We are pleased to announce that Backup Exec 16 Feature Pack 1 (FP1) is generally available. Backup Exec 16 FP1 continues with a quarterly cadence of feature pack release which includes new features and capabilities, and continued improvement to our award-winning backup and recovery solution.
What’s New in Backup Exec 16 FP1?
FP1 includes automated Disaster Recovery testing with Recovery Ready, Instant Recovery 2.0 for Virtual Machines, Simplified Cloud Storage selection, support for Amazon S3 Infrequent Access storage, additional Private Cloud storage, support for NetApp ONTAP 9.0 and vSphere 6.0 Update 3. Backup Exec is also now available on the Azure marketplace.
- NEW! Recovery Ready
One of the top requested capabilities for Backup Exec has been the ability to perform automated Disaster Recovery testing on Virtual Machine backups. FP1 introduces the Recovery Ready capability to ensure the recoverability of protected VMware or Hyper-V virtual machines from Instant Recovery copies. Recovery Ready can be performed before creating an offsite copy to achieve a smooth recovery.
- Instant Recovery 2.0
Instant Recovery 2.0 offers enhanced resiliency to increase the data and application availability of VMware and Hyper-V virtual machines that have been Instantly Restored. This improves business continuity in case the Backup Exec server or the VMware or the Hyper-V server is restarted. As soon as the restart is complete or network reconnected, virtual machines restored with the “Instant Recovery” feature are brought back online automatically.
- BE Cloud
FP1 continues to enhance Backup Exec in public and private cloud. Introducing easy deployment in the cloud from the Azure Marketplace and simplified configuration of cloud storage, new cool storage class with Amazon S3 Infrequent Access and additional private cloud platforms to showcase Veritas’ dedication to public, private, and hybrid cloud.
- Simplified Cloud Storage Configuration
Enhanced user-experience for cloud storage configuration and management.
- Backup Exec on Azure Marketplace
Backup Exec is now available for deployment from the Azure Marketplace, Microsoft’s online store for public cloud system tools and applications. Customers benefit immediately from this trusted,powerful and easy solution to protect Azure cloud workloads.
- Microsoft StorSimple Cloud Gateway Support
StorSimple is now certified to be used as a backup target with Backup Exec for seamless integrated, easy to use, backup and recovery from application to cloud storage.
- Amazon S3 Infrequent Access Storage Class
Backup Exec 16 FP1 new enables direct backup into Amazon S3 Infrequent Access (IA) “cool” storage in addition to Amazon S3 “hot” storage. Taking advantage of these Amazon S3 storage tiers will give you more flexibility when it comes to optimizing the cost and performance for backing up and storing objects depending on use case and data retention policies.
- Support for new private cloud-based storage providers
Backup Exec broadens cloud storage choices through support for the following private providers, enabling greater flexibility and economy:
- Dell EMC Elastic Cloud Storage (ECS)
- RedHat Ceph Storage
- Timely Platform Support– We are very committed to providing timely support for new platforms as they become available so additional features in FP1 includes support for the following software environments:
- vSphere 6.0 U3
- Exchange 2016 CU5
- Exchange 2013 CU15 and CU16
- NetApp ONTAP 9.0
- General Fixes
A number of minor product issues and optimizations have been addressed in Backup Exec 16 FP1. For more information, click here and view the Backup Exec 16 FP1 Release Notes.
Accessing the Backup Exec 16 FP1 Update
Customers with existing Backup Exec 16 deployments can download Backup Exec Feature Pack 1 today at http://www.veritas.com/docs/TECH116034. Availability via Live Update is expected to follow within the next 15 days. Backup Exec 16 installation media with FP1 embedded will be available on 12th April from either the trial ware link on backupexec.com or MyVeritas (FileConnect) by visiting https://my.veritas.com/.
Learn More
To learn more about Backup Exec 16 FP1, download the attached what’s new in BE 16 FP1 infographic or click on the links below:
Backup Exec 16 FP1 TechNote Download page - http://www.veritas.com/docs/TECH116034
Backup Exec 16 FP1 Release Notes - http://www.veritas.com/docs/TECH126048
Backup Exec Web page: http://www.backupexec.com
What’s Next?
In summary, we have done a lot of work to make Backup Exec more effective, more secure and better suited to backup and protect your environments across Virtual, Physical, or Cloud.
Questions and comments are welcome. Be sure to watch out for more Backup Exec blogs and videos on new features and benefits coming here on VOX.
Thank you for your continued support of Veritas Backup Exec.
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