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Complete guide to backup deduplication

Last updated:March 2014

Editor's note

Backup deduplication, which reduces storage needs by eliminating redundant data, has moved from cutting-edge technology to mainstream staple. The data protection technology first showed up in 2003, aimed at organizations looking to move away from tape for the performance of disk-based backups. More than a decade later, dedupe is common in backup products, and can be a valuable instrument in data protection strategy.

But there are many elements to consider in picking the backup deduplication technology that fits best. How do zone-level and block-level deduplication compare? What are the differences between deduplication and compression? How important are deduplication ratios? What are the pros and cons of source and target deduplication?

Check out this comprehensive collection of backup deduplication content and get started learning now.

1How deduplication is performed

There are many different ways that backup deduplication can be performed. Software vs. hardware, post-process vs. inline, target vs. source, and more. Learn about the strengths and weaknesses of each approach.

2How deduplication is used today

Many organizations struggle with data growth. Deduplication, along with other techniques such as data lifecycle management, is aimed at addressing this ongoing issue. This section explores some of the ways backup deduplication is being used today -- to move data off-site, for virtual machine (VM) backups and more.

3Data deduplication challenges

Dedupe has changed the way backups are performed, but as with any technology, it can't solve every problem IT pros face. These articles take a look at some deduplication challenges.

4A list of essential definitions

Learn some of the key terms regarding deduplication.

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