Data backup solutions provider STORServer has begun shipping a new version of its virtual machine backup software, which now includes IBM Tivoli Storage Manager for Virtual Environments (TSM for VE). STORServer VMB v5.0 provides access to the many of the features of TSM for VE, including block-level full and incremental backups based on VMware changed block tracking. Virtual machine and individual file recovery from both full and incremental backups, and block-level incremental backups of virtual machines running on non-Windows operating systems.
TSM for VE protects VMware vSphere virtual machines by offloading backup workloads to a centralized server and enabling faster recovery. It is intended to provide data protection without the need for a traditional backup window, the vendor says. The new solution also is designed to help users protect massive amounts of information that virtual machines generate without impacting the physical resources of the VMware server.
The “incremental forever” backup strategy (available with TSM for VE version 6.4 or newer) helps eliminate the need for weekly full machine backups. The system also provides restore capability from other TSM for VE user interfaces, including a VMware vCenter Client plug-in. The solution also supports instant restores of virtual machine disk volumes using the TSM for VE Recovery Agent GUI.
STORServer VMB controls backups of VMware virtual environments, employing new VMware vStorage APIs to control the movement of data directly to and from disk storage into TSM storage pools without the use of agents or VMware servers, eliminating the impact of backup on production servers. It also eliminates the need to write scripts or managing TSM schedules and option files, enabling management without TSM expertise.
STORServer VMB v5.0 supports the use of the initial release of TSM for VE (v6.3) as well as the more recently released TSM for VE v6.4, which adds the incremental forever backup strategy and other features. The software continues to support the use of its previously available backup technology, VMware Virtual Disk Development Kit (VDDK). Users can configure VMB to use either technology for all backups or use one technology as the default technology, and configure selected virtual machine clients to use the other.
Built on TSM, STORServer offers a suite of enterprise backup appliances, software and services addressing backup, archive and disaster recovery challenges.
For more information visit the STORServer website at www.storserver.com.