OptiVault reduces the need for magnetic tape backup

Primera Technology's OptiVault aims to help IT managers solve the problems of long-term e-mail and critical file backups by replacing traditional tapes with DVD media.

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Primera Technology's OptiVault aims to help IT managers solve the problems of long-term e-mail and critical file backups by replacing traditional tapes with DVD media.

We tested the OptiVault by backing up our Windows-based Microsoft Exchange server and found that the OptiVault performs exactly as advertised. Because the OptiVault is primarily a backup server, it may not meet all regulatory requirements for e-mail archiving. Rather, the system would be a good starting point for small and midsize businesses or enterprise workgroups that need to create and manage backups of a moderate amount of data.

The OptiVault is a clever package of four components, designed to simplify managing archival backups. At the center is a DVD burner, surrounded by Primera's robotics and a color inkjet direct-to-disc printer. These three pieces are controlled by the EMC/Dantz Retrospect backup application. All four components are included in the $3,800 base package.

We attached the OptiVault to our Windows 2000 server running Microsoft Exchange. Our model was a tabletop version, but Primera makes an optional rack-mount adapter for $100 that lets you put it into a standard 19-inch rack. This was the first device in years to come through the lab without an Ethernet port, but the system's USB 2.0 connection had sufficient performance to speed backups, and it simplified installation. Primera bundles all the drivers and software on a single CD-ROM.

	OptiVault OVERALL RATING 4.25 Company: Primera Technology Cost: $3;795 (includes Retrospect and Exchange licenses). Pros: Excellent integration between Retrospect backup, DVD burner, robotics and printer; very low maintenance with 25-DVD capacity. Cons: Needs additional software to be a true archiving device. The breakdown    Features40% 4 Ease of use 30% 5 Performance 20% 4 Installation/documentation 10% 3.5 TOTAL SCORE  4.25 Scoring Key: 5: Exceptional; 4: Very good; 3: Average; 2: Below average; 1: Consistently subpar

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Our installation initially failed in one of those cryptic Windows "everything is fine but nothing works" kind of ways. We rebooted, forced Windows to update drivers, and magically it all started working. In addition to the Retrospect backup software, the installation CD includes software to control the robotics and manage the printer.

We loaded 25 DVD-ROM discs into the OptiVault and used Retrospect to set up our back-up strategy. Existing users of the venerable Retrospect won't find anything different when backing up with this device compared with tape libraries or other media. New Retrospect users will find that it behaves much like Windows-based back-up systems. We defined the volumes we wanted backed up, set a schedule and that was about it. The robotics in the OptiVault shuffled discs, the internal printer created attractive labels and in about 98 minutes we had four nicely printed DVDs that backed up the 16GB stored on our main file server. Future backups during the one-month test were faster and didn't require additional media, because Retrospect backs up only changed files. The speed we saw in our tests, about 10GB per hour, includes Retrospect's optional but highly recommended "compare" to check back-up readability.