Full Version: Backup... backup... BACKUP!
From: Cindy (CINDYM) [#10]
21 Jul 2005
To: Laura (ELLEMD628) [#3] 21 Jul 2005
We have a system set up that makes it pretty worry free. Don't ask me technical questions on it though, because it wasn't me that set it up, it was my IT person, who is my son.
He put in a server, which is actually just another computer system. The server and all my computers through out our store are networked. At certain times through out the night, starting at 7pm the server starts to back up all my programs - Quickbooks, Corel, Xenetech - every file I have on any of my computers. They back up each night, and then once a week I have a zip drive that I use to copy a disk I remove from the premises and put in my safe at home.
My main concerns were my Quickbook records and my Xenetech records, but this way I get it all without having a lot of hassle. And it's easy for a old person like me, who understands computers enough to use them, but not set something like this up, to use.
The server is also set up with a loss of power machine, so if we have a power outage, the server keeps on going until the power comes back on. The few outages we've had while I've been at work have proven to me that this machine is worth it's weight in gold.
Cindy M
From: Laura (ELLEMD628) [#11]
21 Jul 2005
To: Cindy (CINDYM) [#10] 21 Jul 2005
From: Cindy (CINDYM) [#12]
21 Jul 2005
To: Laura (ELLEMD628) [#11] 21 Jul 2005
This system didn't end up costing me anything because my son had all the parts needed sitting around and just pieced it all together. The server is a very basic computer with little on it, just a lot of memory space. The networking is very easy also. Now that I see how it was done I could do it, but glad he did instead.
If you have any contact with the high school you might be able to find a student there who is really sharp with. If you are lucky enough, you might find someone good with hardware and software.
My son started with computers as soon as he was born I think, but he is mostly a hardware guy. He is good with software, but doesn't like the complaints from people he would do installations for. He found once he installed it they wanted him to maintain it, even when they made changes that made the software stop working. He just didn't want the calls so he stuck with hardware (like building computers for people) and would just do the software stuff for me.
I was lucky because he kept me up to date and going all of his school life. He just graduated from the university in industrial engineering and moved away for his job, but he still has my computer on remote, so he can repair it as long as it has life enough to run. All I do is get on the internet and he takes over from there and does his magic. It's kind of freaky actually to see the mouse move all over the place and I know I'm not in control.
Find someone you can trust and build a relationship so they can take care of all this for you. Just by watching them change parts and run programs you can learn quite a lot. I'm not a techie by any means, but I can install just about any component if needed, change out a hard drive, install and run programs - stuff like that. The college gives classes also to learn a lot of this stuff, like networking your computers and all that.
Cindy M
From: Laura (ELLEMD628) [#13]
21 Jul 2005
To: Cindy (CINDYM) [#12] 21 Jul 2005
Actually, I'm a computer geek myself and I've taken some IS classes, but I'm more of a software person than the hardware. I'll be making my first attempt this weekend to install some additional memory on my grandparents' computer. If I could find the time I bet I could set up a basic server, I've got a couple older desktops sitting around that could probably work if I cleaned them out...I'm just too busy, or lazy.
I'm the girl everyone in the family calls about any little computer issue. In fact, I used to work at a bank and I still get calls from them on how I set something up when I was there! I usually don't mind, and enjoy working on computers in almost all facets, but now I'd rather be lasering. Guess I'm a laser geek now. :)
We do have a close friend who does networking. One of these days I ought to give him a call and have it all setup properly.
From: Cindy (CINDYM) [#14]
21 Jul 2005
To: Laura (ELLEMD628) [#13] 21 Jul 2005
If you're a software geek, then you know the difference between a software and hardware geek. Hardware geeks usually don't want anything to do with the software part due to user problems after installation.
You'll do fine on the memory install - that's very easy.
If you have old desktops lying around, depending on how old, you may be able to set up a computer for your laser also. My engraving computer only has the software installed for my Xenetech operations. Everything else is designed and held on my office computer, which is a monster. The engraving computer is pretty basic though, with just a big hard drive and lots of memory. I've only run in to one problem when the operating systems were not the same - one ran 98 and one was upgraded to 2000. Once we made them all the same, things were good again. On the other office computer we just have Quickbooks and basic Word programs, so again, that computer doesn't require much in guts.
I don't envy you running around with your laptop and trying to make that work for all your applications. You know enough to do most of this yourself from the sounds of it, and with a friend who knows networking, they can talk you through it. It really is pretty simple on the wiring, and then just getting the networking software to cooperate is not too hard if the computers are all on the same page to begin with.
What makes the networking well worth its salt is when you create a design, job or download a logo and you don't even have to leave your computer to send it to your computer that does the lasering or engraving. You just send it through the network and voila - there it is. I remember too well saving on a disk and running it back to the other computer and then loading it in - what a pain now that I think of it.
Good luck!
Cindy M