Blog on Catalogic Software

Immutable Storage for Backups Without Appliance Lock-In

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Most organisations do not choose appliance lock-in. They arrive at it one purchase at a time, and notice when the third expansion quote lands. If you are holding a refresh quote and wondering whether that capacity increment is really the only option, this is the arithmetic underneath the feeling, and what changes when the storage layer stops being the hardware.

Worth separating two things that get bundled together. An appliance as a form factor is a good idea: pre-sized, software matched to the platform, quick to stand up. vStor ships as a virtual appliance for exactly that reason, and DPX is deliberately multi-function in the purpose-built backup appliance sense.

How to Back Up Proxmox VE with Catalogic DPX 4.16

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Setting up a reliable Proxmox backup should include more than getting one successful job. You need to know which virtual machines are protected, where their recovery points are stored, and whether you can restore a working VM when it matters.

This guide walks through that process with Catalogic DPX 4.16. You will add a Proxmox VE cluster to DPX, install the required host plugin, create an agentless backup job to vStor, and test a full virtual machine restore. The instructions reflect the current DPX 4.16 Proxmox documentation as of August 10, 2026.

Looking for a Veeam alternative? What to compare before you decide

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

If you’re wondering whether there are alternatives to Veeam and how they compare, this guide walks through one of them, Catalogic DPX, and where it lines up with Veeam and where it differs.

If you’d like to see a practical example, take a look at our case studies in resources.

At a glance: Veeam vs. Catalogic DPX

Agent-based and agentless

DPX has been protecting data for over 25 years, and its architecture reflects how infrastructure has evolved over that time. Rather than committing to one backup method, DPX supports both agent-based and agentless backup, so the method can be chosen per workload rather than dictated by the platform.

Beyond Proxmox Backup Server: When Do You Need More?

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Companies moving to Proxmox VE usually reach backup planning early in the migration. Proxmox is straightforward to run, and its licensing gives teams more freedom in how they build their infrastructure.

For many environments, Proxmox Backup Server is the right answer. It comes from the same company and plugs straight into Proxmox VE. PBS provides incremental backups, deduplication, encryption, replication, file-level restore from VM and container backups, live restore that starts a VM while its data is copied, and tape support. A Proxmox-only environment with retention measured in weeks or months may have no need for a second product.

Backing up multi-hypervisor environments: challenges, mistakes, and how to get it right

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Most IT environments today run more than one hypervisor. A company might have VMware vSphere as its primary platform, Hyper-V running on older Windows Server infrastructure, and one or more additional platforms picked up through growth, acquisitions, shifting infrastructure requirements, or Total Cost of Ownership initiatives. Nutanix AHV, Proxmox VE, OpenStack, and Canonical MicroStack are all common additions to an estate that started somewhere else. The latter is increasingly common, with many organizations actively evaluating or migrating away from VMware as licensing costs and pricing models have changed. That mix of platforms is not unusual. In fact, it is close to the norm for any organization that has evolved organically over the years or gone through mergers and budget cycles.

Planning Immutable Storage: What to Keep Local, What to Replicate, and How to Prove It Works

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

A protected snapshot nobody can find during an incident is not a recovery capability. If you are designing immutable storage rather than reading about it, two decisions do most of the damage when they go wrong: what belongs where, and whether anyone has proven the restore runs. Both are answerable on paper, before a purchase order exists.

What should stay local, be replicated, or be archived?

Start from recovery intent, because each copy is doing a different job.

What Is Immutable Storage? WORM, Deletion Locks, and What They Actually Protect

Tue, 05 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

If you are specifying backup storage and the requirement says “immutable”, this is what that word actually buys and where it stops. Immutable storage will not let data be changed or deleted for a defined period, no matter who asks. Its value for backup is narrow and specific: it takes the administrator, and anyone holding stolen administrator credentials, off the list of people who can destroy a recovery point.

Immutability and WORM are not the same thing

The two terms get used interchangeably and they are related, but they come from different places.

NDMP Backup in 2026: The Protocol Isn’t the Problem. Your Management Layer Is.

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

There’s a narrative floating around that NDMP is dead. That it’s a legacy protocol clinging to relevance while modern API-based approaches have moved on. Right? And I get the appeal of that story. It’s clean. It’s simple. But if you’re actually running a large NAS estate in production, you know it’s not that straightforward.

NDMP backup still protects the majority of enterprise NAS data. Not because people haven’t heard of the alternatives, but because ripping out a backup protocol that’s wired into your filer infrastructure is a project nobody wants to fund when the current approach works. The real pain, for most teams we talk to, isn’t the protocol itself. It’s everything around it: the legacy GUIs, the CLI-only configuration, the two-console shuffle just to troubleshoot a single failed job.

DPX 4.15: Modern NDMP Backup Management, VMware Tags, and Enterprise Encryption

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

DPX 4.15 is shipping with four areas of meaningful change: full NDMP management in the web interface, VMware backup scoping by vCenter tags, KMIP-compliant key management in vStor, and cloud archive encryption. None of these are speculative features. They deliver on capabilities that our customers have been asking for, and each one has a clear operational payoff.

This post walks through what each feature does, why it matters operationally, and where it fits in the broader context of how organizations manage NAS, VMware, and encryption today.

Bare Metal Recovery (BMR): What It Is and How It Works

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Bare metal recovery (BMR) is the process of restoring a complete computer system onto a machine that has no operating system installed. One BMR restore brings back the operating system, applications, configuration, and data together from a single system-level backup image, so nobody has to install Windows or Linux first and then layer the data back on afterwards.

What is bare metal recovery (BMR)?

The name describes the state of the target. Bare metal is hardware with nothing on it, no operating system, no drivers, no middleware. A wiped server counts. So does a freshly created virtual machine, which is why BMR is just as relevant to virtualized estates as it is to physical ones.

New DPX 4.13 Backup Verification Introduction

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

If your job involves keeping data safe – whether you’re part of an IT operations team, managing infrastructure, or responsible for security- backups are your safety net. They’re what you count on when systems fail, files go missing, or ransomware strikes. The catch is – you have to do backup verification – just because a backup says it completed successfully doesn’t mean it’s actually usable. Many backup systems don’t check if the data they save can be restored. They don’t tell you if the files are corrupt, incomplete, or worse – already infected with malware. So when it’s time to recover, you’re left guessing.

Understanding GuardMode: Enhanced Ransomware Protection for Backups in 2025

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Ransomware attacks now take an average of 7-8 days to detect, and by then, your backup files may already be compromised. GuardMode from Catalogic changes this by monitoring your data before it gets backed up, catching threats early and helping you restore only the affected files instead of rolling back entire systems.

If you’re a backup administrator or IT professional responsible for data protection, this guide will show you how GuardMode works, what features it offers, and how it can fit into your existing backup strategy. You’ll learn about its detection methods, recovery options, and practical benefits in about 10 minutes.

How to Back Up DataCore Swarm with Catalogic DPX: S3 Setup Guide

Wed, 07 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Modern businesses generate more data than ever: videos, documents, logs, backups, analytics, and more. Many are turning to object storage platforms like DataCore Swarm to keep up. Swarm is built for scale and durability, but like any storage platform, it needs reliable data protection. If the wrong data is deleted, corrupted, or encrypted by ransomware, it doesn’t matter how well the storage platform performs. What’s lost could stay lost.

Catalogic DPX is a data backup and recovery solution designed to protect data across physical, virtual, and cloud environments. In this article, we’ll look at how DPX and Swarm can work together to give you scalable storage with dependable protection.

Catalogic vStor A Modern Software-Defined Backup Storage Platform

Tue, 06 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Here at Catalogic we can’t stress enough that having solid backups isn’t just important -it’s essential. But what happens when the backups themselves become targets? We’ve built a modern storage solution to address exactly that concern. That means that DPX customers are in a particularly fortunate position. Rather than having to shop around for a compatible backup storage solution, they get vStor included right in the DPX suite. This means they automatically benefit from enterprise-grade features like data deduplication, compression, and most importantly, robust immutability controls that can lock backups against unauthorized changes.

7 Backup Mistakes Companies still making in 2025

Mon, 05 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Backup strategies tend to fail in the same handful of ways. The seven below come up again and again in small and mid-sized environments, and most of them stay invisible until someone attempts a restore and finds out what was missing. Each section covers what goes wrong and what to do instead.

