James McKey's blog

UPDATE (May 3rd, 2011): The First Availability program is now closed as Backup Exec 2010 R3 has been officially released (GA) and all current licensed users can download the product from FileConnect.

(EDITED 2012-01-30: Changed to state the download is now available and highlighted the available video download)

The gold build of Backup Exec 2012 is now available for immediate download as part of the First Availability program. If you have maintenance for Backup Exec (or are a partner) then you can sign-up using the following link:

UPDATE (12/9): The VMware plug-in and Cloud Services Beta/UAT programs have ended and are now in GA (General Availability). The Kaseya plug-in is in the First Availability (FA) cycle and you can sign up for that program here:

See my First Availability blog as the Beta is now closed (Jan 31, 2012): http://www.symantec.com/connect/blogs/first-availability-gold-build-backup-exec-2012

EDIT: See my Backup Exec 2012 Beta - Trailer #2 blog post for the latest on the Beta program.

A First Availability program for the new version of Backup Exec System Recovery (Symantec System Recovery 2011) has just started and you are welcome to sign up and participate provided you have current product maintenance through the end of June 2011 or you are entitled to the latest version by way of a partnership with Symantec (reseller, ISV, IHV, VAR, etc.).

(April 8th EDIT: The Beta cycle is now ending. Please see my First Availability blog here on how to get the gold code early)

It’s YABO time! No, that’s not a Fred Flintstone reference; it’s Yet Another Beta Opportunity (YABO). OK, so that’s not really a sanctioned Symantec Acronym but I’m using it from now on anyways.

UPDATE (May 5^th, 2011): As per the 1^st comment below, this is now ‘gold’ and it is also now included with Backup Exec 2010 R3 which you can now get via Fileconnect or as Trialware at http://backupexec.com