Navigating File Back Ups

[mikejpgelec]

Hey,

 

Our office is using a Buffalo NAS (in Raid mode) and I have things set up to automatically back up to the machine every few days. So far, I have not had to try and retrieve anything off it specifically but I am concerned that the automatic back up saves in a compressed format, that I have to use the NasNavigator program to view.

As the time will inevitably come where I will have to restore files, I thought I would look into how one retrieves the information. I did not find it straight forward but will probably be able to muddle through the process.

 

My question is, is there any way to program an automatic backup that just saves the files on the NAS in their native formats, with the same kind of file structure that exists in the PC? My work colleagues are not very computer literate at the best of times and this would be very confusing for them should they have to find files whilst I am not here.

 

I admit, maybe I should have done more research into backup solutions beforehand, but I did not realise it would be this involved. I had it in my mind that things would be as simple as plugging in a usb key to back up and view files.

 

This is not really a moan, just a request for information on a solution that suits me. :)

 

Thanks for reading.

 

Mike

[davo]

Firstly, whats the model number of the NAS and firmware installed?

 

Secondly, are you talking about PC -> NAS backup / Nas -> Nas backup or NAs -> USB backup? If its the first then what software are you using to do this?

[mikejpgelec]

Hi Davo,

 

Thank you for your reply.

 

It is apparently a LS-WXL series and the firmware is 1.43.

 

I am operating an automatic PC to NAS backup over my network. I would like to know that if there are specific files I would like to get at, whether there is an easier way of doing it than having to use the NasNavigator software that is supplied to root through the compressed files. The compressed files that show up on the NAS are named something along the lines of -  'MySimpleViewBackup_Modified_003.nbd.'

 

Kind Regards,

 

Mike

 

[davo]

what software are you using for the backup?

[mikejpgelec]

I do apologise, everytime I mentioned  NasNavigator, I was supposed to be saying Nova Backup!

[mikejpgelec]

Thank you for your reply Brian, I will give this a go.

 

Mike

 

 

*edit*

 

I have now set up a job to copy the files on my computer. I must have overlooked this option at first because it does not appear in the 'simple view,' when setting up jobs. Thanks again. :)

[mikejpgelec]

This definitely seems to be the solution I was looking for, thanks.

 

I have scheduled the copy backup to happen weekly but I have not been able to find an option to only update the data which has changed. Will it do this automatically, so that it will not have to copy over many gigabytes of data each time, or should I be looking for another option somewhere?

 

Kind Regards,

 

Mike

[kwvsp]

Did you ever figure this out? Did you find a setting so that your copy job will only copy the changed files?  I want to use the copy function (instead of backup) because I want to be able to view my files over the internet (on iPhone, iPad, or other laptop/desktop remotely).

I look forward to hearing your response!

Thanks!

Keith

[mikejpgelec]

Hi Keith,

 

Once I had got the backup scheduled and running, I just left it be. The program does not seem to just update the files that have been changed and I did not spend any extra time looking for a setting.

 

I do not think I am wrong as it takes a very long time to do a complete copy backup, more time than I would think needed if the files were just being updated.

 

Sorry I could not be of more help.

 

Mike

[kwvsp]

Hi Mike, thank you for your quick response. If I discover anything different I'll post back.  Thanks!

Keith