File Management and Backup Synchronization

[Lunch Money]

Hi all,

I'm on the tail end of an epic re-assessment and subsequent re-installation of my data management needs, and I'm still a few elements short. Opinions would be greatly appreciated:

- I want to keep my text documents (not my audio projects) synchronized to my Laptop's, including my outlook.pst file; newest version of same document "wins" (with prompt for replacement). They're already connected on a LAN, so it's the software that I don't have.

- I will make redundant copies of my audio files to 2 local locations, DVD and another hard-drive. I want to specify the directories and then press "backup" and have it done.

Does anybody do something similar, and if so, what programs do you recommend?

Also:

- Where do you keep your plug-in patches? In the same folder as its corresponding plug-in, or in a separate "patches" directory?

- How do you keep your loops and samples sorted?

- Would it be better performance-wise to have my disc-streaming samples on a separate physical drive from my sequencer's project audio files? (ie. System on C: , Audio files on D: (second drive), and streaming samples on E: (same physical drive as C:, but separate partition)

Opinions on any or all of the above greatly appreciated.

Greg

[Lunch Money]

I'm talking to myself again. That's what happens when you post during non-busy hours.

Anyhow, just an update-- I did finally find a beautiful piece of freeware called SyncBack which is ideal for all sorts of backup and synchronization options! FTP, LAN, local, DVD media... synchronize with various options, backup with various options... it's got everything I needed and then some!

Looks like they'll be coming out with a "pro" version early next year, so I'll be keeping my eye on this one.

It's so flexible that I'm sure it could have been configured with some careful planning to do away with my duplicate files, too, but I think it was still the better idea to use spaceman 99 for that purpose (thanks, xoxos).

Another 2 days of mucking around, and I should have a fully streamlined file and redundant backup system on the go. Sure is a lot of work, though-- I recommend planning in advance instead of trying to muck around the way I've been doing.

Greg