1. Assuming All Data is Equally Important

Treating every dataset as equally important is the most common starting error. It wastes resources on data nobody would rush to restore, and it leaves the data they would rush to restore competing for the same window.

The 3-2-1 Rule and Cloud Backup: A Love-Hate Relationship

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In today’s digital landscape, safeguarding data is paramount. The 3-2-1 backup strategy has long been a cornerstone of data protection, advocating for three copies of your data, stored on two different media types, with one copy kept offsite. This approach aims to ensure data availability and resilience against various failure scenarios. However, with the advent of cloud storage solutions, organizations are re-evaluating this traditional model, leading to a complex relationship between the 3-2-1 rule and cloud backups.

Navigating On-Site Backups During a Company Merger: Lessons from Sysadmins

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Mergers bring a whirlwind of changes, and IT infrastructure often sits at the eye of that storm. When two companies combine, integrating their systems and ensuring uninterrupted operations can be daunting. Among these challenges, creating a reliable backup strategy is a priority. Data protection becomes non-negotiable, especially when the stakes include sensitive business information, compliance requirements, and operational continuity.

Drawing from the experiences of IT professionals, let’s explore how to navigate on-site backups during a merger and build a secure, efficient disaster recovery plan.

Navigating Microsoft 365 Updates in 2025: How to Prepare for Major Changes

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The Microsoft 365 updates in 2025 signal one of the platform’s most transformative periods yet, with a wave of deprecations and retirements set to redefine how businesses manage their environments. From the phasing out of legacy PowerShell modules to changes in Teams and OneNote, nearly every facet of Microsoft 365 is undergoing significant evolution. These updates will impact sysadmins and IT professionals alike, requiring proactive preparation to ensure smooth transitions and prevent disruptions to workflows.

OpenStack Migration: Is Starting Fresh the Best Solution?

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

For OpenStack administrators, deciding whether to rebuild a cloud environment or restore it from backups is a pivotal challenge, especially during large-scale migrations. OpenStack’s flexibility makes it a leading choice for managing cloud workloads, but when disaster strikes or modernization beckons, the decision to migrate workloads to a new cluster or recover an existing setup requires careful consideration. This guide delves into the intricacies of OpenStack migration, exploring whether starting fresh is truly the best path forward or if restoration offers a more practical solution.

Tape vs Cloud: Smart Backup Choices with LTO Tape for Your Business

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Contact Catalogic for tape and cloud backup solutions

In an era dominated by digital transformations and cloud-based solutions, the choice between LTO backup and cloud storage remains a critical decision for businesses. While cloud storage offers scalability and accessibility, tape backup systems, particularly with modern LTO technologies, provide unmatched cost efficiency, longevity, and air-gapped security. But how do you decide which option aligns best with your business needs? Let’s explore the tape vs cloud debate and find the right backup tier for your organization.

Proxmox Backup Server 3.3: Powerful Enhancements, Key Challenges, and Transformative Backup Strategies

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Proxmox Backup Server (PBS) 3.3 has arrived, delivering an array of powerful features and improvements designed to revolutionize how Proxmox backups are managed and installed. From enhanced remote synchronization options to support for removable datastores, this latest release strengthens Proxmox’s position as a leading solution for efficient and versatile backup management. The update reflects Proxmox’s ongoing commitment to refining PBS to meet the demands of both homelab enthusiasts and enterprise users, offering robust, flexible tools for data protection and disaster recovery.

Monthly vs. Weekly Full Backups: Finding the Right Balance for Your Data

Fri, 08 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

When it comes to data backup, one of the most debated topics is the frequency of full backups. For many users, the choice between weekly and monthly full backups comes down to balancing storage constraints, data restoration speed, and the level of data protection required. While incremental backups help reduce the load on storage, a full backup is essential to ensure a solid recovery point, independent of daily incremental changes.

In this post, we’ll explore the benefits of both weekly and monthly full backups, along with practical tips to help you choose the best backup frequency for your unique data needs.

Critical Insights into November 2024 VMware Licensing Changes: What IT Leaders Must Know

Wed, 06 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

As organizations brace for VMware’s licensing changes set for November 2024, IT leaders and system administrators are analyzing how these updates could reshape their virtualization strategies. Driven by VMware‘s parent company Broadcom, these changes are expected to impact renewal plans, budget allocations, and long-term infrastructure strategies. With significant adjustments anticipated, understanding the details of the new licensing model will be crucial for making informed decisions. Here’s a comprehensive overview of what to expect and how to prepare for these upcoming shifts.

Tape Drives vs. Hard Drives: Is Tape Still a Viable Backup Option in 2025?

Wed, 06 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

In the digital era, the importance of robust data storage and backup solutions cannot be overstated, particularly for businesses and individuals managing vast data volumes. Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) face a critical challenge in choosing how to securely store and protect their essential files. As data accumulates into terabytes over the years, identifying a dependable and economical backup option becomes imperative. Tape drives, a long-discussed method, prompt the question: Are they still a viable choice in 2025, or have hard drives and cloud backups emerged as superior alternatives?

Enhancing Data Recovery with vStor Snapshot Explorer and GuardMode Scan

Tue, 05 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Data recovery in complex IT environments presents numerous challenges for backup administrators. As organizations grapple with increasing data volumes and evolving security threats, the need for efficient, secure, and flexible recovery solutions has never been more critical. Catalogic Software addresses these challenges with the introduction of vStor Snapshot Explorer, a significant enhancement to the DPX Data Protection suite.

vStor Snapshot Explorer: Expanding DPX Capabilities

vStor Snapshot Explorer is designed to streamline the data recovery process by allowing administrators to mount and explore RAW or VMDK disk images directly from VMware backups. This feature integrates seamlessly with existing DPX backup types, including:

Building a Reliable Backup Repository: Comparing Storage Types for 5-50TB of Data

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

When setting up a secondary site for backups, selecting the right storage solution is crucial for both performance and reliability. With around 5-50TB of virtual machine (VM) data and a retention requirement of 30 days plus 12 monthly backups, the choice of backup repository storage type directly impacts efficiency, security, and scalability. Options like XFS, reFS, object storage, and DPX vStor offer different benefits, each suited to specific backup needs.

This article compares popular storage configurations for backup repositories, covering essential considerations like immutability, storage optimization, and scalability to help determine which solution best aligns with your requirements.

How to Trust Your Backups: Testing and Verification Strategies for Managed Service Providers (MSPs)

Tue, 29 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

For Managed Service Providers (MSPs), backup management is one of the most critical responsibilities. A reliable MSP backup strategy is essential not only to ensure data protection and disaster recovery but also to establish client trust. However, as client bases grow, so does “backup anxiety”—the worry over whether a backup will work when needed most. To overcome this, Managed Service Providers can implement effective testing, verification, and documentation practices to reduce risk and confirm backup reliability.

Maximize Database Backup Efficiency with DPX vStor: Application-Consistent Protection for Oracle and SQL

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Backing up a mission-critical database is a different problem from backing up a file server. Speed and storage efficiency matter, but consistency matters more, because a database image captured mid-transaction can restore into a state that needs repair before it will open. Catalogic vStor, the software-defined backup appliance behind DPX, handles Oracle and SQL Server protection two ways: application-consistent backups driven by DPX, or native backups managed by the DBA with vStor underneath them.

Mastering RTO and RPO: Metrics Every Backup Administrator Needs To Know

Fri, 20 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Two numbers govern most of what a backup administrator does. The first is how long the business can be down after a failure, and the second is how much data it can afford to lose. Those are the Recovery Time Objective (RTO) and the Recovery Point Objective (RPO), and they sit at the centre of any disaster recovery plan worth the name. They get confused with each other constantly, because both are expressed in units of time and both get tighter as the system gets more important. They measure different things.

The Power of Granular Recovery Technology: Data Protection and Recovery

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Pulling a single file out of a large backup used to mean restoring far more than the file. Traditional recovery works at the level of whole datasets or whole systems, so retrieving one deleted document could involve staging an entire volume somewhere and digging through it.

Granular recovery technology narrows that down. It restores the specific item you lost, whether that is one email, one document, or one database record, and leaves everything else alone.

Top 5 Data Protection Challenges in 2024

Fri, 13 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

As we navigate through 2024, the challenges of data protection continue to grow, driven by the increasing complexity of cyber threats, data breaches, and system failures. Organizations now face the need for more resilient and adaptable data protection strategies to manage these evolving risks effectively. The tools and technologies available are also advancing to keep pace with these threats, offering solutions that provide comprehensive backup, rapid recovery, and robust disaster recovery capabilities. It is crucial for IT environments to adopt solutions that can efficiently address these top data protection challenges, ensuring data security, minimizing downtime, and maintaining business continuity in the face of unpredictable disruptions.

