Backup protocol gets vendor backing

The supply of storage and backup products that supports Network Data Management Protocol (NDMP) is growing quickly. Three years ago, few products supported the protocol. Now it has become the de facto standard for backing up network-attached storage devices, according to Jay Desai, a product marketing manager with Network Appliance Inc.

Last fall, Computer Associates International Inc. added NDMP support to its BrightStor ARCserve Backup for Microsoft Corp. Windows when it rolled out Version 9 of the software. Previously, the company offered NDMP support only in its higher-end BrightStor Enterprise Backup software.

Meanwhile, BakBone Software Inc. plans to make a stronger push into the market this spring when it releases the next major version of its NDMP-compliant NetVault software, according to Scott Petersen, vice president of sales at BakBone. Enhancements designed for higher-end customers include tools to decentralize authority for managing backup jobs — a requirement for large technology shops — and better capabilities for generating canned and ad hoc job reports.