Please don't drop my files.
June 14, 2010 6:08 PM Subscribe
Mac OSX to Windows computer back-up software: an easy and reliable method for keeping copies and not losing anything at all in the process, please.
We have just got ourselves a 2Tb hard drive in our 'server' at home. It's only a server in that we use it as one, it hasn't got any proper server software on it (just XP Pro).
I have a Mac (OSX SL) that has a 250Gb drive that needs backing up and need some way to shuffle movies, files, music and the like back and forth. At the very least, I'd like a convenient, robust (ie copes with wireless drop out and resumes) method for keeping my computer backed up (picking folders of my choosing to do so) and also swap stuff around and pick and choose from the other server content as and when I see fit.
Now, I think that Filezilla (or similar) will work fine for the swapping around, but there are a myriad of options for Mac back-up options, but it's not clear as to which one will be easier to use for me over a network to a windows machine.
I've tried to look into this, but am not entirely sure what I should be looking to make sure I have, or to make sure I avoid. I can pick one at random, but I'd either like to find out that there is a free one available that does what I want, or (at next best case) to make sure that the one I spend my money on actually is a solid choice.
Personal experience is fine, as well as technically knowledgeable input - all the other Askme's on this seem to be a good few years out of date.
We have just got ourselves a 2Tb hard drive in our 'server' at home. It's only a server in that we use it as one, it hasn't got any proper server software on it (just XP Pro).
I have a Mac (OSX SL) that has a 250Gb drive that needs backing up and need some way to shuffle movies, files, music and the like back and forth. At the very least, I'd like a convenient, robust (ie copes with wireless drop out and resumes) method for keeping my computer backed up (picking folders of my choosing to do so) and also swap stuff around and pick and choose from the other server content as and when I see fit.
Now, I think that Filezilla (or similar) will work fine for the swapping around, but there are a myriad of options for Mac back-up options, but it's not clear as to which one will be easier to use for me over a network to a windows machine.
I've tried to look into this, but am not entirely sure what I should be looking to make sure I have, or to make sure I avoid. I can pick one at random, but I'd either like to find out that there is a free one available that does what I want, or (at next best case) to make sure that the one I spend my money on actually is a solid choice.
Personal experience is fine, as well as technically knowledgeable input - all the other Askme's on this seem to be a good few years out of date.
2nding the separation of tasks advice. I'm a big fan of Crashplan for backups. If it's not happening automatically, maintaining versions, and sending data offsite, you just think you're backing up. CrashPlan will handle all that for you, for free. Well, free offsite will require you pairing with a friend who also needs offsite data, but surely you can find one. Everyone needs offsite- fire, theft and floods really do exist.
posted by Steve3 at 7:54 PM on June 14, 2010
posted by Steve3 at 7:54 PM on June 14, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
Really, the only good way to do what you want is to use a Mac-based backup tool that makes a backup archive file, rather than simply copying files from one spot to another. This has the downside that the only way to access the backups is via that same backup and restore tool - you won't ever get a simple way to get, on Windows, access to the files your Mac has backed up. So, I recommend separating the "keep the Mac backed up" task from the "shuffle files back and forth" task.
If you're willing to take that basic approach, there are a number of ways to go about it. One way that should work reasonably well is to create a big fat image file on your Windows server, at least as big as the hard drive on you Mac, and mount that on your Mac so your Mac sees the image file as if it were in fact an entire disk drive. Then you should be able to persuade Time Machine to use that like it uses any other drive.
posted by flabdablet at 6:23 PM on June 14, 2010