Backup Solution / server

[MINISTRYofIDEAS]

Hi everybody.

I have searched through macosx forums and I'm not sure where to post this, But here goes:

I have a small company with my-selv as the only employee. I work both from home and an office.

I have been seaching the web for a way to have 2 servers. One in my office and one at home. I would like these to sync every night via the internet. I work with graphic design, so at least 1Tb at each place is required with possibilities to expand.

I can't afford bying 2 Xserves.

I have been looking at synology.com and like the fact that you also can run an Itunesserver. But can they solve the problem requested above??

How does Synologi work with osX?

Are there any other solutions I should know about?

I run Leopard.

Kind regards
Alexander

[ScottW]

Free Method: Rsync over SSH, will handle small changes to large files easily and effectively.

Are you looking at this for backup perspective or just keeping things in sync so you can access them from either place without the delay?

[MINISTRYofIDEAS]

Thank you for the reply.

I hope to find a solution that keeps things in sync. And let that be my primary way of backing up.

I search for a software/hardware solution.

[ScottW]

If the servers are Mac or Linux (or combo of both) you can easily keep things in sync using Rsync. Rsync is already installed on your Mac (via Terminal) and it is very simple to copy things from what computer to the next. If you have a 1GIG file and change one layer in the file, then save it again... it doesn't have to copy over 1GIG of data to sync, it just syncs the difference.

I use Rsync for just about everything. I have even use it to make live backups of my FileVault (Sparse Bundle) file... the bundle itself, not the files in it. Works flawlessly.

Something like this is all it takes:

rsync -av -e ssh username@remotehost.com:/path/to/my/files /path/to/my/localmirror/

Easy as pie. Now add --delete to that line and it will delete files that have been deleted. You can also sync back and forth, have it make backups of files it changes or only update files that have changed and exist. Tons of options.

rsync --help

Run that all from terminal.

[MINISTRYofIDEAS]

I'm a bit sceptic using terminal.. I far from experienced using it.

Right now I don't have any servers: I use a 1 tb transportable disc and then bring it with me home every day. As work station i use a mbp which I allways carry with me. I also have disc (1tb) which always is in the office. Can i from my mac control these discs with rsync?? Also remote??

If not should I buy "mini servers" as Qnap or synology??

Thank you for your help.

[macworks]

Why not just purchase a couple of 1 TB external firewire hard drives and then back up your primary server to one of them each night. You'll alternate drives every day and take the one not in use "today" home with you when you leave the office each day.

That's probably the cheapest way to do it and you had expressed concern over cost.

If you want it to sync to the backup drive rather frequently, use ChronoSync and have it back up every hour or every 15 minutes or whatever.

[MINISTRYofIDEAS]

Thats what I do now..

My concern over cost, is what keeping me from buying two xserves..

But I wouldn't mind spending about 2000 $ on a solution that works as I want, if possible.