure, administer,
> backup, all data from a central location. Never ever have users store data
> on their workstations. Workstation backups are slow and unreliable.
> Workstation hardware is less robust than server hardware. Etc etc etc.
>
> Use folder redirection to redirect My Documents to the user's home
> directory
> on the server. You can do this via group policy, or if it's a small shop,
> just do it once in each user's Windows profile by changing the path of the
> My Documents desktop icon.
>
> Use login scripts to make sure everyone has the same drive
> mappings. Treat workstations as interchangable objects. You have AD - take
> advantage of it. :-)
>
> RYA wrote:
>> Thanks Danny.
>>
>> But I was thinking of a solution that would "pull" the files from the
>> source PCs onto the server store areas instead of the users "pushing"
>> the files to the server store areas. Actually I don't want the users
>> to be involved at all.
>>
>> Any idea how?
>>
>> Thanks in advance.
>>
>> "Danny Sanders" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> I would consider setting up a folder on the server connected to the
>>> backup device. Create a top level folder called Users, then create
>>> each user a folder named (usually) after their username. Grant
>>> authenticated users access to the 'Users' folder then grant each
>>> user full control of their folder ONLY.
>>>
>>> Then train your users to open from and save to this folder. Continue
>>> to remind them that their local computer will not get backed up. If
>>> they want something backed up they must save it to the server. You
>>> might want to get management involved to make this "company policy".
>>> This way you will not have to worry about setting up shares on local
>>> computers and connecting the server to the shares. You will not have
>>> to worry about the user turning their computer off and not getting
>>> backed up. You may end up saving money also. Depending on which
>>> backup app you choose, backing up remote computers (users on the
>>> domain) will incur a cost for each remote computer backed up. If you
>>> only backup the 1 server your users store their files on you will
>>> eliminate that cost.
>>>
>>> hth
>>> DDS W 2k MVP MCSE
>>>
>>> "RYA" <ranastas[no spam]@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>>> news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>> Hi,
>>>>
>>>> We have a network managed with Windows 2000 AD. I am looking for a
>>>> way to backup or copy the working files (.xls and .doc) of some of
>>>> the users over the network in a central location. Is there a tool
>>>> to achieve this without the need to define a share on the source
>>>> PC, i.e. use the default Windows share volume C$, and scan for .xls
>>>> and .doc files and back them up? This will absolve my team from
>>>> running around and defining shares on multiple PCs.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks in advance for your guidance.
>
>
>

For laptop users, I create a local folder called Data and point My Documents
at it manually. Then I use SecondCopy 2000 (www.centered.com) to do a full
sync between c:\data and h:\data (a folder in their home directory)...it
works a lot better than offline files in my experience and is very
inexpensive. They have a 30 day eval you can download.

Works very well!

Stuart Jeffrey wrote:
> This is what i do on my network... but we get one problem there...
> what to do with laptop users!! Any ideas?
>
>
> "Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"
> <(E-Mail Removed) ahoo.com> wrote in
> message news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>> I absolutely agree with Danny. One of the advantages of having a
>> client/server network is that you can store, manage, secure,
>> administer, backup, all data from a central location. Never ever
>> have users store data on their workstations. Workstation backups are
>> slow and unreliable. Workstation hardware is less robust than server
>> hardware. Etc etc etc.
>>
>> Use folder redirection to redirect My Documents to the user's home
>> directory
>> on the server. You can do this via group policy, or if it's a small
>> shop, just do it once in each user's Windows profile by changing the
>> path of the My Documents desktop icon.
>>
>> Use login scripts to make sure everyone has the same drive
>> mappings. Treat workstations as interchangable objects. You have AD
>> - take advantage of it. :-)
>>
>> RYA wrote:
>>> Thanks Danny.
>>>
>>> But I was thinking of a solution that would "pull" the files from
>>> the source PCs onto the server store areas instead of the users
>>> "pushing" the files to the server store areas. Actually I don't
>>> want the users to be involved at all.
>>>
>>> Any idea how?
>>>
>>> Thanks in advance.
>>>
>>> "Danny Sanders" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>> I would consider setting up a folder on the server connected to the
>>>> backup device. Create a top level folder called Users, then create
>>>> each user a folder named (usually) after their username. Grant
>>>> authenticated users access to the 'Users' folder then grant each
>>>> user full control of their folder ONLY.
>>>>
>>>> Then train your users to open from and save to this folder.
>>>> Continue to remind them that their local computer will not get
>>>> backed up. If they want something backed up they must save it to
>>>> the server. You might want to get management involved to make this
>>>> "company policy". This way you will not have to worry about
>>>> setting up shares on local computers and connecting the server to
>>>> the shares. You will not have to worry about the user turning
>>>> their computer off and not getting backed up. You may end up
>>>> saving money also. Depending on which backup app you choose,
>>>> backing up remote computers (users on the domain) will incur a
>>>> cost for each remote computer backed up. If you only backup the 1
>>>> server your users store their files on you will eliminate that
>>>> cost.
>>>>
>>>> hth
>>>> DDS W 2k MVP MCSE
>>>>
>>>> "RYA" <ranastas[no spam]@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>>> Hi,
>>>>>
>>>>> We have a network managed with Windows 2000 AD. I am looking for a
>>>>> way to backup or copy the working files (.xls and .doc) of some of
>>>>> the users over the network in a central location. Is there a tool
>>>>> to achieve this without the need to define a share on the source
>>>>> PC, i.e. use the default Windows share volume C$, and scan for
>>>>> .xls and .doc files and back them up? This will absolve my team
>>>>> from running around and defining shares on multiple PCs.
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks in advance for your guidance.