CA launches R11 of BrightStor ARCserve
Firm talks up enhancements 'based on beta version feedback'
Computer Associates (CA) has today unveiled the latest version of its BrightStor ARCserve Backup software, with usability and performance enhancements driven by customer feedback.
The new version include ARCserve Backup release 11 (R11) for Windows, along with ARCserve Backup for Laptops and Desktops R11 and a Microsoft Small Business Server (SBS) Edition software bundle.
David Liff, CA's vice-president of product marketing for BrightStor, said the new features came from feedback on beta versions.
"Thousands of customers gave us feedback, resulting in improvements to ease of use, reliability and scalability, for every size, from a single server up to the largest enterprise," he said.
ARCserve Backup for Laptops and Desktops (previously called BrightStor Mobile Backup) now has the same data protection as the server backup software, and the two can be integrated.
The SBS Edition bundle includes Microsoft Exchange, SQL Server, open files and Windows workstations agent software. All products are sold entirely through CA's resellers.
John Campbell, business manager for storage solutions at CA distributor Computer 2000, said: "CA seems to have turned a corner. ARCserve release 9 was really liked by those that tried it. R11 looks like another step forward.
"If CA promotes it well among end-users, it will generate healthy returns for resellers savvy enough to look for the solution sale."
Among the enhancements, backup multiplexing allows up to four backup jobs to run concurrently, all writing to the same disk or tape media. This can boost overall throughput by running a tape drive at full speed.
Campbell said this vastly decreases back-up times in multi-server environments, while Liff claimed one customer cut runtime from six-and-a-half hours to two by using this feature.
A new report-writing capability, including a 'pre-flight check' to analyse scheduled back-up jobs for correct media and security, helps administrators to pre-empt problems with overnight backups before going home.
Liff said the 168bit triple DES encryption meets financial institutions' requests for security.
The Microsoft Exchange agent software enables separate message, mailbox and database backup and restore, optionally selecting document types, folders or key words. They can include concurrent virus checking.
UK pricing for BrightStor ARCserve Backup for Windows is £547.02. ARCserve Linux and NetWare R11 versions are due for release in April.