We’re pleased to announce that Managed Online Backup (MOB) will be updated to version 15.10 and will be released as part of the Agent v9.13.4 RC update.  This update includes many new features, customer enhancements, bug fixes, usability updates and performance improvements.

Here is an introduction to some of the exciting new MOB features you’ll see:

1. Backup Accelerator: If you are protecting environments with large files, databases, virtual machines or applications then Backup Accelerator can improve your Recovery Point Objective (RPO) by significantly reducing the pre-backup processing for these large files, reducing the ongoing backup window by as much as 90%.

How it works:

With Backup Accelerator a predefined set of large file types, databases, virtual machines and applications on the local volumes are proactively monitored for changes between backups. Instead of the backup having to start searching for the changes after the backup starts it can begin uploading data to the cloud.  This has the benefit of shaving minutes to hours off of your backup window. Backup Accelerator begins working after an initial backup to the cloud has completed or on the second backup following a system reboot or backup service restart.

Backup Accelerator is enabled by default on Windows 7 / Windows Server 2008 R2 and later. The optimal settings are already predefined but can be adjusted through a hidden management URL: http://localhost:5000/settings.html#/settings/backupaccelerator on the local machine.  Here you can adjust the minimum file size to monitor as well as the application file types to track. Backup Accelerator supports Microsoft SQL, Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft SharePoint, Microsoft Hyper-V, and virtually any Windows platform file extension you specify.

2. Standby Image Backup: allows you to proactively protect your customers from unnecessary downtime due to data loss or system outages by automatically creating and maintaining a local virtual image of your system that can be easily accessed in the event of an outage. With Standby Image recovery times can shrink from days and hours to just minutes.   Note: this feature is currently disabled in the Release Candidate but is expected to be enabled prior to GA

How it works:

Standby Image is enabled from within the Preferences section of the Backup Manager, where you can also specify where the Standby Image will be created and stored. This can be a local volume or a central shared network that houses Standby Images for multiple systems.

Standby Images can be created for Windows 7 / Windows Server 2008 R2 and later. Like all of our disaster recovery technologies, Standby Image requires that you backup System State as well as the bootable file system.

In the event of an outage the Standby Image can easily be mounted as a volume in Windows Explorer or the Windows Disk Management utility with just a couple of clicks.  Standby Images can also be booted with both Microsoft Hyper-V and Oracle Virtual Box, by simply attaching the virtual hard disk to a new virtual machine.

Summary for Release
– Service release focused on Managed Online Backup upgrade (RC Agent)
– Agent v9.13.4 RC, no change to GA agent
– No Dashboard version update

Agent v9.13.4 RC
UPDATE: Backup Manager for Managed Online Backup updated to version 15.10
UPDATE: New Backup Accelerator significantly reduces backup windows for large files
UPDATE: New Standby Image Backup functionality
UPDATE: Local Speed Vault backups can now complete first then sync to the cloud
UPDATE: Add support for Windows 10 backup and data recovery
UPDATE: Add support for Encrypted File backup and recovery on Windows – Note: a system reboot may be required following recovery of encrypted files
UPDATE: Add support for VMware 6.0 Host-level backup and data recovery
UPDATE: Add support for Transaction Log Management in VMware environments

We’ve introduced transaction log management for Microsoft Exchange and Microsoft SQL Server running within a VM when performing a VMware ESX host level backup. Supported versions include ESX 5.x or 6.0 with Microsoft Exchange 2007 and later or Microsoft SQL Server 2005 and later. Note: VMware tools must be installed within the VM.

UPDATE: Add support to select individual virtual disks during Hyper-V backup
UPDATE: Usability improvements for bandwidth throttle settings
UPDATE: Add help throughout the user interface
UPDATE: Reintroduction of backup performance charts
UPDATE: Real-time cloud and LSV synchronization statistics on the Overview tab
UPDATE: Directory Sizes shown in the Backup Manager during file selection
UPDATE: New Standby Image Backup functionality (& Preflight check)
UPDATE: New Virtual Disaster Recovery cloud targets
UPDATE: Add Archive cleanup option to purge selective archives
BETA: Individual File Restore from VMware and Hyper-V host-level backups
BETA: Dynamic Disk Support for Standby Image and Virtual Disaster Recovery
BUGFIX: Solved issue with restoring zero byte files
BUGFIX: File security permissions not restored in some cases

Screenshots:

MOB 15.10 Overview Screen w/ cloud and local synchronization status

MOB 15.10 Overview Screen w/ backup performance charts