Symantec's Veritas NetBackup platform consists of core client/server software and multiple individual agents, options, and separate products (all under the NetBackup brand and several with similar sounding names) that combine to provide a centrally managed, mix and match backup platform for SMB to Enterprise deployments.

The core NetBackup platform itself is offered in three packages. The Enterprise Server package is targeted to Enterprise/Large Enterprise deployments and consists of three product tiers (Clients, Media Servers, and Master Servers); while the other two packages (Veritas NetBackup Server, and Veritas NetBackup Starter Packs) consist of only Master Servers and Clients and are targeted to SMB to Enterprise customers. Linux, Windows, and UNIX boxes are supported on both the server and client sides of the platform; with clients additionally available for Mac OS X, IRIX, and VMware ESX. Starter Packs ore offered in 5, 20, or 40 client licenses, while the other two packages support unlimited clients.

As mentioned, multiple specific software agents and options are available to extend the core platform's functionality. A few of the available options and agents include NetBackup Vault, for automated tape rotation (not to be confused with the vendor's Enterprise Vault, a separate core component of the NetBackup Platform that provides discovery and archiving of E-mail, File Servers, IM and Content Management apps); specific agents for multiple specific applications including DB2, Oracle, Notes, Exchange, and SQL Server; NetBackup for NDMP; NetBackup Desktop and Laptop Option; and NetBackup Bare Metal Restore, among many others (20 agents and options are listed in total as of this writing).

In addition to the agents and options, multiple separate components are available to build up the NetBackup platform, including NetBackup PureDisk, for integrated de-duplication; NetBackup RealTime Protection, for CDP; the aforementioned Enterprise Vault; and Backup Reporter, for the "...centralized reporting view of Veritas NetBackup, NetBackup PureDisk, and Backup Exec as well as other backup applications such as CommVault Galaxy, EMC NetWorker, and IBM Tivoli Storage Manager."

New features in Veritas NetBackup include:

- NetBackup RealTime Protection, with the ability to provide continuous backup (captures changes to app data in real-time). RealTime Protection is integrated with NetBackup and supports NetBackup Storage Lifecycle Policies to automate data movement between storage tiers

- NetBackup PureDisk, also integrated with NetBackup and adding de-duplication features including source-based, inline, and post-processing technologies

- Enhanced granular recovery capabilities including support for the recovery of individual objects (files, E-mails, mailboxes, etc.) from a single backed-up image for Sharepoint 2007, Exchange 2007 and Windows Server 2008

Starter Packs (for 5 systems) are available starting at $3,995. NetBackup 6.5.2 and NetBackup PureDisk are available now; NetBackup 6.5.3 (which includes the granular recovery capabilities described above) is expected in the summer, and NetBackup RealTime Protection is expected in the Fall.

Contact Symantec for further information.