Enhance Your IBM i Virtual Backups With Deduplication

| An introduction to using BEdupe deduplication with LaserVault ViTL. |

Should deduplication be a part of your backup and recovery strategy? In this blog post, I will explain the hows and whys of deduplication for backup and recovery, and how LaserVault has incorporated deduplication into our ViTL virtual tape solution for IBM Power Systems.

To start, let’s cover what deduplication is. Backups typically store large quantities of redundant data, which wastes storage space. Deduplication eliminates this duplicate data, reducing the amount of storage needed for backup operations, resulting in significant savings in your IT costs. For organizations with ever-growing volumes of data, deduplication becomes an essential component of efficient data management.

Here at LaserVault, BEdupe, or “backup-enhanced deduplication,” is an integral feature that works within our LaserVault ViTL virtual tape solution to enhance backup and recovery operations for your IBM Power System environment. Together, ViTL and BEdupe create an all-in-one backup and recovery solution that minimizes storage requirements and streamlines backup and recovery management.

How BEdupe Works

BEdupe provides block-level deduplication. It works by comparing blocks of data to detect duplicates. Once BEdupe finds a block of data that already exists in the deduplication repository, the block is replaced with a Virtual Index Pointer linking the new pseudo-block to the existing block of data. When you restore a file, BEdupe recreates the file from its Reparse Point file, using its own special index and unique chunk store.

BEdupe Highlights

1. Reduces storage space usage without slowing down your backup by providing seamless deduplication. Since BEdupe only stores unique data, you have more disk space available for your backups.
2. Eliminates duplicate data blocks when you back up and transfer data. Once a unique block of backup data is sent offsite, it never has to be sent again.
3. Makes replication more manageable by reducing bandwidth requirements and network traffic. BEdupe optimizes storage without sending additional data over your network.
4. Speeds up replication. By reducing the overall data size, the data takes less time to replicate and reduces bandwidth requirements. Only new (unique) information needs to be replicated, which can reduce daily offsite backup traffic by 95%.
5. Minimizes storage requirements, providing significant cost savings. BEdupe also reduces offsite backup traffic by up to 20 to 1, making remote backup to a server possible with the bandwidth you already have.
6. Supports long-term archiving. Using BEdupe in conjunction with replication adds another layer to your data protection and makes it easy to save your backups to a separate DR site for long-term archiving.

Deduplication is a critical component of backup and recovery operations which is why we developed BEdupe. Along with supporting and improving the IBM i backup and recovery process, deduplication provides multiple benefits that strengthen data protection and improve IT operations, including:

• Reducing IT costs
• Maximizing storage capacity
• Reducing network traffic
• Eliminating redundant copies
• Decreasing storage needs and saving on costs
• Improving data protection

In conclusion, integrating BEdupe deduplication with LaserVault ViTL significantly enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of your IBM i backup and recovery strategy. By reducing storage space, cutting IT costs, and optimizing network traffic, BEdupe provides a robust solution for managing growing data volumes. The seamless integration of deduplication into ViTL ensures that your backup and recovery operations are streamlined and reliable. If you are ready to take your backup strategy to the next level, consider exploring the benefits of BEdupe with LaserVault ViTL.

If you are currently using ViTL for your backup and recovery and would like to explore adding deduplication, contact us today at info@laservault.com or 800-444-6283 ext. 1001 to learn more or to schedule a quick demo.

If you are currently using manual tape or other alternative backup solutions, you can learn more about streamlining your IBM i backup and recovery with ViTL and BEdupe by contacting your VAR or reach out to us directly at: info@laservault.com or call 800-444-6283 ext. 1001.

Why choose LaserVault? Our sales and support experts have over one hundred years of combined experience. We didn’t just develop ViTL and BEdupe; we also sell and support our solutions. We work directly with customers, and with our valued resellers worldwide, to provide the best solution and support for your needs. We also partner with some of the most well-known technology giants, including IBM, Cohesity, ExaGrid, Rubrik, Pure Storage, and many others. LaserVault solutions are developed and supported by Electronic Storage Corporation, which has been providing innovative software solutions for IBM Power System environments for over 35 years.

Ready to transform your backup and recovery processes? Visit our website at www.laservault.com or contact us at info@laservault.com to get a quote or schedule a complimentary custom demonstration today.