> 1. Is it possible to use the same tape for multiple (daily) runs? How?
Natively, it is not possible. It can be done using some "tricks"
> 2. Is it possible to simply do full backups (full dumps) manually?
> Without any schedule? How?
Full dumps are NOT scheduled, that is Amanda that decide when to full
dump, depending on the load of the system (wouldn't do all full dumps
the same day and nothing the other days).
> 3. Do I need to run any other software/daemons on the server and/or
> client for network-wide backups to occur?
Yes you need a light version of Amanda on the clients (plus at least a
valid version of GNU tar if you are to use GNU tar).
> 4. Does using Samba (smbmount) to back up Windows clients really work?
It does not use smbmount, but instead smbclient and the tar command
included to smbclient. It works with the mentionned limitations about
open files, naming of share, users and password (keep them all to
alphanumerical). These limitations are due to a conjunction of Windows
limitations, Samba limitations and Unix shell limitations.
It DOES put some load on the Windows client.
Olivier
