The Latest On Backup

We tested the Windows versions of both products for this review, though ARCserve also has versions that support NetWare and Linux. Our test environment comprised two Dell PowerEdge 6350 servers with dual Xeon processors running Windows 2000 Advanced Server. We also used a Microsoft Exchange server running on a Compaq Proliant 5500. For tape hardware, we used both a Quantum Super SDLT 220 DLT tape drive and a Hewlett-Packard SureStoreTape 1200e 6 Tape autochanger. All servers were installed with the latest service packs and patches available from the Windows update site. Each of the 6350s used an Intel Pro 10/100 Ethernet card to plug into an Intel Express 460T Standalone Network switch. This switch was connected to all other test systems, including the Compaq Proliant through a Cisco Catalyst 6500.

We tested each product with a number of different network configurations; products performed within a few percentage points for the time to complete common backup and restore tasks. Be aware that any feature beyond the basic backup and restore is going to require an additional service option, which can significantly hike the price of the finished solution. Both products provide optional agents for backing up data-driven apps such as Microsoft Exchange or SQL Server. Those agents are critical because they allow backups of these applications while they are in use,otherwise, administrators would first need to ensure that everyone is logged off.

ARCserve v9

The ARCserve installation is simple and intuitive, though slightly more difficult than Backup Exec.

ARCserve's redesigned manager utility feels like a Web browser. ARCserve refers to the first screen as your home page. From there, you can access BrightStor ARCserve Backup on the Web, technical support and other items from CA's Web site.

We really liked ARCserve's ability to back up client systems without an agent, something that Backup Exec couldn't do. The agent provides full security and the best compression-saving bandwidth, reducing the requirements on the storage media. Also nice is the integrated ETrust AntiVirus virus-scanning capabilities, which can be disabled by the user.

ARCserve has performance options that will help get large data sets backed up in the least amount of time. While tape-write speeds have improved over the years, tape drives still lag the performance of hard drives, so on large data sets, you might not be able to perform a complete backup in one night. To mitigate this, ARCserve provides an option for tape RAIDing, or striping the backup data over multiple tape drives. This also increases the reliability of the data set, because parity information is interleaved with the source data.

As with Backup Exec, ARCserve provides a near-line storage facility that allows a backup to a hard drive in tape format. This offers all the functionality of a tape backup and the speed of the hard drive.

ARCserve also provides an image backup facility to improve the performance of volume backups. Volumes can be backed up as images even while they are in use. The image can be used to restore the complete volume or individual files.

ARCserve provides a solid solution that is going to appeal to mixed environments. The package supports native operations on Windows, NetWare and Linux with agent support for various platforms. ARCserve also integrates well with the other BrightStor product offerings.

Backup Exec 9.0

The Backup Exec installation was fairly clean and straightforward. Before installation, the product recommends you check for newer product builds and read through software alerts and provides a link to the Veritas Web site. The installation allows for local and remote installs at the same time. Remote installs are handled through a single-step push installation. Server agents are simultaneously pushed and activated by the Backup Exec license manager on the media server.

Backup Exec's new GUI is very user-friendly; Veritas has scored a hit here. The navigation bar comprises a row of buttons across the top of the screen that lets you know where you are and select where you are going with a single click of the mouse. Most of your work will be done on the Job Setup page. It is here that you access all job-related controls, which are categorized as General Tasks, Backup Tasks, Restore Tasks and Backup Strategy Tasks. The many wizards and templates available here will help guide you through just about any common job-related task. They are also a great way to become familiar with the standard interface and selections that need to be made.

The Job Monitor provides job control and scheduling. This page has two view options. One is a straight job list; the other is designed with an easy-to-read calendar interface. Job Monitor allows for a quick, filtered review of past, present and future jobs.

In addition to the standard backup features, Backup Exec also offers Single Instance Store for NTFS volumes. If a file exists multiple times on an NTFS volume, it will only be backed up once, saving both time and space. It also makes this feature available for e-mail attachments in its Exchange option.

One of the biggest annoyances is the open file that didn't get backed up. In the past, backup software would try to copy the opened file a few times, then give up and move along. Both Backup Exec and ARCserve provide open-file support; however, Backup Exec had a few more options.

Summary

Both ARCserve and Backup Exec are fully capable business backup solutions that offer extensive features and optional packages, though we saw a few more supported platforms on the ARCserve side.

We liked Backup Exec's ease of use and can understand why it has such a strong following. We recommend it for small to midsize businesses. ARCserve, however, has made great strides in usability, but what impressed us is its native management console support on other platforms, in addition to Windows and its integration with Computer Associates' broader management strategy.

For mixed environments where there are diverse platforms to support or where the backup solution needs to work with the network-management strategy, ARCserve gets our nod.

Kerry Roberts ([email protected]) is a senior test lead at KeyLabs.