Break Point between Backup Exec and NetBackup

[David_Agosta]

Just wondering if anyone knows the break point between Backup Exec and NetBackup.

Currently we have 1 backup server (connected to 2 tape vaults) servicing 12 client servers. We only have Windows servers. Nightly backups range from 1.5 - 4TB (all together). We are planning a D2D2T setup and would like to start using de-duplication. Unfortunately BUEX doesn't do de-dup so we are trying to decide if we have outgrown BUEX. Should we go to NetBackup or add a de-dup appliance, any suggestions?

[Ron_Cohn]

David,

One of our sister states is looking at a Quantum tape library which has built-in de-duplication (VTL portion).  The physical tape is still a complete copy.

Message Edited by Ron Cohn on 03-14-2008 10:38 AM

[Stafford]

With such a small number of servers and a relatively large amount of data per server (and/or a high change rate) your biggest bang for the buck may be converting some of your heavy hitters to BE media servers. 

What is the "problem" that you're trying to solve and what do you think de-dup is going to get you?

[David_Agosta]

There’s not really a problem to be solved. We wanted to de-dup the backup data to make efficient use of disk space. It would be nice to keep backups on-site for 4 weeks (daily tapes still sent off-site), but we could settle for 2 weeks.

Message Edited by David Agosta on 03-17-2008 05:46 AM

[Hywel_Mallett]

If only there were one simple point where NetBackup became a better option than Backup Exec!

There are some features in BE which are (or at least used to be) options in NetBackup.

I have put a (very sketchy) article at http://www.backupexecfaq.com/articles/concepts/how-does-backup-exec-compare-to-netbackup.html - If any NB users want to add or change anything, let me know!

You could always request data deduplication in BE at http://enhancements.symantec.com - maybe in BE13...

[Jason_Dowzell1]

As previously mentioned there is (unfortunately!) no easy break even point between the two products - if you are a complete Windows house then in some areas BE is in fact ahead of NBU.

If by 12 client servers you mean 12 clients as opposed to 12 media servers then I dont believe (from the limited information given) that you are in the situation where you have outgrown BE. Many of the advantages of NBU such as scalability, performance, management, heterogenous operating system support and so on dont seem to apply to your situation - the one exception to that is of course deduplication but you dont specify where you want to dedupe data from or what you want to achieve but, fundamentally, BE could still work as a solution with a third party dedupe product offering (be it NBU Puredisk or an appliance for example) depending on which one you looked at and what functionality and integration you wanted/needed from the solution.