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Ovi_I's avatar
Ovi_I
Level 4
8 years ago

End of Support for Backup Exec Versions in 2019

Hello

 

I am working for a large company and i am in charge of all backups running Backup Exec.

Did become aware that from 2019 the software will be EOL, and i am wondering if did undestand this right, that version 16 is the last release and no other backup exec will be released afterwards.

I need this info, as we plan 5 years in advance and do no want to be caught in this situation.

 

Thank you

  • Colin_Weaver's avatar
    Colin_Weaver
    8 years ago

    Backup Exec 16 is NOT the last version it is just the current version - we do not confirm roadmaps and as such End Of Life documentation cannot state when BE 16 will be End-of-Life (EOL) or when a future version will be released

    Our current policy is to support a version of BE until the next version is released or until we clearly state that a product has been discontinued (which we have NOT done for BE) - After a new version is released we will then continue to provide Standard Support of that older version for one year or the release of a 2nd new version (whichever time is shorter).  Following on from that 1 year, it is possible to purchase up to 2 further years of extended support where Tech Support (but not engineering level) assistance is still available.

    Anyone on maintenance contracts when a new version is released are eligible to receive licenses for the new version so can upgrade (and extend their support lifecycle in the process) Basically this means as long as you maintain your maintenance you can remain supported just by upgrading when newer versions are released.

    Definitions and the The EOL status  (including End of Standard Support / EOSS and End of Support Life / EOSL) dates for various Backup Exec versions are listed in the following document - please note BE 16 is listed in the table as TBD (To Be Decided) because it is the current version and therefore is not in an part of the End-of-Life process at this current time.

    http://www.veritas.com/docs/000116356

     

     

     

     

     

     

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  • Colin_Weaver's avatar
    Colin_Weaver
    Moderator
    8 years ago

    Backup Exec 16 is NOT the last version it is just the current version - we do not confirm roadmaps and as such End Of Life documentation cannot state when BE 16 will be End-of-Life (EOL) or when a future version will be released

    Our current policy is to support a version of BE until the next version is released or until we clearly state that a product has been discontinued (which we have NOT done for BE) - After a new version is released we will then continue to provide Standard Support of that older version for one year or the release of a 2nd new version (whichever time is shorter).  Following on from that 1 year, it is possible to purchase up to 2 further years of extended support where Tech Support (but not engineering level) assistance is still available.

    Anyone on maintenance contracts when a new version is released are eligible to receive licenses for the new version so can upgrade (and extend their support lifecycle in the process) Basically this means as long as you maintain your maintenance you can remain supported just by upgrading when newer versions are released.

    Definitions and the The EOL status  (including End of Standard Support / EOSS and End of Support Life / EOSL) dates for various Backup Exec versions are listed in the following document - please note BE 16 is listed in the table as TBD (To Be Decided) because it is the current version and therefore is not in an part of the End-of-Life process at this current time.

    http://www.veritas.com/docs/000116356

     

     

     

     

     

     

      • Colin_Weaver's avatar
        Colin_Weaver
        Moderator
        8 years ago

        Hmm I can see the sentence that might be misleading (the title and the paragraph just above the table in the referenced article)  I will feed that back ..l thanks

  • VLM1985's avatar
    VLM1985
    Level 1
    8 years ago

    I heard that Veritas was no longer working on Backup Exec from a Dell representative.  I contacted Dell to upgrade our tape library and mentioned that I use Backup Exec.  Dell advised me to start looking at other software as Backup Exec will not exist soon.

    • BarnabyWood's avatar
      BarnabyWood
      Level 2
      8 years ago

      Hi

      Please see the links relating to Veritas continued development of and support for Backup Exec in the post immediately above yours. I have pasted them below for simplicity. Backup Exec has a long, healthy roadmap continuing our extensive, market-leading support for physical and virtual environments as well as strong development into public cloud with direct, certified support for Microsoft Azure in addition to Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud.

       

      We've clarified the Support document: please refresh - https://www.veritas.com/support/en_US/article.000116356?

      Please also see this article on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/veritas-backup-exec-alive-well-andy-spencer

      I hope this helps to clarify. Please let us know if you have any further questions or concerns.

      Many thanks

      Barnaby Wood

      Product Marketing, Backup Exec

    • Amrish_BE_PM's avatar
      Amrish_BE_PM
      Level 3
      8 years ago

      All I can say is don't be driven by negative propaganda. If you really want to experience what we are working on for next release of Backup Exec, come join Customer and Partner Engagement Program, where you not only get to know what is being currently worked upon, but you can interact directly with the development team and influence their work with your valuable feedback.

      Backup Exec has adopted Agile methodology of development and has delivered Backup Exec 15 and Backup Exec 16 using these methodologies. As you know regular customer feedback is central to the agile methodology of development so that better customer value be delivered, we have been interacting with 75+ customers/partners accross the geographies.

      This has helped us deliver much appreciated content as part of feature packs itself rather than waiting for major releases and let me tell you we have learnt a lot and delivered better customer value using this learning. Some of the examples I quote here,

      - 98% of customers we interacted with were not using search for restore, we eliminated the cataloging process during backup to deliver faster backups without impacting GRT restores at all using Instant GRT

      - Instant Recovery we heard from Customers needed to survive server reboot for it to be deployed in production environment, which led us to deliver Instant Recovery 2.0 in BE 16 FP1

      - Customers while interacting with us during Instant Recovery demos wanted to have some means to run a DR drill or check the sanity of their backups at the click of a button. We delivered Recovery Ready in BE 16 FP1

      and so on. There are various other learnings which we have incorporated in the customer value we are delivering.

      Experience these and help us improve in our knowledge of how the Backup Exec Enthusiasts use it, so that we deliver a better Backup Exec to you with each release. Join CPEP at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Customer_Partner_Engagement or write to Customer.Engagement@Veritas.com