Why SP1 for DPM 2007 is cool

System Center Data Protection Manager

For the official announcement of SP1 — please check out Service Pack 1 for DPM 2007 is now available on the DPM Product Team blog (yes, I wrote that one too).

Here are some good links on Service Pack 1

What is new in Service Pack 1 http://www.microsoft.com/SystemCenter/DataProtectionManager/en/us/WHATs-NEW.aspx
   
DPM 2007 SP1 x86     http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=125991
DPM 2007 SP1 x64   http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=125992
   
SP1 videos on TechNet Edge http://edge.technet.com/tags/DPM
   
Upcoming Webcast on SP1
on January 8, 2009
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032399151

Now … let’s talk about what it all really means

Everything that DPM 2007 did — is now better! 

SQL Server now does 2008, can back up databases in parallel, and supports mirrored instances

SharePoint got HUGE optimizations, between the catalog improvements and that the index/search is now in the UI

Exchange can now be protected from the SCR node – something truly unique to DPM

Hyper-V is now protect-able, which is probably the most requested feature from those requesting access to the beta bits.  And that makes sense, since Microsoft customers that were standardizing on Hyper-V over another hypervisor have been looking for a Microsoft backup solution for their platform.

SP1 provides new protection scenarios for Microsoft customers

Branch Offices

Local Data Source Protection (LDSP) means that your branch office file server can now be your branch office “File Server + Hyper-V host + DPM client-backup” server.   DPM 2007 SP1 can now protect data residing on its own platform.  This means that it can back up your client desktops/laptops on premise, whatever files are on file serving volumes, and any VM’s running as guests.   This opens up some cool scenarios for customers with distributed branches. 

And since DPM can replicate from one DPM server to another, your new File-HyperV-DPM branch servers can replicate the key data back to the DPM server at headquarters = Disaster Recovery of the branch office data and Centralized Backup because the remote servers can be disk-only, with tapes still being managed centrally.

Disaster Recovery

DPM 2007 SP1 now enables protection to the cloud.   Look for more details on this in January/February, but SP1 customers will notice new options in the UI around ‘Online Protection’ which will lead you to a landing page, where you can enroll in off-site data protection before replicating your data from your DPM server to an offsite data center.  You’ll see more detail on that early next year, as our partner makes their announcements.

Client Protection

Protecting Windows XP and Vista is about to be more cost effective.  DPM customers will notice in the UI that alongside the Standard DPML and Enterprise DPML counters, there are new counters for Client DPML.  Yes, on the February 2009 price list, Microsoft customers and partners will find Client DPML’s that are the same price as the other Client ML’s from System Center (OM & CM).  

To be clear, client machines were already protect-able by the Standard DPML from DPM2007.  But based on customer-demand, we are releasing a more economical SKU.  Customers who are already protecting desktops with Standard DPML’s should likely re-purpose those to Windows Servers, and acquire less expensive DPML’s for their clients.  The other client requirements still apply:  1) must be joined to a domain – so no ‘home’ editions of Windows and 2) must be routinely connected – ideal for desktops, less so for the laptop that never connects.

Cross-Forest Protection

Whereas before, the DPM server could be in different domains but the same forest — now we can protect across forests.  This was especially in response to Microsoft customers who had grown through acquisition and often had separate forests.   As long as there is a trust, you can protect from one to the other.

And we aren’t stopping there

There is a new Management Pack for DPM 2007 that will allow you to monitor the DPM servers across your enterprise from System Center Operations Manager.

We have a Best Practice Analyzer coming

A new Infrastructure Planning & Design Guide is currently in beta

And more in 2009

So, if you are running Microsoft application, file or virtualization servers (or desktops), there has never been a better time for take a look at Data Protection Manager 2007.

And speaking of ‘taking a look’ – check out our podcast series on DPM and SP1 on EDGE.TECHNET.COM.

As always, thanks for reading … and Merry Christmas.

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