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Features in this issue

• Are full backups a thing of the past?

  by  Kevin Suttle

  In the not-so-distant past, we relied on tape backups for operational recovery, disaster recovery and long-term data retention. But are full nightly backups to tape still needed now that we have new disk-based technologies like snapshots and continuous data protection?

• Storage administrators find some relief for backup headaches

• Our View: Whom do you trust?

• Dedupe moves beyond backup

• SMBs move beyond the VTL interface

• Midrange online backup offerings help SMBs get on the cloud

• Ask the Experts: RTOs and RPOs

  Is there a standard ratio between RTOs and RPOs, or are they independent of each other?

• CDP in depth

  Continuous data protection (CDP) technology is now a viable alternative to traditional backup software and storage system-based replication software. But CDP products can vary significantly, especially in the context of different storage architectures. Depending on specific environments, companies may have to evaluate very different criteria before settling on a CDP product.

• The lure of open-source backup programs

• Disk-to-disk backup enticing in many forms: Survey Says

  Disk-to-disk backup enticing in many forms

• Dedupe myths and methods

  Exaggerated claims, rapidly changing technology and persistent myths make navigating the deduplication landscape treacherous. We list the top five dedupe myths and provide tips to help you get a deduplication product that fits your organization's needs at a competitive price.

• No rush to deploy iSCSI

• Small disks, big specs

  Hard disk drives have been around for more than 50 years, but the technology is on the cusp of big changes--SAS, a shift to the 2.5-inch form factor and a steady increase in disk drive capacity--that will affect enterprise storage for years to come.

• DAS revs up for a resurgence

• Ballooning storage by the numbers

• LTO top tape format by far: Survey says

• Ask the Expert: NFS vs. CIFS

  What should you consider when choosing between Network File Sharing (NFS) or Common Internet File System (CIFS)?

• DC power can cut costs, but conversion isn't easy

• Centralize virtualization at the switch

  There are a number of ways you can virtualize your storage, but because a switch-based virtualization engine works out-of-band, there's no need for server agents, making it the most scalable and highest performing of all virtualization architectures.

• Price of SAS drives dips

• Backup apps' reporting tools become more versatile

• Archiving, DR join backup as online services

• Backup software by the numbers

• Why are you using a VTL or why have you decided not to use one?

• Virtual server backup tips

  Virtualized servers yield many benefits, but they can also add complexity to backup operations. There are three main ways to back up a virtual server. Here's how to determine which method is best for your virtualized server environment and storage requirements.

• What storage product would you like to see on the market that isn't now?

• New life for NAS

• Quality Awards IV: On top again: CommVault Galaxy, EMC Retrospect

  CommVault's Galaxy solidified its position as the top enterprise backup product by finishing first for the third time in the four years we've conducted the Quality Awards. Among the midrange products, EMC Retrospect retained its crown as group champion.

• Our View: When good admins go bad