What is Data Protection Manager (DPM)?

Data Protection Manager

I’ve talked about DPM a lot lately and I still receive more questions like: “What is DPM?” and “What makes DPM so good?”.  To me, DPM is the best backup solution for the Windows Platform. Period!  DPM allows you to backup File Servers (even open files!), that’s easy, but it also allows you to backup Exchange Servers, SQL Servers, SharePoint Servers, Virtualized workloads, and desktops!  DPM can even back up your mobile desktops.

Not only does it allow you to intelligently backup these workloads, but it does all of this without creating an outage to take these backups.  DPM will make backups of your Exchange Servers, SQL Servers, SharePoint Servers, Virtualized workloads, File Servers, and desktops in real time without user interruption!  Take note: virtualized workloads can be backed up in real time as long as the guest OS is VSS aware (Volume Snapshot Service).  VSS is included in Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008 (and R2) as well as the Client OS’, Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7.  These virtualized versions of Windows can be backed up in real time.  Keep in mind that the Windows Client OS’ are the professional SKUs only.  The home use SKU’s are not supported in a virtual environment.

For non-VSS aware OS’, the VM is paused while a snapshot backup is taken.  Typically, this snapshot backup takes less than two minutes, but there is an outage while this snapshot is being taken.  DPM can even allow you to backup an Exchange, SQL or SharePoint server within a VM.  I just love this flexibility, because now you can backup (and restore) all of your important workloads seamlessly with one tool.


As you know, I love doing the “How to videos” so you can see our products in action.  This time, instead of doing the video myself, I’m going to point you to a great video presented by Jason Buffington.  Jason was one of our Technical Product Managers for DPM and does a great job of helping you understand the impact DPM can have on your backup needs.  

Here’s more detail on how to get started with DPM:

DPM Overview Datasheet

How to protect Exchange with DPM Datasheet


The Data Protection Manager landing page with more information on DPM:


http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/server-cloud/system-center/data-protection-manager.aspx

Cost Savings for Azure Backup

In order to receive this, all that needs to be done is choose this option (see instructions below).


Information on how to enable:

There have been queries from Azure Backup EA customers on how to get the new pricing. The steps are outlined below:


(Note: non-EA and new EA customers should already be on the new pricing by default – this choice is available only to existing EA customers)




1.     Go to the Azure portal.

2.     Go to the backup vault, Click on configure

3.     Change the billing model and save

4.     If there are no items already registered/protected to Azure Backup, you can also change the storage type