Backup software for Windows 2000

I use Veritas Backup Exec. It allows you to easily setup and schedule backup jobs on any schedule you like. It keeps good logs and wasn't too difficult to set up. Veritas posts regular anti-virus updates which are easy to install (you can scan before archiving).

I tried ArcServeIT and didn't like it because I couldn't schedule jobs the way I wanted. ArcServe wouldn't allow me to do weekly backups on Monday and incrementals the rest of the week because it forced your schedule to start on Sunday. We don't work weekends and couldn't change tapes then. The real problem was that if you tried to vary your end-of-week it would write-protect your incremental tapes before you were done with them. Overall, pretty gui but inflexible.

Why not use 2000's backup utility? I have three W2KASs, all with HP DLT 40 drives and use the NT backup. I have NEVER not been able to restore DATA. Besides 2000's backup is veritas backup exec. I would reconsider or at least give the NT backup a try before you go spend money on a third party package.

P.S. If you think its anything like 4.0's backup you might want to reconsider. Personaly I believe NT 4.0's backup sucks and I have lost alot of data from unsucceful recoverys, but don't be tainted by past experiences. The new is truely an improvement.

Good Luck

I was facing the same dillemma when I was looking for backup software for my company. I tested a lot them and finalize to a few good ones.

Win2k backup - sucks. Only if you want to backup and restore DATA. Doesn't help when your server crashed.
Veritas - expensive. Have to pay for each stupid add-on modules making you backup become so complicated. Hard to setup and un-userfriendly GUI. But powerful and have all the features you want.

Retrospect - cheap. easy to setup and userfriendly interface. Not as powerful as veritas.

yosemite Tapeware - FREE!! (came with my HP backup device) Easy to use with simple interface. But not as powerful as veritas. Lack Open File Manager to save open files. Supports one button restore (supported by HP backup devices). FREE.

For me, the most important of a backup is to be able to save me time when my server CRASH. If I only want to backup my data and be able to restore them under windows, I will use HDD which is darn cheap now. So, Win2k backup is OUT of the question. You definitely have to look for third party software.

I am currently using Tapeware because I found it to be sufficient as it support one button recovery feature which is important. With this feature, the tape can be used to boot and restore the system. No need to keep separate bootdisk. And since I have HP tapedrive that support this, why not make full use of it? The only complain i have is no Open file support. I read somewhere on tapeware that their new versionwill have open file support but so far no news yet.