Summary
You can perform network backups in any of
many different ways: client-based or server-based; using NFS, SMB/CIFS, rshd , AMANDA,
or other network tools; and using tar , dump , cpio , or other
backup programs. Each of these options has its place, depending on your
network's details. Understanding the range of options will help point you
towards a reasonable solution. For a network of just a handful of machines, a
simple solution using familiar tools like tar may be adequate. For
a larger network, you may need to use more sophisticated tools like AMANDA. You
should not neglect the restoration aspect of the backup process. Restoring data
can involve little more than reversing the backup process, or it may involve
radically different techniques.