Off-site backup

I have a small office network with 12 PCs interconnected
via a hub. One PC is running Windows Server 2003
Enterprise edition, has a RAID 1 (mirrored) drive
configuration, and serves as the file server. I want to
set this machine up to run a scheduled backup to a machine
that is off-site over the internet connection. I can get
it to perform a scheduled backup, but only to its own hard
drives or one of the other networked PCs. Can someone help
me set up the off-site PC (Win 2000 OS)so that it appears
on the network places available to receive a backup?

Richard wrote:
> I have a small office network with 12 PCs interconnected
> via a hub. One PC is running Windows Server 2003
> Enterprise edition, has a RAID 1 (mirrored) drive
> configuration, and serves as the file server. I want to
> set this machine up to run a scheduled backup to a machine
> that is off-site over the internet connection. I can get
> it to perform a scheduled backup, but only to its own hard
> drives or one of the other networked PCs. Can someone help
> me set up the off-site PC (Win 2000 OS)so that it appears
> on the network places available to receive a backup?

Not a good plan for server backups. Don't know what your data footprint is,
or what your bandwidth is, but I wouldn't recommend this... What about tape?
Or one of the many online backup services? Or both?

Map a drive to the remote computer - you may have to use the IP address
instead of the machine name - then it will appear on your list. Also you
could backup to a local or LAN drive, and then simply schedule a copy to the
remote machine. Unless you are backing up something relatively small - even
System State is several hundred MBs - this is probably not an efficient
solution.

Doug Sherman
MCSE Win2k/NT4.0, MCSA, MCP+I, MVP

"Richard" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:1bf401c4a80d$24f2a720$(E-Mail Removed)...
> I have a small office network with 12 PCs interconnected
> via a hub. One PC is running Windows Server 2003
> Enterprise edition, has a RAID 1 (mirrored) drive
> configuration, and serves as the file server. I want to
> set this machine up to run a scheduled backup to a machine
> that is off-site over the internet connection. I can get
> it to perform a scheduled backup, but only to its own hard
> drives or one of the other networked PCs. Can someone help
> me set up the off-site PC (Win 2000 OS)so that it appears
> on the network places available to receive a backup?

>-----Original Message-----
>Richard wrote:
>> I have a small office network with 12 PCs interconnected
>> via a hub. One PC is running Windows Server 2003
>> Enterprise edition, has a RAID 1 (mirrored) drive
>> configuration, and serves as the file server. I want to
>> set this machine up to run a scheduled backup to a
machine
>> that is off-site over the internet connection. I can get
>> it to perform a scheduled backup, but only to its own
hard
>> drives or one of the other networked PCs. Can someone
help
>> me set up the off-site PC (Win 2000 OS)so that it
appears
>> on the network places available to receive a backup?
>
>Not a good plan for server backups. Don't know what your
data footprint is,
>or what your bandwidth is, but I wouldn't recommend
this... What about tape?
>Or one of the many online backup services? Or both?
>
>
Thanks so much for taking the time to consider my querry.
The amoutnt of data to be backed up is around 4 Gigs; the
connection is standard ADSL. Time to back up is secondary
since the sole purpose of the off-site machine is for the
backup. The plan is to backup each day's data in a
separate folder (e.g.: Mon, Tue etc.).
Not to fond of tape and would like to avoid the cost of on-
line service.
To map a drive to the remote PC, do I just use the IP
address revealed from ipconfig? What if it is in a
wireless network? Do I need to be concerned about opening
up a port? I'm afraid I know just enough to be dangerous
in thes areas so please don't feel you'll be insulting me
if you need to explain in detail.

If your Internet routers support VPN (frequently described as VPN end
points), you can configure a persistent router-to-router VPN connection and
simply map to the IP address of the Win2k machine: \\IPaddress\sharename.
If your routers do not have this feature, they probably support VPN
pass-through. In this case, you enable pass-through on the router (how you
do it varies-see your router's documentation) and map the port to the Win2k
machine's IP address. You can configure Win2k Pro or Server as a VPN server
and connect to it by configuring a VPN client on the Win 2003 machine (Make
new connection wizard). You should then be able to map the drive per above.
This will work with a wireless network.

