How to make a backup server out of Slackware?
 

Im about to install Slackware Linux. (If Im successfull)

Anyway, once I get used to Linux, I want to create a backup server maybe out of an old PC. Do I have to be connected to the Internet in order to do this?

depends on what you want to back-up...

=)

When you say "backup server", do you mean you want to build a server whose purpose is to backup data, or are you saying that you want to build a "stand-by" server that can be moved into your Production environment if the existing server goes down? -- J.W.

Well, I want to use it for backing up data and as backup OS incase Windows crashes.

You see... the main purpose is that I want store all my data on a Linux server. Thats all. period. How should I do this?

Do I need to have an Internet connection to this?

where are the computers physically located??

if you're talking about having a server in your house where all the data in your pc gets backed-up, then NO, you don't need to use the internet for that...

but if the server is far-away, like in another country or whatever, then YES, you'd use the internet for that...

If your backup server is located in close proximity (ie, the same room or office) as the target machine, then No, you don't need Internet access. On the other hand, if the target machine is several (or many) miles away from where you are, then Yes, you would need some kind of network connectivity -- J.W.

The server will be here next to the primary machine that Im working on right now. A few feet (literally).

Even if Im not connected to the Internet with my primary machine will I have to connect inorder to use the backup server?

Also, since I have PuTTY installed on my Windows machine, do I have to login to the backup server?

So just to confirm, will I have to have an Internet connection?

if it's like that, then your internet connection has nothing to do with your backup system...

it would all be done in the local area network...

wheather you have internet access or not is a totally separate issue...

yes, you can login to your linux server from your windows box via ssh using putty, but once again, this doesn't have anything to do with the internet, you don't need to be on the internet to do any of your stuff on your LAN... it's a completely separate network...

just make sure the 2 computers are connected via a hub/switch or a crossover-cable and you have a network card working in both machines

or a direct connect i am not sure of any other ways.... usb maybe?????? never tried that one will someone tell me if thats even possible cuz that would be cool.. lol

Ok, I understand.

But, do I really need a compatible modem for setting Linux as a backup server???

ummm... NO... you just need for each computer to have a network interface card (NIC)...

Now the question is, how could I transfer all of my docs into Linux? There on an NTFS drive in Windows.

you could install samba on the slackware server... you'd then be using the SMB protocol to share files between the windows box and the linux box...

http://us4.samba.org/samba/

google a bit, there's lots of samba documentation...

http://www.google.com/linux