Google Cloud Storage And Zmanda Connect For Backup Services

Open-source network backup software maker Zmanda and Google have shaken hands on a deal to offer a new cloud data-backup service.

Zmanda provides its flagship network backup suite, Amanda Enterprise, as the connecting software, and Google chips in with its cloud storage capacity. Amanda Enterprise natively supports the backup of servers, desktops and applications to Google Cloud Storage, as of 6 March.

RESTful backups

The appropriately named Google Cloud Storage Option for Amanda Enterprise ensures the storage works directly with the backup suite to perform network-wide backup of heterogeneous systems, including Linux, Windows, Solaris and OS X-based systems onto Google Cloud Storage. The link has been made using the open RESTful API, provided by Google.

Amanda Enterprise encapsulates each backup archive as an object and stores it on Google Cloud Storage. Backup archives are created in open formats (for example, ZIP64 for Windows and tar for Linux). The open architecture enables businesses to store their data on the cloud with no hassles and hidden costs of vendor lock-in.

In addition to being able to recover their data quickly using Zmanda’s intuitive recovery interface, users can browse, read or delete their data objects through Google Storage Manager, Zmanda said.

Amanda Enterprise provides advanced cloud backup features such as location control, bandwidth throttling, and parallel streams for backups and restores. With it, corporate compliance and rules of governance for data retention and security are managed easily. The entire backup environment can be managed from a single console.

The Google Cloud Storage option for Amanda Enterprise is available immediately for $250 (£158).