We run a small peer-to-peer network with about 30 PC’s running either WIN’95 or WIN’98. I need to backup workstation files with some sort of automatic process (as I know the users will not ensure they are backing up their Word files, Excel files, etc.)
There is really no budget for this, so I thought I would try some trial version of backup software before deciding what to do.
Basically, I would like to install a backup package on one PC (call it the “Backup PC”) and have it setup to backup the “My documents” folders on various PC’s using the network path (e.g. //phil/my documents/) which has been shared with a password.
Everything works great until the Backup PC is rebooted. At that point, the several packages I have tried cannot find the files and directory. Not until I use explorer and click my way back to the directory “manually” will the software locate the directory again.
So, I thought, lets try this in reverse. I would load the backup software on each PC (not mypreference, as it is labour intensive) and create sharee, password protected directories on the Backup PC and set-up the network path. Again, once the user’s PC is rebooted, it looses the path. It appears that it can only work if I assign drive letters to the path. I don’t like this as I have had machines (Win’95 mainly) lockup when network drives have been assigned. PLUS, it means going to every machine to do the set-up and monitor the backups.
Question: is there away to ensure that a PCcan link back to a network path without having to manually clicking through explorer? OR, what low-cost backup solution you might recommend.
I think this should work as we install the updated McAfee virus scan this way. (Each PC looks for //backup/superdat/ to find the superdate everyweek. Even if the machine is rebooted, McAfee’s install program can find the path without a problem).
~Phil