Arkeia Arkeia 5

Although they can be used to protect Linux systems, most mid-range back-up applications are hosted on either Windows or Netware servers.

Arkeia 5, however, works the other way round, running on a Linux or Unix server with client support for a wide range of platforms including both Windows and Netware.

Also available for deployment on AIX, HP-UX, Tru64 and Solaris systems, we tested the Linux implementation using a server running Red Hat 7.1.

An Red Hat Package Manager package makes for easy installation, the set-up routine configuring the server software and the X-Windows management interface, which can be run remotely.

The graphical interface looks a little unusual, but we quickly got the hang of it. The application is pretty conventional in the way it works and can identify most small computer system interface (SCSI) devices automatically.

That includes the Exabyte VXA-2 we used for testing. Other standard features include library support and load balancing across multiple drives.

Similarly, all the usual facilities are available for media rotation and taking both full and incremental back-ups. Jobs can be run immediately or scheduled for unattended operation.

This version of Arkeia has its own scheduler rather than using cron, with a good calendar interface to program exceptions to the schedule.

Mixed data from a variety of client file systems can be included in each back-up, with optional plug-ins to back up MySQL and Oracle databases.

An optional disaster recovery module is also available to rebuild both client and server systems from a back-up, with other plug-ins in development.

There's no specific support for Nas (network attached storage) or storage area networks (Sans), although Arkeia clients are included in some Nas appliances, such as those in the Sun Cobalt range.

We also found the logging and reporting facilities a little primitive. Overall, though, Arkeia 5 does the job expected of it, providing good back-up facilities for mixed platform networks from a Linux/Unix host.

DETAILS

Price: From £528.75 (£450 ex VAT) - one back-up server and one Windows/Linux client
Contact: Arkeia +33 1 48 10 89 89 (France)
www.arkeia.com

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

• Linux/Unix server with 128MB of memory, TCP/IP network connection and SCSI interface for drive attachment
• SCSI tape drive or library
• Clients require a minimum 64MB of memory (128MB recommended) and can be running Linux, Unix or Windows

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