From AT&T Suing Broadcom to VMware Migration: Navigating the Shift to Alternative Platforms

Mon, 09 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The tech community is intently observing as AT&T files a lawsuit against Broadcom, accusing the company of “bullying” tactics over VMware contracts—a situation that has ignited significant discussion about the future of VMware migration and the options available to its users. This confrontation between two industry giants underscores critical challenges in contract enforcement and corporate dynamics, while also indicating a possible transformation in the virtualization technology landscape. We will delve into the specifics of this legal battle and examine its wider consequences for organizations contemplating a transition away from VMware.

WORM vs. Immutability: Essential Insights into Data Protection Differences

Sat, 07 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

WORM (Write Once, Read Many) and immutability get used as synonyms, and they are not. Both stop data being changed after it is written, but one is a property of storage and the other is an outcome you design for, and the difference decides what you can actually buy. Here is what separates them, and how Catalogic vStor uses both.

What Is WORM?

WORM is storage that accepts a write once and refuses every later attempt to change or remove it, for as long as its retention term runs. Finance, healthcare and legal all have rules requiring records to survive unedited for a defined period, which is where it earns its keep.

Purpose-Built Backup Appliance: What a PBBA Is and When One Makes Sense

Wed, 04 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

A purpose-built backup appliance (PBBA) is backup software and storage hardware sold as one pre-configured box. You rack it, point workloads at it, and skip the integration work. If you are weighing one against assembling the same capability yourself, the trade is straightforward: you buy speed of deployment and pay for it in flexibility later.

This is mostly a question for teams without spare engineering time, which is why PBBAs sell well into small and mid-sized IT departments.

Boosting Data Security with Cost-Effective Backup Solutions: A Comprehensive Guide

Mon, 02 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Let’s face it: data security is more important than ever, and the pressure to keep everything safe and sound is only growing. But let’s also be real—budget constraints are a reality for most businesses, and not everyone has the luxury of throwing money at the latest and greatest hardware. That’s why finding a backup solution that’s both cost-effective and robust is key.

Why Cost-Effective Backup Immutability Matters?

One of the big buzzwords in data protection these days is immutability. It’s a game-changer because it ensures that it can’t be altered or deleted once your data is backed up. Imagine you’ve got a vault, and once you close the door, nothing and no one can mess with what’s inside. This is huge when it comes to dealing with ransomware. Attackers often target backups, thinking they’ve got you cornered. But with immutable backups, you’ve got the upper hand—you can restore your data without worry.

Streamlining IT Operations with Comprehensive Backup Solutions: The ‘Batteries-Included’ Approach

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

When you’re in charge of keeping your company’s data safe, the last thing you want is a confusing maze of backup software, add-on modules, and convoluted licensing agreements. Unfortunately, that’s the reality many IT teams face. Initially, most backup solutions seem like an affordable and comprehensive backup solution, only to discover that essential features like cloud integration or ransomware protection are hidden behind costly upgrades. This piecemeal approach often leads to inefficiency, unexpected costs, and a lot of operational headaches.

Enhancing Cybersecurity with vStor and GuardMode: Detecting and Preventing Ransomware Attacks from Spreading

Wed, 28 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Ransomware is a serious threat that just keeps growing, and it’s something that should be on every IT leader’s radar. I’ve seen how quickly these attacks can bring an organization to its knees, and the fallout is often devastating. The bad guys aren’t just after your live data anymore—they’re going after your backups, too. And let’s face it: if your backups get hit, your recovery options start looking pretty bleak.
This is exactly why, being focused on Enhancing Cybersecurity in Data Protection, we developed GuardMode and embedded it into our vStor platform. Because it’s not just about backing up your data; it’s about keeping an eye on things and catching those threats before they have a chance to wreak havoc. So, this time, let’s take a sneak peek into something that is going to be available soon with the 4.11 release of DPX Enterprise Data Protection Suite.

Simplifying Data Backup and Recovery: Why User-Friendly Licensing Matters

Mon, 26 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

When choosing a data backup and recovery solution, it can feel like there are a ton of options out there, each with unique features, pricing, and licensing models. Sure, the tech side of things is important, but one thing that often gets overlooked is the licensing itself. If the licensing is too complicated or unclear, it can lead to surprise costs, confusion, and a general sense of frustration with the product.

VMWare Backup – Best Practices & Backup Strategies

Mon, 26 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Hardware failures, software faults, cyberattacks, and the occasional flooded server room all end the same way if the backups are not right. For most organizations running VMware, the virtual estate holds the systems the business actually runs on, which makes VMware backup less a precaution than a basic operating requirement. This guide covers how to choose a backup tool, prepare the environment, run the backups, and verify they will restore.

Choosing the Right VMware Backup Software

Selecting backup software for a VMware environment comes down to how well it integrates with vSphere, how efficiently it moves data, and how reliable its restore path is. Commvault, Rubrik, Veeam, and Catalogic DPX are the names that come up most often, and all of them will back up a VM.

5 Essential Features of a Modern Backup Solution: How Catalogic DPX Meets Today’s Data Protection Needs

Fri, 23 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

As someone who has lived and breathed information security and data protection for more than I would like to admit, I’ve come back many times in discussions and personal reflections to a critical realization. This realization is that a robust backup solution is critical for the success and stability of any organization. At Catalogic, we don’t just build software; we craft tools that become the lifeline for businesses when they need it most. Let me share how Catalogic DPX embodies the essential features that every modern backup solution should have.

Cost-Effective Data Protection: IT Manager’s Proven Recipe to Maximize Savings

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

As an IT manager, you’re constantly walking a tightrope between ensuring robust data protection and managing tight budgets. It’s no secret that investing in new hardware can be costly, and often, organizations feel the pinch when forced to purchase the latest and greatest equipment just to keep up with growing data protection needs. But what if there was a way to improve your data protection strategy without breaking the bank? What if you could leverage the hardware you already have, extending its life and maximizing your investment? That’s exactly what this guide aims to help you do – build Cost-Effective Data Protection.

How to Optimize Your Backup Strategy with Catalogic DPX: 5 Best Tips for IT Leaders

Mon, 19 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

When you’re in charge of IT, optimizing your backup strategy isn’t just about checking a box—it’s about ensuring your organization’s data is protected, recoverable, and managed in a cost-effective way. If you’re exploring options beyond the big names like Veeam, Veritas, and Dell EMC, Catalogic DPX might just be the solution you’re looking for. It’s a powerful, flexible, and cost-effective alternative that offers all the features you need without the hefty price tag.

Discover the Primary Benefits of Using VMware CBT for Backup and Recovery

Tue, 06 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

VMware CBT (Changed Block Tracking) is a technology that significantly enhances the efficiency of backups in virtual environments by tracking changes made to virtual disk blocks. By identifying and backing up only those blocks that have changed since the last backup, CBT minimizes the data load and shortens the VMware backup window, making it a crucial element for effective virtual machine management.

CBT improves how backup data is identified and transferred; it does not turn a backup into a replica. Our VMware backup vs. replication guide explains the different recovery objectives and infrastructure requirements.

Why Choose SDS(Software-Defined Storage) as a Backup Target : Pros and Cons

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The significance of efficient data storage and backup solutions of all types of firms cannot be overstressed in the present data-driven world. It can be noted that the existing storage methods are quite strict and expensive, so there is a necessity to introduce new methods that are more changeable and scalable, which is done through Software-Defined Storage (SDS). The blog introduces the reasons for the increasing popularity of SDS as a backup target and the major reasons leading to the subsequent development of the technology. It follows the comparison of its pros and cons that are, in one way or another, associated with Catalogic DPX vStor and stand as an efficient SDS solution or not.

Unlocking the Power of Immutability: A Guide to Flexible and Secure Data Backup

Wed, 19 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

In today’s digital-first environment, securing organizational data isn’t just important—it’s crucial for survival. Whether facing natural disasters, system failures, or cyber threats, ensuring that your data remains safe and recoverable is essential. That’s where immutability in solutions like Catalogic DPX vStor becomes invaluable, protecting customer data for over 25 years.

