Storage administrators running Windows hosts will get widespread support from backup vendors for Microsoft Corp.s upcoming Windows .Net Server 2003.
Veritas Software Corp., BakBone Software Inc. and CommVault Systems Inc. are each readying support for the servers main new storage feature called VSS (Volume Shadow Copy Service). Announced last fall, VSS will enable users to avoid the proprietary snapshots native to storage vendors.
The necessary application hooks for .Net Server 2003, which Microsoft, of Redmond, Wash., said will launch April 24, are already part of Backup Exec 9.0, released by Veritas last week, officials said.
Also ahead for Veritas, according to company officials, in Mountain View, Calif., are an upgrade to Version 5.0 of the high-end NetBackup product, due at midyear; the first version of Global Operations Manager, a portal for managing applications, servers and storage, also due at midyear; and another major Backup Exec release, due next year, to support Microsofts .Net version of SQL Server, code-named Yukon.
While software such as Backup Exec is just one product line for Veritas, at companies such as BakBone, in San Diego, and CommVault, midsize businesses are the principal focus.
BakBone, in mid-April, will launch NetVault 7.0, officials said. In addition to supporting VSS, BakBones upgrade will manage users existing snapshots.
Meanwhile, CommVault, of Oceanport, N.J., will launch Galaxy 4.2 in late March or early April. The software, too, is designed for VSS and includes a snapshot manager.