Data Deduplication, often called Dedupe for short, is a feature of Windows Server (2012+) that can help reduce the impact of redundant data on storage costs. When enabled, Data Deduplication optimizes free space on a volume by examining the data on the volume to find duplicated portions that may exist on the volume. Duplicated portions of the volume's dataset are stored once and are (optionally) compressed for additional savings. Data Deduplication optimizes redundancies without compromising data fidelity or integrity.
Barracuda Backup supports Windows Server Data Deduplication, with some limitations.
Barracuda Backup Agent for Windows
Data stored on a volume with Windows Data Deduplication enabled is backed up and restored in a rehydrated (raw) state using the Barracuda Backup Agent. Due to this behavior, it is important to plan for the storage of the raw (non-deduplicated) dataset on the Barracuda Backup device and when restoring data, so that there is enough storage available to complete the operation. All recovery operations using the Barracuda Backup Agent are supported, which includes the following:
- File and folder recovery
- File and folder download
- Bare metal recovery
- Physical-to-virtual recovery
VMware vSphere & Microsoft Hyper-V
Windows Server Data Deduplication is supported in VMware vSphere and Microsoft Hyper-V host-based backups. The virtual machines are backed up in their current deduplicated state. Upon recovery, the virtual machines are restored in the same deduplicated state. Windows Server Data Deduplication is supported in LiveBoot (VMware) and Cloud LiveBoot (VMware & Hyper-V).
LiveBrowse granular recovery does not support volumes with Windows Server Data Deduplication enabled. This is due to the files and folders in the virtual machine image being reparse points (links) and the inability to interpret them to rehydrate the data. For VMware vSphere and Microsoft Hyper-V virtual machines using Windows Server Data Deduplication where granular recovery is required, Barracuda Networks recommends using the Barracuda Backup Agent.