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    I am a freelance computer consultant, a Microsoft Partner, and a Microsoft Small Business Specialist.  Although I'm therefore technically inclined, I'm new to Windows Home Server.  So far, I am VERY impressed with WHS!  I do have some questions though about backup of the WHS itself.  It's been difficult to get these questions answered because over 99% of all search results for "Windows Home Server Backup" discuss client backups, and not backup of the server itself.

    Here's my situation:  I have two identical 1TB external hard drives, one of which is always in my safety deposit box at my bank, and the other is attached to the WHS.  I know how to add these hard drives to the WHS for the purpose of backing up the server, and performing a manual backup.  Can that backup process be automated at all?

    Also, regarding the two hard drives, should I name them the same or different?  I know the WHS backup only backs up changed / new files, but it that system smart enough to handle two different external hard drives, which obviously will have different versions of the files at different times?

    Other than this significant question, again, I'm loving WHS!  TIA!

    Saturday, January 23, 2010 8:01 PM

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    No, the backup can't be automated using tools in Windows Home Server, however you can create a similar backup strategy using e.g. robocopy, which can be automated.

    Windows Home Server won't care about the name of the drives. When backing up the server shares, it compares versions of files on the server with versions on the backup drive, and proceeds as appropriate.
    I'm not on the WHS team, I just post a lot. :)
    • Proposed as answer by kariya21Moderator Monday, January 25, 2010 1:42 AM
    • Marked as answer by brianchris Monday, January 25, 2010 9:54 PM
    Sunday, January 24, 2010 4:47 PM
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    No, the backup can't be automated using tools in Windows Home Server, however you can create a similar backup strategy using e.g. robocopy, which can be automated.

    Windows Home Server won't care about the name of the drives. When backing up the server shares, it compares versions of files on the server with versions on the backup drive, and proceeds as appropriate.
    I'm not on the WHS team, I just post a lot. :)
    • Proposed as answer by kariya21Moderator Monday, January 25, 2010 1:42 AM
    • Marked as answer by brianchris Monday, January 25, 2010 9:54 PM
    Sunday, January 24, 2010 4:47 PM
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    Thanks Ken

    Your response answered a question that I had. I posted it on the MVP newsgroups and got no answer.

    But maybe my experience will help others. I bought a 1TB Seagate Free Agent drive. I attached it to the WHS and set it as a backup. But i looked for a way to automate the backup and couldn't find one. So thanks for confirming I wasn't crazy. What I tried though was to install the Seagate software that came with the drive using Remote Desktop connection. it seemed to install OK and I was able to setup an auotmated backup and automated sync. Now the question is whether it will actually work.

    I am disappointed that the server backup isn't automatic. I use my WHS as a file server. Almost all my data is on the server so I can access it from different PCs. so a way to auto backup the server is a key. Since a lot of external drives come with backup software installed on the drives, if that options works I'm happy.

    Scott<>
    Access MVP
    Hope this helps, Scott<> P.S. Please post a response to let us know whether our answer helped or not. Microsoft Access MVP 2009 Author: Microsoft Office Access 2007 VBA Technical Editor for: Special Edition Using Microsoft Access 2007 and Access 2007 Forms, Reports and Queries
    Monday, January 25, 2010 2:16 AM
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    Thank you for your response!  So I will name the two hard drives the same (that way, I don't have to change the destation hard drive for each folder everytime I manually run the WHS backup), and it will compare file versions to whatever external hard drive it is dealing with at the time to create a current and complete backup as of the time I perform the backup on that hard drive.  If there's anything wrong with any of that, please let me know.  Otherwise, I will proceed forward with that plan, and thanks again!!!

    Monday, January 25, 2010 9:54 PM