Backing up to Network Attached Storage Device

Help - no idea how to do it with Linux

[steve]

I'm trying to tighten up my backup procedures. I've added a 1TB networked drive to our network.

I've mapped each of our windows machines to a different folder on it, and installed software on the PC's to automatically backup to it everyday.

So far so good, but how do I back up my development server which is also plugged into the router? Its running Centos, Apache, MySQL, and PHP. It also has Webmin installed, but no GUI as I'm trying to treat it as a remote server.

Ideally I'd like to do a full backup once (preferably a disk image, so I can restore everything in one go if I screw up), then schedule daily incremental backups of changed files. I've done some reading but there is a confusing array of methods.

What's the easiest and most reliable approach for a Linux novice? Can anyone recommend a simple step by step tutorial?

/Steve

[gpilling]

Have you looked at Samba? That is the path I am trying to learn to do the same thing.

[steve]

Yes, but doesn't Samba run on a Linux box?

My NAS is a stand alone device. I think it runs an embedded Linux, but there's no way of changing the software.

[steve]

Ignore the above post.

Sorry gpilling, I see what you mean now!

I'll install Samba and see how it goes.

/Steve

[steve]

I've just realised my NAS supports ftp.

So using Webmin's 'filesystem backup' command which uses dump and restore I can setup scheduled backups without loading Samba.

Ideally I would like to copy the OS too, but my understanding is this isn't possible because files are constantly being changed, is this correct?

As long as I can back up my data, its not a major problem as I can run Norton Ghost from a floppy to burn an image of the OS.

[Sharper]

Your NAS likely also supports nfs (which will work better than Samba or FTP for your purposes).

Since the NAS is an *nix box, you might also consider using rsync, which will make the process much faster.