Partner Perspectives on vStor

But don’t just take my word for it. Industry experts and partners who’ve been in the trenches acknowledge vStor’s reliability and simplicity. Chris Matthew Orbit, for example, praises vStor for its robust features and straightforward approach, making it a trusted ally in data protection.

Addressing 5 Critical Challenges in Nutanix Backup and Recovery

Mon, 27 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

As the IT infrastructure landscape rapidly evolves, organizations face numerous challenges in ensuring robust and efficient Nutanix backup and recovery. As businesses increasingly migrate to Nutanix and adopt hybrid environments, integrating both on-premises and cloud-based systems, the complexity of managing these diverse setups becomes more apparent. Traditional backup solutions often fall short, struggling with issues such as vendor lock-in, large data volumes, and the need for efficient, incremental backups. Furthermore, specific requirements like managing Nutanix Volume Groups, protecting file-level data in Nutanix Files, and enabling point-in-time recovery with snapshots add layers of complexity to the Nutanix backup strategy, especially for Nutanix AHV.

Protect Your Scale Computing SC//Platform VMs with Catalogic DPX vPlus

Sun, 26 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

In today’s dynamic world of modern business, protecting your Scale Computing SC//Platform VMs is not just a matter of choice but a critical necessity. Consider this scenario: a sudden hardware failure or a ransomware attack threatens your data, putting your business operations on the line. How do you ensure the continuity and security of your valuable information in such a scenario?

With the ever-increasing risks of data mishaps, outages, or cyber threats, having a robust backup and recovery strategy is paramount. This is where Catalogic DPX vPlus steps in to offer a powerful data protection solution tailored specifically for Scale Computing SC/Platform environments.

Securing the Future: Advanced Dark Site Backup Strategies for Critical Data Protection

Mon, 13 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

In today’s digital landscape, where cyber threats are rampant and data is invaluable, ensuring robust data security is crucial. Imagine your critical data is at risk—how would you protect it in a dark site environment where traditional backup solutions might be inadequate?

In this blog, we delve into the challenges and solutions for safeguarding data in closed network environments. We explore innovative strategies, including Catalogic DPX’s data-centric approach, designed to provide comprehensive protection in offline and restricted settings.

Secure Immutable Backups: Guarantee Your On-Prem Data Protection

Tue, 07 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Immutable backups have emerged as a pivotal technology in the realm of on-premise data protection, offering an essential safeguard against the escalating threat of cyber attacks, notably ransomware. These backups ensure that once data is stored, it remains unalterable — it cannot be modified, deleted, or encrypted by unauthorized users, including the very administrators of the systems they protect. This feature is invaluable not only for preserving the integrity of data in the face of cyber threats but also for aiding in swift recovery from such incidents, thereby significantly mitigating potential damages and downtime. Immutable backups, by their nature, provide a read-only snapshot of data that is immune to tampering, which is increasingly becoming a cornerstone in comprehensive cybersecurity strategies. The importance of immutable backups extends beyond their technical benefits, touching on legal and compliance aspects as well. With various regulations demanding strict data integrity and the ability to recover information post- breach, immutable backups serve as a key component in compliance strategies across industries. They offer an auditable trail of data changes and an unchangeable record that can be crucial during forensic analyses following security breaches. Moreover, as the landscape of cyber threats continues to evolve, immutable backups stand out as a reliable method to ensure data can be restored to a known good state, providing businesses with a critical recovery and continuity tool. Despite their advantages, the implementation of immutable backups in on-premise environments faces challenges, including cost considerations, physical vulnerabilities, and the complexities of managing data in compliance with ever-tightening regulations. Additionally, selecting the right technological solutions and integrating them into existing IT infrastructures requires careful planning and execution. Organizations must navigate these obstacles to harness the full potential of immutable backups, balancing the need for robust data protection with operational and financial realities. Looking forward, the role of immutable backups in data protection strategies is poised to grow, driven by the increasing sophistication of cyber attacks and the expanding regulatory demands for data integrity and recovery capabilities. As part of a broader defense-in-depth strategy, immutable backups will continue to evolve, incorporating advanced encryption and leveraging technological innovations to enhance security and compliance postures. This ongoing evolution underscores the critical importance of immutable backups in safeguarding organizational data in an increasingly digital and threat-prone world.

Instant VM Recovery on VMware vSphere: A Comprehensive User Guide

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

**Downtime in the IT world is akin to a flat tire on a busy highway; it’s unexpected, inconvenient, and slows down your journey to your destination. For IT professionals, ensuring the wheels of virtual environments keep turning, especially inVMware infrastructures, is paramount. The key to a smooth ride? Instant recovery options that act like a pit crew, getting systems back up to speed with minimal delay. **

Instant recovery is a non-negotiable feature in the modern IT landscape. It’s the process that allows virtual machines (VMs) to be brought back online rapidly after a failure. By skipping the time-consuming data transfer to primary storage, it is possible to achieve this by running the VM directly from the backup storage. The result? A dramatic reduction in Recovery Time Objectives (RTOs).

Speed and Efficiency: Making Your Backup Faster and Smoother

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Backing up your data is like packing an emergency kit. You hope you never need it, but if disaster strikes, you’ll be glad it’s there. Yet, for many businesses, backup processes can feel more like packing a suitcase with everything you own, just in case. It’s time-consuming and cumbersome.

What if I told you it didn’t have to be? Optimizing your backup process can make it both fast and efficient, reducing the time it takes and ensuring you’re only ‘packing’ what you need.

Optimizing SAP HANA Backup Strategies

Fri, 26 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

SAP HANA is at the core of modern enterprise resource planning. Ensuring its data is securely backed up is paramount for business continuity and resilience. This blog delves into optimizing backup strategies for SAP HANA, highlighting key considerations for administrators and IT professionals.

Challenges in SAP HANA Backup and Optimization

SAP HANA administrators face a multitude of challenges, such as ensuring system reliability, minimizing downtime, and providing timely business intelligence while managing the complexity of diverse systems. A crucial part of addressing these challenges involves optimizing and backing up the SAP HANA environment efficiently. Key to this process is the configuration of the SAP HANA backint interface, which involves setting parameters within the global.ini database configuration file to facilitate efficient backups to external repositories. This configuration not only simplifies backup procedures but also enhances the system’s ability to recover swiftly from data loss, thereby reducing potential downtime costs, which can be substantial across different industries.

How to Use Granular Recovery for Efficient Backups and Restores with Catalogic DPX?

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

**Accurate data recovery is crucial for strategic planning. Granular recovery technology makes restoring the exact data needed easier, without the overhead of backing up everything. It’s the difference between searching for a needle in a haystack and retrieving the needle itself. Catalogic DPX plays a pivotal role in simplifying the process and providing simple backup solutions for complex data problems. **

The journey of data recovery is a reflection of the broader technological advancements in IT infrastructure. Transitioning from the physical confines of servers to the expansive, virtualized environments and the cloud has redefined the parameters of data storage and management.

How to Choose Between File Backup and Block Backup

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Ensuring the safety and availability of data is fundamental for any enterprise. Whether you use on-premise file shares or cloud storage, you need backup.Enterprise Data Protection tools can be overwhelming. There are so many ways to do data security, and choosing the best one can be difficult!

Choosing the right type of backup is key to protecting your enterprise’s data from threats like loss or cyber-attacks. There are two main options: file backup and block backup, each serving different purposes. Understanding your business’s needs and the differences between these methods is crucial for effective data security.

How to Backup Your Virtual Server(VM): A Simplified Beginner’s Guide

Thu, 11 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Swapping out physical servers for their virtual counterparts isn’t just a tech upgrade—it’s a whole new game. Virtual machines (VMs) offer the same flexibility, efficiency, and cost savings you’re used to, but in a sleek, digital package. However, securing this new virtual landscape is another story. This blog cuts through the complexity of data protection, offering clear, actionable steps to fortify your VMs against threats. Get ready to master the art of virtual security with ease.

VMware Backup vs. Replication: Differences and Use Cases

Tue, 09 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

VMware backup creates independent, versioned recovery points for restoring data or entire virtual machines. VMware replication maintains a recent copy of a VM for faster failover. Backup protects against long-term data loss, corruption, and ransomware, while replication primarily reduces downtime. Most organizations need both.

VMware backup vs. replication at a glance

Backup and replication both create copies, but they are built for different recovery objectives. The practical distinction is what happens after an incident: a backup must be restored or made available through an instant-recovery process, while a replica is prepared for failover on another host or site.

