Backing up Remotely-Need Help?

[itakey]

So here is the situation, I need to keep a hard drive/folder synchronized on 2 different computers in separate locations, one at my house, and one at my office.

I basically want it so the files at my office synchronize and backup to my house. Any suggestions on the best way to do this?

I am fairly technical so I've researched a ton of options, but was hoping some of you could give me some feedback. Here are some thoughts:

1.) Use a program like ViceVersa or SyncBackSE
2.) Purchase a router with VPN hardware capabilities, and then use a program like ViceVersa, or something else

3.) Set up FREENAS on a computer, but this might be more than I want to do since I don't want to be poking at it all the time.

4.) I've read about how people use rsync or Unison with cygwin on a windows machine and SSH tunnelling, but again this may be more involved than I want to get

I just want to set it up, and not touch it too much anymore. Either option should be secure or encrypted somehow.

Suggestions?

 

[kevnich2]

SSH with some type of automated SFTP software (Goodsync is a good one) How much data are you talking about?

 

[itakey]

Not talking a ton, but I do sometimes create a photoshop file that is a few hundred megs large. There will probably be gigs of data at the start, but it will be on both machines in the beginning and then will only be the changing between them.

So on a typical day maybe create 10 to 20 word documents, maybe a few graphics, etc. Also want my Outlook PST file updated. I may eventually want to try to sync Acronis True Image backup images too in case something catastrophic happens. Most important is just the day to day changes of files.

Thanks for the feedback so far.

 

[xSauronx]

Originally posted by: itakey

Suggestions?

how about a flash drive?

i mean, if youre at both places each day, it would be one hell of a lot easier to keep up with. setup a sync on each machine, pop in the flash drive and sync to that.

 

[itakey]

I thought about the flash drive, but the problem is that I use files sometimes that I haven't touched for ages. So each drive will ideally have, lets say 40 gigs of data, but they won't be transferring much on a daily basis. So, a flash drive won't pull this one off.

 

[kevnich2]

The files your talking about could easily exceed a few gigs a day, especially acronis images. Over the internet using SSH, not exactly a realistic expectation. Your best bet is as others have said, a hard drive that you keep at your office and swap out say once a week. And yes, contrary to what you said, a USB hard drive would work just fine for this purpose.

 

[itakey]

Originally posted by: kevnich2
The files your talking about could easily exceed a few gigs a day, especially acronis images. Over the internet using SSH, not exactly a realistic expectation. Your best bet is as others have said, a hard drive that you keep at your office and swap out say once a week. And yes, contrary to what you said, a USB hard drive would work just fine for this purpose.

The reason why I want the files in both locations is because I work from home a lot, so I don't want to have to rely on VPN to transfer the file while I work, or remote desktop. Instead I want the files to be in both places.

For the flash drive, I have a ton of files, and don't always know which I need, so a flash drive in a 40GB size is unrealistic.

I've thought about just bringing and external back and forth, but that can easily turn into a chore, and can be something that will slow me down.

Now that I think about it I won't be transferring the acronis image, as that will be staying on a separate drive local to the machine.

Seems like syncing files that I work on its ideal over the internet.

Thanks for the feedback so far. Anyone else?

 

[crazychicken]

I got a "portable harddrive", small enough to throw in the briefcase, but the capacity is large enough to not matter than you have 40gb of unused files. I keep the "live" data on the external portable drive, and back it up to the work machine and the home machine daily. Seems to work pretty well for me.

Dave

 

[itakey]

Originally posted by: crazychicken
I got a "portable harddrive", small enough to throw in the briefcase, but the capacity is large enough to not matter than you have 40gb of unused files. I keep the "live" data on the external portable drive, and back it up to the work machine and the home machine daily. Seems to work pretty well for me.

Dave

I think I might go this route until I can figure out what the best method is for me since I need to get something in place by the end of this week. I think with time I will be configuring a VPN (Hardware) so it is all done automatically, since this is something that is common in the business world. I may play around with OpenVPN for now to see how it all works, and once that proves itself I will go with a hardware firewall VPN.

 

[kevnich2]

Originally posted by: itakey

Originally posted by: crazychicken
I got a "portable harddrive", small enough to throw in the briefcase, but the capacity is large enough to not matter than you have 40gb of unused files. I keep the "live" data on the external portable drive, and back it up to the work machine and the home machine daily. Seems to work pretty well for me.

Dave

I think I might go this route until I can figure out what the best method is for me since I need to get something in place by the end of this week. I think with time I will be configuring a VPN (Hardware) so it is all done automatically, since this is something that is common in the business world. I may play around with OpenVPN for now to see how it all works, and once that proves itself I will go with a hardware firewall VPN.

This is also what I was suggesting, a small portable USB hard drive. I have a Western Digital My Passport 500gb drive. Easily fits in a pocket or something and requires no external power, just a mini usb cable. Grab 2 of them and rotate them. A VPN for the amount of data your wanting, is to me a bit unrealistic unless you have very high bandwidth dedicated line between your home and office. A few gb's changed files every day between the typical home based broadband, your talking a full day just to transfer those files alone.

 

[itakey]

Sounds like the External is going to be used until I can get something to handle it over the wire setup.
Thanks for the feedback