What is a Backup Server?
If you seem to be using your computer more and more often to store pictures, work on important files, and exchange emails, it’s important that you make regular back ups of your files, incase your computer crashes when you least expect it.
A Backup Server is an excellent way for you to save your important files into one single compressed file. The best part of Backup Server is it’s affordable and you can transfer the compressed file onto another computer or hard drive. Free Backup Servers do exist but won’t offer the same benefits as a Backup Server you can buy for a mere fifty dollars—a small price to pay for safekeeping your important business files, financial records, and personal pictures. And if you're computer savvy you can even upload the backup file using a built-in ftp function to your own server for safe and convenient offsite storage, as part of your regular back up.
It’s also important to remember that most Backup Servers are compatible only on PCs and not Macs, and also that all applications must be closed in order to back them up. To keep track of what files are backed up, check the log file for the files that are and are not backed up.
How to Make Regular Backups of Your Data
After installing your Backup Server, you can pick how many times you’d like to have your data automatically backed up. The scheduling options range from ‘just once’ to ‘hourly’ to ‘intervals.’ You can also set the date and time for the back up to occur.
How does this program work exactly? Well, it’s quite simple. For example, if you had 250 files to backup on your computer and these files where in 5 folders, Backup Server would produce a zip file for each folder containing the files. So, in total the folders will hold the 250 files.
Compressing Your Files
Following the copying of the files, Backup Server will place the 5 compressed files into one zipped file. After that, Backup Server has a couple of automated procedures that it can carry with the zipped file containing all your data. The procedures Backup Server can perform include:
- Automatically coping the backup across a network for protective measures, in case your computer crashes or your hard drive is lost.
- Backup Server also allows you to upload the zipped file to a server, so the file is accessible from other locations. One option of a server is an online server which has become increasingly popular.
- Other options of saving your backup file include burning it onto a CD weekly, or copying the file to a zip drive, or emailing it to a safe location.
Read our What the Best Backup and Recovery Software Programs Have in Common page for more tips on what to look for when purchasing your backup program.
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