Staying with the current licensing model would still require the repurchase of licenses, as we move from Novell to Windows. And we still wouldn't have deduplication, advanced reporting, Enterprise Vault Tracker (point-in-time backups, for monthlies, etc)
>>> Paul Hutchings <[email protected]> 11/10/2010 9:29 AM >>> We use Commvault 8 and all of that is news to me. When you say you're not being forced to change you've confused me, as if that's the case why don't you just stick with the model you're on, or are you saying you can never move from 8 to 9 without moving to the new model? Paul -----Original Message----- From: Joseph Heaton [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 10 November 2010 16:33 To: NT System Admin Issues Subject: RE: Backup solution options Since there have been a couple of people responding, who are using CommVault, I'll respond here: Currently, you buy licenses per agent/box. Windows file, Linux file, Exchange, SQL, etc. What they are moving to, and the important point here is that you are NOT being forced to change, is a capacity licensing model. You will buy a certain amount of capacity (x TB). This is based on the data coming from the client, not what is actually in your storage. (Important note, since you may be using compression/deduplication on the server side, which is not taken into consideration) Once you are on the capacity model, they no longer care how many/what kind of licenses you are using. You can deploy 1000 SQL agents, 500 Exchange agents, etc. There are two "tiers" of the capacity model. Core, and Enterprise. With the Enterprise level, you have access to some really cool features, such as Snap Protect Jobs, for virtualization backups, where CommVault will integrate directly with your storage array (as long as it's on their list), and have the array take a snapshot directly, without involving your VCenter, or whatever your flavor is, and do processing on the CommVault side, to allow volume/file level restores. It also brings in client-side deduplication, which pretty much all the heavy hitters are going to now, which will check to see if the file exists in your storage before it sends it across the wire, which will help to reduce your backup size and traffic. The Core level does not include those two features, but does include advanced reporting, and Enterprise Vault Tracker, which used to be an addon feature. They are also offering an archive feature, both file and e-mail. The data within the archive is included in your total capacity, but it is a lower charge per TB than normal storage, so you can reduce your overall bill by using it (possibly). There is also a "true up" schedule involved in the process. This is flexible, can be quarterly, semi-annual, or annual. They'll ask you to run a couple of reports, and if you're over your capacity, they'll bill you for the overage/increase your capacity. Our issue with the changes is not feature based. I love the features they're bringing in. It's the cost of converting that is completely giving us a sour taste. The costs to convert are one-time charges, but they are high enough that you are basically repurchasing the whole package, instead of an "upgrade", which is what our salesperson kept saying. It's not an "upgrade", it's a complete repurchase. If you're interested in the numbers that were thrown around in the meeting, contact me offline. >>> "Steven M. Caesare" <[email protected]> 11/10/2010 6:19 AM >>> You mind expanding on the licensing changes? We use the product here, and I'd like to know what we may be in for... -sc > -----Original Message----- > From: Joseph Heaton [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: Tuesday, November 09, 2010 4:56 PM > To: NT System Admin Issues > Subject: Backup solution options > > Esteemed gurus, > > I need some suggestions. We currently use Simpana 8 from CommVault for > our backup solution. They are changing their licensing model, and the result > would be that we would basically have to repurchase the product, all over > again, in order to "upgrade" to the new licensing/feature set. We're not real > keen on that idea, so I've been asked to research other options for our > backup. > > Here's how we do our backups currently: > > Nightly incrementals to a disk array connected to our backup server. > Weekly full backups, again to the disk array. > Weekly copy to tape jobs, which are then sent to an offsite office for 42 days. > Monthly copy to tape jobs, which are then sent to Iron Mountain for 400 > days. > > Our environment consists of: > > Lots of VMWare guests (running the latest ESXi, and we're in the process of > re-implementing the VCB process) Windows clusters Linux boxes, with a > couple different flavors of Linux Novell boxes - the only thing we're worried > about here is the datavol being backed up. > > We do have SQL boxes, but we're doing "flat file" backups, running > scheduled SQL backups, then backing up the backup file. > No Exchange boxes atm, still on Groupwise, which we will be taking care of > separately. > > > > Overall, our weekly fulls are around 10TB right now, and twice a year we have > a job that backs up an additional 6-7TB. We're using a Dell TL4000 tape library > for our backups, 4 drives, SAS connection to the backup server, LTO4 tapes. > > > > Thanks for any suggestions you guys may have, and if you need other info, > just let me know. > > > Joe > > > > ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ > <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ > > --- > To manage subscriptions click here: http://lyris.sunbelt- > software.com/read/my_forums/ or send an email to > [email protected] > with the body: unsubscribe ntsysadmin ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ --- To manage subscriptions click here: http://lyris.sunbelt-software.com/read/my_forums/ or send an email to [email protected] with the body: unsubscribe ntsysadmin ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ --- To manage subscriptions click here: http://lyris.sunbelt-software.com/read/my_forums/ or send an email to [email protected] with the body: unsubscribe ntsysadmin -- MIRA Ltd Watling Street, Nuneaton, Warwickshire, CV10 0TU, England Registered in England and Wales No. 402570 VAT Registration GB 114 5409 96 The contents of this e-mail are confidential and are solely for the use of the intended recipient. 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