Symantec's LiveState Outperforms Other Backup Tools

The software can create file images at the sector level and thus avoid operating-system file contentions. Because the imaging process works one layer below the operating system, any file-level locks created by Windows programs, for instance, cannot interfere with the imaging process. What's more, hidden files, including system and read-only files, cannot corrupt or interrupt the imaging process. Copies can exist within the same server as long as the output files reside in a separate volume than the files being copied. For these reasons, competing backup software such as Ghost is not as effective as LiveState, since these products image files at the operating-system level.

In addition to creating baselines, both LiveState Recovery Advanced Server and Desktop versions can create incremental snapshots of files at the sector level. By comparing sectors with baseline images during incremental backups, LiveState can detect sector changes and copy them accordingly. The software can also maintain archives of incremental backups so rollbacks can be performed at any time. LiveState also checks sectors on a byte-by-byte level and maintains 100 percent accuracy when verifying images.

Unlike file-level backup utilities that can only copy a single file at a time, LiveState copies sector blocks so multiple files can be imaged at a time. LiveState is also much faster than competing backup utilities at performing incremental backups.

Advanced Server can manage multiple servers simultaneously. Each server is listed on the left of the software's main administration pane, and administrators can start a backup drive, copy volumes and restore images of a volume with just a few mouse clicks. The backup wizard only takes minutes to configure, so even novice users can begin using the software right away. In addition to image files, users can export data, files and images directly to external backup media.

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LiveState uses compression algorithms that produce between 40 percent to 50 percent compression on non-binary files. On a typical server with 10 Gbytes of used drive space, Advanced Server can reduce an image size to about 6 Gbytes. Image compression does not slow the backup process noticeably. LiveState offers the option to divide images into smaller files to accommodate systems without large external hardware backup capacity. For instance, when storing data in USB drives or exporting it to external media, this option allows administrators to create smaller images before attaching a peripheral to a server.

Advanced Server has a built-in scheduler that can execute external programs and scripts at the beginning and end of a backup job. Advanced Server uses a simple call to run any external script without receiving any feedback from an execution. Rather than stop when encountering an incomplete process, Advanced Server was designed to continue to back up a system. For instance, a typical command lets administrators pause a database operation before backing up a volume to make sure volumes are stored completely. After running an image backup, Advanced Server can restart a database and run batch commands to move the image to other volumes on the target server or elsewhere on a network.

Advanced Server is compatible with various Windows scripts, command-line batch files and Windows-based programs. Essentially, any file that Windows can execute can be used to control this server. Full system restores also can be performed quickly with Advanced Server. The software is packaged as a bootable CD, so administrators can load a system and simply add drivers as a system is being restored. However, the Standard Server version can only create baseline images, so it is often used in critical systems where full backups are performed frequently.

Symantec's PartnerNet program is available to partners that are certified as resellers and solution providers. Symantec offers partners a dedicated portal for access to product, sales and technical information and to assist them in creating new revenue opportunities and establishing new business models.

Symantec offers pre-and post-sales support and provides 24x7 technical support on enterprise operations. Large partners also receive 24x7 implementation support and priority access to senior technicians at Symantec. Average reseller margins range between 25 percent and 30 percent. LiveState Recovery Advanced Server costs $1,193.95.

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