NEW YORK — Sept. 27, 2006 —Microsoft Corp. today announced the public beta release of the Microsoft® System Center Data Protection Manager (DPM) version 2 at the Storage Decisions conference in New York. The next version of System Center DPM delivers continuous data protection (CDP) for Microsoft application and file servers through advanced technology for enterprises of all sizes. Building on the rapid and reliable recovery, efficient protection, and operational simplicity found in Data Protection Manager 2006, customers will be able to extend these cost-saving benefits from individual file servers to their mission-critical Microsoft applications using fully integrated disk-to-disk-to-tape protection.
“Customers who have been dissatisfied with the complexity and cost of alternative backup solutions are looking for Microsoft to deliver a superior data protection solution. DPM version 2, which includes support of Microsoft Exchange Server, Microsoft SQL Server™ and Microsoft Office SharePoint® Portal Server, sets a new standard for data protection,” said Kirill Tatarinov corporate vice president of the Windows Enterprise Management Division at Microsoft. “DPM version 2 combines the concepts of continuous data protection and traditional tape backup, online and offline, into a single product, enabling a zero-data-loss configuration for applications. This innovation represents a significant milestone in Microsoft’s Universal Distributed Storage and systems management strategies.”
Continuous Data Protection for Windows Applications and File Servers
In today’s competitive marketplace, nightly backup is not sufficient for customers of any size. To address the need to better protect corporate data, DPM version 2 enables customers to monitor data changes in real time, enabling zero data loss recovery using a unique and patent-pending agent technology. Even more groundbreaking is the seamless integration of tape and disk, to ensure minimal downtime and reliable application recovery with only a few mouse clicks. Microsoft has been a leader in the growing continuous data protection market since the arrival of DPM 2006, providing CDP capabilities that have enabled businesses of all sizes to take advantage of the greatly improved recovery point objectives found in CDP and real-time replication products. Until Microsoft’s entry into CDP, many customers considered advanced data protection technologies too complex and lacking good integration into their key applications.
“Microsoft and Dell share a vision for reducing the cost and complexity associated with data backup and recovery,” said Darren Thomas, vice president and general manager of Dell Computer Corp.’s storage business. “The combination of Dell’s flexible PowerVault Disk and Tape storage offerings with Microsoft’s DPM running on Dell PowerEdge servers offers customers a simple, cost-effective solution that helps ensure data is protected and rapidly recoverable.”
Rapid and Reliable Recovery
Today, DPM 2006 already delivers rapid and reliable recovery of files from readily accessible disks instead of waiting to locate and mount tapes. It has an easy-to-use IT administrator interface and enables end users to restore their own data directly from Windows® Explorer or any Microsoft Office application.
DPM version 2 extends the recovery-centric design of DPM 2006 to Microsoft Exchange Server, SQL Server and SharePoint Portal Server and enhances its file server protection capability. Traditionally, the backup and recovery of an application required the identification and maintenance of various stores of user data, application binaries and configuration data as well as a list of procedures to recover both the data and the application. With DPM version 2, IT administrators help protect and recover all applications or application objects by using application terminology and concepts such as mailboxes for Microsoft Exchange Server or file shares for Windows file servers. Too often, current backup solutions fail because of the incorrect configuration of what data gets backed up or how. DPM version 2 unifies the application recovery process and the application backup process into one highly integrated continuous data protection solution.
“Data loss for our mission-critical applications is not something that we can tolerate,” said Marc Williams, IT manager with the New York City Department of Sanitation. “The cost of even half a day’s lost work is not acceptable in today’s demanding business climate. The continuous data protection capabilities of DPM version 2 have enabled us to confidently set service-level agreements for zero data loss by enabling single-click recovery of previous point-in-time copies.”
Advanced Technology for Enterprises of All Sizes
DPM version 2 brings together the best aspects of continuous data protection with traditional tape backup/restore capabilities to provide a comprehensive disk-to-disk-to-tape data recovery solution. By combining continuous protection delivered through a patent-pending real-time block-level filter, along with an advanced backup platform that seamlessly uses both disk and tape, DPM version 2 brings advanced data protection technologies to enterprises of all sizes.
The patent-pending block-level replication technology dramatically reduces the input/output needed to keep large data sets synchronized across all distances, offering significantly greater efficiencies. DPM version 2 provides new, fully integrated support for tape media that builds upon the established disk protection capabilities found in DPM 2006. By enabling the IT administrator to quickly recover applications and files from seamlessly integrated disk and tape media, DPM blends the best of traditional backup methodology with modern CDP technology. With out-of-the-box encryption for media, broad industry support with a variety of tape libraries and advanced media management capabilities, DPM version 2 helps customers protect their data from one console, using the latest data protection technology on their most critical Microsoft infrastructure.
Windrush Frozen Foods Ltd. is planning to upgrade its data centers to DPM version 2. “The next generation of DPM is enabling us to reconsider our data protection strategy and subsequently greatly simplify our application and site disaster recovery plans, reduce the number of agents installed on servers, minimize the data on the network and maximize our return on investment,” said Robbie Roberts, IT manager at Windrush Frozen Foods. “DPM version 2 will significantly reduce the number of moving parts involved in backup and recovery at our data centers.”
About System Center Data Protection Manager
DPM brings real-time replication and continuous data protection technology to the mainstream without the traditional costs and complexity of many alternative products. DPM 2006 solves centralized backup for branch offices today. DPM version 2 broadens what is being protected to include applications and other system information. It also shows how that backup and recovery occurs.
More information about DPM is available at http://www.microsoft.com/dpm.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
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