home network backup solutions

[Paul ™]

For optimal config/speed, try to plug the devices the use the most net data into the router, and the devices that mostly send traffic around the house into the hub.yup.

[eFestivals]

Now bearing in mind what you said Neil, I have 3 ports spare on the Superhub so would you recommend any changes to the way I have it set up?

looks good to me.

[Paul ™]

Yeah everything seems to be working ok, I just backed up some photos from the desktop to the NAS and it's a lot faster than previously so that's a good sign

Is there a good free utility/app that can measure throughput speeds between devices?

Also tried streaming a 1080p 3D film to the TV and didn't get any buffering or crashing where as we were seeing it happen using WiFi previously.

So just to get the Powerline adaptors for upstairs to replace the old wireless router, though I think I might go for something like this to avoid buying another gigabit switch as only need to connect up 2 devices.

[eFestivals]

Paul ™, on 14 Mar 2013 - 18:49, said:

Is there a good free utility/app that can measure throughput speeds between devices?

I'd guess there is, but I don't know what.

I'm getting my measure of thru-put from rsync (which is the unix command-line back-up/sync program, tho there's a windoze version called QtdSync), which from a unix console gives a MB/s transfer speed (I'm not sure if you can get that info sending data with QtdSync).

It would probably be too much hassle for you to get that set up just to test the speeds, tho if your NAS runs unix (which I'm guessing it does) it might be a viable back-up option for you anyway (chances are it'll be installed on your NAS) - it's free, and I'm guessing will transfer data a fair bit quicker than you'll get using a windows mapped drive because of the Samba* overheads (as long as you're not using Samba as a part of your setup of course; it's an option within QtdSync).

(* Samba is what a unix machine needs to be a windows shared drive).

[Paul ™]

ahhh most of that was way above my head

Another question, is there a simple back up solution/software that just allows me to select folders ie My Documents, My Music, My Pictures etc and allows a simple back up to be done on those folders I specify?

I don't want to have the software create it's own version of files as compressed files or needing their software to access the folders.

I just want a back up of the exact folders from one location (Laptop or Computer) to another location (NAS or external storage) which can be automated and not what I do just now which is just copy folders over.

[eFestivals]

Another question, is there a simple back up solution/software that just allows me to select folders ie My Documents, My Music, My Pictures etc and allows a simple back up to be done on those folders I specify?

In your NAS runs linux - and it very probably does - and has rsync installed - and it very probably does - then you can use QtdSync to do just that.

If your NAS does neither, then you should have bought a decent NAS.

Edited March 18, 2013 by eFestivals

[Paul ™]

haha it wasn't an expensive one no, so I doubt it does either of them.

[Paul ™]

Apparently you can use rsync by using command line prompts, am looking for a simple solution that I can just select certain folders in a GUI and it copies them to the NAS as they are and checks say on a daily basis to update any newer/revised files/folders.

Though this looks like it might do the job, so downloaded it and going to give it a try.

http://www.ice-graphics.com/ICEMirror/IndexE.html

[eFestivals]

Apparently you can use rsync by using command line prompts....

rsync is a command line tool. There's GUI add-ons for it, for both linux and windows.

QtdSync is the windoze GUI interface, which allows you to choose your folders.

There's probably nothing which will do the job as quickly or as well.

[Paul ™]

Sounds like what I need, will try it with this Ice Mirror and if that doesn't do the job, perhaps there is an idiots guide to rsync somewhere

[Paul ™]

The whole reason am looking at automated back ups is the other half had a huge panic this morning as an important piece of uni work had vanished (it actually had been saved as an older version, so managed to recover it with Windows 'Previous Version').

This was due to not running a back up as often as we should, and she also uses Google Drive to sync/access folders across from her laptop to desktop, which is not the best software.

[eFestivals]

Sounds like what I need, will try it with this Ice Mirror and if that doesn't do the job, perhaps there is an idiots guide to rsync somewhere

you don't need any idiots guide. Setting up QtdSync is no harder than any other backup software if your NAS drives are mapped to the PC that is being backed up and rsync is installed on your NAS.

(it gets more complicated if you want to do something more complicated, but you've no need to go there).

I guarantee that you won't get a backup system that's any better than an rsync-based one.

Edited March 18, 2013 by eFestivals