Exploring VMware Backup Options: Enhancing Data Protection with Catalogic DPX

Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

In the virtualization world,VMware is one of the key players, offering a robust platform for managing virtual machines (VMs) across various settings. Given the importance of the data and applications housed within these VMs, having a solid backup plan is not just advisable—it’s essential. This note will highlight the array of available VMware backup options, highlighting their distinct features and advantages. We’ll also examine how Catalogic DPX steps in to refine and elevate these backup strategies.****

Migration to Proxmox VE from VMware: A Deep Dive into Backup Strategies and Cloud Integration

Tue, 19 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Selecting the right virtualization platform is a critical decision for IT departments aiming to boost efficiency, reduce costs, and scale operations effectively. With VMware and Proxmox VE leading the pack, each platform offers distinct advantages. Proxmox VE, with its open-source framework, is particularly appealing for its cost-effectiveness and flexibility. This contrasts VMware, a proprietary solution known for its comprehensive support and scalability, though often at a higher cost. Recent changes in VMware’s licensing, influenced by corporate decisions, have led some organizations to consider Proxmox VE as a more customizable and financially accessible option.

Agent-based vs. Agentless Backup for VMs: Pros and Cons Analysis

Mon, 18 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Against this highly dynamic landscape of contemporary IT infrastructures, virtualization has indeed become the key initiative for businesses to gain flexibility, scalability, and efficiency. This paradigm shift has accentuated effective data protection strategies. From among the myriad of options available, two major methods of safeguarding virtual machines (VMs) stand out, which include agent-based and agentless backups. Each of the two has its pros and cons unique to them, and for that reason, businesses should always make sure they comprehend the differences for their decisions to be enlightened.

How to Simultaneously Restore Multiple VMware Virtual Machines with DPX

Sun, 17 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Restoringvirtual machines (VMs) after a system failure can be a slow and demanding process. Each VM needs careful attention to get systems up and running again, leading to long recovery times. The new multi-VM restore feature in Catalogic DPX aims to speed up these recoveries, making disaster recovery faster and easier for IT departments.

Traditionally, the VM restoration process has been a linear and methodical sequence of steps that IT teams must navigate following a system failure or data loss event. This process typically involves:

Can Your Budget Handle Ransomware? Top 11 SLED Data Protection Challenges

Tue, 12 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Professionals in State, Local, and Educational (SLED) circles are in a tough spot. They’ve got to keep their data safe under a tight budget, battling againstcostly and stormy cyber threats. It’s a complex battlefield, no doubt. This post lists the 11 biggest challenges SLED organizations are facing right now when it comes to protecting their precious information. We’re talking about the must-tackle zones that need smart moves and sharp strategies to keep sensitive data under lock and key.

Building Scale-Out Backup Repositories and Replication with DPX 4.10

Mon, 26 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The scalability and resilience of IT infrastructure are paramount for organizations aiming to maintain a competitive edge and ensure operational continuity. The rapid pace of technological advancements and shifting market demands necessitate an IT system that is not only robust but also scalable, enabling seamless integration of new technologies and evolution with minimal friction and maximum efficiency.****

Managing IT infrastructure is fraught with challenges. Rapid technological advancements require frequent updates and upgrades, complicating the work of DevOps teams and the IT infrastructure itself. These complexities can lead to compatibility issues and security vulnerabilities, potentially impacting the system’s integrity and performance.

Starting with Cohesity’s Acquisition of Veritas, Should You Consider Changing a Backup Software?

Wed, 21 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Veritas’ NetBackup is among the most renowned backup software in the industry, and just a few weeks ago, SoftBank-backed Cohesity Inc. boldly announced its intention to acquire Veritas Technologies LLC’s data protection business for $3 billion.

Netbackup’s Turbulent History

As one of the most successful backup software, NetBackup’s journey has seen many changes. Originally developed by Control Data Corporation, it was acquired and renamed by Tolerant Systems in 1989. In 1993, OpenVision Technologies acquired the software, which was then bought by Veritas Software Corporation in 1997. The 2005 merger of Symantec Corporation and Veritas brought NetBackup under Symantec’s umbrella. In 2014, Symantec announced its spin-off, leading to the establishment of Veritas Technologies LLC in 2015, which has managed NetBackup ever since.

Why SMBs Can’t Afford to Overlook Ransomware Protection: A ‘Matrix’ to Navigate the Cyber Menace

Thu, 15 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The digital landscape often resembles the perilous universe of ‘The Matrix’. Especially for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) it means that they are finding themselves in a constant battle against a formidable enemy:ransomware. The threat is real, and the stakes are high. It’s no longer about if you will be targeted, but when. This guide dives into why SMBs must take ransomware seriously and how they can fortify their defenses.

Unlocking the Power of NAS NDMP Backup: Affordable Solutions for File-Level Restore

Tue, 13 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Are you ready to revolutionize how you protect and manage your enterprise data? The storage and data management world constantly evolves, presenting new business challenges and opportunities. One such challenge is selecting a NAS NDMP backup solution that is affordable and provides the ability to perform file-level restores to support your users’ needs. In this blog post, we’ll delve into the what, how, where, and why of NAS NDMP backup, exploring the key considerations and solutions for achieving comprehensive data protection.

The Challenges of LTO Tape Migration: Strategies, Difficulties, and Solutions

Wed, 07 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Navigating the complexities ofLTO Tape migration, including the transition to advanced generations like LTO-9, presents various challenges. This blog discusses these challenges, the strategic approaches for successful migration, and delves into the role of Catalogic DPX in enhancing tape backup strategies.

The Intricacies of Migrating to LTO-9 and Legacy Tape Challenges

The migration from older LTO generations, such as LTO6 or LTO7, to LTO9 involves several complexities, including compatibility issues and potential data loss. Additionally, migrating legacy tapes to newer solutions like LTO-9 requires careful planning to ensure data integrity. This becomes especially crucial with LTO-9’s increased capacity and speed, demanding a nuanced understanding of its backward compatibility and hardware requirements.

Ransomware Threats in 2024: SMB Cybersecurity

Fri, 02 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

**As we navigate through 2024, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are defending against an increasingly intricate and technicalransomware threat landscape. Gone are the days when human error was the primary vulnerability. Today, ransomware attacks have morphed into a sophisticated arsenal of tools that exploit technical vulnerabilities, shifting the cybersecurity battleground for SMBs. **

Ransomware in 2024: The Evolution of Cyberattacks

Historically, human error was often the weakest link in cybersecurity, with social engineering tactics like phishing being the primary vector for ransomware attacks. Today, the cyber threat landscape has transformed.

NDMP’s Backup & Restore – Top 11 Challenges

Wed, 31 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

If budget-draining licenses, endless training sessions, and sluggish, unreliable restores define your NAS NDMP reality, you’re not alone. Let’s dive into the file-level restore challenges plaguing storage admins and unleash the power of Catalogic DPX as your ultimate data recovery hero.

Forget complexity and downtime. DPX slashes costs with transparent pricing, simplifies workflows with automation, and delivers consistent performance with a user-friendly interface. We’re talking streamlined backups, rock-solid security, and robust reporting – all without breaking the bank.

Seizing Transformation in 2024: Masterfully Navigating VMware’s Licensing Evolution Post-Broadcom Acquisition

Thu, 21 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Broadcom’s acquisition of VMware signifies a major shift in the tech industry, focusing on streamlined products, subscription models, revised pricing, and improved customer support. This strategy, emblematic of Broadcom’s adaptability, emphasizes flexibility in the changing market. CEO Hock Tan’s decision to divest VMware’s non-core units including EUC (end-user computing), further aligns with this approach, prioritizing their core cloud services.

From Perpetual to Subscription: A New Era for VMware

Transitioning from traditional perpetual licenses to subscription models, Broadcom confronts customer and partner concerns regarding predictability and financial implications. To ease this transition, Broadcom is offering robust support and incentives, aligning with broader industry trends. However, this shift also raises questions about future pricing and support strategies, highlighting Broadcom’s strategy to establish predictable revenue streams through subscription licensing.

Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Basket – The 3-2-1 Backup Strategy Explained

Wed, 06 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

**Remember Luke Skywalker setting out to destroy the Death Star with only one set of its plans stored in a little droid’s head? Losing them would likely have doomed his mission to save the galaxy.**Similarly, in our digital world, safeguarding data is crucial. The 3-2-1 backup strategy is a vital defense against data loss. This article gives a basic overview of the 3-2-1 backup rule as well as explains advanced tactics that may be used to make data even more secure.

