Need a proper backup procedure.

Feek · 16-02-2008, 01:55

The drive I used for backups is on the way out so I've scrapped it before it fails and I really need to sort out a proper backup procedure.

I think Daz uses multiple devices for backups and I suspect others do as well so I'd like some suggestions please.

My PC has three arthurs in it (an arthur is a 500Gb drive), the first is my main boot drive which is used for my docs, applications etc. The second has two partitions and is where I store torrents, downloaded stuff and streaming video for the Xbox, the second partition on that drive is my Eve partition with four copies of the Eve client.

The third arthur is one I want to use as the first part of my backup regime. I also have another arthur in a caddy connected via USB to be used as the second part of my backup regime.

I don't know what the best way to do this would be - I don't _need_ everything from both drives backed up although it wouldn't be a bad thing if I did. A lot of the stuff on the second drive is transient and although it'd be a pain to download it all again I could if I absolutely had to. The first arthur which is the one with the OS on it only has 174Gb in use, 20Gb of which is VM images!

So suggestions please. I'd like to utilize both spare arthurs if I can for redundancy. What's a good way to do this?

Davey_Pitch · 16-02-2008, 19:13

You could just write a batch file script using something like Xcopy or Robocopy. Both programs have lots of switches so you can specify exactly what copies over and to where.

Daz · 16-02-2008, 22:13

A 500GB system partition? Crazeh!

Main rig has a 40GB system partition for OS and apps, I take an image of this any time I make any serious changes, but not regularly - all my actual data is stored and/or copied on the server - I try and store as much there as possible, making the rig and laptop (or whatever) just terminals to my important stuff.

Do you still have a server rig Feek or are you doing everyone on just the one now?

Feek · 17-02-2008, 00:26

The server I have is only really a mail and web server, no files are stored on there. I used to run a smaller system partition but decided not to when I went Vista, don't ask me why but I think that I'd just managed so many different partitions over the years that I just didn't want to do that any more.

Daz · 17-02-2008, 13:07

Everyone does it different

Generally speaking I tend to not consider the OS into my backup routine - The idea being I should be able to build whatever OS I like around my data and still function, rather than fit my data back into an OS. I dont backup my downloads (vids etc) as in a crunch ultimately they dont matter. I regularly backup our photos and documents, and my ISO images as they're handy from a work point of view.

Identify what's genuinely important to you and backup that sensibly - maybe to a different arthur internally and then to an external disk. If you have space left after that decide if you want to throw some other secondary things in there.

Once you know what you want script it on a schedule that suits you (if not days and times then at system startup or shutdown). Robocopy is ideal if you want to get clever with permissions and such, but just a recursive copy will do it. Set a flag so that it doesn't overwrite destination files that haven't been updated and it'll only take a few minutes to run once you've ran your first lot through

Admiral Huddy · 18-02-2008, 12:07

I have one network drive in the workshop with 3 PCs backing up data to it using Syncback SE, if that helps. The workshop and Home PC has syncronised on certain folders, so I can make changes on either and they are both kept upto date, which is dead handy.

16-02-2008, 01:55	#1
Feek ex SAS Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: JO01ou Posts: 10,062	Need a proper backup procedure. The drive I used for backups is on the way out so I've scrapped it before it fails and I really need to sort out a proper backup procedure. I think Daz uses multiple devices for backups and I suspect others do as well so I'd like some suggestions please. My PC has three arthurs in it (an arthur is a 500Gb drive), the first is my main boot drive which is used for my docs, applications etc. The second has two partitions and is where I store torrents, downloaded stuff and streaming video for the Xbox, the second partition on that drive is my Eve partition with four copies of the Eve client. The third arthur is one I want to use as the first part of my backup regime. I also have another arthur in a caddy connected via USB to be used as the second part of my backup regime. I don't know what the best way to do this would be - I don't _need_ everything from both drives backed up although it wouldn't be a bad thing if I did. A lot of the stuff on the second drive is transient and although it'd be a pain to download it all again I could if I absolutely had to. The first arthur which is the one with the OS on it only has 174Gb in use, 20Gb of which is VM images! So suggestions please. I'd like to utilize both spare arthurs if I can for redundancy. What's a good way to do this? __________________

16-02-2008, 19:13	#2
Davey_Pitch I iz speshul Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Liverpool Posts: 6,296	You could just write a batch file script using something like Xcopy or Robocopy. Both programs have lots of switches so you can specify exactly what copies over and to where. __________________ Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

16-02-2008, 22:13	#3
Daz The Stig Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Swad! Posts: 10,713	A 500GB system partition? Crazeh! Main rig has a 40GB system partition for OS and apps, I take an image of this any time I make any serious changes, but not regularly - all my actual data is stored and/or copied on the server - I try and store as much there as possible, making the rig and laptop (or whatever) just terminals to my important stuff. Do you still have a server rig Feek or are you doing everyone on just the one now? __________________ apt-get moo

17-02-2008, 00:26	#4
Feek ex SAS Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: JO01ou Posts: 10,062	The server I have is only really a mail and web server, no files are stored on there. I used to run a smaller system partition but decided not to when I went Vista, don't ask me why but I think that I'd just managed so many different partitions over the years that I just didn't want to do that any more. __________________

17-02-2008, 13:07	#5
Daz The Stig Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Swad! Posts: 10,713	Everyone does it different Generally speaking I tend to not consider the OS into my backup routine - The idea being I should be able to build whatever OS I like around my data and still function, rather than fit my data back into an OS. I dont backup my downloads (vids etc) as in a crunch ultimately they dont matter. I regularly backup our photos and documents, and my ISO images as they're handy from a work point of view. Identify what's genuinely important to you and backup that sensibly - maybe to a different arthur internally and then to an external disk. If you have space left after that decide if you want to throw some other secondary things in there. Once you know what you want script it on a schedule that suits you (if not days and times then at system startup or shutdown). Robocopy is ideal if you want to get clever with permissions and such, but just a recursive copy will do it. Set a flag so that it doesn't overwrite destination files that haven't been updated and it'll only take a few minutes to run once you've ran your first lot through __________________ apt-get moo

18-02-2008, 12:07	#6
Admiral Huddy HOMO-Sapien Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Chelmsford Posts: 6,692	I have one network drive in the workshop with 3 PCs backing up data to it using Syncback SE, if that helps. The workshop and Home PC has syncronised on certain folders, so I can make changes on either and they are both kept upto date, which is dead handy. __________________ I just got lost in thought.. It was very unfamiliar territory. Techie Talk \| My gaming Blog \| PC spec \| The Admirals log

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode