A Linux backup server backs up data from Windows Shares AND Linux Shares on the local area network (LAN) across the network.

I used OpenSuSE Leap 15.1 with a desktop called XFCE and a backup program called KBackup. I had to do quite a lot of command line work to automate it, but it is well worth not paying the yearly subscription to Carbonite anymore. I used an existing Vista machine, erased Windows Vista and installed OpenSuSE Leap 15.1.

I edited the /etc/fstab and /etc/nsswitch.conf, and crontab and created many folders - two copies in two different places for each share, configured KBackup for each share, attached a USB external drive for disaster recovery purposes. It took me exactly 4 hours to install OpenSuSE and KBackup, tweak to perfection the automation, and the leg work AKA setup for the automation of daily backups. It was fun to plan and figure out the details. The church I am doing this for surely appreciates the money saved and gives them a chance to play with Linux to see if they even want to consider replacing Windows 7 when it goes out of support soon with Linux.

You can do so much with the many choices of free Linux Programs and Operating Systems. It only took four hours from ultimate beginning to the perfect tweaking to build a backup server. What do you need to do? You can do it with Linux!!!!!!!!!!!FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!