Looking to replace my backup software

[Bob Petruzzelli]

I got notice from the vendor (Novastor) of my backup software that the price is going from $85 a year to $150. A bit steep for me. They're adding cloud storage, which is something I don't need.

My need is simple... I do differential copying of changed files from my Synology NAS to stand alone backup drives. I have multiple differential backup jobs that run on schedule each night.

I don't want syncing backups which delete files on the backup drives that are deleted from my NAS. Only differential copying of new and changed files. Pretty simple stuff.

I don't need imaging backups though I'm aware that most backup software does that.

Three of my local backup drives remain on site as a just in case I need them. One local backup drive gets rotated to my local bank's safe deposit on a regular basis.

I know of Macrium Reflect and I'll be looking into that product. If there are any others that I should consider I'd be grateful to know of them.

 

[XiaoDeer]

You could use Robocopy and the Windows Task Scheduler to do that.

I do use Macrium to image my system drive from time to time. But everything else has be converted to a selection of Robocopy scripts including those that make backups to and from my NAS.

You'll need to spend a little time designing those jobs with the right Robocopy options for each task but once that's done you are good to go.

 

[Bob Petruzzelli]

Thanks, not sure my skills would be up to it, but I'll look into that.

 

[a_c_skinner]

Won't the Synology software do that? Have you asked on a Synology forum?

 

[Bob Petruzzelli]

Hmmm.... hadn't even thought of that... I'll look into it.

 

[CAcreeks]

I got notice from the vendor (Novastor) of my backup software that the price is going from $85 a year to $150. A bit steep for me. They're adding cloud storage, which is something I don't need.

Macrium Reflect (home) is $79.99 US$.

My need is simple... I do differential copying of changed files from my Synology NAS to stand alone backup drives. I have multiple differential backup jobs that run on schedule each night.

I don't want syncing backups which delete files on the backup drives that are deleted from my NAS. Only differential copying of new and changed files. Pretty simple stuff.

FreeFileSync has an option to not delete sync'd files when they are deleted on the PC.

Windows Task Scheduler can be set to run FreeFileSync (or whatever) on a schedule.

I don't need imaging backups though I'm aware that most backup software does that.

Three of my local backup drives remain on site as a just in case I need them. One local backup drive gets rotated to my local bank's safe deposit on a regular basis.

Good set-up.

I know of Macrium Reflect and I'll be looking into that product. If there are any others that I should consider I'd be grateful to know of them.

Macrium is good solid software. My wife stopped using it because it stressed her laptop, and made a lot of noise from blowing fan when running. Also it's far too complicated for her. She uses just FreeFileSync (twice) now, sync'ing to paired Samsung T7.

On super nice thing about sync instead of backup is that you can navigate folders and browse files on your sync'd disk. Most backup software saves files in proprietary format.

 

[Bob Petruzzelli]

That's something I'll look in to. Being able to browse the sync'd files is something I can do now and don't want to lose

Thanks

 

[BobKnDP]

a minor point:

I believe that Macrium hasn't moved to only offering a subscription license yet, but that looks to be in their future.

I'm a current paid user of Reflect. I like it well enough, although I don't find all of its functions to be intuitively obvious.

I once used Acronis True Image. I dropped it after it became Cyber Protect Home Office. I was bothered less by it being subscription-only than it being an overly comprehensive data protection utility. I wanted a simple drive imaging utility.

 

[Bob Petruzzelli]

Thanks for that insight..

 

[Carey Brown]

I use FreeFileSync and Macrium Reflect. Reflect output is proprietary whereas FFS is standard directory/file stuff. FFS has a 'Mirror' option that will do what you want and you can um-check the box that replicates any deletions. FFS also supports versioning where it will keep N dated copies of a file rather than overwriting them.

--
Photos at http://inasphere.com

 

[Bob Petruzzelli]

Thanks, I’m going to try that

 

[SC489]

I use Macrium Reflect to back up everything with no problems.

 

[md lucero]

I got notice from the vendor (Novastor) of my backup software that the price is going from $85 a year to $150. A bit steep for me. They're adding cloud storage, which is something I don't need.

My need is simple... I do differential copying of changed files from my Synology NAS to stand alone backup drives. I have multiple differential backup jobs that run on schedule each night.

I know of Macrium Reflect and I'll be looking into that product. If there are any others that I should consider I'd be grateful to know of them.

I have been using the free version of Easeus backup software for about 7 years now. My needs are simple as well, and the free version has the features that I need. I have used it to restore complete drives twice that have failed in use. The pay for version has additional features and is relatively inexpensive

EaseUS Todo Backup - EaseUS Data Backup Software for Windows PC/Server/Mac

EaseUS Todo Backup software is the guardian of cyber security and offers secure data backup and disaster recovery solutions for personals, Home office and Enterprises.

www.easeus.com

FWIW I have contacted the easeus tech support numerous times for free support for their free software. They have always replied by the next day even though they technically don't offer email support for their free version. Documentation available is pretty good as well.

Best,

Michael

 

[ChuckB]

SyncBack has all the features you want, but I have had it so long I don't know if it still exists in the wild or if it is still free.

I am vexed with Easeus because you can't sync (i.e. delete files from the destination disk that do not exist on the master disk) but for you it might work.

 

[a_c_skinner]

I've looked at it and I think Hyper Backup on Synology will work for you.

 

[Bob Petruzzelli]

Thank you

 

[Scott_Eaton]

I got notice from the vendor (Novastor) of my backup software that the price is going from $85 a year to $150

Must have been bought by Broadcom

 

[Bob Petruzzelli]

Thank you for checking for me.