IBM moves on continuous back-up market

IBM last week introduced software that continuously backs up the files on workstations, laptops and file servers throughout the network.

The IBM Tivoli Continuous Data Protection for Files creates a copy of any data that changes and sends it over the IP network to a centralized server. When users need to recover files that might have been accidentally deleted, they can grab them from this central server.

According to IDC, 60% of the data on the network is stored on desktops and laptops rather than on data center servers.

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IBM last week introduced software that continuously backs up the files on workstations, laptops and file servers throughout the network.

The IBM Tivoli Continuous Data Protection for Files creates a copy of any data that changes and sends it over the IP network to a centralized server. When users need to recover files that might have been accidentally deleted, they can grab them from this central server.

According to IDC, 60% of the data on the network is stored on desktops and laptops rather than on data center servers.

The software will not eliminate the need for nightly backups - even though files represent a large portion of the data on the network, there is still the database and other data that needs to be protected. For that data, IBM has Tivoli Storage Manager.

Continuous data protection products have become plentiful on the market. Microsoft and Symantec have products that allow near continuous data protection for files. Revivio offers continuous protection for all types of data. A number of start-ups such as Mendocino Software, Mimosa and XOsoft also offer continuous data protection software.

IBM Tivoli Continuous Data Protection for Files is expected to be available Sept. 16 for $35 per laptop or desktop and $995 per server processor.

Read more about data center in Network World's Data Center section.