Solstice Backup for Solaris` is network storage management software for heterogeneous client/server computer environments. Backup (TM) is available in several client/server configurations, to suit the needs of any networked environment. Whether you have a single fileserver, or a network of hundreds of systems, there is a Backup product to fit your requirements.
If you would like a "hands-off" solution to your backup needs, the Solstice Backup jukebox Software Module provides automatic, unattended network- wide backups.
With the addition of the Solstice Archive Application and the Solstice Hierarchical Storage Management (HSM) Application, the Solstice Backup family of products is a complete network storage management solution.
Backup automates the day-to-day process of backing up every computer on the network, thus protecting every system from file loss. Backup simplifies the management of backup media, gives notices of Backup events, and is easy to operate and administer through an X Window System graphical user interface (GUI).
The intuitive graphical user interface helps users easily recover lost files by viewing a history of the files they have backed up, choosing the ones they want to recover, and initiating a request to recover from the Backup server.
Sun Microsystems offers four base versions of its data protection software, designed to meet the varying needs of our customers. You can easily upgrade to more powerful and feature-rich versions as your environment changes and grows. In other words, if you are backing up a single system and decide to back up additional systems on your network, you may easily do so.
Choose a solution that best fits your environment with the knowledge that you can always easily move to more performance and functionality at a later date. The following list describes the four base Backup products:
The following table provides a high level comparison of the key capabilities supported by the Solstice Backup 4.2 base products:
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Capability Backup Single Backup Network Backup Server Network Edition Server Edition (aka: Edition Plus Turbo Backup) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Backup Server and Server only Yes Server only Yes
clients
Backup No Yes, comes with No Yes, comes with
heterogeneous (Unix, support to support to
PC, Netware, Nt, Mac) backup (1) backup (1)
clients over the clients; options clients; options
network available to add available to add
more clients more clients
# of backup devices (1) single tape (2) tape devices Up to (16) tape Up to (16) tape
supported device local to (non-automated) devices and devices and
the server local to the jukeboxes can jukeboxes can
server be used to be used to
backup backup
concurrently concurrently
Scheduling Preconfigured Advanced Advanced Advanced
schedules only
Customizable Customizable Customizable
Media Pools - means Preconfigured Advanced Advanced Advanced
to organize backups pools only
Customizable Customizable Customizable
Separately Orderable No, only Yes, available Yes, available Yes, available
available co- through all Sun through all Sun through all Sun
packaged w/ Channels Channels Channels
Solaris WG and
ENT servers
Upgrade functionality Purchase Purchase Turbo Upgradable to Purchase other
Network or other options Network Edition options and
Server Edition; and applications Plus Turbo applications
Does not support
other options or
applications
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The following illustration summarizes the base products described here. As the number of systems on your network grows and your need for more performance, power, and functionality grows, Sun has a data storage management solution for you. The arrows indicate the upgrade path you can take. Your databases and collection of backup volumes are fully transferable to and interchangeable with each Sun product.
The Solstice Backup plus Solstice Backup Turbo option as well as the Server Edition provide the foundation and support for the more advanced storage management applications such as Solstice Archive, Solstice HSM and the Database Module for Oracle.
In addition to base products, options, and advanced applications, Solstice Storage Suite is now available. It provides an integrated, comprehensive solution that automates the entire storage management process and creates a centralized storage center for distributed networks. It is comprised of Solstice Backup, Network Edition, Solstice Backup Turbo, Solstice Archive, Solstice HSM, Solstice Backup SNMP Module, and a 1-16 slot Jukebox module.
Solstice Backup maintains two databases of information: a file index and a media index. The file index stores an entry for every file backed up by Solstice Backup. The media index tracks the backup volumes. Backup volumes are storage media, as in magnetic tape or optical disk.
The media manager works with the two indexes to track where the backups are located on the backup volumes, making it easy to recover lost files. Whether you need to recover an entire filesystem or a single file, Backup tracks the location of the files on the backup volumes and requests the ones you need by name. You do not have to think about which backups are on which backup volumes. All you need to do to recover the required files is mount the requested backup volume in a Backup server device. Loading and mounting volumes is automatic if you are using a jukebox.
A client/server architecture is the key to Backup's ability to support network- wide, heterogeneous backup and recover. Backup servers provide a backup and recover service: they receive files from Backup clients, store the files on backup volumes, and retrieve the files on demand.
A Backup server is a system equipped with one or more backup devices. The server responsibilities include the following:
The Backup clients are all the other systems on the network that use the backup and recover service provided by the server. Clients may be desktop workstations, PCs with small disk drives, or large systems with gigabytes of data.
There is no restriction on the number of client connections Backup supports on a single backup server. However, the number of client connections you can add to your backup server successfully is affected by a wide variety of network factors.
Several factors can affect your Backup backups:
We recommend that you add clients to a single Backup server based on the performance of your backups.
The list of clients that Backup supports is constantly growing. Contact your local customer support office for the current list of supported client systems.
The clients on the network have software installed that allows the following privileges:
A single Backup server can provide backup and recover services to many client systems.
Backup backs up all the machines on a network. Your network-wide backups will be more efficient and easier to maintain because Backup has the following features.
Backup's index and media managers work together to expedite the recovery of lost files. The basic procedure for recovering files is as follows.
Note - The optional Solstice Jukebox Software Module automates the tape loading operation for fast recoveries.