Xref: utzoo comp.sys.ibm.pc:55476 comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc:10814 comp.sys.misc:3473
Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!mcnc!ecsgate!aadm
From: aadm@ecsvax.uncecs.edu (Atkins D. Michael)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc,comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc,comp.sys.misc
Subject: shareware 'fastback' wanted
Keywords: compression to multiple disks
Message-ID: <1991Jun26.205629.27694@ecsvax.uncecs.edu>
Date: 26 Jun 91 20:56:29 GMT
Followup-To: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Distribution: usa
Organization: UNC Educational Computing Service
Lines: 32


we have been using FASTBACK to transfer data between 20-30
sites across the state for sometime. we actually have about 
130 sites, but the rest have not been pushed to purchase
fastback and therefore we have been using pkarc and dos backup.
i am looking at data that may reach 30 to 60 meg and will
not fit onto 1 diskette hence pkarc alone won't work. needless
to say, not everyone uses the same version of dos (3.3 in most,
4.01 in some with >300 meg drives).

we need to have everyone using the same consistant backup method
(because of a new shell menu that we are creating), but fastback
has come out with several incompatible versions over the last 
few months (yet none seem to have corrected at least one very
serious bug/oversight).  it is a nightmare trying to get everyone 
upgraded (all sites are independent school districts with their
own levels of red tape) and this is only a few sites.  by the
time everyone has upgraded, anotherversion is out - another site
has decided to get fastback, receive the new one and everyone
is off to the races again trying to get to the HIGHEST common
denominator.
(by the way, i have talked to the high mucky-mucks at fifth
generation and while they are sympathetic to the problem, i need
a cure, not a promise.)

now for my question - i would like to find a vanilla fastback-like
procedure. maybe a shell that would work with pkarc/pkzip/et. that
would allow consecutive disks for backup and that i could share
with all sites reguardless of dos version.

and leads/suggestions/recommendations would be greatly
appreciated.