Commvault Backup & Recovery

Commvault Backup & Recovery

Commvault Backup & Recovery is a backup solution that supports more than Kubernetes workloads, making it ideal for hybrid applications that operate on Kubernetes, VMs, and cloud services, allowing backup operations to be consolidated on a single platform.

Backup & Recovery software and the Metallic SaaS service from Commvault support a wide range of data sources, including databases like Amazon RDS databases, file and object stores like S3, Azure Blob and Files, Office 365, and compute instances like VMs, Amazon EC2 instances, and Kubernetes-based containers. Backups of CI/CD pipelines, including code repositories in Azure DevOps and GitHub, are also supported. The solution is multi-cluster and multi-cloud by default, thanks to its flexible deployment design and unified interface across different deployments.

All CNCF-certified distributions are supported, and the solution is connected with CSI for snapshot-based backups. Because it can employ pre- and post-backup execution scripts to quiesce data on storage before taking snapshots, it can deliver application consistent backups, reducing the chance of data loss. There are many scripts for MySQL, Cassandra, MongoDB, and PostgreSQL. Data and apps can also be backed up and restored in a different Kubernetes environment, making migrations and disaster recovery operations more easier.

Its products are available on a variety of cloud marketplaces. To discover and protect apps, the Commvault solution uses a dedicated access node (deployed as a VM) that communicates with the Kubernetes API server.

Only data movers are deployed on a cluster during backups, with no other components of the backup program running on it. An Operator is currently being developed.

The interface has over 200 built-in reports and a custom report builder, and it displays infrastructure that needs to be addressed as well as “at a glance” recovery readiness status across clusters.

Because of the interaction with the Kubernetes RBAC system, developers can self-serve through the Command Center UI. Applications are detected automatically using label selectors or full namespaces, with a blanket backup policy covering new applications.

Commvault’s lengthy history in data protection is reflected in its security and ransomware controls. MFA support, data encryption (at-rest and in-flight), bring-your-own-keys and support for various Key Management Systems, air-gapped backups (optionally via Commvault’s Metallic Cloud Storage Service), backup target immutability, and deep support for anomaly detection for both UI operations and deletions/changes at the storage target level for malware detection are all included in the interface security. HyperScale appliances, Metallic Cloud Storage Service, and object stores (including S3-compatible on-premises, NAS/SAN, and tape) are among the backup storage targets, with deduplication and compression capabilities included.

Furthermore, the adoption of machine learning methods by Commvault to optimize operational duties is noteworthy. These algorithms, for example, automatically optimize backup procedures to keep backups inside their defined SLA.

Commvault’s storage solution can be integrated for (a)synchronous replication and snapshot-based disaster recovery across cloud regions or on-premise data centers, among other choices. The user interface provides established workflows for heterogeneous restores (such as cross-cluster and cross-cloud), resource remapping, and dev/test pre-seeding.

HyperScale X, a physical appliance-based solution from Commvault, supports Azure Stack, AWS Outposts, and EKS Distro for edge use cases.

Commvault offers a variety of purchase options, including classic perpetual licensing and subscriptions. Licenses can be moved between virtual machines and containers. Commvault Metallic is a SaaS solution that supports Kubernetes and is geared for small and medium-sized businesses. It’s coupled with HyperScale X, allowing for faster on-premises restores in disaster recovery scenarios using the physical appliance.

Strengths: Its single platform supports VMs, containers, data services, and cloud services, making it an excellent solution for hybrid and complicated applications. It has extensive security and ransomware protections, making it suited for larger businesses.

Challenges: Flexibility brings with it a level of complication. Commvault’s solutions take time and effort to properly execute, and they are not as simple to set up or manage as other solutions.