Jason Buffington .com

  • We need a backup data deduplication layer

    As backup data deduplication matures, it’s still very much a proprietary technology. We need standardization to eliminate some of today’s software-hardware headaches. Just about everyone who works with disk-based backup understands the need for data deduplication. For many, that includes the use of a deduplication storage appliance as a data backup target. Most backup software…

  • Windows IT Pro article – Understanding DPM2012

    The nice folks at Windows IT Pro magazine recently published an article that I wrote on Data Protection Manager within Microsoft System Center 2012. According to Enterprise Strategy Group (ESG) research, the number-one IT spending priority in 2012 was improving data backup and recovery, tied with increased use of server virtualization. Interestingly enough, improving business…

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  • Private cloud backup needs to get better

    You can back up your private cloud data using a one-size-fits-all-method or by doing it manually, but neither approach is ideal. But automation might be the key. For years, Microsoft’s model was “If we build it, someone else will back it up.” It resulted in backup vendors creating their own database agents for apps like…

  • Dedupe considerations for protecting virtual servers

    As more and more servers are virtualized in data centers, deduplication needs to play a bigger role in protecting their data. “Improving data backup and recovery” and “Increased use of server virtualization” tied for the top priority in an IT spending survey conducted by Enterprise Strategy Group in 2012. While server virtualization regularly occupies the…

  • Get ready for dedupe 2.0

    A few companies are still kicking the tires of deduplication products, but veteran users should be thinking about how they can step up to the next level of backup dedupe. Anything labeled “2.0” carries the expectation of being the “next big thing” or at least something better than what you have now. This phenomenon is…

  • Why recursive VSS is good for backing up virtualized Windows Servers

    Microsoft Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) can back up Windows-based virtual servers while ensuring data is application-consistent. In a world where server virtualization is a “when” and not an “if,” it’s important to understand how backup strategies might change when moving from OS-centric (guest-level) backups to host-based (hypervisor) protection. More importantly, not all host-based backup…