Backup to two targets

[perkinw]

For many years I have been backing up Windows (data and system) to an external HDD using Windows Backup & Restore. I recently acquired a Network Attached Storage device (Synology) and decided to make a second backup to the NAS. I had planned to use Windows Backup & Restore for this, but ran into a problem: Windows assumes a SINGLE target. Each time I reconfigure the target it counts as a 'new' backup job, which requires a new full backup to be done.

Is there a workaround? Or must I use more sophisticated backup software? If so, what software do you recommend? I'm not a sophisticated user, so the simpler, the better. As far as features are concerned, all I need is the equivalent of Windows Backup & Restore plus the ability to handle multiple targets, no more and no less. Thanks!

 

[townsbg]

Have you ever tried to copy a file to more than one location at a time? OS's (not just windows) aren't designed for that and that is essentially what you are trying to do. If you need a backup in another location you will have to do so manually.

 

[Layback Bear]

As far as I know one can only do a backup to one destination at a time.

I'm not sure if what you desire to do can even be done with Windows Server.

Hang in there. Their might be another member with other ideas.

 

[perkinw]

Let me clarify my original post. I want make two backups (data and system image), certainly not at the same time, but rather one after the other. That way, I'll have a second backup in case one of the devices fails. Anyway, the first backup goes to an external HDD and another backup (done at a different time) goes to the NAS.

 

[perkinw]

Let me clarify my original post. I want make two backups (data and system image), certainly not at the same time, but rather one after the other. That way, I'll have a second backup on a second device in case one of the devices fails. Anyway, one backup goes to an external HDD and the other (done at a different time!) goes to the NAS.

I created confusion when I said "Windows assumes a single target." Yes, of course Windows can only handle one target at a time. But when you edit the schedule and change the target in order to backup to a second device, Windows says "Ah, this must be a new backup" and it makes a full backup, rather than an incremental one. So as I keep alternating targets, I keep getting full backups.

 

[Layback Bear]

Just a suggestion.

I personally use Macrium Reflect for Backups and Clones.

Take a read here and see if it is what you are looking for.

**Notice is does have a section for How to create an incremental disk image


Macrium Reflect Tutorials

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I think our misunderstanding was from post #1

all I need is the equivalent of Windows Backup & Restore plus the ability to handle multiple targets, no more and no less. Thanks!

As far as I know you can have as many targets destination as you desire but just one at a time.

 

[perkinw]

Thanks! I have a look at Macrium Reflect.

 

[Layback Bear]

Whs has a Tutorial that also could be helpful. With a video.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html

 

[DavidE]

Just an fyi,

Macrium Reflect free does not have Incrementals.
Macrium Reflect free does have Differentials.

If you want to use incrementals, you need the Pro (paid) version.

imho, differentials are a bit larger/slower than Incrementals, but they are more reliable.

 

[townsbg]

Also with a differential you only need one or 2 to be sure. With incrementals you need all of them. It makes restores more complicated and cumulatively takes up more room compared to only keeping 1 or 2 differentials. IMO the only advantage to incrementals is if you need file versioning.

 

[perkinw]

I have been struggling for a year to put together a backup plan that follows best practices, in particular: keeping three layers of backup. I run into a roadblock every time I think I almost have it. So here is what I want to do:

(1) I want to mirror my media files redundantly to (1) an external HDD (2) a second external drive, which I keep offsite (3) shared folders of a Synology NAS, allowing them to be accessed from anywhere on my home network . Media files (photos, music, documents) are my most valuable assets. I have been using SyncBackFree for this, and it works just fine.

For backing up user profiles and system images, I have been using Windows Backup & Restore. As explained in the original post, Windows Backup forces me to stick with a single backup target if I want incremental backups. So currently, I'm only backing up to one external HDD. I would like to make at least a second backup to the NAS. This was the motivation for the original post.

I'm having a hard time understanding this: If "best practices" dictate keeping multiple backups, why does Windows Backup & Restore effectively tell me I can only have one?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I'm having a hard time understanding this: If "best practices" dictate keeping multiple backups, why does Windows Backup & Restore effectively tell me I can only have one?

Because it's not the sharpest tool in the shed?

