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.

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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