Microsoft introduces Data Protection Server

Computerworld - Microsoft Corp. today introduced its Data Protection Server, which is designed to simplify and reduce the backup and recovery process for businesses of all sizes.
Announcing DPS at the Storage Decisions 2004 Conference in Chicago, Microsoft said it will provide robust data protection for the Windows Server System family, reducing complexity and improving efficiency for Windows customers.
More than 20 industry storage partners, including backup and recovery independent software vendors, original equipment manufacturers and independent hardware vendors, have announced support for DPS, Microsoft said in a statement.
DPS allows IT administrators to utilize existing Windows Server investments such as Active Directory service, Microsoft Windows Server 2003 and Microsoft Windows Storage Server 2003, the company said.
DPS provides the following capabilities:

• Rapid and reliable recovery that enables IT administrators and end users to recover data in minutes rather than hours through the use of disk-based backup;


• Continuous, efficient protection that allows data to be backed up without affecting IT infrastructure;


• And integration with tape that allows partners to address customer needs for backup and recovery in Windows-based environments through a backup interface under development. The interface is based on the Volume Shadow Copy Service API, included in Windows Server 2003.

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