Dell, CommVault Add Cloud Power To Backup ApplianceDell, CommVault Add Cloud Power To Backup Appliance

The new Dell PowerVault DL Backup to Disk Appliance sets up in thirty minutes, can replace old disk-to-tape backups with disk-to-disk, as well as disk-to-cloud for archiving and disaster recovery.To simplify doing backups both locally and online, and doing online backups to cloud providers, Dell and CommVault have announced the new Dell PowerVault DL Backup to Disk Appliance, which uses Simpana 8 software from CommVault.

(CommVault is also working directly with cloud-based disaster-recovery providers -- see CommVault Unveils Cloud Disaster Recovery For SMBs.)

The new DL Appliance can provide backup and restore for data ranging from individual files, to entire system states for full system recovery, according to Michael McMahon, VP of Business Development, WorldWide OEM, CommVault. Backup capabilities include disk-based backup, deduplication, archiving, integrated data management, and cloud support. The combination of features means that companies can hang on to data longer and more cost-effectively, according to CommVault.

The DL Appliance can have up to 24 terabytes of internal storage in a 2U chasses, can be scaled to over 300 terabytes of storage capacity, and includes extensions for using cloud storage services.

CommVault Simpana software is not currently available as a hardware/software appliance except from Dell, says McMahon, although CommVault Simpana software can be purchased separately, and installed on hardware by companies or resellers. "Dell is our largest partner worldwide, representing about 25% of our business, mostly in software. But we find that SMBs and midmarket companies prefer appliances that can be up and running in thirty minutes. The Dell DL comes fully tested and tuned, is scalable, and with a 3 terabyte/hour 'ingestion' rate, it's very quick."

According to CommVault, the appliance is a match for remote offices and any business looking to deduplicate, backup, archive and recover data to and from public and private storage cloud environments. CommVault's McMahon says, "This includes companies ones with remote offices which have been using disk-to-tape and disk-to-disk-to-tape as their backup solution. We saw an opportunity to provide a device that's easy to set up, in thirty minutes, eliminate tape, especially around the edges, set policies, and replicate data to a central site, and stop using tape at the edges."

The DL Appliance's archiving features can be used to automatically 'tier' data; for example, moving email on primary storage that has not been accessed in two months from Fibre Channel storage to the DL device, and after another six months, to cloud or tape storage. Data can also be backed up to a cloud provider for disaster recovery.

Other features of the new DL Appliance include:

The benefits, according to CommVault, include increased cost savings and operational efficiencies. "The DL Appliance can facilitate faster backups and restores of both physical and virtual environments, with both VMware and Hyper-V protection options," says McMachon.