network backup saving to a windows machine?

[deyab]

I would like to setup a backup server on my gentoo box, but trouble is don't have enough space available on the linux machine. Also, no point saving the backup on the same disk as the one being backed up.. gentoo box has one disk. However, ther's a windows machine on the network with enough spare space. I am looking for a backup solution, that will
1) Run on gentoo, saving to the windows machine.
2) If possible, be some kind of network backup solution, so that it can also backup other windows clients on the network, saving to that same windows box as above.
3) Hopefully not something as complicated as amanda. Not looking for anythign very fancy - but something wasy to use & reliable.

Any recommendatons?

TIA.

[ter_roshak]

If you don't mind writing your own backup scripts...the following may work for you.

I'm a big fan of using rsync to create network backups, and there is a Windows utility that works similar to rsync called robocopy (http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=323275). You could use robocopy quite easily to backup from the Windows machines to the backup server. For the Linux machine, you have a couple of options:

1. use Samba to share the data that you want to backup and use a batch file on the Windows machine to robocopy the data to the backup location, using the appropriate security measures. The benefit to this method would be that you could use the same setup for all of your Windows machines.

2. use Cygwin to create an rsync server on the Windows machine and backup to the Windows machine using rsync

3. use Cygwin to create an ssh server on the Windows machine and just copy over with scp
_________________
Josh Miller -- RHCE, VCP
Ditree Consulting
http://ditree.com/
Registered Linux User #318200

[deyab]

Thanks for the post. I already use cygwin on windows boxes. I would investigate rsync & robocopy to implement the backup solution.

Regards.

[deyab]

I am familier with dar, use it, and think it's very reliable. Reading through various docs, I just realized I could keep using dar, over a smb mount.

Just did a test - dar had no problems making a backup, and restoring that backup.

Is anyone aware of a problem with this? That is, using dar to backup over a samba mouned share on a windows box?

Thanks!