DD Boost: Software Option From Data Domain to Be Installed on a Server

EMC Corporation announced next generation disk-based data protection capabilities with the new EMC Data Domain Boost software option.

DD Boost is the first solution to optimize and accelerate traditional backup software interaction with deduplication storage. By distributing parts of the deduplication process to the backup server, DD Boost speeds up aggregate backup throughput on EMC Data Domain deduplication storage systems by an average of 50 percent, while significantly reducing load on backup LANs and backup servers.

DD Boost, the industry’s most advanced transport and management interface to Data Domain systems, is already supported by third party backup software such as Symantec NetBackup and Backup Exec. Later this year, DD Boost will enable this same interoperability for Data Domain systems with EMC NetWorker. At that time, the majority of the enterprise backup software market will have the ability to massively improve backup performance and simplify administrative functionality within existing environments by using the new DD Boost capabilities.

Traditionally, backup servers interacted with storage systems using standard protocols, such as NAS (NFS/CIFS) or tape library emulation. Increasingly, backup software vendors are creating interfaces, useable by storage systems products, so that the backup software can better manage and use the advanced functionality of the storage systems. DD Boost leverages this approach and takes it to a new level, becoming the first implementation in the industry to distribute deduplication storage processing into the backup server of traditional backup software.

The DD Boost software library is distributed to the backup server and identifies data segments inline as they arrive. After asking the Data Domain storage system which segments are new, it compresses and forwards only the unique segments. In addition to increasing the aggregate backup throughput of the storage system, this reduces local network traffic from 80 to 99 percent, since redundant data segments do not traverse the wire only to be discarded as duplicates later. It also reduces the overall resource use on existing backup servers by 20 to 40 percent because it minimizes data copy overhead. Separately, DD Boost also enables application level link aggregation, failover and load balancing, making optimal use of multiple links for throughput while adding further resilience and management flexibility.  

Product Details and User Benefits

• The new capabilities in DD Boost increase aggregate backup throughput on Data Domain systems by an average of 50 percent. For example, the benchmark for the EMC Data Domain DD880, its flagship single-controller system, has increased to 8.8 TB/hour compared to 5.4 TB/hour at product introduction.
• In addition, DD Boost enables backup applications to control network efficient EMC Data Domain Replicator software so multiple copies of data can be managed from the backup application’s console, giving administrators a global view of their backup and disaster recovery (DR) environment.
• Leveraging DD Replicator software, DD Boost can automate WAN vaulting for use in disaster recovery, remote office backup, or multi-site tape consolidation initiatives. Cross-site deduplication further minimizes the required bandwidth since only the first instance of data is transferred across any of the WAN segments.
• DD Boost supports all Data Domain systems, including the new EMC Data Domain Global Deduplication Array.

"The integration of backup software with deduplication storage is not just about enhancing performance – it’s about increasing functionality to enable a more streamlined and sophisticated user experience," said Laura DuBois, Program Director, Storage Software, IDC. "With DD Boost, EMC again reinforces its position that users can effectively achieve backup redesign using disk and deduplication to solve the challenges commonly associated with legacy infrastructures."  

"There has been no significant change in roles between backup clients, backup servers and target storage in the last 20 years of traditional backup software deployment architectures, until right now," said Brian Biles, Vice President of Product Management, EMC Backup Recovery Systems Division. "By distributing parts of the deduplication process to the backup server, everything from the backup server to the Data Domain systems gets faster and more efficient. It represents a pivotal architectural change that will underpin the next generation of disk-based data protection products. DD Boost literally thinks outside the box."

Availability
DD Boost software is available immediately for use with Symantec NetBackup and Backup Exec. DD Boost software for EMC NetWorker will be available in the second half of 2010.