Backup Upgrade: The Frequently Overlooked Must-Do in Software

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

A regular backup upgrade is crucial forcybersecurity. Yet, many overlook the importance of updating backup software. It’s a critical step. Why is it so vital? Backup software acts as your final safeguard against data loss and corruption. If cyber threats compromise your systems, robust backup software is key. It enables swift recovery. This minimizes the damage. Make sure to prioritize your backup software upgrade. It’s an essential defense in your digital environment.

Elevating SAP HANA Backup: Safeguarding Your Business’s Backbone

Fri, 25 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000

In the ever-evolving realm of business, SAP HANA stands as an indispensable cornerstone for myriad organizations, delivering potent database and data management capabilities. Ensuring the impregnability of your SAP HANA data through a regime of unwavering backups transcends mere good practice—it is a calculated strategic imperative.

The Necessity of Backup SAP HANA Data

Whether orchestrating On Premise SAP HANA systems or harnessing the dynamic potential of SAP HANA Cloud, the rationale behind data backup resonates profoundly:
1. Data Fortification and Rapid Recovery : The practice of regular backups provides a resilient safety net, ensuring the swiftest recovery from the depths of data loss, system glitches, or unexpected calamities. SAP HANA Cloud’s automated backups, attaining a Recovery Point Objective (RPO) as brisk as 15 minutes, adds an indispensable layer of data resilience.
2. Mitigation of Inherent Risks : Backups stand as the vanguard against potential menaces—ranging from data corruption and hardware hiccups to inadvertent deletions.
3. Conformance to Stringent Regulations : In a realm of stringent industry mandates, where data retention and shielded preservation are pivotal, regular backups stand as the sentinel ensuring compliance.
4. Adaptive Recovery Possibilities : SAP HANA backups offer a spectrum of adaptable data restoration timelines, aligning seamlessly with varying recovery requisites.
5. Sustaining Consistency and Wholeness : For denizens of the SAP HANA Cloud, automated backups perpetuate the most recent database integrity, guaranteeing data’s untarnished sanctity.
6. Mitigating Downtime Significantly : An adeptly executed backup strategy truncates downtime during system maintenance and unforeseen operational disruptions.
7. Synergy Across Hybrid Environments : Solutions synonymous with uniform data guardianship, spanning on-premises locales and cloud expanse, etch the epitome of uninterrupted operations.
8. Augmented Cloud Synthesis : Selective backup solutions offer the avant-garde capability of directly funneling backups to cloud terrains, elevating disaster recovery prospects.
9. Intrinsic Log and Data Backups : The SAP HANA Cloud landscape is marked by daily comprehensive data backups coupled with log data backups conducted at 15-minute intervals—a harmonious synergy for curbing data loss.
10. Economical and Uninterrupted Availability : SAP HANA Cloud’s inclusions encompass backup storage sans supplementary overheads, ensconcing data protection with an uninterrupted cadence.

Pros and Cons of Backup vs. High Availability for Secure Data Protection

Fri, 14 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Ask our expert

In today’s digital landscape, secure data protection is paramount for businesses. When considering data protection strategies, two key solutions come to the forefront: backup and High Availability (HA). While both play critical roles, understanding their pros and cons is essential for making informed decisions. In this article, we will explore the benefits of backup and HA, as well as their limitations, to help businesses prioritize their data protection needs effectively.

How to Recover Data From Wasabi Cloud Storage with DPX vPlus

Mon, 19 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Introduction

DPX vPlus is a reliable backup and snapshot management solution that offers seamless data recovery for virtual environments and Microsoft 365. In a previous blog, we provided the steps for How To Use Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage for DPX vPlus Backup Storage. In this step-by-step guide, we will walk you through the process of recovering data from Wasabi Cloud Storage using DPX vPlus. Whether you need to recover virtual machines or Microsoft 365 resources, this guide has got you covered. Let’s get started!

Microsoft 365 Backup to Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage

Thu, 25 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

As businesses increasingly adopt Microsoft 365 services and applications, it’s essential to use cost-effective, fast, and reliable data backup solutions. While many assume that Microsoft 365 has built-in data protection, it’s important to remember that data protection is always the responsibility of your company, especially when it comes to meeting traditional backup, regulatory, and compliance policies. That’s where Catalogic DPX vPlus for Microsoft 365 comes in to provide a comprehensive Microsoft 365 backup solution.

The Future of Ransomware Detection: What ChatGPT Thinks and How GuardMode Keeps Up with Evolving Threats

Wed, 17 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Are you worried about falling victim to a ransomware attack? You are not alone! It’s hard not to be when businesses suffer ransomware attacks every 40 seconds. Ransomware has become one of the most significant cyber threats in recent years, and its impact is only expected to grow in the future. As technology advances, so do the methods used by hackers to create and distribute ransomware, including polymorphic and fileless attacks. Therefore, it is essential to look for new methods for ransomware detection to stay ahead of these threats. In this post, we will take a peek into our crystal ball to take a glimpse at the future as well as explore some of the technologies and strategies for detecting polymorphic and fileless ransomware attacks before they can do serious damage. Read on to learn more and protect your organization from these insidious threats with DPX and GuardMode!

DPX Extends Support for Micro Focus Open Enterprise Server 2023

Thu, 11 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

In the ever-evolving landscape of data protection and enterprise server management, Catalogic DPX continues to pave the way with its advanced features and broad compatibility. With the recent release of Open Enterprise Server (OES) 2023, DPX takes it a step further by integrating seamlessly with this cutting-edge platform. In this blog, we explore how Catalogic DPX provides Micro Focus OES backups, granular OES file restore capabilities and OES ransomware protection while also highlighting its newfound compatibility with OES 2023.

How To Use Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage for DPX vPlus Backup Storage

Fri, 28 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0000

DPX vPlus is an enterprise-ready, agentless backup and snapshot management solution for Microsoft 365 and virtual environments. It allows you to reliably improve and automate backup performance, automate recovery tests, and significantly save resources, time, and money. Microsoft 365 backups and virtual machines backups can be stored on-premises, on a local file system or share, or can be stored in the cloud using cloud storage. Wasabi backup storage delivers fast to write, low cost, and reliable cloud object storage, that also provides faster speeds than Amazon S3. Wasabi backup storage charges no egress fees, and provides 100% data immutability, so you can be confident that your backup data is tamper-proof.

How GuardMode Ransomware Detection Secures Your Backup Solution

Wed, 22 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Introduction

A backup strategy in place is essential for protecting your data against a ransomware attack. However, relying solely on backups is not enough to ensure complete protection from continuously more sophisticated risks.

The thing to remember is that backups can be an effective defense against ransomware only if they are done regularly and stored securely. Regular backups ensure that you have the most recent versions of your data available in case of an attack. Storing backups securely, such as on an offline or off-site location, can prevent the ransomware from accessing and encrypting them. Remember the 3-2-1 rule!

International Women’s Day 2023

Wed, 08 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The theme of 2023 International Women’s Day is #EmbraceEquity. Equity ensures we recognize that not all people start from the same place and we must acknowledge and adjust imbalances. Equity means providing every woman with different resources and opportunities required to reach an equal outcome. The intention of celebrating International Women’s Day is not to make us women powerful. We are already powerful. It is about influencing the rest of the world views our strength. It’s about creating awareness, educating, and giving strength to every woman who thinks she is being suppressed or deprived of her right.

Real-Life Ransomware Attacks and How GuardMode Helps to Mitigate the Damage

Mon, 13 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000

According to Statista reports, total enterprise data volume was estimated to increase significantly, rising from approximately 1 petabyte to 2.02 petabytes, which represents an average annual growth of 42.2% (Expected enterprise data volume by location 2022 | Statista ). It’s important to note that the majority of this data will be stored in internally managed data centers.

This is a lot of enterprise data. With the fast pace of cloud storage adoption, that is in some cases entirely transparent to the end user, we don’t even realize how much data we collect … and how much we have to protect.

Ensuring the Data Integrity of your Backups with GuardMode

Wed, 01 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The Case for Ensuring Data Integrity

While writing a long term paper, I accidentally overwrote and replaced a long passage with a single character – the unintended consequence of a Select All and an accidental keyboard press. I didn’t realize that a good portion of my paper was gone until I went back to proofread it, and I had to go back through multiple versions only to discover that the error had been saved in those versions as well. While it took me another couple of hours to rewrite the section, it taught a valuable of lesson in that just because you have a saved copy, the data contained within it may not be the data you expect or want.

