Upcoming Beta Programs for Backup Exec

[James_McKey]

UPDATE (July 25, 2013)

We have reached General Availability for the Backup Exec Service Packs for BE2010 and BE2012. More details can be found here.

Thank you for your participation and ongoing support!

UPDATE (July 11, 2013)

We are very close to the availability of the BE 2010 R3 SP3 and BE 2012 SP2 releases!  As such, the current beta program will be closing soon and new registrations will no longer be accepted.  If you have yet to register for the current beta program, please do so as soon as possible at: http://buex.ec/2012Beta  Additionally, there are a few items we want to make you aware of when the beta program closes:

• The Symbeta feedback systems will be stopped.  Existing beta participants will still be able to view any feedback (incidents, journal entires, etc.) they already submitted but not submit new entries.

• Symbeta participants will be notified when the final release is available.

• The availability date for the official BE 2010 R3 SP3 and BE 2012 SP2 releases will be the same.  We will provide an update when this date is determined.

Thank you!

UPDATE (May 29, 2013): 

The time is here! We are thrilled to announce the availability of Beta software for Backup Exec 2010 R3 SP3 and Backup Exec 2012 SP2! This beta software includes support for protection of several new platforms including Windows Server 2012, Hyper-V 2012 and VMware vSphere 5.1.

If you have already registered and are approved to participate, you will receive an email notice from SymBeta informing you that downloads are now available.  Please use your SymBeta account to access these Beta downloads, and email BEBeta@symantec.com for any technical difficulties with SymBeta access.

If you'd like to participate in the beta but have not yet registered, you can do so at http://buex.ec/2012Beta. Approvals follow new registrations within approximately one to two weeks, sometimes less, due to required screening for Trade Compliance.

UPDATE (May 20, 2013):

Early last week, we allowed a few customers in our high-touch program, to install a Backup Exec 2010 R3 SP3 Beta build.  This week we expect to do the same with Backup Exec 2012 SP2 Beta.  Following successful installations with this limited initial number of testers, we will release to the broader group of beta participants who received approval in SymBeta.  All approved participants will receive an email when downloads are available. 

The program remains open for new signups and registrants typically receive approval within two weeks.  If you have any questions about the Backup Exec Beta programs, please email us directly at BEBeta@symantec.com.

UPDATE (May 7, 2012):

Great news: we’re keeping our word on the May date, most likely in the next 10 days! Stay tuned to this blog, to the SymBeta site or follow us on Spiceworks, Twitter, Reddit or Google+ for the availability announcement of the Backup Exec 2010 R3 SP3 and Backup Exec 2012 SP2 beta software availability date. Also, please see the latest thread entry below for some additional clarifications. (By Drew Meyer)

UPDATE (March 15, 2013):  

We’re moving the Backup Exec 2010 R3 SP3 and Backup Exec 2012 SP2 beta software availability date to May, 2013. We’ve been incorporating customer feedback and improving our quality processes, and we’ve heard from you about additional enhancement opportunities that we’d like to deliver earlier than planned. We’re very focused on providing the latest platform support on both BE 2010 and BE 2012, balanced against fanatical quality standards, and this adjustment delivers the best of both worlds. Thank you for your understanding.

UPDATE (February 12, 2013): BE_PMH posted answers to a few common questions asked by those interested in participating in this Beta program. Please scroll down to the latest comment for more details.

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UPDATE (January 15, 2013): Details of Beta for Backup Exec 2010 R3 SP3 and Backup Exec 2012 SP2 have been provided below by BE_PMH. Please scroll down to the latest comment for more details.

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EDIT (Nov 15, 2012): Altered title of post and specifics about the next beta program

The Beta programs for Backup Exec are in the planning phase. Details of those updates will be forthcoming, and we appreciate all of the interest and feedback we have received from our customers so far. We are carefully evaluating platform support and feature set, while making quality our #1 focus.

We invite customers from all market segments and geographic regions to participate, and will continue to accept new applicants. Please subscribe to this post to watch for further updates.

Forward-looking Statements: Any forward-looking indication of plans for products is preliminary and all future release dates are tentative and are subject to change. Any future release of the product or planned modifications to product capability, functionality, or feature are subject to ongoing evaluation by Symantec, and may or may not be implemented and should not be considered firm commitments by Symantec and should not be relied upon in making purchasing decisions.