1 Linux Backup server - 4 linux servers, 3 Windows servers - how to backup?

I have:

• 1 Linux "backup" server (Ubuntu 9.10 server) (plenty of disk, new server)


• 2 Gentoo servers


• 2 CentOS servers



• 3 Windows 2003 servers

I'd like to backup all of the servers as disk-to-disk backups to the Ubuntu backup server.

HOW?

Please be gentle as I know Windows but not Linux. I've looked at Bacula, BackupPC, and Amanda. All seem to be a little too complex for me. I'm tasked with doing this cheap, so I can't simply load Windows on the backup server and put something like BackupExec on it.

MY REQUIREMENTS:

• simple to setup on each client


• simple to setup on the server


• disk to disk backup


• easy to monitor/check backup status


• easy to restore files


• email me results of backups


• scheduled weekly full backups and nightly differentials


• free/open source

Your help is much appreciated and I would think this kind of question would help others in the future if you are thorough in your answer.

Thanks!

Answer

Have another look at backuppc.
Backuppc has a very intuitive web interface, works for both linux and windows hosts, and although it claims to be for PCs, it would work fine for backing up servers too!

If you're really intent on doing it on the cheap, you will probably find you have to make some sacrifices.