File replication recommendations?

[Techmonkeys]

I have been asked by someone out of work to look into some way of them keeping a backup of all their files on a network drive.

They use their laptop (vista business) while out on the road and a desktop (xp pro) when in the office.

Files are never amended but new files are added both on the laptop and desktop.

They want one central location to store files and when the laptop or desktop is connected to the network, they want it to automatically copy the files to the network location.

My thought was to use a network hard drive and then use something like Synctoy, but they want it completely automated, no scheduled tasks, no clicking a batch file each time, they simply want it so if the drive is available it will synchronise any new files on to the drive

Any thoughts? recommendations?

 

[JohnWill]

Personally, I think they're asking for trouble. I stay away From totally automated solutions like this. Surely, it's not too much of a chore to click on a profile to do the sync. There are times you might want to connect and not have the overhead of the file sync right away.

 

[Squashman]

I would go with a portable USB drive.

 

[new tech guy]

I would say go with a batch file that copies the data to somthing like a usb hard drive and possibly put it in the startup folder of the pc. All they need to do is log onto the pc and if the drive is there the files will copy. If not you will get a bunch of errors in the dos window and the batch will end.