What's new in System Center 2012 R2 - DPM

 

Published: November 24, 2015

Updated: May 13, 2016

Applies To: System Center 2012 R2 Data Protection Manager

System Center 2012 R2 Data Protection Manager (DPM) introduced the following features and capabilities:

  • Azure Backup—You can back up DPM data in System Center 2012 R2 and System Center 2012 SP1 to Azure.

  • SQL Server cluster support—DPM now supports the use of clustered SQL Server nodes for its database. This removes the standalone limitation that existed in System Center 2012 and System Center 2012 SP1, and provides the following:

    • Reliability—Support for a SQL Server cluster mitigates the single point of failure when a standalone SQL server is used.

    • Scalability—As your DPM deployment grows, for every DPM server a new SQL Server database needs to be created. Increasing workloads on a single SQL Server can potentially cause performance problems and a higher risk of failure.

    • Consistency—Support for a SQL Server cluster makes DPM consistent with other System Center 2012 components.

    In addition, the DPM reporting server can be installed on the same standalone or clustered SQL Server that is used for the DPM database, or you can install it on a different SQL Server.

  • Virtualized deployment—DPM can be deployed in a virtual environment. You can install DPM on a virtual machine, and configure storage using .vhd storage pool disks that are shared through the VMM library.

  • Linux virtual machine backup—DPM provides support for the protection and backup of Linux virtual machines, in addition to the support already provided for Hyper-V virtual machines. Note that for Linux backups only file-consistent snapshots are supported. Application-consistent snapshots are not. In addition, protection of Linux virtual machines is not supported using Windows Azure Backup.