News
Microsoft Disk-Based Backup Product Generally Available
- By Scott Bekker
- September 27, 2005
Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager, a new disk-based backup and recovery server for Windows file servers, became generally available on Tuesday. Several partners are rolling out hardware and software based on DPM to coincide with the launch.
Microsoft announced DPM a year ago as a solution for what it says is a gap in disk-to-disk backup products left by technologies based on a disk-to-tape legacy. The product costs $950 for the server and three backup agents. Additional agents retail for about $150.
While Microsoft officials say a single DPM server can back up as many as 40 servers, the company says scalability depends on the size of file servers and how frequently data on those servers changes. Microsoft recommends a DPM server for every eight to 10 file servers.
About 60,000 customers have downloaded the public beta that Microsoft posted in April, the company says. Reference customers who have deployed the product already include the San Francisco Unified School District; the City of New York Department of Sanitation, Bureau of Motor Vehicle Equipment; Des Moines Public Schools; Nitor Global Solutions; and Microsoft IT.
New appliances built on DPM are coming from HP, Quantum Corp. and Fujitsu Siemens Computers. The HP ProLiant Data Protection Storage Server line is available immediately, with appliances starting at less than $6,000.
Meanwhile, DPM-centered storage software is on the way from CommVault Systems, Computer Associates and Yosemite Technologies. The three firms plan software to help migrate DPM's disk-to-disk backups to tape for archiving.
About the Author
Scott Bekker is editor in chief of Redmond Channel Partner magazine.