Network Backups?

I have an Iomega network attached storage 1TB drive.

The backup software that came with it is crashing all the time. Does anyone have a backup solution that they would recommend? I need to back up 3 laptops and a PC (mp3's, photos and docs).

Thanks in advance,
GB

Well I can highly recommend Microsoft Home Server. I have not upgraded to the most recent version (2011) because you have to have a 64 bit computer. I am using the previous version of Microsoft Home Server on an 8 year old computer. Every morning my 2 desktops and my laptop (if left in sleep or hibernation mode) are backed up by the Home Server. It back's up the entire system. I have use the backup several times.

On one occasion I just wanted to upgrade the drive to a large disc drive. I took out the old drive, installed the new drive and then booted off the recovery DVD. It took a couple of hours for the backup to complete but it was simple.

Another time my wifes computer got badly infected with a virus (She was tacking a course over the internet at Penn State). I did not have time to clean it so I simply boot from the recovery disk and restored to the last good backup.

Anyways, my 2 cents.

I just bought (have not installed) a Thecus N4100Pro.
It has a whole host of plugins in addition to backup.
In addition to backup I'm interested in the file and camera servers, and more.

If you're comfortable with writing simple .bat files I'd highly recommend MS Robocopy, which is even built into Windows 7. It is by far the fastest and most efficient file syncronizing software I've ever tried and it can do just about anything you desire.

edit...I know there was a GUI addon for the older version, but don't know if it will work with the updated version as I have no use for it.

"traditional" backup program Backup4ALl.

Really nice directory sync program AllSync.

I use both - and I tested a lot of other programs.

I use Genie Backup Manager. One of my requirements was that I wanted raw backup, no compression or proprietary file formats. It will do raw, zip, etc. I have it setup to push from each machine vs. pull that way I don't get errors if a machine is offline. Raw files mean I can just go browse my NAS if I need to restore an old file.

I also do a regular os image backup with Acronis and the MS image backup built into Win7. The MS image backup will only keep a single image, but it seems to be easiest to roll back from.

Lastly for systems that can be isolated (CQC Master Server, SSL VPN, Cacti) I run those in VMs and make manual backups of those images when I make changes/upgrades etc.

Might all seem like overkill, but every time I think I have a reliable backup system it fails me in one way or another.

I, like PaulB, have had good results from Windows Home Server. I especially like the part where reliable backups require no action from me other than to remember to leave the PCs and laptops in "Sleep" mode rather than turning them off. I also like the feature of the original version called Drive Extender that, among other things, lets me add to storage by simply plugging in a new drive.

+1 for WHS - specifically I use an HP MediaSmart - makes a nice NAS, backup solution, and I run some HA stuff on it and a VOIP server - and it's compatible with Apple devices too as a time machine backup destination.

But, the OP said he already has a device. Doesn't windows have some backup features built in?

I absolutely love SyncBackPro (there is a free edition as well), 1 license allows you to run it up to 5 systems. What makes it stand out is that it supports backups via e-mail, ftp, sftp (!), encryption, automatically back up certain files to/from USB devices based on the USB device name etc. I strongly recommend you take a look at it. I use it to remotely back up files from linux servers onto windows servers, and various RAID appliances.

I also used to run Genie Backup Pro until I discovered SyncBackPro, which worked really well for me, but didn't support sftp.

+1 SyncBackPro. SFTP is also what sent me its way and have never needed to look elsewhere.

If you're interested in backup to the cloud, check out www.crashplan.com

+1 for the MediaSMart box. Been running one for backups, movies and music collection for a couple years. Just picked up another one. Backs up every compute in the house but the kids laptop without any action from me. Can be had cheap on ebay.