Announcing Dantz's new backup server technology breakthrough is first major backup software innovation this decade.

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 8, 1995--Dantz Development Corporation today announced its revolutionary new Backup Server(tm) technology.

Backup Server uses guidelines established by administrators to intelligently adapt to changing network configurations and backup requirements. Backup Server technology is integrated into a major upgrade of the award-winning Retrospect(r) and Retrospect Remote(r) backup software for Macintosh(r) and compatible computers. Dantz has applied for patent protection for Backup Server technology.

Backup Technology Breakthrough

Before Backup Server, administrators were required to specify every detail of a backup, establishing a rigid schedule of what to back up to which backup set. This approach led to problems: when network configurations unexpectedly changed or when mobile computers left the network, the backup either failed or missed important computers.

Organizations attempted to avoid these issues by giving users responsibility for their own backups. Those users who remembered to back up flooded network bandwidth and saturated backup resources at busy times such as the end of the week, leaving the backup resources underutilized at other times. Retrospect's Backup Server is different. Using guidelines established by the administrator, Backup Server continuously re-evaluates which computers to back up and in what order. Backup Server gives administrators greater security and more flexibility with less effort than traditional scripted systems.

Administrator Controlled Guidelines

Administrators establish high-level guidelines that Backup Server uses to manage backups. These guidelines include specifying active times for different groups of users. For example, a PowerBook group might be eligible for backup all day, every day, while a desktop group might only be eligible for backup at night. Other guidelines include specifying how often Backup Server should poll the network for computers in need of backup (default is every five minutes), which set(s) of media the Backup Server should use, and whether users should be allowed to request an early backup.

Ideal PowerBook Backup Solution

Backup Server is an ideal solution to the problem of backing up PowerBooks. When a PowerBook connects to the network, Backup Server automatically finds it and places it in the backup queue at the proper priority. The longer it has been since the PowerBook was last backed up, the higher the priority. When appropriate, Backup Server can notify the user that a backup is about to start. The user has the opportunity to defer the backup until later. The backup is completely automatic and does not require action on the part of either the user or the administrator.

Administrators can give groups of users the ability to request an early backup, allowing PowerBook users to request a high priority backup prior to leaving the office.

Tape Autoloader Support

Backup Server is particularly suited for use with tape autoloaders. Tape autoloaders give Backup Server immediate access to multiple backup sets. Backup server uses this capability to automatically manage media rotation and add new media to existing sets when appropriate. Administrators can also establish which computers, or groups of computers, use which backup sets. If multiple groups are active, Backup Server will automatically switch to the appropriate backup set.

Retrospect and Retrospect Remote 3.0

Backup Server technology is fully integrated with all of the other powerful features found in Retrospect and Retrospect Remote, such as versatile file selection; support for all Macintosh HFS volumes and over 150 different tape drives; full security, including DES data encryption (North America only); and support for both hardware and software data compression. -0-

Note to Editors: Backup Server and DiskFit Direct are trademarks of Dantz Development Corporation. DiskFit Pro, Retrospect, and Retrospect Remote are registered trademarks of Dantz Development Corporation. Apple and Macintosh are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. All products are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

CONTACT: Dantz Development Corporation

Kerry MacInnes, 510/253.3035 or [e-mail]

Craig Isaacs, 510/253.3084 or [e-mail]