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8 Deploying Symantec Backup Exec 2014 with Dell PS Series Arrays | TR1057
2 Common backup and recovery configurations
Symantec Backup Exec 2014 can be used in a variety of backup and recovery configurations, including
LAN backup and recovery, SAN backup and recovery, backup and recovery media, backup to disk and
restore from disk operations, and backup to tape and restore from tape operations.
LAN backup and recovery: A centralized backup server (Backup Exec server) runs the backup software and
backs up other servers (backup clients) by using software agents. The data movement is over a LAN.
SAN backup and recovery: A centralized backup server (Backup Exec server) runs the backup software and
backs up other servers (backup clients) by using software agents. The data movement is over a SAN.
Although PS Series storage arrays can be used in a LAN backup and recovery configuration, the more likely
configuration is to use a PS Series SAN with Symantec Backup Exec 2014. Backing up using a SAN can
improve backup performance because all data movement is through the SAN. In addition, technologies
such as backup-to-disk and VSS off-host are best implemented using a SAN.
This Technical Report focuses on the SAN backup and recovery configuration in Figure 1. In the SAN
configuration described in this Technical Report, the backup server (Backup Exec server) runs the backup
software and schedules, and it runs the backup jobs. The backup clients run backup agent software
residing on the servers that run the applications (for example, Exchange, SharePoint or host file systems)
that you want to back up. In some cases, the backup server can also act as a backup client when backing
up its own data. All backed up data resides on a PS Series group including the disk backup media for
storing the backed up data.
Figure 1 SAN backup and recovery configuration