A Barrage of Data Protection Tools

Backup and recovery software comes in all shapes and sizes. In addition to the new releases from Computer Associates, CommVault, EMC/Legato, IBM/Tivoli and Symantec, here's what some other vendors have introduced:

NSI's Double-Take 4.4 host-based data replication and failover software now includes intelligent data compression, which assesses whether the data to be replicated would benefit the network based on potential overhead. It also lets users manually alter compression levels and set levels for individual servers. The new release also boasts new system-resource management, higher scalability and e-mail notifications. Pricing starts at $1,595 for the Storage Server Edition version and $2,494 for Windows servers.

BakBone's NetVault 7.3 adds improved support for file systems and a number of applications, notably Exchange and SQL Server, running on Microsoft Windows Cluster Server 2003. Support for Oracle databases running on Red Hat Enterprise Linux clustered environments will come in the spring. Pricing starts at $1,195 per server. The software is also available through its channel of VARs.

On the appliance side, Overland Storage's REO 1000 is targeted at SMBs. It supports 1 TB of native (2 TB compressed) capacity and LTO-2 tape emulation in a 1U form factor with iSCSI connectivity. In October, Overland rolled out the REO 9000, an appliance that provides high-capacity, near-instantaneous disk-based backup and recovery, and scales up to 9.6 TB on Serial ATA drives. It supports both Fibre Channel and iSCSI connectivity. The REO 9000 comes with Overland's new PowerPAC software, which embeds intelligence for improved backup and restore; a browser-based management tool will be offered with this and all future REO devices. Pricing should start at $43,000.

Adaptec, which recently acquired Snap Appliance, started shipping the Snap Enterprise Data Replicator, a suite of data replication and management software designed to consolidate in near-real-time data from multiple remote locations. Snap EDR only replicates data that has changed and can link between Snap Servers, Unix, Windows and Linux-based systems. The software also lets users set rules for retaining data during the time span specified. The software costs $2,699 per server.