Filed under: Enterprise, Software
Retrospect 8.1 brings back PowerPC support, improves performance
EMC announced today an update to its popular Retrospect network backup software; version 8.1 brings back support for PowerPC-based workstations and improves performance for Intel-based Macs.
Eric Ullman, director of project management for Retrospect, said that while older G4-based Macs will run significantly slower than their Intel-based counterparts, Retrospect 8.1 can at least back them up (a capability that was lost in the move from the legacy 6.1 version). G5s with multiple processors, however, can see performance gains of 10 to 15 percent compared to Retrospect 6.1.
Intel-based workstations will also see performance increases of 10 to 15 percent compared to 8.0, and 30 to 35 percent compared to Retrospect 6.1. Other improvements, including updates to the user interface based on feedback from early adopters, are also included in the update.
Ullman said that with Retrospect 8, EMC had "recommitted itself to the Mac market" and this update was the second part of a three-phase deployment of the completely-rebuilt Retrospect 8. Phase one was the initial release, supporting Intel processors; phase two now supports PowerPC processors. Phase three, according to Ullman, is slated for release "in the Snow Leopard timeframe," and is expected to include support for importing Retrospect 6.1 sets and configurations, among other improvements to performance and the client software.
As Steve Sande mentioned, Retrospect's update comes on the heels of BRU Server 2.0, which added a new user interface and performance improvements. Ullman noted that BRU Server and Retrospect are fundamentally different, with Retrospect scanning more closely to prevent file duplication and save time copying files. Retrospect is generally less expensive than BRU Server, though their pricing structures and trim levels are a little different.
The update is available now on the Retrospect website. It's free for Retrospect 8 users and Retrospect 6.1 users who purchased the product after January 14, 2008. For new users, Retrospect 8 comes in a variety of flavors ranging in price from $129 to $1,669, depending on the size of the network.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Allister said 12:55AM on 7-28-2009
EMC, I wave my private parts at your Aunties.
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Ryan Trevisol said 7:19AM on 7-28-2009
EMC is such a pathetic company. They're like an abusive parent that keeps trying to get custody of you and take you back from the cool foster parents that have the Super Nintendo and the giant trampoline in the back yard. Sure, they're in a cult, but they have such cool stuff, and the house is so clean. But I digress. . . .
EMC make a product that's complete garbage and makes you want to self-immolate, and every time they release a new update you hope that maybe, juuuuust maybe they've made a complete turnaround. Like maybe they've stopped screaming at each other and punching holes in the walls.
Like, you know, gone from having an interface that's designed by drunken lemurs to having one that humans can comprehend. Or maybe doing some coding so that event handlers aren't done with perpetual Applescript'ing (no offense to applescript but it hangs up more than a dry cleaner). Or trade in the backup executor that freezes your system and asks you for a password randomly or anytime you click ANYWHERE IN THE INTERFACE (not even on a button!), to something that, you know . . . . works.
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John DeRosa said 11:06AM on 7-28-2009
Retrospect 8 is a piece of garbage. It still has major performance problems, broken features, a UI that's baffling, and no user manual.
This product was released four months ago. EMC is using its customers to do the QA that it should have done before release.
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David Winograd said 9:37AM on 7-29-2009
I dislike EMC but used to love Retrospect. Many years ago, when I was using Retrospect to back up 5 computers to DAT tape, EMC sold me a service contract promising me that it would include a free update to the new version that was due out in a few months.
A year later, when the contract ran out, no new version. After whining, they gave me the same deal again gratis.
Guess what. A year later (that's two years total) at the end of the contract, still no new version.
I had been a Retrospect lover for at least five years. But a good product can't make up for a hellacious parent company.
All hail Time Machine.
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