Doc Hoss's Journal: Backup options for a touring band?

I've been tasked with figuring out a strategy for backing up data from laptops for 5 guys (myself included) who travel extensively throughout the US and abroad. We've had problems with external HDDs failing due to the constant stress they are subjected to (bumpy roads, mainly...anyone who drives in New York City can tell why a drive would die there), and while we don't have anything mission-critical like sensitive client information or payroll records on these laptops, we do have contracts and contact information for important people as well as information that is pertinent to us like sheet music, recordings, and budget data.

Would it be possible/wise to do backups directly to a large external HDD that is not being used for anything but backups, thus these backups would be done at hotels and such when the drive would be stationary? HDDs won't have problems if they're bumped around while sitting still will they? Also, what software would you guys recommend for backing up data from multiple computers, keeping it separated by user?

RTFA

[Captain Splendid]

Thsi front page article [slashdot.org] might be of some help.

backups

[kevinroyalty]

You can use external USB drives (laptop size drives are smaller) and have one for each laptop, label it and make each user responsible for their backup. Store the drives in a padded tacklebox with padlock and you should be fine. If you want to store them all on one drive, get a 500GB drive. Some will come with backup software (Dantz Retrospect, etc). You can go cheaper and just get the drive+cage and use something like Robocopy (free from Microsoft) and a free GUI to help build your script to copy the f

Re:

[kevinroyalty]

Not a problem. Good luck!

Kevin