Automated network backup peripheral device and method

A method of backing up network connected data sources, the method comprising:

• automatically and without user input launching and installing software from a backup device to a first data source of the network connected data sources upon detection of connection of the backup device to the first data source, the installed software configured to automatically and without user input perform the steps of:
• configuring the first data source for network backup communications;
• performing a backup of data from the first data source to the backup device connected to the first data source;
• establishing communication across the network between the first data source and a second data source of the network connected data sources, the software from the backup device having previously been automatically and without user input launched and installed on the second data source;
• performing a backup of data from the second data source to the backup device by:
• receiving at the first data source from the second data source across the established communication data to be backed up from the second data source;
• and
• storing to the backup device the received data to be backed up from the second data source.

A method of backing up data to a backup device from a first and a second network connected data source, the method comprising:

• automatically launching and installing on the first data source backup software from the backup device in response to detection of the backup device being connected to the first data source;
• backing up data from the first data source to the backup device connected to the first data source using the backup software;
• automatically launching and installing on the second data source backup software from the backup device in response to detection of the backup device being connected to the second data source;
• backing up data from the second data source to the backup device connected to the second data source using the backup software;
• establishing communication across the network between the first data source and the second data source;
• backing up data from the first data source to the backup device connected to the second data source using the backup software.