Simple backup software

Hi all,
I am trying to find some backup software that is very easy to use, ie. basically unattended, and backs data up to a DVD.

Some background: We have about 100 remote location that are not WAN connected and they need a local backup solution. Each site has a master PC where all files are copied. Ideally this data is to be backed up to CD. My initialy thoughts were symantec livestate recovery but this does not backup to a DVD. I have also tried TurboBackup but this has proved unreliable. Any suggestions? It can be file-based or bare-metal but it needs to be able to backup directly to DVD.

So is it CD's or is it DVD's that you wish to use?  There's no entirely unmanned method for this, as someone will need to replace the discs in the drive(s) - Unless you have one DVD-RW drive for every disc you wish to burn.  This would be too expensive; why not just go for a multi-tape system or have a guy sitting there? 

SlackmasterK wrote:

So is it CD's or is it DVD's that you wish to use?  There's no entirely unmanned method for this, as someone will need to replace the discs in the drive(s) - Unless you have one DVD-RW drive for every disc you wish to burn.  This would be too expensive; why not just go for a multi-tape system or have a guy sitting there? 

Well cd if it will fit, dvd if it doesn't. Obviously someone will need to change the dvds over but the process of starting the backup should not require any action by the users. So basically a scheduled backup that asks the user to put a dvd in the drive and to change dvds if necessary.

A tape system would be prohibitively expensive for this situation.

Retrospect can do it.

Have you looked at Acronis True Image? 

Aloha,

James

Jachin wrote:

So basically a scheduled backup that asks the user to put a dvd in the drive and to change dvds if necessary.

This kind of defeats the purpose of having a scheduled backup if you need user input. If you're going to schedule a backup like this, then schedule it for 3 in the morning, then every morning a user will grab a DVD and plop a new one in.

Best to just go with a good external backup harddrive like ones from Maxtor. Buy 2 of them and your IT guy can swap them back and forth every morning. That way you also have a copy of your data which is out of the office in case of fire or something.

For backing up to DVD, Nero BackItUp is a pretty decent option. It does scheduled backups and everything.