Advice: Backup and Sync software

I am looking for backup and sync software to do the following:

1. Back up system image from 3 PC's to a NAS.
2. Copy/sync the "My files" folders from 3 PCs to NAS
3. Copy/sync music and picture folders from 3 PCs to NAS

I would like the files that are copied to be readable in the same format that they are copied it. (I use Sonos for music and it pulls from the NAS. Needs to be in the same mp3/mp4 format as on the windows computers. I want this to be automatically synced to the music folders on PCs so that when itunes folders are updated it is copied to the NAS and available.)

I would really like one package that does all of these things.

Acronis seems good, not cheap, but ok. But ... I don't think that the files are not stored in the same file structure and format and I don't think readable by the Sonos. And, even if files are stored similarly, to sync you have to have a cloud subscription with Acronis. (I do like that they can sync android and ios devices too, but again, must have cloud subscription.) The system image backup seems good and easy.

Bvckup seems like a great copy/sync/mirror package - and, again, not too expensive, but it doesn't do system imaging.

SyncBackFree seems good at copy/sync but, best I can tell, doesn't do system imaging, and it doesn't store in the same format/file structure

EaseUS TODO is free (plus!) and seems to do good system imaging with high ratings, but ... doesn't do sync, at least not in the same structure, and the free version doesnt work with a NAS.

These functions (image backup, and sync) seem so similar it is hard to believe that they are not well done in a single, inexpensive package.

Any advice?

 

Use an imaging program for your system images and a file sync program for everything else. I don't believe there is a single package that does both and there isn't actually any need for the system images to be in their native file format. Personally I use both Acronis and Macrium Reflect for imaging and SyncBackFree for the file backups. SyncBackFree does store in the original file format.

You may find that backing up these large image files to NAS is frustratingly slow. I've given it up and use a portable drive instead.

 

Thanks. Does SyncBackFree store backup files in native format? ( I agree no reason for images to be in native format.)

 

Yes, I edited my post for that.

 

You might also want to take a look at WinRAR for file backups. It isn't the most user friendly software I've used and it isn't free but it does give you professional level control over the way you arrange and schedule your file backups.