Kroll Ontrack Backs Up Its 'You've Got Mail' Promise

The company's recently launched PowerControls 3.0 is a software-based data recovery solution that works with a business's existing Microsoft Exchange backup architecture. The solution is a mailbox recovery software utility, which enables administrators to quickly and easily search, copy and restore message-level or individual mailbox items from any previous full backup, unmounted databases and Information Store files.

The software greatly simplifies the ability to restore e-mail from previous full backups of Microsoft Exchange. Most Exchange Servers are backed up at the database or mailbox level. In both cases, restoration requires the creation of a duplicate server, or recovery server, which must have the same settings as the original server for the restoration to be successful. This is a time-consuming, tedious process.

PowerControls 3.0 takes a different approach. By reading and restoring data directly from backup tapes, the software completely avoids having to interface with Exchange Server and third-party backup software. This method saves both time and energy, allowing administrators to quickly restore either a single message or an entire mailbox.

The software is an easy sell for solution providers, since it requires no changes to a company's existing infrastructure. Kroll Ontrack's data recovery software installs on a workstation and communicates with an Exchange Server using Microsoft APIs.

Kroll Ontrack continuously updates the software to be compatible with backup formats from a wide variety of vendors. In this newest release, support is added for IBM Tivoli Storage Manager in addition to its legacy support for Veritas BackupExec and NetBackup, Legato NetWorker and Computer Associates BrightStor and ARCServe. It also supports Exchange Server 5.5, 2000 and 2003.

PowerControls 3.0 is fairly easy to use, but some knowledge of Exchange is required. At the very least, administrators should have a basic understanding of how Exchange functions. Administrators can access previous backups through a GUI and use a drag-and-drop method to restore.

Kroll Ontrack's latest version of PowerControls allows administrators to perform backup and recovery from the command line. Users can easily batch repetitive processes such as multiple copy and export tasks without initiating the PowerControls product. Search capabilities let users find data by keyword, date or recipient, or the software can search an entire Exchange database.

The software also provides a list feature, which, as the name suggests, provides a list of all the names in the Exchange Server. This is a great feature for administrators that need to re-create mailboxes in case of a disaster.

Kroll Ontrack has specialized in data recovery services for 20 years. The company services numerous government accounts including the FBI, U.S. Postal Service, U.S. Senate and the White House Communications Agency. This doesn't guarantee a great channel program, however, as partner benefits are limited. Kroll Ontrack did not disclose average margin information but does guarantee a 20 percent discount to partners. Resellers are chosen on a case-by-case basis, but the company does not require any specific credentials.

With large product rollouts, the company will provide training to resellers and IT staff and will offer some additional product discounts.

Pricing follows a model similar to Microsoft's Exchange Server in that a separate server license and a per-mailbox license are required. PowerControls 3.0 begins at $950 for 100 mailboxes. An annual maintenance contract is included and makes up 18 percent of the license fee.

CHANNEL PROGRAM SNAPSHOTS
>Ontrack PowerControls(tm) 3.0
COMPANY: Kroll Ontrack
Eden Prairie, Minn.
1-800-872-2599
www.ontrack.com
AUTHORIZATION REQUIREMENTS: None
DISTRIBUTORS/INTEGRATORS: Direct from vendor
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