DPM 2007 has a really simple licensing model:
- DPM Server – for the back-end platform(s)
- Standard DPML – for file protection
- Enterprise DPML – for file and application platform
There aren’t any Open File managers, library agents, etc.
You don’t have to buy # Exchange Agents, # SharePoint agents, # SQL Server agents, etc. – and then, when you re-commission a server, or add SharePoint content databases to a SQL Server — have to buy new agents.
The enterprise DPML provides a single agent for all of our supported workloads, or use the standard agent for “just” files.
Yes, it really is that simple.
In fact, because of the common binaries and the inexpensive price for both agents, many customers, particularly volume license types, may just choose to deploy the Enterprise DPML for all servers that need protection.
For the best information on DPM licensing – refer the DPM licensing page on microsoft.com/DPM.
There are some common comments that I hear around DPM 2007, including:
“WOW – Microsoft should charge more”
“Cool – does it really do all of that?”
“So, I could pay for my entire data protection solution, by eliminating courier services – and letting DPM replicate off-site?”
The answer to all three is ‘YES” and for the last one, check out last month’s streaming video on setting up DPM for disaster recovery.
There are also some DPM licensing details that are worth exploring, so I’ve recorded this short streaming video to explain things like:
– Upgrading SKU’s and SA from DPM 2006 to DPM 2007
– Licensing for the System Recovery Tool (SRT) for bare metal restores
– Agent licensing within a virtualized environment
– Cool news on the System Center Management Suite licenses
Click here to watch the streaming video on DPM Licensing
And as always, please feel free to offer feedback or make suggestions for future videos on Data Protection Manager or other Windows storage technologies.