Need advice on a backup solution

[ddiehl]

I am in need of a Windows based backup solution that will keep selected folders and documents on my laptop and desktop, backed up to my Windows Home Server (V1), in addition I want the three synced to each other as well. I'm looking for something that I can schedule to run on it's own, and will provide a report as to what was backed and whether it was successful in the form of an email if possible

Example, I'd like all my laptop docs, music, and photo's backed up to my desktop and synced to each other, so any changes made on either will reflect on both, and also backed up to the server.

Separately I have large DVD folders on the desktop that I'd like to keep backed up and synced to the server only, so any time a new DVD file is added to the desktop it will automatically be backed up to the server.

I'm not looking for a cloud based solution. I wish to keep it all local.

Any suggestions would be appreciated..

Thanks..

 

[dsperber]

Since you're looking for a folder/file "data" backup solution, I highly recommend NovaBACKUP Professional from NovaStor. It has all of the options you expressed a desire for in a backup/restore, including automatic scheduled backup jobs.

I don't know about its "sync" capability, although it does have COPY capability. This isn't really "sync".

However for "sync" I highly recommend Beyond Compare Standard from Scooter Software. It doesn't have its own built-in scheduling capability but it does have "scripting" (for creation of a batch compare/sync/mirror/copy/update job) which you can then just use standard Windows task scheduling with to set up a regularly scheduled nightly "sync" task for example to accomplish whatever you want to "sync".

Both products are NOT free but are reasonably priced. Both provide free trials (14-days for NovaBackup, and 30-days for Beyond Compare). Beyond Compare also has a slightly more expensive Pro version with some additional functionality but I don't think these additional features would be of any value for your described needs.

Both products have existed for a very long time and have active product and customer support from the vendor.

Let me know if you do try these out and have any questions on how to use them or configure them.