Data Protection (Backup / Restore / Archive) Solutions from Dell

Home > Solutions > Data Protection

Data Protection (Backup / Restore / Archive)

"Like us, most of our customers can’t wait 10-12 hours to load and run backup tapes, to retrieve data, but the PS Series arrays render backup process instantaneously. Not only is this capability critical in case something goes wrong, but it also provides savings in terms of the time and effort it takes to manage a daily backup process."

– Paul Vagnozzi, Cypress Corporation Vice President and CTO

To have a consistent, usable, secure copy of data to store long term backup is required. But backup can be burdensome – long backup windows reduce productivity, and backing up distributed servers with individual storage is cumbersome. Server-side tape drives require more equipment, more staff, and more time; LAN-based backup degrades network performance. To restore data from backup format can take days, and without application coordination, data integrity is not assured. With storage consolidated on a Dell EqualLogic iSCSI SAN you can:

Reduce operational burden
Eliminate backup window, minimize disruption
Automate backup
Create virtually unlimited snapshots and consistency sets
Integrate with operating systems
Benefit from an all-inclusive pricing model

Reduce operational burden
Creating storage-based snapshots with EqualLogic PS Series arrays provides reliable, non-disruptive backup. With our affordable, automated iSCSI SAN solution, you can backup from a central storage pool, easing the operational burden of both backup and restore while enabling business continuity for users.

Eliminate backup window, minimize disruption
Many applications are brought offline or into a significantly degraded state during backup. In contrast, snapshots are created quickly - within seconds in a good implementation - and efficiently. This reduces application disruption to minutes and enables improved service levels even during backup.

Automate backup
With the EqualLogic PS Series, you can take snapshots instantly or schedule them to be taken automatically. This allows users to enjoy assured data integrity and high reliability without constant manual intervention. Users can also mount snapshots with read/write capabilities for automated use or integration with restore applications.

Create virtually unlimited snapshots and consistency sets
Dell EqualLogic arrays support up to 512 snapshots per volume, thousands per array, and read-only or read-write configurations. Additionally, simultaneous snapshots of multiple volumes can be taken to protect all volumes associated with applications.

Benefit from an all-inclusive pricing model
A fundamental component of how Dell is changing the way people experience storage is our pricing model. Each EqualLogic PS Series array comes with all backup and protection capabilities built in (including snapshots, clones, replication, and scheduling) at no additional cost, and does not change as more hosts and/or capacity are added.

Dell EqualLogic Consulting Services – Expert guidance and a proven process
Dell believes that well planned and maintained storage infrastructures can support growing data requirements without corresponding increases in costs and complexity. Dell Infrastructure Consulting Services can help customers design storage infrastructures that satisfy data availability, retention and recovery requirements and help you to get the most out of your EqualLogic PS Series. We utilize Dell and Dell partner’s best practice such as Microsoft®, VMware®, Oracle® to help accelerate integration into the data center. Features now present in the EqualLogic PS6000 Series such as increased performance, integrated snapshots with HyperV™ and Virtual Storage capabilities are utilized as part of our design and implementation service.

Dell works collaboratively and is certified with industry leading technology partners for enhanced backup and restore solutions.

CommVault

EqualLogic PS Series arrays are certified with the CommVault Galaxy backup and recovery product line, offering unified, scalable data protection of Microsoft Windows 2003 data and applications.

Microsoft

As a leading iSCSI SAN vendor, we work closely with Microsoft’s Simple SAN initiative including Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) compatibility for full integration with all leading backup vendors that support VSS. In addition, Dell has worked closely with Microsoft to ensure that the PS Series provides a seamlessly scalable SAN for DPM backup services.

Symantec

The EqualLogic PS Series supports Symantec Backup Exec backup and recovery software and VERITAS Storage Foundation storage management and virtualization software to deliver enhanced data and storage management environment for enterprise customer.

PS Storage Stack