Archiware adds remote snapshot to backup system

Archiware PresStore 3.2 is available from today

Archiware has announced an update of its Backup2Go tool for backing up office-based and remote client systems, adding de-duplication support and the ability to restore a system from a snapshot image.

Available immediately, Backup2Go is part of Archiware's cross-platform PresStore suite for backup, synchronisation and archiving, and enables clients to back up to a central server whether they are on the corporate local area network or a laptop being used out of the office.

With PresStore 3.2, Backup2Go is now the first product to support remote backup and restore using snapshots, according to the firm. However, this facility is currently supported only on Mac and Solaris clients, with Windows support due to be added later.

Backup2Go is designed to address the fact that many laptops are never backed up, because the user may be out on the road when a backup is scheduled.

"Unlike some server-based backups where the server polls the client, with Backup2Go the client initiates the backup and pushes the data to the server," said Archiware chief executive Josef Doods.

He added that the tool works across any IP connection, but that a speed of 2Mbit/s is optimal. The Backup2Go client also runs as a background process with bandwidth throttling to ensure that it does not use more than 50 per cent of the available internet connection, allowing the user to continue to browse the web.

Also new is file-level de-duplication support, to cut the volume of data that needs to be sent to the backup server, and the ability for administrators to centrally configure and deploy the Backup2Go client.

PresStore 3.2 currently requires a Mac OS, Solaris or Linux server, but a Windows port is planned for the near future, according to Archiware.

Also coming is snapshot support for Windows clients, which requires Microsoft to fix a bug in the NTFS file system before it will function reliably, Doods said.

PresStore 3.2 is available in the UK from distributor JPY, with prices starting at £625 for a single server licence handling backup for up to 20 clients. An additional 10 client licences costs £431, and an additional 100 costs £1,437.