I recently conducted an review on the leading Enterprise-Level Backup systems for one of our customers.  Here are some of the findings.

Enterprise-Level backup systems are very powerful and complex, as they need to provide everything for everyone.   These systems may provide all the technologies but there are always subtle differences in their capabilities.   The following table provides a comparison of the leading Enterprise-Level backup applications available at the time of writing the report.  Symantec Backup Exec was not considered in this review as it is not considered as an Enterprise-level backup application and it is primarily aimed at the Small to Medium Business market lacking several enterprise specific functions.

1.1    Symantec NetBackup 6.5

Symantec NetBackup 6.5 is the big brother of Backup Exec providing enterprise-level backup features.  Designed specifically for Windows Environments, Backup Exec has been developed for small to medium businesses.  NetBackup is designed for multi-platform enterprise environments with advanced features that Backup Exec cannot provide.

From the review, information about NetBackup was easily attained and it capabilities are very good.  A recent report from Gartner “MarketScope for Enterprise Backup/Recovery Software, 2008” rated the product as “positive” in a promising market.  They did state “Ease of use and integration of new functions are still issues” with the product.  Other reports outlined that NetBackup has one of the best integrations for the backup of VMWare Virtual servers. 

NetBackup has a large range of options to covers most backup technologies and requirements.  Its “Bare Metal” option covers most operating system types where TSM “Fastback” only covers “Windows” servers.

Symantec also have a remote office solution through the use of their Puredisk system.  Puredisk is their de-duplication offering and they claim it to provide bandwidth-optimised protection for remote offices.

In summary NetBackup has is most encompassing offering for an Enterprise-Level data backup system covering multi platforms.

1.2    CommVault Simpana

CommVault Simpana 8.0 has a very solid offering in the Enterprise-Level data backup arena.  Providing options for most technologies, their website failed to provide details on their “Bare Metal” restoration option.  1-Touch is the product that offers this technologies and it offers the technology across multiple operating systems.    The lack of marketing for this product is a concern though.

In the Gartner “MarketScope for Enterprise Backup/Recovery Software, 2008”, CommVault was the only other vendor to be rated as “positive” in a promising market.  They did state, “New features can take a couple of version to be enterprise ready” about the product.  

Remote office backup issues can be solved through several different options according to CommVault.  Each solving different specific requirements, CommVault does have solutions to solve the remote office issue.  In the VMWare Virtual Server space, CommVault also offers a very comprehensive solution to address the unique requirements of this environment.

In summary CommVault has a solid offering but their lack of marketing of their 1-Touch product is a bit of a concern.     

1.3    IBM Tivoli Storage Manager (TSM)

IBM Tivoli Storage Manager (TSM) is a strong contender in the Enterprise-level data backup system arena.  Covering most of the backup technologies several offering where only available via its Extended version. 

In the Gartner “MarketScope for Enterprise Backup/Recovery Software, 2008”, TSM was rated as a “promising” product however since this report IBM has released new features in the areas of de-duplication that may affect its ranking today. 

TSM has some limitations in that some of the options only cover “Windows” based systems.  For example their “Bare Metal” restoration option called “Fastback” can only protect “Windows” based systems.  This will be a limitation to the integration of the product as PRP could use this technology in the non “Windows” environment.

TSM integrates with VMWare Virtual servers via VMWare Consolidated Backup but lacks any additional features and functionality unlike the other products that improve efficiency and reduce storage requirements.  Archiving of files and mail is also only provided via a completely separate product called “IBM Content Collection and Archiving” unlike the other offerings.

IBM recommends that remote offices be protected by their “FastBack” solution that provides “Bare Metal” restoration services.  This is a good solution as long as all remote offices are using “Windows” based servers.

In summary TSM is a good product but seems to have some limitations.  If these limitations are not an issue for the organisation then TSM is definitely an option.  However there should always be a consideration of future requirements and how the product will address them.
 

