We are looking to replace Backup Exec (generally) and did not find our full replacement in DPM (we had really hoped). We are now using a combination of Acronis and native ntbackup to take care of our Exchange 2003SP2. We'll be evaluating the NetApp snap manager for exchange real soon now.
Here is a dose of DPM reality. What I highly recommend to anyone not experienced with DPM (and looking at getting it) is to be sure to implement a full lab environment to assure that what the product actually does will meet your expectations before dropping the $$$. I cannot stress enough that this is NOT a product to buy based on a sales demo or even after a cursory test install/restore. Make sure it works on the exact configuration you have in production at the limits you need, particularly if you will AT ALL be using it with Exchange 2003. The truth of what dpm appears to be: -Cute wrapper around exutil, ntbackup, (etc... for other products); cute because the interface crashes sometimes. -Tight integration with Windows VSS -Some reporting/monitoring and client management tools (rough, some parts better than others) That's it I'm afraid; you could probably emulate 90%+ of the backup and restore functionality with some .cmd/powershell scripts against WMI/WinRM and the task scheduler. That's not meant to be a low blow, but more to say there's certainly no magic here regardless of the slick marketing the DPM team has put together. There are high points: - The PSS team for this product is great which is awesome since it's such a fragile product. - It seems to work better with SQL - I can say it's nearly seamless with Windows file backups BUT, its Exchange integration, particularly with 2003 is amazingly sub-par. The respective management of the Exchange and DPM dev teams don't and won't get along with each other resulting in the customer being the loser! The DPM 2010 story is a bit better, adding some nice functionality for client/laptop backups and getting rid of several interface annoyances. Client backup may be its sweet spot. DPM 2010 has not really addressed any Exchange concerns in 2010 and won't be from the communication I can see. If DPM only cost a few hundred bucks there's no way I would've said all this. It's a lot more than that, so the lipstick-on-a-pig deserved it. Think of WinNT circa 3.1... Sorry for the rant, but I just can't believe anyone could recommend this product after having it in use here going on a year. Jason > -----Original Message----- > From: Barsodi.John [mailto:john.bars...@igt.com] > Sent: Friday, March 12, 2010 12:49 > To: MS-Exchange Admin Issues > Subject: [MARKETING] RE: Backup Software for Exchange 2007 > > > > Depending on all those factors, what about RTO? RPO? Backup hardware > tech? Tape? D2D? Budget? Using an Exchange replication tech? > > > > Just about all current solutions cover most scenarios. > > > > I would recommend DPM 2007, use it to back up my Geo-dispersed CCR boxes. > Love it. We use Backup Exec 12.5 at all my single mailbox server > International sites. > > > > Thanks, > > JB > > > > From: John Cook [mailto:john.c...@pfsf.org] > Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2010 12:15 PM > To: MS-Exchange Admin Issues > Subject: RE: Backup Software for Exchange 2007 > > > > That's a pretty broad request. Is there a budget for this? What level of > SLA are you trying to attain? What is the impact of losing email in your > org for an hour/day/week ? > > > > John W. Cook > > Systems Administrator > > Partnership For Strong Families > > 315 SE 2nd Ave > > Gainesville, Fl 32601 > > Office (352) 393-2741 x320 > > Cell (352) 215-6944 > > Fax (352) 393-2746 > > MCSE, MCTS, MCP, A, N, VSP4, VTSP4 > > > > From: Sasan Oghlidos [mailto:sa...@ndia.org] > Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2010 3:07 PM > To: MS-Exchange Admin Issues > Subject: Backup Software for Exchange 2007 > > > > Hi, > > > > We are moving to Exchange 2007, looking for backup software/disaster > recovery recommendations. > > > > Thanks, > > > > > > Sasan Oghlidos > Director, Network & Systems > National Defense Industrial Association > V. 703.247.2557 > F. 703.522.1885 > WWW.NDIA.ORG <http://www.ndia.org/> > > > > > > > > ________________________________ > > CONFIDENTIALITY STATEMENT: The information transmitted, or contained or > attached to or with this Notice is intended only for the person or entity > to which it is addressed and may contain Protected Health Information > (PHI), confidential and/or privileged material. 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