RSync Time Machine for Windows

An interesting article titled “DNS323 RSync Time Machine!” was posted here 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 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;

# /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

Configure RSync.secrets file

Setup RSync to run as daemon

install Cygwin on PC to be backup

Work in progress…. More to come