[CS-FSLUG] A couple things

[Chad Fluegge]

Hi all,
I have been commissioned by my boss at work to find a good backup solution
for the computers that make our business run. We have a laser machine that
cuts parts from nests that are sent out to it by a computer up in the
office. The laser machine itself is run by a laptop running windows95. There
is another computer that receives the nests from the computer up in the
office and serves them up to the laser to be bent: this computer is running
windowsXP. All computers up in the office are running windowsXP. Have a look
at our business here: http://lasernorth-up.com

Anyways, the question that I have is this: what would be an inexpensive
backup solution for the computers at our shop? There are really only three -
maybe four - that would need to be backed up. Right now, all we have is an
external HD and all the computers back up their important folders to it
periodically. It is working except for the fact that it is now full. The
size of the external hard drive is 80GB; which, in my mind, is wholly
unacceptable. My feeling is that if we get an HD that is 500GB+ external HD
it would be fine. Also, all nests/part_files/etc would be backed up to a DVD
and stored away.

Also, I have question regarding VNC... The first thing that happens in our
shop when someone wants something burnt, is they send the file to our email
address. Then we download the file to our computer. Then using various
applications - Solidworks, alibre, cuttingshop, Ncell, iRemote, iReport - we
prep the file to be burnt and then send it off to the laser to be burnt. All
our computers are behind a Router/Firewall. Is using VNC a feasible way to
do all this work remotely? The reason I ask is because some of the programs
are somewhat graphics intensive at times, depending on how intricate the
part is. If it is a feasible way, how do I set it up? I have used VNC
before, but only in a local setting - eg from one local computer to another.
Do I have to setup port forwarding in the router in order to set this up?

This would be awesome if I can set it up to be able to work remotely,
because sometimes my boss is at the shop for hours on end when he
could/should be at home with his family. This would enable him - or myself
for that matter - to do some of this stuff remotely. It would also allow me
to help them troubleshoot things while I am out of the office... And if I
understand it right, I could do this from within my linux machine... :)

Any help is greatly appreciated,
-- 
Chad, Jess & Lil' Sam Fluegge
Psalms 61:5 For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the
heritage of those that fear thy name.
Ezra 7:10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and
to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.
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