I want to backup from Windows to multiple hard drives as if they were tape cartridges...

Hello fellow Hoarders,

I want to backup from Windows to multiple hard drives as if they were tape cartridges. In other words I want it to ask for a destination for my backup, allow me to mount it, have it fill it up and then allow me to unmount it, mount another blank drive and continue with the backup and repeat until done. I don't care if the backup allows me to individually browse through and restore from files on the backup from each of the individual drives without having to use the backup program.

I searched the wiki and didn't see a mention of software that might be able to do this however some months ago I thought I saw some threads indicating that some commercial software may support this usage but that they don't advertise it. I've seen similar questions asked in past years but no clear answers or posts saying they found a working solution.

I purchased an OWC SATA to USB Drive Dock that I intend to use to insert and eject the drives that I want to use as my "backup media". I'm trying to create a backup of my Plex server that I can perform occasionally (once a year?) and then send the drives that I backed up to offsite. I'm using several drives that I've decommissioned from my server as I've migrated to larger drives (the plex is now built from 20TB drive and the old drives are 16Tb drives). I figure I have enough lower capacity drives (i.e. 5-10TB drives) laying around that I can use to make up the difference so that the drives will hold all of my data (besides which, the Plex is currently only about 80% full).

I don't mind paying for the software if it supports this usage (i.e. commercial software is fine). I much prefer paying a one time fee for the software over a subscription however although if a subscription is the only answer so be it.

So, does anyone have any suggestions on software to try or at least to inquire with the company about whether it will do what I want? I'm hoping that if it works I can create a good "how-to" post on accomplishing this to answer future questions on this subject (at least for Windows Users).

Thanks for any tips and or suggestions on my endeavor.

J.T.

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