Is this backup possible?
 

I just bought a Sony DRU 510a (DVD multi-format burner).

I have my box, which the burner in intalled in, networked to my wife's box. The network works fine, no problems there.

My question pertains to the idea of backing up her computer, over the network, to my DVD burner. I've got the backup software that came with the drive, Veritas Simple Backup.
I also have Ghost, if that'll end up helping.


Thus far, I've not found the options to do this. I'm thinking I'll have to image her computer onto one of my HDs (I know Ghost can do that), then burn the image to a DVD. However, if I could just click something, that'd be eaiser.

Help is always appreciated. Thanks.

arcserve might be able to that, its not cheap though, you'd need soemthing that has a server and client portion.

Ghost is VERY, VERY, VERY when ghosting an image to a mapped network drive. I as of yet, have not found a solution to that problem. I do the EXACT same thing you are talking about on a regular basis, and here's how I do it:

1. Create ghost image. Save image on second partition of wife's computer.
2. Using standard windows networking, move/copy the image file(s) over to primary machine's HD.
3. Burn images to DVD.
4. Rinse and repeat as necessary.

NOTE: Using ghost, you must have a second partition or drive set up on the machine you are ghosting. Ghost cannot create the image files on the drive it is imaging.

If anybody knows of a solution to Ghost's extremely slow network ghosting, please let fill us in!

By the way, I use the same sony drive. It's quite excellent. Good choice.

Can you map your wifes computer as a drive and backup that drive?

cartmen34: I have had to slow my network ghosting down because of the excessive draw it puts on bandwidth.

We use Norton Ghost 2003 at work and back up to/restore from network shares nonstop and have no problems with it. It should do the trick for you.

You might try http://www.acronis.com/.

You boot to it, select a network location, and backup. I havent written to a DVD player, but it's much easier to write an image file across a network with it

They appear to support DVD burners:



"How can I use Acronis True Image 7.0 to write the images directly to DVD disks?
Acronis True Image 7.0 is capable of writing to a DVD disk in Windows if UDF packet DVD-writing software is installed, and the DVD disk is formatted. We currently support at least the following packet DVD writing software:

Roxio DirectCD — an optional part of Roxio Easy CD Creator
Ahead InCD — is available for free on Nero site for Ahead Nero Burning Rom users (and usually also is shipped with Nero)
Veritas DLA and all its OEM versions (e.g. HP DLA).
Pinnacle InstantCD/DVD
In general we also support all other UDF packet DVD writing software, but the three above are most popular and they have been tested by Acronis and approved.

To make the DVD disk writeable in Acronis True Image the user should do the following:

Install UDF packet DVD — writing software.
Format the DVD disks. DVD+RW and DVD-RW disks can be formatted by all software mentioned above, while DVD-R and DVD+R at this moment can be formatted only by Roxio DirectCD.
Next, start Acronis True Image, insert the formatted DVD disk into the DVD+RW or DVD-RW drive and create an image on it without any additional requirements.
The images from the DVD disk can be restored both in Windows and when Acronis True Image is started from bootable disks.
There is also a two-step method for writing to DVDs. Acronis True Image can create an image of the hard disk as a single file on the hard disk itself, and then you can copy the file using your own DVD-writing software to the DVD. The Acronis rescue disk will also be able to restore this file from the DVD if necessary."

back up the files to your system then burn it to the DVD.

you dont want to have the risk of loosing the burn if the network gets a bottle neck and cant pump out the data fast enough

The Enterprise version of Ghost should be able to do that.
Also Powerquest driveimage should also be able to do it.

how long does this take, and how many discs? sounds pretty slow (?)