I am looking to develop a client app for windows / mac that will allow users to backup their data incrementally.
The app must be written to current (white paper)standards and conform to industrial standards. It must also support multiple languages (perhaps downloadable from a mysql db??). It must be as platform independent as possible so as to run on multiple MS x86 (32+64bit) computers simultaneously – Windows 200/XP/Vista/Win7/ – MacOS(X) aswell. If the Mac is difficult then newer Os’s will be the priority. If you can only do a windows version then include that in your application.
Below is a brief sketch of the app – the develop might need to suggest one or two ideas regarding functionality/security etc before the blueprint is final as i’m not totally qualified! Perhaps a video or chat conference call.
Most features include:
* Login into their account(which connects to a ‘locked’ domain) (or link to web to create a new account) via the app and create scheduled upload tasks where they select local folders/files via check boxes (ie real time,every 30 minutes/daily/weekly/etc).
* File versioning + depth (ie 8 levels deep with filename preview sample),
* OS backup – users must have option to backup their OS ‘Live’ to an image file. Im not sure of any ‘free’ cross platform programs but something like iso, a norton ghost file, or a snapshot file that can be ‘burnt’ back via another pc.
* !!Incremental!! backups for local (also ‘Locked’) files like outlook.pst, express, open word/xcel files using best available methods – crc? – this will be easy – ie an “Outlook Email” check box.
* Uploads must be industrial strength encrypted/pre-compressed and resumable after reboot/pwr failure/user controlled. Will this hinder 3rd party sftp? assistance required here.
* Tasks must have ‘pause/resume/etc’ functions and bandwidth limit/priority function.
* Shut down OS after backup feature
* Have interactive window where remote and local files are displayed in panes for user to browse(resizable for different screens.
* Show total account storage (compressed size) AND bandwidth total for all task(s) incl. visible by each month (history).
* a secondary ftp app will be written for remote access with login so the files need to be stored in such a way the a everyday ftp client can also access files (that have been stored compressed to save server disk space).
* Tasks must have priority where user selects first task(s) to run with a bandwidth limit.
* send info top web portal so users can receive sms’s/email that their data has been successfully backed up / etc.
* i am looking at a sub-user system whereby sub-accounts can be created for companies – not sure how this would work with ftp accounts, perhaps recommend some solutions? This will be for companies with employees they want to grant backup/restore options with bandwidth limits (etc).
All account admin operations must be accessible via the web from a pc / smartphone and therefore data must be continually be downloaded from a mysql database before commencing tasks (is this possible? and what are security risks?). Users must be able to access data and pause/resume tasks from their smartphones for instance – without having to run into the office – so i want the app to interact live from a database on the server.
I will write my own php/mysql crm billing system so the app must be able to interact with that before allowing account access. This will probably be linked to payment / account status.
Additionally i want a back-end file that will allow me to rebrand the util – ie change its name, logo/interface colours,fonts and which domain it will be ‘locked’ to as i want to use for various markets.
I want an idea of what it would cost so i can prepare that side – thanks to everyone.