You would get better performance by having the Win2k machine connect to Win
2003's Remote Desktop and running backup remotely. However, there is
virtually no chance of being able to transfer 4 GB of data overnight using
VPN or RDP with an ADSL connection.

Doug Sherman
MCSE Win2k/NT4.0, MCSA, MCP+I, MVP

"Richard" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:2c4b01c4a8e3$7f0a98e0$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> >-----Original Message-----
> >Richard wrote:
> >> I have a small office network with 12 PCs interconnected
> >> via a hub. One PC is running Windows Server 2003
> >> Enterprise edition, has a RAID 1 (mirrored) drive
> >> configuration, and serves as the file server. I want to
> >> set this machine up to run a scheduled backup to a
> machine
> >> that is off-site over the internet connection. I can get
> >> it to perform a scheduled backup, but only to its own
> hard
> >> drives or one of the other networked PCs. Can someone
> help
> >> me set up the off-site PC (Win 2000 OS)so that it
> appears
> >> on the network places available to receive a backup?
> >
> >Not a good plan for server backups. Don't know what your
> data footprint is,
> >or what your bandwidth is, but I wouldn't recommend
> this... What about tape?
> >Or one of the many online backup services? Or both?
> >
> >
> Thanks so much for taking the time to consider my querry.
> The amoutnt of data to be backed up is around 4 Gigs; the
> connection is standard ADSL. Time to back up is secondary
> since the sole purpose of the off-site machine is for the
> backup. The plan is to backup each day's data in a
> separate folder (e.g.: Mon, Tue etc.).
> Not to fond of tape and would like to avoid the cost of on-
> line service.
> To map a drive to the remote PC, do I just use the IP
> address revealed from ipconfig? What if it is in a
> wireless network? Do I need to be concerned about opening
> up a port? I'm afraid I know just enough to be dangerous
> in thes areas so please don't feel you'll be insulting me
> if you need to explain in detail.

Richard wrote:
>> -----Original Message-----
>> Richard wrote:
>>> I have a small office network with 12 PCs interconnected
>>> via a hub. One PC is running Windows Server 2003
>>> Enterprise edition, has a RAID 1 (mirrored) drive
>>> configuration, and serves as the file server. I want to
>>> set this machine up to run a scheduled backup to a machine
>>> that is off-site over the internet connection. I can get
>>> it to perform a scheduled backup, but only to its own hard
>>> drives or one of the other networked PCs. Can someone help
>>> me set up the off-site PC (Win 2000 OS)so that it appears
>>> on the network places available to receive a backup?
>>
>> Not a good plan for server backups. Don't know what your data
>> footprint is, or what your bandwidth is, but I wouldn't recommend
>> this... What about tape? Or one of the many online backup services?
>> Or both?
>>
>>
> Thanks so much for taking the time to consider my querry.
> The amoutnt of data to be backed up is around 4 Gigs; the
> connection is standard ADSL.

I think you will find that this is not going to work well. At the very
least, I wouldn't try a backup job - perhaps a batch file with a robocopy
job in it. Or see something like DoubleTake from Sunbelt Software.

> Time to back up is secondary
> since the sole purpose of the off-site machine is for the
> backup.

Your Internet bandwidth is also going to be sucked up pretty badly while
this is running, no matter how you do it.

> The plan is to backup each day's data in a
> separate folder (e.g.: Mon, Tue etc.).
> Not to fond of tape

What's the objection to tape, if I might inquire?

> and would like to avoid the cost of on-
> line service.

That, I understand. It's expensive.

> To map a drive to the remote PC, do I just use the IP
> address revealed from ipconfig? What if it is in a
> wireless network? Do I need to be concerned about opening
> up a port? I'm afraid I know just enough to be dangerous
> in thes areas so please don't feel you'll be insulting me
> if you need to explain in detail.

I think Doug's replies cover this stuff pretty well....post back if you have
more questions or need more help.

An alternative that you might want to consider is a DVD burner. These have
come way down in price; they usually include backup software; and if you buy
media in bulk, you can get disks for well under $1. DVDs are easy to store
offsite; and of course, you might find some other uses for such a device.

