Symantec Backup Exec 2012 review

Backup strategies can literally be one-click maneuvers, since jobs are automatically created with a scheduled full-system backup and regular daily incrementals. You can edit the backup sources, change the schedules, replace incrementals with differentials, and add further stages.

A complete D2D2T strategy can also be created with a single click, and options are provided to run scheduled backups followed by duplication copies to tape for off-site storage. You can also create a backup job using any available media, and on completion it will be converted to a Hyper-V or VMware VM.

Smarter still is that multiple systems can be placed in groups and an entire backup strategy created with a single click for all members. A checkbox next to the source selections for backup jobs will show green if all components necessary for full disaster recovery are selected.

Other new features include wizard-assisted recovery procedures that offer options based only on what you want to restore. Previously, you had to wade through all the backups to find what you were looking for; now if you select an application, for example, only the relevant data will be presented.

The V-Ray Edition is specifically designed for protecting virtualised environments. It’s licensed per occupied CPU socket (not per core) and includes everything needed to protect an unlimited number of VM guests and their hosted applications.

Symantec follows the lead of CA’s ARCserve r16, with an all-you-can-eat licence. This suite includes all BE2012 has to offer, with pricing based on the level of production data to be secured prior to deduplication or compression.

BE2012 is a very different beast to BE2010, and we’d strongly recommend existing users familiarise themselves with it thoroughly before upgrading. Nevertheless, after scaling the steep but short learning curve, this new version really does simplify backup and recovery processes immensely.

Author: Dave Mitchell