Synchronicity Software and off site back ups

[squeegee]

So I got this whole set up now with Syncronicity, thanks to screenexress, automatic backups every night to external hard drive, backs up my network storage (NAS) where 98% of my most important data is.  I set up a profile for a USB drive I carry with, but would love to NOT do that.  (BTW, the software only writes/deletes newly created/deleted data so the total backup time is minimal once it's set up)

In trying to make this thing an automated off site backup, I came across this in the manual:

You can use the following path formats:
•Absolute (C:\MyFolder)
•Relative (..\..\MyFolder)
•UNC (\\192.168.0.150\MyFolder)•By Volume Name (Enclose volume name in quotes : "MyDrive"\MyFolder)

My particular question to anyone who might know pertains to UNC, where an IP/folder destination is specified and the back up is done there.  I'm thinking that would be perfect, I would set up a home machine as a back up location.

My question is, how does one do this?  Is it a VPN thing?  Would your home have to have a static IP perhaps?  Anybody know?

[mk162]

more than likely, you would need a VPN.  a static IP isn't a huge issue, just make sure you update it when it rolls over.  That would probably about every 6 months or so.

I am looking at the same thing

[Gilligan]

UNC can be a "real" domain name.  You can always get a dyn-dns name which will solve the dynamic IP issue.

hxxp://my.amazing_domain.com would point to your remote system.

[squeezee]

Your home gets a static IP, they're quite cheap.
I'd advise VPN, you don't want to leave your backup open to the hackers.
Probably easier to rotate a portable hard drive.

[mk162]

unless you know somebody that can set it up cheap.  it's better than a rotating hard drive, 1 less thing to think about.

[squeegee]

I set up a VPN a few years ago with Cisco software that came bundled with a VPN router.  I was trying to run QB in multi user across the internet, it worked but was too slow.  Sounds like the VPN is the way to go, especially on the security side.

Anyone know of shareware VPN software?

[Gilligan]

I quickly forget that I pipe everything through SSH tunnels so the security is all there already.

Yes, you don't really want just a big hole in your firewall.  You need some sort of authentication and a simple VPN can/will provide that.