Microsoft 365 – Why OneDrive Backup is Needed

Fri, 27 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

It is clear that the cloud is replacing physical storage formats due to its collaboration and access features, its cost-effectiveness, and data security and resiliency. As organizations continue to store more and more, cloud storage will continue to increase in popularity. One of the most popular forms of cloud storage used by organizations today is Microsoft OneDrive.

OneDrive is a productivity tool that allows users to synchronize files across different endpoints and share those files with other users in the enterprise. It is one of the several applications that make up the Microsoft 365 suite. The other applications include Exchange, Teams, and SharePoint. OneDrive is designed for users to store and share files, along with other collaboration capabilities that make not only daily jobs easier but also the management of shared files across different team members. The great thing about OneDrive being a cloud storage destination is that it enables employees to access their business files, as well as files shared by other people or teams, from different connected devices. In today’s world of remote working, access flexibility is incredibly useful.

Microsoft 365 – Why SharePoint Backup is Needed

Thu, 19 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

SharePoint has become the go-to solution for organizations to manage extensive volumes of shared data in the cloud. Its robust platform streamlines document sharing among teams, making it an indispensable tool, especially as remote collaboration becomes the standard. However, the essential business data stored in SharePoint exposes a critical vulnerability: the risk of data loss without a reliable SharePoint backup strategy. Microsoft 365‘s native features are not designed to provide comprehensive protection, leaving organizations at risk. Implementing a dedicated SharePoint backup ensures your critical data remains safe and recoverable, safeguarding business continuity

DPX vPlus 5.2 Expands Cloud Backup Coverage to Azure and Google Clouds

Wed, 21 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000

We are pleased to announce the latest release of Catalogic DPX vPlus, that expands cloud backup coverage and provides Microsoft 365 backup enhancements to provide unparalleled flexibility in designing and implementing data protection strategies. Known for its robust integration capabilities, DPX vPlus supports backup and recovery for dozens of virtual environments, containers, cloud environments, storage providers and applications.

In previous releases, DPX vPlus for Open VMs customers gained AWS EC2 backup and vPlus 5.2 continues this focus on cloud backup by supporting for Azure backup and Google Cloud Platform (GCP) backup.

DPX 4.9 Adds Proactive Ransomware Shield for Linux and Improves Quality of Alerts for Backup Admins

Wed, 14 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000

We are pleased to announce the release of Catalogic DPX 4.9, where we continue to build upon our commitment to providing one of the most cyber resilient data protection and backup coverage matrices for private, public, and hybrid-cloud environments. This release adds to our industry leading ransomware recovery and cyber resilience features by building on the DPX GuardMode for Windows capability made available in DPX 4.8.1.

GuardMode provides proactive monitoring for early detection and notification of suspicious activity along with identifying and enabling the recovery of any affected data. Before DPX 4.9, this feature was limited to Windows, but DPX 4.9 now offers GuardMode for Linux servers and Samba shares. In addition, backup administrators can now benefit from increased quality of alerts, where GuardMode measures the level of file entropy and compares known magic signatures on files suspected to be impacted. GuardMode uses active, live forensic techniques instead of analyzing backup data that lags security incidents by several hours, days, and even weeks.

Backup and Restore for Multi-Hypervisor Environments

Wed, 23 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0000

As container technology and Kubernetes, specifically, continues to be considered the future of virtualization, the fact is that the traditional hypervisor market continues to grow. According to Maximize Market Research, by 2027 the hypervisor market is expected to reach a value of $4.45 Billion, a CAGR (Compound annual growth rate) of 29.78% from 2020. As has been the case for a decade, VMware continues to be the leader in market share, at 56.8% (a number that is down from 65.4% in 2008). Still, an interesting trend is beginning to take shape: increasingly, small and midsize organizations are leaving VMware’s high costs behind and are transitioning to several alternative open VM platforms.

Active Ransomware Protection for Your Backup and Recovery Team

Thu, 29 Sep 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Catalogic DPX GuardMode, a new free capability announced in July 2022, provides early detection of ransomware. Combined with the comprehensive workload coverage of DPX and instant recoveries, backup and storage teams using DPX GuardMode will be among the best prepared to recover from a cyberattack. DPX GuardMode is complementary to endpoint and edge protection, monitoring file shares and file system behavior, even over the network, instead of relying on a specific binary fingerprint. GuardMode maintains, and regularly updates over 4000 known ransomware threat patterns, and assesses affected files. Backing up this extensive forensic layer of protection are honeypots as a deception layer to catch ever-evolving types of ransomware strains. GuardMode increases confidence in ransomware detection while identifying and enabling recovery of only the affected data.

Protect Your Microsoft 365 Data with DPX vPlus

Tue, 20 Sep 2022 00:00:00 +0000

We live in a world where data is the new oil. Not only is data valuable for you to maintain and run your business, but if you do not have a plan for data backup and recovery, we can end up paying a high price for it. According to a study by Touche Ross, 90% of businesses without a disaster recovery plan, will fail after a disaster. Meanwhile, more and more critical organizational data is being created, stored, and shared outside of the data center. Oftentimes, this is close to or over 50% of organizational data. This data lives on laptops, tablets, mobile devices and in cloud services, like Microsoft 365. And yet this data can very easily be lost and lost for good without proper Microsoft 365 backup.

Hyperscalers and Catalogic Partner for Data Protection and Migration

Thu, 25 Aug 2022 00:00:00 +0000

We are excited to announce our partnership with Hyperscalers for delivering a pre-engineered, out-of-the-box appliance for data protection, migration and recovery.

We have been working together for the past 6 months to form this partnership, with Hyperscalers hard at work discovering and testing the extensive capabilities of DPX. Out of this effort Hyperscalers has developed a detailed data protection and migration whitepaper on how to utilise Hyperscalers Storage Servers with Catalogic DPX to deliver an enterprise data protection and migration solution.

Data Protection for Scale Computing HyperCore Environments with DPX vPlus

Tue, 16 Aug 2022 00:00:00 +0000

For years, Catalogic’s DPX vPlus (previously known as vProtect) has been providing enterprise data protection for open source hypervisors that have been overlooked by the big backup vendors. While users of VMware and Hyper-V are never short on options when it comes to finding a trustworthy backup provider, including our own Catalogic DPX, the same is not true for the backup and recovery of open hypervisor or open virtual machine (VM) environments.

System Administrator Appreciation Day

Fri, 29 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000

“SysAdmins are the gurus behind the scenes that keep us moving ahead. Home or business, keeping our lives in synch starts and stops with these hardworking folks. Ransomware, phishing attacks, viruses—cloud migrations, software/hardware updates, infrastructure architecture, website accessibility…want me to go on!! SysAdmins are constantly on the move in an always learning profession to keep us protected and our businesses/home lives running smoothly.” – Ken Barth, CEO of Catalogic Software.

DPX 4.8.1 Builds on Cyber Resilience with Proactive Early Detection

Wed, 13 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000

We are pleased to announce the release of Catalogic DPX 4.8.1, where we have taken a major step forward to enable our DPX customers to be amongst the best prepared to recovery from a cyberattack. This release builds on our foundational ransomware recovery and cyber resilience features to add a ground breaking new capability called DPX GuardMode, that provides proactive monitoring for early detection and notification of suspicious activity along with identifying and enabling the recovery of any affected data.

Granular File Restore and Ransomware Protection for Micro Focus OES Backups

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Catalogic DPX and Micro Focus OES Backup

Catalogic Software is not one of those data protection vendors that have abandoned Micro Focus Open Enterprise Server (OES) backups. Catalogic DPX has provided industry-leading Novell backup and recovery for OES and Groupwise products since 1997, and we even pioneered many data protection features such as OES cluster-support and deep integration for GroupWise backup. And unlike many other OES backup vendors, we are still committed to the Micro Focus OES, including full support for Micro Focus OES 2018 SP3 and OES 2023 release.

vStor – The Ever Beating Heart of a Data Protection Solution

Tue, 31 May 2022 00:00:00 +0000

At the heart of every data protection solution is the backup repository where the backup data that the protection solution is protecting resides. The ever beating heart of Catalogic DPX is vStor, a virtual storage appliance. The vStor backup repository is a software-defined, flexible and scalable backup target that frees you from expensive backup appliances and vendor lock-in, unlike many of the current market players.

