Hello,

I'm looking for feedback and suggestions on backing up critical
workstation data.

Current Environment:
Wink2K workstation/server (moving soon to Windows 2003/XP-Vista).  Home
and group directories mapped to network server... Home directory is set
to synchronize on login and logoff... Access databases and .pst's are
not sync'd of course due to Microsoft sync rules.  We decided NOT to
sync My Documents folder because we don't have enough space on our
server to back up everyone's working files, mp3's, pictures, etc.
So... users have to move or copy their critical files to their home
directory manually.  We back up all server data to DLT tape from a main
server running Backup Exec.

Over the past couple of years, a number of workstation hard drives have
died and users have lost their working files and .pst files.  My boss
tells me that he wants a solution that ensures we will not lose any
user data, and that does not require any user interactivity.

One option is to merely buy more server disk space and use Windows
Group Policy to redirect the My Documents folder... but there are a few
issues that I see would need to be resolved...

1. Preventing non-work-related data from filling up server space
(mp3's, pictures, videos etc)
2. If we redirect My Documents, then .pst files will be networked and
may become corrupt
3. The amount of data on our servers will outgrow our DLT/Backup Exec
setup.

So... I'm curious how others are backing up workstation data and if
anyone can recommend a good solution.

Thanks!
-Dave

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You might take a look at Backup In Time at www.nssdd.com.  You load it
on each workstation and you configure it to autoload if desired.  You
select folders or files and it then compresses that data into a zip
file and places it in your desired directory including the  option to
save it to a FTP location.  It is intended to be a backup solution
between your regular backups.  You set the frequency to backup in
minutes and also the hours to retain the backups.

Gil

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