Doug Sherman
MCSE Win2k/NT4.0, MCSA, MCP+I, MVP

"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"
<(E-Mail Removed) ahoo.com> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Richard wrote:
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> Richard wrote:
> >>> I have a small office network with 12 PCs interconnected
> >>> via a hub. One PC is running Windows Server 2003
> >>> Enterprise edition, has a RAID 1 (mirrored) drive
> >>> configuration, and serves as the file server. I want to
> >>> set this machine up to run a scheduled backup to a machine
> >>> that is off-site over the internet connection. I can get
> >>> it to perform a scheduled backup, but only to its own hard
> >>> drives or one of the other networked PCs. Can someone help
> >>> me set up the off-site PC (Win 2000 OS)so that it appears
> >>> on the network places available to receive a backup?
> >>
> >> Not a good plan for server backups. Don't know what your data
> >> footprint is, or what your bandwidth is, but I wouldn't recommend
> >> this... What about tape? Or one of the many online backup services?
> >> Or both?
> >>
> >>
> > Thanks so much for taking the time to consider my querry.
> > The amoutnt of data to be backed up is around 4 Gigs; the
> > connection is standard ADSL.
>
> I think you will find that this is not going to work well. At the very
> least, I wouldn't try a backup job - perhaps a batch file with a robocopy
> job in it. Or see something like DoubleTake from Sunbelt Software.
>
> > Time to back up is secondary
> > since the sole purpose of the off-site machine is for the
> > backup.
>
> Your Internet bandwidth is also going to be sucked up pretty badly while
> this is running, no matter how you do it.
>
> > The plan is to backup each day's data in a
> > separate folder (e.g.: Mon, Tue etc.).
> > Not to fond of tape
>
> What's the objection to tape, if I might inquire?
>
> > and would like to avoid the cost of on-
> > line service.
>
> That, I understand. It's expensive.
>
> > To map a drive to the remote PC, do I just use the IP
> > address revealed from ipconfig? What if it is in a
> > wireless network? Do I need to be concerned about opening
> > up a port? I'm afraid I know just enough to be dangerous
> > in thes areas so please don't feel you'll be insulting me
> > if you need to explain in detail.
>
> I think Doug's replies cover this stuff pretty well....post back if you
have
> more questions or need more help.
>
>

Doug Sherman [MVP] wrote:
> An alternative that you might want to consider is a DVD burner.
> These have come way down in price; they usually include backup
> software; and if you buy media in bulk, you can get disks for well
> under $1. DVDs are easy to store offsite; and of course, you might
> find some other uses for such a device.

Can't automate backup to it, and it won't hold the amount of data I'd expect
to see on a server backup. I might set someone up with this for a
workstation, but I wouldn't use it on a server.
>
> Doug Sherman
> MCSE Win2k/NT4.0, MCSA, MCP+I, MVP
>
> "Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"
> <(E-Mail Removed) ahoo.com> wrote in
> message news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Richard wrote:
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> Richard wrote:
>>>>> I have a small office network with 12 PCs interconnected
>>>>> via a hub. One PC is running Windows Server 2003
>>>>> Enterprise edition, has a RAID 1 (mirrored) drive
>>>>> configuration, and serves as the file server. I want to
>>>>> set this machine up to run a scheduled backup to a machine
>>>>> that is off-site over the internet connection. I can get
>>>>> it to perform a scheduled backup, but only to its own hard
>>>>> drives or one of the other networked PCs. Can someone help
>>>>> me set up the off-site PC (Win 2000 OS)so that it appears
>>>>> on the network places available to receive a backup?
>>>>
>>>> Not a good plan for server backups. Don't know what your data
>>>> footprint is, or what your bandwidth is, but I wouldn't recommend
>>>> this... What about tape? Or one of the many online backup services?
>>>> Or both?
>>>>
>>>>
>>> Thanks so much for taking the time to consider my querry.
>>> The amoutnt of data to be backed up is around 4 Gigs; the
>>> connection is standard ADSL.
>>
>> I think you will find that this is not going to work well. At the
>> very least, I wouldn't try a backup job - perhaps a batch file with
>> a robocopy job in it. Or see something like DoubleTake from Sunbelt
>> Software.
>>
>>> Time to back up is secondary
>>> since the sole purpose of the off-site machine is for the
>>> backup.
>>
>> Your Internet bandwidth is also going to be sucked up pretty badly
>> while this is running, no matter how you do it.
>>
>>> The plan is to backup each day's data in a
>>> separate folder (e.g.: Mon, Tue etc.).
>>> Not to fond of tape
>>
>> What's the objection to tape, if I might inquire?
>>
>>> and would like to avoid the cost of on-
>>> line service.
>>
>> That, I understand. It's expensive.
>>
>>> To map a drive to the remote PC, do I just use the IP
>>> address revealed from ipconfig? What if it is in a
>>> wireless network? Do I need to be concerned about opening
>>> up a port? I'm afraid I know just enough to be dangerous
>>> in thes areas so please don't feel you'll be insulting me
>>> if you need to explain in detail.
>>
>> I think Doug's replies cover this stuff pretty well....post back if
>> you have more questions or need more help.

