Backup to Hard Drive. Automatic overwrite of old backup.

[eean]

Can I just run a few things by you?
Have just got 2 250GB external hard drives for backup. Server 2000. Would like make ntbackup do a full backup to the hard drive on a monday, then incremental backups for the rest of the week. Then I'll swap the hard drive (off site) and the same will happen on the other. As the HDs are quite big (we're only a primary school) I should be able to have a few weeks' worth on one HD. I'm probably going to write a script to manage this. Before backup starts it will see how much disk space there is left and if there isn't enough (based on the size of previous backups) it will delete the oldest. Ideally, it will also know when the HD has been swapped so it can do the full backup that night. So if I normally change HDs on monday, but forget and do it on Tuesday, it will wait and put the full backup on the new HD.

So, I have a few options:
1. There is a program that can already do this? (Wishfull thinking)
2. I write a script that makes ntbackup backup to file and it deletes old files.
or:
3. I already have a program called firestreamer RM. It creates a virtual backup drive so you can use DVDs (this is why I bought it) or Hard Drives as if it were a tape. You can use it with any backup program. It also adds the benefit of compression, encryption and email reporting. So: Is it possible to list and delete (using vb or command line) backup sets from a tape, to make room new for a new append backup?
4. You think of something easier! (and don't say: buy a tape drive! I've spent all of my 50p budget!)

[ChrisC]

Hrm, robocopy?

http://www.ss64.com/nt/robocopy.html

Does your server not have a tape drive then?

Chris

[plexer]

ntbackup can backup to disk without requiring anything to fool it.

Does your server not have a tape drive then?

Tape that's so last year.

Ben

[OutToLunch]

Cobian Backup. Not what you're exactly what you're thinking of/asking for but would make your life a hell of a lot easier...

http://www.educ.umu.se/~cobian/cobianbackup.htm

Extremely professional backup app with a huge feature list. Can run from the command line but also includes an excellent service/scheduler... I just killed the machine I was running it on (oops!) so can't check up on the space requirements/delete oldest test you wanted, but it definitely has features for missed backups etc.

[ChrisC]

Tape that's so last year.

8O

yea, not everyone has rev drives :P

First alternative I could think of, so nah :twisted:

Chris

[mark]

Cobian looks very interesting OTL

[eean]

Cobian Backup.

Looks interesting. Had a quick play but I couldn't work out if it will backup and restore permissions with the files?

ntbackup can backup to disk without requiring anything to fool it.

Yeh, but it doesn't compress or encrypt. So I'd have to use windows built in compression and encyrption. If I use a 3rd party app, like Cobian or Firestreamer, I can just save my pass-phrase somewhere and use that to restore. But with windows transparent encryption, the key is in with the username, which in my case will be the system account. How easy is it to back this key up so I can decrypt in the event of a complete system failure?

Ntbackup doesn't like overwriting existing files (works for a while, then fails). So you end up with loads of copies of "Backup to drive x" on the restore page. Is there a way of programmatically telling removable storage that you have deleted a file, so it doesn't list it any more?

Also: Anyone know if it is possible to list and delete (using vb or command line) backup sets from a tape, to make room new for a new append backup?

Does your server not have a tape drive then?

It's an ex-RM Storebox (before my time). Thanks to the brilliant design by RM, I've had to put in 3 extra fans and leave the case open to stop the IDE hard drives from frying (hense the need for a backup!). So, no, they didn't think of putting in a tape backup!

[tarquel]

@eean

You might be able to use my script if you can hold off for a little while - its not 100% finished yet, though it does work

I use it with my Buffalo Terastation NAS device, but it would be fine for what you want it for

Grab me on messenger if ya want a chat about it sometime

Nath.

[eean]

Thanks. I won't be doing it until I get back from holiday now. Peru for 3 weeks!

[tarquel]

hehe no probs