Dell PowerVault DL2200 - Manual (Page 3)

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The Solution: PowerVault DL Backup‐to‐Disk Appliance with Symantec™ Backup Exec Continuous
Protection Server
The PowerVault DL Backup‐to‐Disk Appliance includes Backup Exec Continuous Protection Server (CPS), a
complement to Backup Exec for Windows Servers specifically designed for disk. Backup Exec CPS revolutionizes
backups by eliminating backup windows, improving backup reliability, and featuring the industry’s first Web‐based
end‐user file retrieval. It integrates with Backup Exec for Windows Servers to deliver a complete disk‐to‐disk‐to‐tape
solution. This solution improves data protection and reduces the administrative complexity associated with
traditional data protection practices. Continuous data protection eliminates the need for full, incremental, or
differential backups by protecting data immediately and then continuously backing it up to disk. It also decreases
the complexity of current methodologies as well as helping reduce the cost of the media used.
Because Windows file server data is continuously protected on disk, it can be recovered quickly and end users can
restore their own files without contacting IT which improves service levels without increased IT headcount or
administrative cost.
Understanding Traditional and Continuous Data Protection
As you consider a suitable data protection strategy for your organization, it is important to understand the
differences between traditional tape‐based, traditional disk‐based, and continuous disk‐based data protection
offerings.
Traditional Tape Backups
Key Benefits
Traditionally, tape backups have proven to be an effective and inexpensive means for data protection and recovery.
The key benefits of traditional tape backups include:
• Inexpensive medium to store data
• Portable format that can easily be moved offsite
• Familiar to administrators, who know and understand tape backups
Key Drawbacks
As useful as tape backups are, there are three key challenges with tape. First is reliability. In a Byte and Switch
survey
(1)
, about one quarter (25.6 percent) of survey respondents said their backups fail at least twice a week
because of the failure of the tape cartridges (52.9 percent) and the tape drives (45 percent). The second challenge is
complexity. Tape lacks the flexibility and simplicity that many organizations need today in a data protection
solution. Last is speed. As data volumes increase, tape backups are taking longer. A few notable drawbacks to tape
backups include:
• High impact on production server (backups must occur during off‐peak hours)
• Only a limited number of servers backed up at one time
(1) http://storagemagazine.techtarget.com/magPrintFriendly/0,293813,sid35_gci1052905,00.html