Noob Tape-Backup Advice???

[OatMan]

BackUp idiot seeks back-up solution for broke non-technical lawyer friend.

I am looking for an inexpensive but reliable back-up solution, thinking either tape or HDD.

Criteria

- Inexpensive
- Must be as automated as possible. I will set up and maintain on a periodic basis, but basically needs to be something that has the minimum of user input (put in tape/ remove/ replace tape...)

- less than 20GB of data no software or system files needed to be backed up.
- Daily Bup is nice, but not necessary. Once a week incrimental and once a month full is fine.

- reasonably reliable by home user standards. I will have a full HDD image to be stored in safe deposit box once every three months or so to compliment the Bup solution.
- Ease of use/setup
- Did I mention inexpensive?

Concessions:
- Willing to concede speed
- willing to give up convienence of retreival
- can't think of anything else, but I'm sure there are many other concessions that could be made.

Any advice/suggestions would be greatly appreciated - especially relevant ones
Big Time TIA

 

[Skeeedunt]

broke lawyer eh I think an external hard drive would probably be your best bet, as I'm not sure if tape is really practical for something as small scale as that.

 

[zephyrprime]

Probably go with 2 external hard drives. Get some backup software separately becuase the stuff that comes with drives sucks.

If you really want tape backup, Get an external USB tape backup drive. An external USB will be the most convenient for you.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductLi...b&Submit=ENE&N=0&Ntk=all&Go.x=0&Go.y=0

 

[OatMan]

Thanks for the replys.

HDD is fine. Any suggestions on the software to run an automated BUP to Hard disk then?

 

[SuperNaruto]

you can use nt backup - free

things like second copy, nero has backup suite, etc, they'll keep archive. so if you buy a 750gb hdd, you can keep daily backup.. 37 times before erasing the first set of archives..

 

[Oyeve]

Doesnt WD or some other external HD have some push button backup crap on it? I swear I have seen that somewhere.

 

[zephyrprime]

Originally posted by: Oyeve
Doesnt WD or some other external HD have some push button backup crap on it? I swear I have seen that somewhere.

Yes, but it sucks. It doesn't compress, doesn't have the differntial backup, can't backup some system files, and etc.

Even the backup that comes with windows is better than that stuff. The only advantage of the pushbutton software is the support for the easy to press button.

 

[ViviTheMage]

throw up a RAID in his PC...or even on a spare server (crappy computer) and use it as a file server.

 

[OatMan]

Thanks for the advice. I didn't even think of using what was in front of me...

 

[oynaz]

RAID is not a valid substitute for backup. A lightning strike can still kill both HDDs.