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Contents 
Introduction
BrightStor Arcserve
Legato Networker
Tivoli Storage Manager
Veritas Backup Exec
Specifications
How we tested
Checklist
Editor's choice
About RMIT |
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Server platform support was not as we would have hoped with only BackupExec providing less support. For example, Tivoli does not support RedHat Linux or Netware servers, although client support is considerably more extensive and it does support the aforementioned operating systems. Application support is excellent with API clients for MSSQL, Oracle, Informix, DB2, Exchange, Lotus Notes, and SAP.
Backup device support runs the gamut from single tape drives through to libraries and hard drives and to SAN attached tapes, using the relevant storage agent. More than one instance of the application can be run and parallel streaming is supported. Tivoli has some unique features, for example a tape's valid data is tracked and once it drops to say 50 percent it can be consolidated with a second tape of 50 percent or less valid data onto a single tape. This can all be managed automatically in your tape library.
Defining what is and is not valid data is also very flexible as you can expire data -- either after a definable number of days, versions, or a combination of both. Tivoli is also able to migrate tapes when you upgrade your devices, for example move the data from two LTO 1 tapes to a single LTO 2 tape.
For such a powerful application, Tivoli's user interface is relatively simple to drive. We managed to find most functions with a minumum amount of hunt and seek, and what's more the Web interface is almost identical to the Windows GUI. All the functions are located in a tree structure down the left hand side while attributes of the selected function reside in the right hand window. To save travelling back and forth from the menu to the relevant icon, most features are available by right clicking on the relevant icon.
There is a good selection of wizards, certainly more numerous and professional in appearance than Legato for example. The scheduling wizard is a good example and like most high-end backup software, it allows the user to set a time window for the task to occur. Configuring devices is a breeze, and while Tivoli is not actually bursting with reports it is not too bad with a reasonable swag covering most topics, and in many cases errors are highlighted in colour depending on severity.
The interface for backups is quite slick with the trees structure carried through to include more than just drives or partitions. For example System Services such as IIS Server Metabase can be backed up by simply selecting it from the tree. It's simple to select single files as well from the tree, the type of backup be it full or incremental and even have the software provide an estimate for the backup job.
| Product | Tivoli Storage Manager v5.2.2 |
| Price | AU$10,750 excluding GST |
| Vendor | IBM |
| Phone | 132 426 |
| Web | www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/ |
| Interoperability |  ½ |
| Broad server and client support but with some notable ommisions such as Novell Netware (server). | |
| Futureproofing |  ½ |
| Very strong enterprise-level product with a relatively easy-to-use interface. | |
| ROI |
½ |
| Very powerful and easy to use enterprise solution, but you pay for it. Includes 12 months support. | |
| Service | 
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| Support plan includes all patches and 24x7 support to nominated callers. | |
| Rating | 
½ |