I've never heard anyone contend that it was.

I fiddled with it years ago and gave up.

Too inflexible, too fussy, too cryptic, too much monkey business for me.

I'm taking your word for it that it effectively says you can have only one backup. I certainly don't know from personal experience because I gave up on it.

I'm guessing you have some over-riding reason not to seriously investigate another tool.

The backup software I have used generally allows you to use as many targets as you want, albeit ONE target at a time. Each location represented by a separate "profile". You run the profiles separately, one after the other, by poking an icon or a listing on a drop-down menu. Profile 1 backs up to this internal. Profile 2 backs up to that external. Profile 3 backs up to wherever else you've chosen.

There may be something out there that backs up to 3 separate targets with a single mouse click, but I haven't run across it.

I suppose you could rig up a scheduling app and/or Task Manager to do all 3 backups to the 3 separate targets with a single mouse click, but I've never been interested in doing that.

I just use separate profiles and run them manually, sequentially, at will.

I don't use incrementals and don't know how much that plays into your problems. They are a complication I don't need.

 

[Layback Bear]

Their is a chance that Windows Server or Enterprise can do what you desire.
I have never used either but maybe someone who has will chime in.

Because I never leave a drive used for backups hook to my computer when not in use a scheduled backup is of no use to me. So again I'm sorry I can't offer more help.

Jack

 

[perkinw]

I don't use incrementals and don't know how much that plays into your problems. They are a complication I don't need.

I use SyncBackFree for mirroring media files (docs, pictures, music, videos). Mirroring makes the destination have the same files and folders as the source, and SyncBackFree does it very efficiently.

I do not mirror user profiles (i.e., C:\User), since that would be extremely time- and space-consuming. I currently back up profiles using Windows Backup & Restore. It does not create an exact copy, but a compressed binary version that is only readable by the backup program itself. As I understand it, the rationale for backing up a user profile is to be able to restore complete user data in case of a catastrophic event, such as loss of hard drive. Incremental backups have the added advantage of being able to restore historical versions of individual files.

Frankly, I have never needed to restore a file from a Windows backup, but who knows, I have never "needed" the lifejacket on a boat. I am simply trying to follow "best practices" and finding it surprisingly hard to do so.

 

[DavidE]

You understand a lot about backups, more than me !

Just be sure you understand, if any incremental BU is corrupt or missing for whatever reason, every incremental after that (in the chain) is useless.
Every incremental is based on the changes since the LAST incremental, for that chain starting from a full BU.

Every Differential includes all changes since the FULL backup, there is no dependency on a previous diff BU.

 

[perkinw]

You understand a lot about backups, more than me !

I highly doubt that

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I do not mirror user profiles (i.e., C:\User), since that would be extremely time- and space-consuming. I currently back up profiles using Windows Backup & Restore. It does not create an exact copy, but a compressed binary version that is only readable by the backup program itself.

If you made an image of the C partition, that image would include C:\User and any profiles by definition. An image file might take 5 minutes to an hour or so, depending on how much space is occupied on C.

I'm not quite clear on why you would need to make a separate backup of any user profiles---above and beyond that which would be included in an ordinary image file by an ordinary imaging application.

 

[DavidE]

You understand a lot about backups, more than me !

I highly doubt that

There's many others in SF that make me feel like a newbie for backups

 

[perkinw]

If you made an image of the C partition, that image would include C:\User and any profiles by definition. An image file might take 5 minutes to an hour or so, depending on how much space is occupied on C.

I'm not quite clear on why you would need to make a separate backup of any user profiles---above and beyond that which would be included in an ordinary image file by an ordinary imaging application.

The System image is a disk image of the System drive, which in my case is an SSD mounted as drive C. My user data is on on drive D. When I run Windows Backup & Restore, I check the box indicating that I want a system image. Why not? It's a relatively small file. For the backup, I check D:\Users and let Windows backup up all user profiles.

A System image is good for exactly one thing: if my SSD fails, I can put in a new one and restore the OS from the System Image, avoiding the need to reinstall Windows and all my programs. But if my D: drive fails, or I accidentally delete some user data, I can restore either the entire D:\Users or selected files from the backup using the Restore feature of Windows Backup & Restore.