RSync Time Machine for Windows

An interesting article titled “DNS323 RSync Time Machine!” was posted [here[http://forum.dsmg600.info/t2125-DNS-323-Rsync-Time-Machine%21.html]] on the DNS323 forum. The author, raid123, brought to light some very interesting information regarding use of RSync's hard links. Following implementation of such on my NAS I couldn't help but wonder if a similar approach could be used to backup data from three Windows based PC's located throughout the household. Following a brief search of the Internet I was pleased to see tools capable of assisting in this regard were available.

The first step in getting this working with my Windows environment was installation of a package known as Cygwin on each of the Windows PC's. Following instruction found at [Gaztronics.net[http://www.gaztronics.net/rsync.php]] I set about installing “RSync for Windows”. Although the instruction indicated only three key Cygwin modules were required, I later found that by installing the Cygwin utilities module (cygutils-1.3.2-1) simlinks could be built thus allowing creation of a link to the latest backup.

Create three directories………….

Following installation of Cygwin, notepad++ (with unix line endings) was used to create an rsyncd.conf file. The completed file was placed on the DNS323 in the folder named /ffp/etc. Config detail follows;

[code]

# /ffp/etc/rsyncd.conf configuration file max connections = 2 secrets file = /ffp/etc/rsyncd.secrets

use chroot = false read only = yes list = false strict modes = false # Deny access to all hosts just to be on the safe side hosts deny = * timeout = 600 dont compress = *.gz *.tgz *.zip *.z *.rpm *.deb *.iso *.bz2 *.tbz pid file = /var/run/rsyncd.pid

[PC1Backup]

comment = Primary Backup Location for PC1
# Allow access to local hosts
hosts allow = 192.168.1.0/24
read only = false
gid = users
uid = User1
auth users = User1
path = /mnt/HD_b2/Backup_PC1

[PC2Backup]

comment = Primary Backup Location for PC2
# Allow access to local hosts
hosts allow = 192.168.1.0/24
read only = false
gid = users
uid = User1
auth users = User1, User2
path = /mnt/HD_b2/Backup_PC2

[PC3Backup]

comment = Primary Backup location for PC3
# Allow access to local hosts
hosts allow = 192.168.1.0/24
read only = false
gid = users
uid = User1
auth users = User1
path = /mnt/HD_b2/Backup_PC3

[/code]

Configure RSync.secrets file

Setup RSync to run as daemon

install Cygwin on PC to be backup

Work in progress…. More to come