Tags: Review | Tivoli Storage Manager | TSM | Commvault | Netbackup

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Tags: what do coaches do | Business coaching

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As a Business and Executive coach I find myself frequently using powerful requests with my clients.  This may be confronting for my clients but they appreciate my style and that is why they engage me as a coach.  As this is my approach I am upfront during my initial trial session so the client is aware of my process.

My clients appreciate my process and enjoy being challenged.  They say that is why they engage me.  It allows them to move forward and have someone that will follow them up.  Challenging a client is key to their success and that is why they engage me as a coach.

When is the last time you have been challenged through a power request?

Know what you need to do but not the how to do it or you never get around to doing it!  You may need a coach that will push you to the next level.

Do you need to be challenged so you can move forward!

Have a great day and remember through coaching you can unleash your true potential.

Follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/jose_gil

Cheers

Jose Gil

Business and Executive Coach

Tags: Powerful requests | Coaching

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It is important to understand that people have perspectives about their lives, circumstances and surroundings.   These perspectives shape individuals thoughts and the way they conduct themselves in everyday life.  When you engage a coach to work with you, they should be open to questioning your perspective to give you the opportunity to re-frame your conscious thought.

This process of questioning an individual’s perspective is termed Re-Framing.  Some examples of questions that a coach may use re-frame an individual’s perspective are:

• So how does that work for you?
• What would it take for you to reach your objective?
• How do you think the other person feels about the situation?
• Why is that holding you back?
• Can you see how your actions may be contributing to the situation?

Through the process of questioning someone’s perspective the coach will give the individual the opportunity to explore their conditioning and open their minds to other possible ways of thinking about a situation, circumstance or thought that may be restricting their development.  It is crucial that a coach uses the technique of Re-framing to ensure that they give the coachee every possible opportunity to remove obstacles and barriers so they are able to Unleash their True Potential.

Have a great day and don’t forget to follow me on twitter for updates

Jose Gil

Principal Coach
Business Success

Tags: situations | reframing questions | Coaching

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As Coaches, we need to do what we advocate, and what better way to use coaching than to deal with a major health challenge. On Tuesday, 8th of January, Jose had a routine Colonoscopy due to his family history of Bowel Cancer. He went under the Anesthetic thinking in the back of his mind, that someone nasty could come of this procedure.  I, on the other hand, felt that everything would be OK and this was routine just to rule out Bowel Cancer.  I could not be more wrong. 

The Medical Staff spoke to us very respectfully after the operation to let us know that they had found a Tumor in Jose’s bowel.  They believed it to be Malignant, but needed to confirm this via a biopsy.  We met with the Surgeon the following day to be advised that Jose would have to have an open operation with a wound that would extend from his ribs downwards for about  30 centimeters.  They would remove the Cancer, surrounding tissue and  lymph nodes to ensure that all the cancer was to be removed.  There was a chance that he would need a colostomy bag and would need to have radiotherapy. 

We went to see a Colostomy nurse later to discuss how to use a Colostomy bag.  All of this seemed pretty dire at the time, but we used our own coaching techniques to help us through.  We stayed positive, we set ourselves goals to achieve a positive outcome.  Our goals were small steps, based on the our mood that day. 

Jose bought two journals so that we could record our thoughts and stated that he would be writing a book or two about the experience.  Joking, I stated that before he wrote a book that maybe he should read a whole book first!  Humor was my way of dealing with the situation, and it made Jose laugh too! 

I commented that Jose would qualify as a very good life coach now, even though he is a business coach.  After all, people do run businesses. 

Jose’s operation was performed on the 14th of January with 100% success, they got all of the cancer.  After coming home we  experienced a minor setback, Jose had come down with an internal infection, with fever and shakes.  The Doctor administered 3 types of antibiotics and the infection abated. 

When he left the hospital on the 29th of January, he was given oral antibiotics.  After that look out, he will be doing a small amount of work from the bed-side and you can be sure that his determination will follow through to his work.  I too, have become stronger and have learnt to set boundaries for myself and not to say yes to everything.

What you can be sure of is that Business Success will have a new sense of direction which will help our clients to achieve success in their own businesses and lives.

By Ann-Marie Gil

Tags: helps | Cancer | Coaching

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