Backing up clients to a NAS or RAID

[krajcd5]

Hello there.

 

I have been using Retrospect for a while and I would like to change my backup to better support my end users. Right now I backup everyone directly to tape.

 

This is what I would like to do:

-Set Retrospect as a backup server to backup a user at least once per 24 hours

-Install a NAS or an xServe RAID

-Put a folder on the NAS/RAID for each user

-Have Retrospect copy the user's files, in native file format, to their respective folder on the NAS/RAID

-Have Retrospect everyday just copy the files that have been changed

-Have Retrospect backup using an Exabyte Packet loader backup the NAS/RAID to tape once a week

 

Just wondering if anybody out there is doing something like this.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Daniel Krajc

[natew]

Hi

 

I talk to lots of people who do this. It works well. The only hard part is managing the duplicate scripts that copy users machines to the RAID. You have to set one script for each disk.

 

Thanks

Nate

[krajcd5]

Thanks for the information.

 

I knew the managing of the scripts for each user was going to be the hard part. I have never set up a server as backup server, all my scripts are scheduled to run at selected times, how do I or will I be able to execute all of my users scripts.

 

Dan

[twickland]

"Duplicate" scripts are schedulable at specific times, just like standard backup scripts. You do not need to use a Backup Server script.

 

The reason you need a separate script for each user is that a Duplicate script can only have a single source volume, unlike the standard backup script which can have multiple source volumes.

 

If you want the scripts to run one after the other, schedule them all for the same start time. If you want a parrticular script to run first (or last), set it to run a minute before (or after) the other scripts.

 

There is some stupid and confusing nomenclature in the Retrospect Automate> Scripts window. The Scripts menu in the menu bar has an item called "Duplicate..." This is used to create a copy of an existing script that you select, so it should really read "Create copy..." Instead of "Duplicate...."

 

What you want is to select "New" and then select "Duplicate" as the type of script.

 

Once you have created your new Duplicate script, you can then create copies using the "Duplicate..." menu item so that all you have to change are the source and destination volumes. Confusing, no?