New! Backup Exec Deduplication Assessment Tool

Created: 02 Jul 2012 | Updated: 14 Dec 2012
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What is it?

The Backup Exec Deduplication Assessment Tool (BEDAT) is a utility designed to help partners demonstrate the value of Backup Exec and its deduplication technology to their customers. BEDAT scans user-selected data sets on one or more Windows-based systems in a customer’s network environment and estimates the deduplication savings that would be experienced if the same systems were protected using Backup Exec or the Backup Exec 3600 Appliance and deduplication. BEDAT returns global deduplication results, per resource deduplication results, and per data type deduplication results. BEDAT does not actually capture or transport any customer data during the assessment process; it only captures deduplication fingerprint information and transmits this data to be included in deduplication results.

New! Front-end Capacity Analysis Feature

The Backup Exec Deduplication Assessment Tool (BEDAT) now also supports the analysis of front-end capacity of Windows-based servers and volumes in a customer’s network environment.  After scanning the selected Windows servers and volumes, BEDAT returns global front-end capacity results as well as per-server capacity results. The front-end capacity analysis process takes only moments to complete, and operates separately from the deduplication scanning process.  BEDAT does not actually capture or transport any customer data during the assessment process; it only captures front-end capacity metadata.  This feature allows partners to quickly and easily understand the total front-end capacity of an environment, streamlining the licensing of the Backup Exec 2012 Capacity Edition product.

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How does it work?

The Backup Exec Deduplication Assessment Tool (BEDAT) installs to almost any Windows-based, x86 or x64 computer system. When run, it can calculate deduplication results for the system on which it is installed, as well as other systems available on the network. When capturing deduplication data from remote network systems, a small agent is temporarily installed to the remote servers and removed after deduplication calculations have been completed. BEDAT is designed to be as simple and as easy to use as possible. It is a wizard-driven utility that does not require any specific IT expertise to use successfully.

Who is it for?

The Backup Exec Deduplication Assessment Tool (BEDAT) is designed to be used by Backup Exec partners as they help customers understand the storage optimization benefits of the deduplication technology found in Backup Exec and the Backup Exec 3600 Appliance.

Where can I get it?

The Backup Exec Deduplication Assessment Tool (BEDAT) is available for partners to download at the Symantec PartnerNet site. For end user customers interested in using BEDAT in their environments, please contact a local Symantec partner.

It’s free!

The Backup Exec Deduplication Assessment Tool (BEDAT) is made available to Symantec partners at no charge. However, a PartnerNet account is required in order to access and download the tool.

What platforms and data types are supported?

 The Backup Exec Deduplication Assessment Tool (BEDAT) supports Windows 2003 and Windows 2008 x86 and x64 platforms, including both physical and virtual systems. It supports estimating deduplication results for file system data, Exchange data, and SQL data.

Notes

While designed to be highly accurate, the results offered by the Backup Exec Deduplication Assessment Tool (BEDAT) represent estimates of the storage savings that would be gained by using Backup Exec  or the Backup Exec 3600 Appliance and deduplication.

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Comments

06
Jan
2012
Votes
0

.

So I can't this product unless I get it through a partner?

06
Mar
2012
Votes
0

Partner?

Why not offer this to anyone who is even interested in your DeDuplication product?

You're missing out on enormous prospective leads!

I've been waiting for over a week for a "partner" to respond.

11
Jul
2012
Votes
0

Been waiting for over 2

Been waiting for over 2 months to try this out, but our partner is dragging their feet and we have given up after numerous attempts (the Symantec rep keeps saying he will get back with us, but never does). Please let us just download the product and try it ourselves. Sheesh, you even state in the writeup that it takes little IT expertise to run, so why go through a partner?

rajbakshi
Symantec Employee
Accredited
27
Jul
2012
Votes
0

Could you drop me an email

Could you drop me an email and will work with you to sort this out.

raj_bakshi@symantec.com

Thanks, Raj

Raj

KVS02
Partner
Accredited
06
Aug
2012
Votes
0

Hi, It seems I can't see the

Hi,

It seems I can't see the Front-end Capacity Analaysis interface even in the version of BEDAT that I downloaded this morning (06/08/2012). Please confirm if this feature is only available on a certain version and if yes where can I download it from?

