Thanks for all the responses on this. Lots to go on. For now I've configured up BackupPC (http://backuppc.sourceforge.net/), storing to an external (firewire) automounted HD. Easy and good so far, and the fact that I can use my fedora box to back up windows machines without having to do any config on the latter is pretty sweet. Not my final word, as I can see advantages to the rsync/dirvish approaches too. CB.