DPX vStor Backup Repository Architecture

Built on open source components, vStor can use any block storage without restrictions. It supports data reduction in the form of both deduplication and compression for efficiency and provides point-to-point replication for DR or remote office support.

Catalogic DPX is the Smart Choice for Micro Focus OES Customers in Education

Wed, 11 May 2022 00:00:00 +0000

In 2014, Micro Focus acquired Novell, in a move that extended the mainframe software provider’s reach into Linux. This acquisition included Novell’s Open Enterprise Server (OES). Micro Focus OES is a server operating system that provides a virtual computing environment and shared network resources, giving it the functionality of an enterprise-scale server operating system. OES consists of multiple modules and components around files, storage, directory, and web application management which are essential for shared files, print networks, driver deployment, identity-based management, and network connectivity for Windows, Mac, and Linux client devices.

Recommendations From FBI Cyber Division on How to Reduce Risk from Ransomware Attacks

Mon, 04 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Ransomware continues to be a growing threat in 2022 given cybercriminals are constantly innovating and wreaking havoc within businesses. Worryingly the fiscal impact of a ransomware attack has more than doubled, increasing from $761,106 in 2020 to $1.85 million in 2021. This is due, in part, to the move by attackers to more advanced and complex targeted attacks that are harder to recover from. And in mid-sized organizations in thirty countries across the globe, 37% of organizations experienced a ransomware attack in the last 12 months.

Catalogic Poland Team Aids by Hosting Ukrainian Families

Thu, 17 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Catalogic has had a team in Warsaw, Poland for nearly three years and how it came about was completely unplanned. I visited a Warsaw-based company, Storware, in February 2018, a trip that led to Catalogic investing in them. While there, I found the people of Poland to be so impressive. They have big hearts, are fun and hospitable and possess a great blend of work ethic, hunger and a relentless pursuit towards perfection. This led to us building a team there (first for UI) and having the pleasure of working with over 50 people in Poland since then.

Get Ransomware Protection for Enterprise Backups with Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage

Wed, 16 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The importance of cloud object storage is growing increasingly every day. It is critical to have a solution that you can rely on that is scalable, secure, and affordable. Now, with ransomware proactively targeting and removing backup data, cloud storage is even more important for providing protection from ransomware for critical datasets like your backups.

Catalogic is pleased to partner with Backblaze to create a robust data protection solution that provides our DPX customers with the flexibility and comfort that their backup datasets are safe and secure from ransomware, and always accessible for recovery and compliance. So, what is DPX, Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage, and how do they work together? Below we will discuss those points, some of the benefits of the two solutions and we will also show you a high-level overview of the solution as well.

Catalogic DPX 4.8 Enhances Backups for Virtualization, Cloud Storage, and Ransomware Data Protection

Wed, 12 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

We are pleased to announce the availability of Catalogic DPX 4.8.0, our next major release that enhances agentless backups for virtual environments, expands cloud archiving, and provides immutability for compliance and ransomware data protection. First, please note that DPX did not use an Apache log4j library with the remote code execution vulnerability. However, we have decided out of an abundance of caution, to remove log4j from the supported versions of DPX to eliminate any further vulnerabilities from this library. For more information, please see How to Remove the log4j Library from DPX.

Combatting Ransomware with Secure Backup and Recovery in an Instant

Tue, 09 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Ransomware is a growing threat that continues to wreak havoc within businesses as cybercriminals constantly innovate in terms of how they are executing attacks. One of the latest trends being seen is that attackers are proactively targeting and removing backup data. This is because if they encrypt or remove an organization’s backup data, then they have significantly enhanced the likelihood of the ransom being paid.

If backup data is one of the key targets, why do we see so many updates from backup and storage vendors on their ransomware protection? It’s because we all see the impact ransomware is having and we want to put businesses in a position where they can quickly recover from an attack without paying the ransom. Leaving your backup and storage infrastructure in the same security state as it was years ago means that you have a large attack surface with little likelihood that data recovery will be an option if you are hit with ransomware.

Catalogic DPX is Not Backing off from Commitment to Micro Focus OES

Mon, 01 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000

History of Novell Open Enterprise Server

In early 2005, Novell, since then acquired by Micro Focus, made a splash in the Linux pool with their Open Enterprise Server (OES) product. Based initially on Netware and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) and later just on SLES, Micro Focus OES is an enterprise-scale server operating system that provides essential shared services, including networked storage, file and print services, identity management, and network connectivity for Windows, Mac, and Linux client devices.

Show Your Appreciation to All SysAdmins Today and Everyday

Fri, 30 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Great work to all the System Administrators in the world! These hard working, dedicated men and women play a huge role in all our lives. From our desks to our home offices, they are the backbone of the technology that integrates into our daily routines. They jump in when needed and often necessary, will work 24-hour days and thru the weekend to troubleshoot outages, increase capacity, fight ransomware, or answer questions from us. One of their major responsibilities is to make sure they have a data protection insurance policy if data is lost, a final backstop to protect our business data, our system configurations, and our corporate histories.

Survive and Recover from Ransomware Attacks with Data Backups

Tue, 20 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Cybercriminals love nothing more than infiltrating a network, accessing your data, and encrypting it so it can no longer be accessed until a ransom is paid. Typically, the longer the data is encrypted and unavailable, the larger the financial impact. These criminals may even sell the data outright.

Attacks are becoming more frequent and sophisticated. A ransomware attack study from Ivanti found that of 1,000 enterprises IT professionals across the globe, 58% had worked for organizations that had suffered a ransomware attack in the last year! Sadly, cybercriminals have become an almost unstoppable force.

Hyper-V Backup Enhancements, S3 Cloud Storage and more in Catalogic DPX 4.7.1

Thu, 08 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0000

This month we announced Catalogic DPX 4.7.1 general availability. This release continues to build on the previous DPX 4.7.0 release by adding many new features and enhancements, including:

One step Master server update – Updates of the Master appliance have improved to require only running the update script to update the entire master server appliance.
Virtual Machine exclusions – Adds the ability to exclude specific virtual machines from Hyper-V backups based on explicit selection or pattern selection (e.g., test or lab)
Better password security – Enhances login security for the HTML user interface by forcing a password change on the first login.
Better job instance management. Further enhances the HTML user interface by adding the following functionality:
- Allowing the ability to start or cancel any job type from the job monitor screen.
- A download of all job logs from the job monitor screen.
More local languages – Expands the DPX local language support by adding the Polish language to the HTML user interface as a supported language.
Additional Cloud Providers – Adds support for Wasabi Cloud Storage and Scality Ring as supported cloud provider targets for Archive and NDMP Protection.

Catalogic DPX 4.7.0 Introduces Hyper-V Agentless Backup and Much More

Tue, 05 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Catalogic DPX Provides SAP-Certified Protection and Recovery

Wed, 03 Jun 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Many companies globally are moving their databases, analytics, and CRM workloads to SAP HANA and it may run most, if not all, a company’s day to day business activities. SAP HANA is an in-memory database platform that offers a range of analytics processing capabilities to support enterprise-grade workloads. In conversations with customers and partners, it became clear that while DPX provided SAP on Oracle support, we also needed to provide simple reliable protection and recovery for SAP HANA.

Catalogic DPX solves VM Backup for Southern Utah University

Mon, 11 May 2020 00:00:00 +0000

As the Southern Utah University (SUU) struggled with their data protection system, due to their infrastructure becoming heavily virtualized, Catalogic assisted in building their new system to make VM backup and restore fast and easy, while providing more space in their data center.
Like many organizations and companies, Southern Utah University needed help within their IT department. As their percentage of VMs approached 90%, backups became more difficult for them to handle. They began to schedule jobs with individual time slots that they could not keep up with, which in turn disrupted major parts of their backups. Their attempt to improve VM support with software changes seemed too complex—that is, until Catalogic was there to assist them.

Protect VMs in Nutanix Acropolis and Scale Computing HC3 Without a Need to “Rip and Replace”

Mon, 06 Jan 2020 00:00:00 +0000

In a world that seems to be dominated by “next big thing” messaging, VMware and Microsoft Hyper-V have found a way for the last decade or so to dominate the hypervisor market – maintaining over 80% of the market share throughout the last ten years. However, based on the emergence of several other competitors, we may begin to see a shift in the landscape. Though the “Big Two” still maintain a strong majority of the market, now more than ever, organizations are questioning the value proposition of VMware and Hyper-V, and are looking at alternative hypervisors or HyperConverged Infrastructure (HCI).