Also can someone confirm if the tool supports SQL cluster. I know Exchange 2010 DAG resource is not supported and it seems the same applies to SQL cluster because after selecting the resources the Analysis button is greyed out on SQL cluster server.

Cheers,

TKB

rajbakshi
Symantec Employee
Accredited
07
Aug
2012
Votes
0

KVS01, Once you select the

KVS01,

Once you select the servers and their associated volume the assessment Tool wizard, the front-end capacity of each volume is calculated and displayed in the interface.

https://www-secure.symantec.com/connect/sites/defa...

Refer the screenshot.

Thanks, Raj

capacity.png

Raj

27
Aug
2012
Votes
0

Still can't download without

Still can't download without going through PartnerNet with a partner login

KVS02
Partner
Accredited
07
Aug
2012
Votes
0

Raj, Thanks for your

Raj,

Thanks for your response, I can confirm that selecting the resource does not display the volumes with size. It is just displaying the drive letter unlike your screenshot.

Also could you please answer the SQL cluster question?

Cheers, TKB

27
Aug
2012
Votes
0

Hello, if i wanna know the

Hello, if i wanna know the value of using deduplication can i activate the trial and do a test with that tool, or do i have to configure everything to dedup and then see what is the data occupied and do my math.

Bill Felt
Symantec Employee
Accredited
Certified
27
Aug
2012
Votes
0

Hello RobRodrigues, The

Hello RobRodrigues,

The Backup Exec Deduplication Assessment Tool allows an environment to be scanned for deduplication assessment without requiring Backup Exec or any other Symantec product to be installed or present; it runs completely standalone.

Please refer to the documents attahced to this blog or send me a note at bill_felt@symantec.com for more information.

Thanks!

28
Aug
2012
Votes
0

Hi Bill, I really wanna try

Hi Bill,

I really wanna try the tool to check out the benefits of deduplication to save storage over here.

I can't download the tool because it requires a partner login and 'm a end user.

How can i test the deduplication over here?

02
Oct
2012
Votes
0

I have tried this tool out on

I have tried this tool out on 2 Windows 2008 R2 Server virtual machines (Hyper-V)

I checked what the figures in the report referred to in the online help file included. However, this help reports that:

"... For file system, the volume data (excluding the operating system files) is processed ..."

So for a total of 30GB on the 2 volumes selected it suggests only 6GB as the backup size. However, a full backup of a system would include OS files and data. Therefore a backup of numerous servers (virtual or otherwise) would include a lot of duplication of the OS files which adds up to a lot of duplication. Why does the assessment tool exclude these OS files?

I am interested in how much the backup size of 10 Windows 2008 Hyper-V VMs can be reduced by using de-duplication of files within the VHD files concerned, the bulk of these volumes is taken up by the OS files.

15
Nov
2012
Votes
0

I've got a partner login but

I've got a partner login but im having problems downloading from the site. anyone help withthis please ?

Joe.

rajbakshi
Symantec Employee
Accredited
16
Nov
2012
Votes
0

Joe; I have sent you the

Joe; I have sent you the details on IM.

Thanks, Raj

Raj

22
Jan
2013
Votes
0

I don't have a partner login.

I don't have a partner login. I barely have a partner. (they told us we should call you the tool)

I'd really like to know if spending the money on the addon is worth the investment.

Bill Felt
Symantec Employee
Accredited
Certified
22
Jan
2013
Votes
0

Hello SpecB56, Please send me

Hello SpecB56,

Please send me an email at bill_felt@symantec.com and we'll make the tool available to you.

Thanks!