Version 9.1 at a Glance
- Replication of Deduplicated Backup Sets: Arkeia v9.1 is multi-tenant, allowing a single backup server (the destination) to serve as the destination for backup sets from multiple backup servers (the sources).
- Block Optimization: Block optimization consolidates disk space when backup sets expire and when duplicate blocks are identified.
- Web Dashboard: A new dashboard in the web user interface gathers on a single page all the key indicators of backup status. The dashboard is fully configurable by an administrator
- Appliance Migration Utility: A new utility for Arkeia appliances automates the migration of backup configurations and backup sets from one physical appliance to another.
Arkeia Network Backup version 9.1 delivers important improvements to Progressive Deduplication, a new dashboard for the web user interface, and a new utility for migrating to a new Arkeia appliance. This release and the opportunity to participate in the final-stage beta program were announced on November 19, 2011 and the release is expected to enter production in January.
Replication of Deduplicated Backup Sets
Replication of deduped backup sets greatly reduces the WAN bandwidth required to replicate backup sets to the cloud. Arkeia v9.1 is multi-tenant, allowing a single backup server (the destination) to serve as the destination for backup sets from multiple backup servers (the sources). The destination backup server uses a distinct 'account', with separate authentication credentials, for each source backup server for maximum security.
Arkeia’s replication is 'asynchronous', permitting short backup windows on the end-user's LAN. Replication can be configured to begin automatically after a backup completes. Generally, backups on a LAN require only a small fraction of the time as replication over the WAN due to the relatively smaller bandwidth of the WAN.
Block Optimization
Block Optimization provides two services in version 9.1. First, when retention periods for specific backup sets expire, the unique blocks to which the backup sets refer may become 'orphans.' Here, an 'orphan' is a deduplication block to which no backup set refers. While the impact of orphans is generally negligible at first, over long periods of time orphans can accumulate and adversely affect deduplication compression multipliers. Block Optimization identifies, consolidates, and reclaims disk space used by orphaned blocks.
Second, in case of 'race conditions', when two or more backup agents encounter a heretofore unknown block at almost exactly the same time, more than one copy of the block may be sent by these clients to the backup server. The backup server will retain these multiple copies until they are discovered during the block optimization process.
Web Dashboard
The new Web Dashboard presents key indicators of backup status in the web user interface. The dashboard is configurable by an administrator to report important details at the level of granularity desired.
Appliance Migration
A new migration utility for Arkeia appliances automates the process of migrating backup configurations and backup sets from one physical appliance to another making the upgrade to Arkeia's third generation of appliances a breeze.