I have about 16 computers running windows. I have a server running ubuntu. I want to be able to back up certain folders on the windows machines to the ubuntu server. Then I want to be able to back up the ubuntu server to an off site location. I have looked into rsync but am not sure if this will do what I need. Any recommendation to achieve this. I would like to use the differential back up ability if possible. The connection between the main location and the off site isn't fast enough to do a daily full back up.

You'll need to think about what your requirements are first,
eg.
- how long do I want to retain backups for
- how quickly do I need to be able to recover from a complete failure
- will I need to restore files ad-hoc

You may find that a tape drive attached to the server is a better option

cheers

Your Budget also depends on this. Just because it is open source does not mean it is free. I know Symantec Netbackup will do both Windows and Linux clients, but it isn't cheap.

the backups are for catastrophic events only. We have a large document repository that are also stored as paper documents. If something happened to our building fire or something and we lost the paper files and the server, I don't want it to be a total loss. It would be a back up from the 16 computers to the server then almost a mirror on the off site. Once the first full backup is made I only want backup what was changed daily (if a file is removed the same file on the off site server also gets removed ect.) The only time I would need to restore is if something happened to the main building.

I've been using synbak to backup between linux boxes. It worked out pretty well for me.

From their web site: http://www.initzero.it/portal/en/pro...ynbak/overview it seems to have a windows version too.

If you only ever do one full backup, your differential will never stop growing eventually being larger than your full backup.

I'd probably have to go with a local tape backup and offsite storage, there are plenty of companies who will do tape storage, pickups and dropoffs for you

cheers

Take a look at Amanda -- http://amanda.zmanda.com/. In principle it can do everything you want. It's just a matter of deciding on details and policy and setting up the right configuration.

Read, configure, enjoy :-)

Use the samba backend for the windows hosts and use rsync over ssh for the offsite backup mirror.
Your local ubuntu machine can do daily partial backs and weekly full backups, and you can sync the weekly full backup to the offsite machine with the slow connection.

Evo2.

I use bacula a t smallish set I help run. It was interesting to setup, but very flexible. it also has a pretty good windows client. You can also backup to disk. with iSCSI pretty cheap you can setup a 3 legged backup system (local, iSCSI, and tape).

Don't forget to actually test the backups, too. You don't want to be in a position to find that, with your building levelled by some event, your backups are corrupt or out of date. Don't just test once ... test regularly. And document the procedures at the backup site (backups are no good if the surviving staff don't know what to do).

Amen Skaperen.