vSphere Data Protection Goes EOA – What’s Next? (& 5 Other Pressing Questions)

Heads up: VMware just announced its vSphere Data Protection (VDP) offering has reached end of availability (EOA). This means all vSphere versions coming after 6.5 will no longer feature the backup and recovery solution. Naturally, customers who count on vSphere Data Protection to defend their virtualized data are going to have a few concerns as it pertains to this decision.

Perhaps the first question many will ask is “Why?” Why kick start the beginning of the end for vSphere Data Protection? VMware’s reasoning includes responding to general industry trends toward consolidating backup solutions as well as an internal desire to focus more on enhancing vSphere Storage APIs around data protection. One thing it does not plan to do is introduce a new vSphere-native data protection solution as a replacement.

Once the why’s are out of the way, plenty of other questions are likely to bubble up, including, perhaps the most important of all: “What should I do now?”

What comes after vSphere Data Protection?

It’s worth noting that just because VDP has hit EOA, it won’t simply up and vanish. Instead, all existing deployments will continue to be available and maintained through their end of general support dates, provided they have active support and subscription agreements. Considering the clock is now officially ticking, it makes sense for IT to begin plotting a new course.

One such option is migrating to Dell EMC’s Avamar Virtual Edition. In a lot of ways, this is the most logical landing spot for businesses moving away from VDP. This is partly because VMware’s VDP is based on Avamar technology, ensuring a smooth transition between solutions. Another attractive feature? Dell EMC is currently offering free Avamar Virtual Edition migrations to all current vSphere customers.

With the basics covered, let’s dive in to some other possible questions:

• “How does Dell EMC’s offer work, exactly?” Dell EMC is offering three years of free Avamar Virtual Edition licensing, covering up to the first 4TB of protected data, with the purchase of a support contract. Customers will also receive a free migration guide to help them through the process of moving backups, verification jobs, etc. over to Avamar. This offer is only good for a limited time, so it’s best start making plans sooner rather than later. Note: Any necessary maintenance fees will apply during this window.
• “What happens if I have more than 4TB of data I want to protect?” Businesses whose data needs exceed the 4TB covered by the above offer aren’t out of luck. There are two options available that will allow them to extend the benefits of Avamar Virtual Edition across their entire data footprint. The first is to simply buy additional licenses to cover the overages. Or, businesses could purchase Dell EMC’s Data Protection Suite for VMware. This solution includes Avamar Virtual Edition, with additional features for greater protection capabilities, more narrow recovery point objectives and recovery time objectives, the ability to integrate with Dell EMC’s Data Domain and more.
• “How is Avamar Virtual Edition different than vSphere Data Protection?” Businesses can rest assured that Avamar Virtual Edition provides all of the same features as their current VDP solution. Where it differs is that it offers greater scalability. This includes application-consistent recovery and data protection extensions for solutions such as vRealize and vCloud Director.
• “What if I leverage vSphere Data Protection for other areas?” Some businesses may use VDP to cover other technologies, such as VMware’s vCenter Servers. Linux users can take advantage of a new feature built in to vSphere 6.5 which allows for backups and restores. Businesses using vSphere Data Protection to cover their vCenter Server for Windows will have additional incentive to move to Avamar Virtual Edition as this solution can effectively replace VDP in Windows vCenter Servers.

Let Arraya help you securely, efficiently upgrade

Still have questions regarding vSphere Data Protection’s EOA or the potential upgrade paths? Arraya’s Data Management Practice is ready to help. Our team can walk businesses through the available options, assist with selecting the right one, and help execute the transition quickly and efficiently. This ensures businesses don’t experience any potentially costly hiccups and that their data remains secure throughout the process.

Reach out to Arraya’s Data Management team today by visiting: https://www.arrayasolutions.com//contact-us/.

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