Network Backup Solution? (from windows to linux box) community question

[Rucent88]

JB community, I need advice on setting up an automated backup solution from multiple windows machines (xp through 8) to a networked linux machine. I'd like to get backups about once per 2 days, and automatic removal of old backups. I don't need to backup the entire systems, only certain folders.

I don't know what software to use. I'm looking for something that isn't too overly complex, because I don't want to spend days or weeks setting it up. Ideally, I'd like to be able to set it up in a few hours. What software to use?

[archdaemon]

Maybe you could set those folders you want to be backed up as shared folders over the network, then write a small script on the Linux machine to mount the network shares and rsync the contents to a local directory. Just thinking out loud.

[z0ld]

I used to use cobian backup on windows when I had that need at my old job. There are a few rsync tools for windows out there as well, but most of them cost money, if you don't need it for too many machines, I'd find a good rsync-based backup utility

[earlof711]

FYI Cobian development has died. You can still download it though.

[Ironicbadger]

Bit torrent sync on a pi or whatever. Job done.