Depends on the software that comes with the burner - many products support
scheduling. Richard says the data is around 4 GB - a standard +R or -R DVD
will hold about 4.7 GB.

Doug Sherman
MCSE Win2k/NT4.0, MCSA, MCP+I, MVP


"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"
<(E-Mail Removed) ahoo.com> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Doug Sherman [MVP] wrote:
> > An alternative that you might want to consider is a DVD burner.
> > These have come way down in price; they usually include backup
> > software; and if you buy media in bulk, you can get disks for well
> > under $1. DVDs are easy to store offsite; and of course, you might
> > find some other uses for such a device.
>
> Can't automate backup to it, and it won't hold the amount of data I'd
expect
> to see on a server backup. I might set someone up with this for a
> workstation, but I wouldn't use it on a server.
> >
> > Doug Sherman
> > MCSE Win2k/NT4.0, MCSA, MCP+I, MVP
> >
> > "Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"
> > <(E-Mail Removed) ahoo.com> wrote in
> > message news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> >> Richard wrote:
> >>>> -----Original Message-----
> >>>> Richard wrote:
> >>>>> I have a small office network with 12 PCs interconnected
> >>>>> via a hub. One PC is running Windows Server 2003
> >>>>> Enterprise edition, has a RAID 1 (mirrored) drive
> >>>>> configuration, and serves as the file server. I want to
> >>>>> set this machine up to run a scheduled backup to a machine
> >>>>> that is off-site over the internet connection. I can get
> >>>>> it to perform a scheduled backup, but only to its own hard
> >>>>> drives or one of the other networked PCs. Can someone help
> >>>>> me set up the off-site PC (Win 2000 OS)so that it appears
> >>>>> on the network places available to receive a backup?
> >>>>
> >>>> Not a good plan for server backups. Don't know what your data
> >>>> footprint is, or what your bandwidth is, but I wouldn't recommend
> >>>> this... What about tape? Or one of the many online backup services?
> >>>> Or both?
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>> Thanks so much for taking the time to consider my querry.
> >>> The amoutnt of data to be backed up is around 4 Gigs; the
> >>> connection is standard ADSL.
> >>
> >> I think you will find that this is not going to work well. At the
> >> very least, I wouldn't try a backup job - perhaps a batch file with
> >> a robocopy job in it. Or see something like DoubleTake from Sunbelt
> >> Software.
> >>
> >>> Time to back up is secondary
> >>> since the sole purpose of the off-site machine is for the
> >>> backup.
> >>
> >> Your Internet bandwidth is also going to be sucked up pretty badly
> >> while this is running, no matter how you do it.
> >>
> >>> The plan is to backup each day's data in a
> >>> separate folder (e.g.: Mon, Tue etc.).
> >>> Not to fond of tape
> >>
> >> What's the objection to tape, if I might inquire?
> >>
> >>> and would like to avoid the cost of on-
> >>> line service.
> >>
> >> That, I understand. It's expensive.
> >>
> >>> To map a drive to the remote PC, do I just use the IP
> >>> address revealed from ipconfig? What if it is in a
> >>> wireless network? Do I need to be concerned about opening
> >>> up a port? I'm afraid I know just enough to be dangerous
> >>> in thes areas so please don't feel you'll be insulting me
> >>> if you need to explain in detail.
> >>
> >> I think Doug's replies cover this stuff pretty well....post back if
> >> you have more questions or need more help.
>
>