WHS 2011 – If there’s Server Backup built-in, why all this talk of synctoy?

[Mike Garcen]

So I’ve just finished getting WHS2011 up and running on my HP 495 (yes, working on the blog on it!), but…broad question here–i’ve seen lots of mentions about people worried without drive extender of the need to backup their data with a separate tool.

But, there’s a Server Backup tool that’s included with WHS, so….what’s the difference? Why the need for other tool? I’ll admit i literally just installed so i’m still copying over data

[skirge01]

There are two types of data on a server which need to be backed up:  system files and user data.  WHS v1 was missing a way to back up the system files, but provided folder duplication to protect user data.  WHS v2 provides a way to back up the system files, but is missing a way to back up user data.

[Mike Garcen]

but see, that’s just it, The Backup process built into WHS does allow you to select folders besides the OS drive.

Now the downside of this process is you have to use the app to recover the data (so the drive is hidden), so is that just it? You guys like to see your mirrored content?

[wordgasm]

Has someone figured out the Drive Bender or Drive Pooler betas yet?

I just want a drive pool for my blurays! I moved on from WHS1 a while back.

Right now re-installing 2011 WHS, just to be clean. All else works great, just need a pool for Blurays and MyMovies WHS 2011!

I can use dup and whs backup for all else, only need bout 1TB, and dont do redundency for blurays, DVDs or Recorded TV

Jeff

[PAPutzback]

From what I saw with the WHS backup is that it uses a local drive and a VHD to backup the files. If I have some disaster that destroys that box I am hosed. Synctoy allows you to synch up across a network and there are no special needed to use the remote data.

I’m debating on working with a friend who has a WHS to see if he is interested in making backups between our two WHS so the data is offsite.

The drive pooling was a good idea in the beginning but over time I’ve seen the downfalls several times and when you have to shuffle terabytes of data around from a failing drive or something hoses the WHS GUI and you lose the ability to remove a drive from a pool you’ll wish you stuck with simple shares that can be pulled out and read in another system easily.

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