If you have Windows Home Server, you know that backing the server itself up is a pain. But, hey, it’s a feature… not a bug : )
SyncToy has turned version 2.0, and this release finally brings the MS PowerToy up to its true potential. The tool allows for incremental syncs with endless configuration options.
It’s great for backing up WHS’s shared storage over-the-network to a client PC, and then using an online backup service to back up both. Just have a big drive, connected to a PC with an online backup service, and use SyncToy to Echo (their name for shadow copy) all the content to that drive (you can even use a folder on an existing drive). Then, make sure your online backup software backs up that root folder/drive, and all its contents. Presto! Your WHS is automatically backed up to a PC that is automatically backed up online.
Note: If you have a lot of WHS storage, like I do, you may want to make sure your PC is fully backed up online first. It will take many days to back up a large WHS store (100 days remaining on my cable connection, with the backup throttled to 128k upstream).