(some stuff snipped)
>>I find PC Anywhere ok but slow. There are other options if you expect to do a lot of remote support...
>
>What are some other options?
>

The XP Pro Remote Desktop option works pretty well (though I haven't used it with VFP on the remote machine, so I can't speak to that...) There's also a service called gotomypc that I haven't used, but hear good things about.

But, PC Anywhere may be just fine.

>>>- are tape drives and tapes still the best way to go?
>>I've switched to CDs instead of tapes. I never had much trouble with tape backups. But restores from tape seemed to be a headache 50% of the time.
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>Are the backups automated to CD? Do you use CD-Rs or CD-RWs? Which backup software do you use? Does it require that the app releases its grip on your VFP tables?

I can't speak to the VFP table issue, since in the cases I mention I was using SQL Server (and, actually, we had a separate SQL backup routine for the data). On a project last year, I used BackupMyPC (http://www.stompinc.com/bump/bump-retail.phtml?stp) and liked it a lot. Other folks may be aware of other options, though....

I prefer CD-R over RW. I still fine RW drives flaky. But, this does require that you change the CD-R after each backup. This wasn't so bad, in the case I mention. There was already a small IS department I was working with, and the three guys each had a "morning list" of about ten daily tasks (I remember one that read 'make sure Joseph S. hasn't jammed the printer' that always made me laugh. Every morning, someone checked the printer near JS's desk to make sure he was not in trouble. Made me want to meet the guy. I was nearly certain it would be the pointy haired guy from Dilbert...)