Is data deduplication a good way to cut backup times from remote offices?

Is data deduplication a good way to cut backup times from remote offices?

My business wants to cut backup times from remote offices. Is data deduplication a good way to achieve that?

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Data deduplication is one way of achieving this but can be prohibitively expensive, depending on how much data there is and the vendor involved. Another method to consider is real-time replication, which can be done on deduplicated data to reduce bandwidth but can equally be done with tools which will only replicate block-level changes.

I am currently running a proof-of-concept on NetVault:Real-Time Data Protector from BakBone Software, and this has proved extremely successful. It also has the added benefit of restoring 'wrapper' files first so that even if a restore is not complete, the file is usable by the end user. The technology can be used many to one, so you don't need a deduplicator at every site as the brains of the operation remain in your data centre.

For more information on deduplication methods, read this Ask the Expert question on inline vs. post-processing data deduplication.

This was first published in July 2009

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