Lab Reviews / Ron LaFon / May 2001
UltraBac Software produces a wide array of backup and disaster recovery software in its UltraBac line. For this particular roundup, we tested using the Enterprise license. This level of UltraBac software provides unrestricted multiple server and workstation backups from a single computer. Tape and disk backups are supported with both hardware and software compression. The Enterprise license includes UltraVue, the network administration module. In the UltraBac line, the Enterprise license is $1,295, a SBS (Small Business Server) license starts at $695, a SSE (Simple Server Edition) license is $495, a workstation license is $295, and a personal license is $149. The disaster recovery module is either $195 or $695, depending upon the version you select. Autoloader control modules, RAID options, tape duplication utilities, and Microsoft SQL and Exchange agents are available, as are agents for Netware and Oracle. Other options include a locked file manager agent and an image backup and boot disaster recovery option.
You can expand UltraBac from a single workstation version to a backup solution for the entire enterprise. You pick and choose the components that fit your particular situation and budget.
In terms of performance, UltraBac was tops overall, comparing total time to backup and restore. It wasn't quite the fastest on backups, but it restored files on the 1GB component of the test faster than the competition.
You'll find just about any feature you would expect from high-end backup software in UltraBac or incorporated as an add-on component. Optional virus scanning, for example, lets you access virus definition updates available directly from the Internet and sends you results via SMTP or Messaging API-based e-mail.
My only complaint with UltraBac is that I found many of the provided options illogically arranged, and some terminology differs from that used in similar backup applications. Still, it performed smoothly and effortlessly, backing up all test suites, including open files, without error. We note also that UltraBac requires third-party software such as Adaptec's (Roxio's) DirectCD or Ahead Software's InCD to back up to CD-ROM or create bootable CD-ROM disaster recovery.
For many processes in UltraBac, wizards guide you through the procedure. This, combined with a good online Help system and adequate, if not overwhelming, documentation, makes for a backup solution that is relatively easy to use despite its sophistication. Installation was straightforward and uncomplicated. Evaluation copies of UltraBac are available from its Web site, and you can purchase the software itself either boxed or electronically. Despite a couple of minor caveats, I can highly recommended UltraBac.
Highly Recommended.
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