Backup ideas required

[Hamster]

I'v got 4 X 1TB storage drives inside my pc which i want to backup externally on a regular basis. I've just ordered another 4 X 1TB drives for this purpose.

I need some ideas as to a clever way to backup the drives. Obviously i wouldn't like to just wipe the backup HDs and copy the entire drives over each time so incremental backup makes sense. I've read a few threads about robocopy and it seems like it may be a solution in terms of software.

I've been eyeing up this 4 bay storage box from icybox which retails at about £140:

http://www.raidsonic.de/en/pages/products/external_cases.php?we_objectID=4754

This has 4 e-sata ports, one for each drive.

The obvious problem would be how to connect all the drives to the pc simultaneously so that a one-click solution could be mustered up so may have to consider doing the first backup via e-sata and the incremental backups via usb. Would prefer a complete sata solution for speed though but don't really want to fork out loads more cash on this project.

This is a totally new area for me so need some inspired ideas as to the best way to approach this!

 

[LeperousDust]

Totally off the wall suggestion but you could go for a WHS (windows home server) a bit overkill but i LOVE its backup solution and hard drive extender (pooled storage). All automated and tightly linked with windows. Works well and you can make up a WHS nowdays for very little i'll find an article on a *reall* cheap one soon and edit this post

Otherwise get some external whatever you want, and get robocopying scheduled robocopy is about as powerful as you get and totally free .

//Edit: Here we go, so for around £200 you can get yourself a fully running WHS Linky

If i hadn't put old PC's together and just stuffed them out the way running headless i would have built a small shuttle. Maybe even look for second hand shuttles in the MM?

I truly do love WHS though i wouldn't go without it now, i have it doing far far more than backups now too, it essentially runs all my downloads centralises my AV (avast family pack) makes my files remotely available, acts as an SSH server for tunneling etc... And a central fully expandable storage host for all the crap i collect and more tbh!

 

[Hamster]

Thanks for the suggestions .

I've considered the WHS idea and it does seem like a good option. However, before doing away with the idea of a 4 bay caddy, what would be the best way to connect that caddy to the computer and how easy would it be to perform a complete backup of the 4 drives inside the pc? I bevieve the raidsonic device i linked to has an e-sata and a usb connection for each hard drive which i presume can all be connected simultaneously to the pc.