 "Symantec Announces OpenStorage API For NetBackup")
Symantec has announced plans to offer a new application programming interface (API) called the Symantec NetBackup OpenStorage API, designed to allow intelligent disk devices to integrate natively with NetBackup, the enterprise backup and recovery product.
Integration between intelligent disk devices and backup software has been a challenge for the industry. Since major backup applications haven’t provided a purpose-built API for integration, it has been difficult for intelligent disk backup devices to offer advanced functionality beyond basic interoperability.
The NetBackup OpenStorage API will allow intelligent disk device vendors to natively integrate with NetBackup to deliver a seamless and more functional solution for customers.
The NetBackup OpenStorage API is planned to allow NetBackup to “treat disk as disk” and specifically enable the following disk-based backup features:
High-speed backup and recovery to intelligent disk devices over Fibre Channel or IP connections.
Disk sharing and virtualization, allowing a pool of disk to be shared by multiple NetBackup Media Servers; the virtualization enables Media Server load-balancing, high-availability, and failover.
Better utilization of disk by leveraging the single-instance-storage capabilities of partner devices.
Backup image replication between multiple data centers for disaster recovery or electronic vaulting, eliminating the need to ship, encrypt, or store tapes.
Duplication of backup images from disk devices to tape for long-term archiving.
Simplified management, allowing a single NetBackup policy layer and catalog to control both backup/recovery.
“Intelligent disk providers want to enhance their solutions to meet customers’ growing backup and recovery needs and provide advanced disk-based data protection capabilities, including single instance storage and backup image replication,” said Rick Huebsch, vice president NetBackup, of Symantec.
“There is a growing need in the market for technologies that help reduce complexity. This will be the first solution available that leverages the performance and features of disk storage devices while also enabling NetBackup to control various advanced backup techniques via a single interface,” said Dianne McAdam, director, Enterprise Information Assurance, Clipper Group, a technology consultancy and advisory firm.
To benefit from the new NetBackup OpenStorage API, Symantec currently offers a software development kit (SDK) and training to partners through the Symantec Technology Enabled Program (STEP).
The OpenStorage API is scheduled to be generally available as part of NetBackup 6.5 in mid-2007, at which time several OpenStorage partners will have devices available in the market to leverage the API. Customer opportunities to jointly beta-test NetBackup 6.5, the OpenStorage API, and OpenStorage partner devices will be available in the first half of 2007.
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