Computer Associates BrightStor ARCserve Backup for Windows 9

The two main players in the network backup market have traditionally been Computer Associates (CA) and Veritas, with both vendors taking a large cut of the spoils. However, it's been a while since we've seen a new version of CA's ARCserve backup utility, the company seemingly content to deliver updates and patches through hefty service packs. The latest BrightStor ARCserve Backup for Windows 9 represents the first significant release of this software for a couple of years and introduces a range of new features.

The product line has been simplified with a new base product that supports all Windows server systems. CA's impressive range of optional extras all work with this, making it easier to mix, match and expand as required. Installation procedures were always swift, but CA has streamlined them even further. You can now select multiple options and the local and remote installs are accompanied by an option to create a response file for deployment on multiple servers. The previously cumbersome licensing procedures have also been simplified. Where multiple components have been selected, ARCserve now steps through configuring each one so they're ready for immediate use. Backup options have improved noticeably too, as ARCserve can now back up directly to another local drive - a feature that's been in Backup Exec for nearly a year.

Configuration is unusual - ARCserve treats the destination folder as just another tape drive, so the device icons can be confusing. Performance will depend on your disk layout, as we saw speeds of around 365MB/min when copying from one area to another on the same Ultra160 SCSI disk, but backing up to a second disk saw this improve to over 550MB/min.

Re-writable CD and DVD media are now in the picture, but, more importantly, ARCserve can also secure NDMP (network data management protocol)-compliant NAS appliances. With this option installed, an appliance appears in the main backup selection window as another remote system where volumes can be viewed and selected, although compression, encryption, file grooming and verification aren't supported. There are other provisos too, but these are partly due to the limitations of NDMP or individual devices. Data on a NAS appliance can only be secured to a tape drive on the same system or another NAS device and you can't back up directly to an ARCserve backup server.

The management interface hasn't changed dramatically, but it does get Microsoft's XP look and feel. Also, a new side bar provides even quicker access to the various managers, Wizards and utilities. Backup jobs are still created in the same three-step process: select the targets, choose a backup device and either schedule the job or run it immediately.

General network performance can be improved, as another feature is support for multiple network cards in the backup server. From the server administration utility, you can tell ARCserve which card or group of cards to use for backup and restore operations, keeping this traffic away from general server operations.

This long-awaited revamp of CA's flagship backup product delivers an impressive range of new features. ARCserve has always been simple to use, but the management interface improvements make it even more intuitive and the base product looks particularly good value.

Author: Dave Mitchell