Windows/Linux Question: Setting up a "server" for network backup

[clay]

I'm re-purposing an old XP box to be a backup machine for a small Windows XP network. There are 3 XP boxes using Acronis 2009 (I think that's the version) to backup on a set schedule...I'm just giving them a new destination to backup to.

Now, I could just use the XP box as-is, add a PCI SATA card and a SATA drive or two, and call it a day. Or, I could use a Linux variant as the server OS, and setup sharing so the XP machines can see it and backup to it.

I have very limited experience with Linux (installed it a couple of times on various machines and played with it a bit, but nothing in depth), but this seems like a function that it would handle quite well. Is there a good out-of-the-box Linux distro that is setup for simple filesharing? Or, should I just make it easy on myself and use the XP install and just slap a PCI SATA card in there?

thoughts?

[Trouble]

Windows Home Server 2011 $70 shipped. http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=MSCCQ00128&c=CJ

[marksomebodyelse]

Trouble wrote:
Windows Home Server 2011 $70 shipped. http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=MSCCQ00128&c=CJ

I think it it requires a 64 bit processor.

[M A V I C]

I go with ubuntu and install netatalk.

At the same time, you might look up how much power that XP box uses and see how much it costs you per year. You could theoretically build a more power efficient hackintosh, and the extra build cost would be mitigated by the power savings.

[clay]

I'd like to keep the total cost under $200, if possible. I need to check the specs on the XP box--this is definitely an ancient machine, so WHS probably won't work on it.

[M A V I C]

I wouldn't go with Windows nor WHS. With SMB and NTFS, you're restricted on filenames that are common on Macs. For example, songs that have an apostrophe in the title are automatically named that when ripped in iTunes. Those files wont transfer over SMB nor keep on NTFS.

[Trouble]

Why not just get a cheap NAS?

[clay]

Mavic,

Macs don't figure into this system at all--all the machines backing up to the XP box are XP machines. So Mac filenames aren't a big consideration.

[Robert M]

Clay,

Not sure if this is feasible but you may be able to use the same solution I used for my family. I turned my home theater Mac Mini into a backup server. But, instead of using Time Machine, I used Crashplan. Here is how I configured it:

The Mac Mini has two users. One is the primary user, the other a test user. It also has a 3TB external hard disk drive. I installed Crashplan on the computer in the primary user account and created an Crasplan account. Via the Crashplan account, I invited two people to back up from their computers to the mini.

In the Crashplan settings on the mini, I told it to store the backups of each "friend" on the external hard disk drive and to limit the amount of space allocated to them. I've allocated 500 gigs to each friend so far. this is ample space for them The rest will be allocated as necessary for additional friends and/or increased storage allotments for the existing users.

On the other machines, I configured Crashplan and simply let it do its thing.

Crashplan is doing its thing and the computers are definitely backing up to the server. Neither has suffered a crash or loss of data. So, I've never had to do a restore.

This setup is used at my parent's home and should be sufficient for their purposes. Not sure if it is appropriate for a business setting. But, if you have no backup system at all, I'd be inclined to say it's better than nothing.

For what it's worth, a SATA PCI card and a SATA drive or two is cheap. Definitely far less than the cost of building a hackintosh or buying a Mac Mini or any other computer for the same purpose. If it doesn't work the way you want, you already have ample storage for use in another go at creating a backup server.

Robert

[clay]

Trouble wrote:
Why not just get a cheap NAS?

Because the NAS devices I've used are slow. Even a cheap low-end PC is faster for backing up files. Maybe I haven't tried the "good/fast" NAS devices (I consider a ReadyNAS NV+ at least a high end prosumer device, and I don't consider it fast), but I haven't been impressed with speed. In a multi-user backup scenario, I don't want it taking 3 hours to backup 10 gigs of data every day.