Windows 10/11 home computer - Backup to another computer on same wifi network?

[FrisbeeFreek]

Is there a way built into Windows 10/11 to automatically backup to another computer on a home wifi network? I don't currently have a windows home network active.

I'd like to set my wife's computer to backup to my computer and vice versa using default software.

Thanks in advance - Frisbee

 

[continuum]

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Not a Network Matrix topic, moved to appropriate forum.

 

[Paladin]

Use a competent backup software solution like Veeam Free Endpoint Backup or something similar.

You'll need to make a mapped network drive mount of the network share from each computer to the other so you have a persistent network drive to send the data to. Personally I prefer a NAS device or a USB drive. Backing up data to another general use PC tends to mean that both might be compromised in the same way at the same time (power issues, theft or malware) and your data is gone from both.

 

[FrisbeeFreek]

Paladin - Thanks. I'm trying to setup a 321 backup strategy. Up until this point, I've only used a USB harddrive that is stored offline and requires manual execution. I want to setup a real-time automated backup.

Based on your reply, I'm assuming that Microsoft Backup software (bundled with Windows 10/11) doesn't have the ability to backup to a mapped network drive similar to what you described with Veeam?

 

[Gisboth]

Does this help?

[How To] Backup Windows 10 To External Hard Drive/Network Drive

Is OneDrive syncing part of your backup strategy? fwiw, it's damn convenient.

 

[Andrewcw]

You will need to map network drives with any software you choose if you're using the other computer as a target. Though having two targets might make it kinda dumb. I mean you'd pick one computer and put the backups on USB drives.

But DO NOT USE MICROSOFT BACKUP. Maybe it works. Maybe it doesn't. Which what happens from bare metal restore. It ends up more on the doesn't work side.

Also you mention real-time automated backup. Which kinda sorta exists but not intended as backup. What you're talking about is Real Time File synchronization. You need a separate service for that. Most people would do it with One Drive or Dropbox. Something like that. Real Time sync is NOT backup. I mean it is a backup if computer A lights on fire and Target B survives. But if malware/virus hits and they systems sync for example. Both sides probably will be hit with lets say a ransomware attack. And yes One Drive and Dropbox do have some versioning to protect/recover from this.

 

[FrisbeeFreek]

Thanks for the info. I use an offline USB hard drive that's stored elsewhere as my "house burned down" backup. The backup image is refreshed every 3-months (suitable for my needs). I just wanted a daily incremental backup of my laptop if the hardware craters.

 

[Paladin]

Yeah I would use the free Veeam backup tool for that, works great. Choose the specific data you want to backup. Doing it over wifi will be slow as possible basically. Put all your valuable data in the user directories and only backup that stuff unless you don't care how long it takes.