Backup Central

I have 3 sites that need backups; HQ (10TB), colo (5TB), and 1 satellite office (6TB). Today, the 10TB at the HQ could have 5TB of it shifted to the colo, thus leaving only 5TB of data to be backed up at the HQ and 10TB at the colo.

To meet the backup window, I'm thinking of a disk-to-disk based backup solution. However, we still have a need for tape backup to archive old data that may or may not be used again (dead projects that may be resurrected).

I'm in need of a scalable backup solution that can meet the needs of this dynamic company. Can anyone make recommendations on a solution for my needs and explain how the product is scalable? So far, I've looking at Data Domain, Avamar, Falconstor, and the Sun SL500, but I have not had the opportunity to speak with any of their sales reps.

None of the vendors you mentioned are really a solution, just a piece to a solution IMO.

I think Avamar is a lost cause, and not very scalable. 2TB per head? and EMC storage, forget it. Unless something has changed lately...

DataDomain has one of the market leading products, but man are they expensive. I guess since they are the "market leader," they can do that?

But it does seem like DeDupe is something you are looking for?

Do you have any specific business requirements other than being scalable? What about replication, application support, etc?

You are on the right track though about D2D, that would be my preferred route in most cases...