Network file sync and deleted files

[mploux]

Hello !

I am coming here for help on trying to setup a simple way to backup and save deleted files for my server.

For reference I attached in the post the current setup with question marks where I need help.

So the main server is running ESXi and runs 3 VMs, two of which are windows server 2016 for AD, storage and Apps.

My questions are:

- How can I setup file syncing from on directory in VM1 and VM2 to another directory in the NAS ?

- How can I create a "deleted files" folder in the NAS to restore accidentally deleted files ?

- How can I have daily backups to the cloud of my windows server ?

 

I want to sync files to always have access to them in case the main server crashes.

 

I am not a pro in this area so I'm also going to ask for advice:

- Would you rather backup the whole ESXi config (How ?) or backup each windows server ?

- How would you restore accidentally deleted files from network drives ? (On the cheap)

 

I hope someone can help me in this situation

Thanks a lot !

 

[remakethegame]

Hello there!
 

> How can I setup file syncing from on directory in VM1 and VM2 to another directory in the NAS ?
 

You can install a special application called freefilesync, that synchronizing files on source and target folder. I believe you can try to mount NAS folder on each Windows VM and setup file sync. 
 

> How can I create a "deleted files" folder in the NAS to restore accidentally deleted files ?
 

Some NAS devices do have file retention policies. I am not sure that there is a simple solution for it. As a possible solution, you can setup additional folder, setup weekly backup using freefilesync software and restore if needed. This approach will require twice the space and will have the possibility to one-week-old file...
 

>How can I have daily backups to the cloud of my windows server ?
 

I would recommend taking a look at the duplicati and Wasabi/Backblaze as the cloud storage. Duplicati will allow you to setup a backup job to the cloud and it is absolutely free. 
 

>Would you rather backup the whole ESXi config (How ?) or backup each windows server ?
 

You don't need to backup ESXi itself. May I wonder what edition of ESXi you are using? Paid or free? If paid you can take a look at Veeam B&R Community edition and setup VMs backup to your NAS storage. If you are using free ESXi, you can take a look at this GitHub page - https://github.com/lamw/ghettoVCB, which will allow you to backup and restore free ESXi VMs and you can still store it on your NAS.
 

>How would you restore accidentally deleted files from network drives ? (On the cheap)
 

If you didn't write any data to the storage/folder you can try to restore the files using EaseUs software or any other restore software as soon as blocks on the storage not overwritten with the new data.