Data Protection Manager(DPM) – Protected System Requirements!

Let’s deviate a little bit from SQL Server in this Post and see what is DPM and how one can get benefited by using/implementing DPM in their environments at a very High Level.

Why I’ve started exploring and teaching myself DPM? Well, being a Consultant, I’ve to work with multiple clients and Each client will be using their own set of tools(can be MSFT or even any Third Party Tools). Being said that, more I’ve vision on Microsoft tools and Products, and other 3rd Party tools related to my Skills,  more I can succeed in my career. Single point I love working as a consultant – I’ll get an opportunity to learn and explore various technologies which helps me growing Up and in return I can help another client(may be in next assignment).As I always say, best way to learn something is teach yourself. Create a Lab, simulate a corporate environment and start getting familiar with whatever the tool/product is!

Anyways…So, what is DPM? Well, as the name indicates it is a tool for Protecting our Mission Critical Data. It can be either a File Server, an Exchange Server, a Sharepoint Server or a SQL Server or your Windows Server Itself or even your Client/Desktop Machines! DPM 2010 has some real cool features and I’ve observed recently, many companies started leaning towards implementing DPM rather than depending on some third Party Products as their Backup/Recovery Solution. I don’t mean, 3rd Party tools can be Ignored either…IMHO, I prefer being as a complete Microsoft Shop rather than dealing with multiple vendors in case of any support needed. YMMV! I may be coming up with few other posts showing some DEMO’s, once I Install DPM in my LAB!  Okay…enough blabbering, It’s time to do some justice to the Post Title now 😉

So, what are the minimum requirements for your protected Systems, if you want DPM 2010 to support them?

Supported Win Servers: Windows Server 2003-2008R2. Yes, DPM 2010 won’t support your Windows Servers 2000(Hope you don’t have any in your shop), Small Business Server 2008. For Win Server 2003, HotFix KB940349 is Mandatory. For Win Server 2008R2 you’ve to enable Windows Backup Service manually(Basically adding a new feature from your Server Manager)

Application Servers:

SQL Server 2000 through 2008R2. Note: SQL 2000 should be running on minimum SP4 and SQL 2005 RTM is not supported as well.(VSS – Volume Shadow Service) must be enabled.

Exchange Server 2003 through 2010.

MOSS(Sharepoint Server) 2003 through 2010.

Other General Considerations to be considered:

It won’t support FAT!! Only NTFS Disks are supported. If you are considering using System State Backup/BMR(Bare Metal Recovery), you should have additional 20 GB of free space available.

Note: It’s always better to have latest Service Pack/Hotfix Installed on your Servers for avoiding any potential Issues.

Once you Install DPM on any Server, It will automatically create a SQL Instance for it’s own. You can choose Local Server(on DPM) or a remote Server. I prefer Local Server and Keeping DPM SQL Instance dedicated for those Databases. Don’t create your Application Databases on DPM SQL Server!

One Interesting Point with DPM 2010 is, It will Backup your SQL Server 2008R2 Servers, but actual DPM SQL Instance should be on SQL Server 2008. In other words, the DPM Databases cannot be hosted on SQL Server 2008R2 and Agent Service should be set to Automatic(Clustering your DPM SQL Server is not Supported, but you can backup Clustered SQL Servers)…Hope Am not confusing you 🙂

Epitome – I’m really glad that I got an opportunity to explore this awesome tool in recent days. Thanks to the person(Shh..It’s a secret ;)) who made me to think about this tool! As any other tool, You’ve to remember few GOTCHAS…before rolling out this guy into production. Let’s see those in future posts…

Hope this in informative…Cheers!