November 2021 Newsletter
Exciting New Release
Good day!
- BackupEDGE 03.04.02 build 1 Released.
- New USB Stick Tool.
- Support and Maintenance Subscriptions - End of Life Information!
- Operating System Updates and Upgrades - IMPORTANT!
BackupEDGE 03.04.02 Build 1
Object Storage is the fundamental technology behind cloud storage service such as Amazon S3.
Microlite Corporation has gone all in on Object Storage. BackupEDGE 03.04.02 Build 1 has a revamped S3CLOUD Resource (Object Storage) API adding new or improved support for a large number of a third-party cloud storage services as well as open-source, build you own storage services.
Among these are:
Public Cloud
- Backblaze B2
- Digital Ocean Spaces
Backblaze B2 and Digital Ocean Spaces join Amazon S3, Google Cloud Storage and Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage as providers of reliable yet inexpensive off site storage for BackupEDGE Linux and UNIX servers. Servers can either perform scheduled backups directory to these servers, or backup to a local, high speed device such as a NAS and then have the backup transferred to the cloud automatically.
Private Cloud
- QNAP QuObjects
- MinIO
- TrueNAS S3 Service
Many QNAP NAS devices provide the QuObjects app, allowing them to become local Object Storage sites. MinIO Server is open sourced Object Storage software that can be used to create a private, S3-compatible storage cloud under Windows, Linux, or even MacOS servers. The TrueNAS S3 Service can be used to enable Object Storage on any TrueNAS server. It is now possible to add a Port with the Endpoint information when defining an S3CLOUD Resource, providing additional ease-of-use with these services.
While FTP and FTPS have always been great solutions for both local and cloud storage, the S3 Object Storage API passes through firewalls and routers much more easily, requiring only a single, user-definable port to be opened.
Whether you wish to use a commercial Object Storage service, or create your own Object Storage service, with BackupEDGE we can help you to design the storage architecture you need to safely backup your servers. Just ask if you need advice.
See our recent Press Release on Business Wire.
---
All licenses under a valid Support and Maintenance Subscription as of October 21, 2021 may update to this release at no charge. Please contact our sales department to renew older Subscriptions. New installations should deploy this release only.
Download a free BackupEDGE 60-day demo and try it with your supported distribution today.
New USB Stick Tool
As we mentioned back in September, a change in BackupEDGE 03.04.01 Build 3 and later has allowed us to release a new Bootable RecoverEDGE USB Stick command line (ncurses-based) tool. This allows users to create RecoverEDGE boot media on UEFI-based servers using any type of USB media.
Many new Linux servers are deployed without optical (CD or DVD) drives. This poses a challenge for clients who have traditionally created RecoverEDGE disaster recovery boot media on a CD.
On BIOS-based servers you may enable SharpDrive backups and create a Bootable USB SharpDrive. However, this feature is not yet available on UEFI-based servers.
So the USB Stick Tool provides the solution. BIOS-based servers should use the the SharpDrive method as you don't need to leave EDGEMENU to use it.
More information is available here: https://www.microlite.com/recoveredge/usbtool.html
Support and Maintenance Subscription End-of-Life
This is a reminder of some important information sent in our last newsletter.
New BackupEDGE licenses receive a Support and Maintenance Subscription which varies from 1 to 5 years depending on the SKU purchased. The Subscription may be extended before expiration, or renewed up to 5 years after expiration. After a Subscription expires, an additional 5 years of non-priority, best-effort email support is available simply by emailing support@microlite.com.
All BackupEDGE 03.0x licenses whose Support and Maintenance Subscription expiration date reaches 5 years (making the license a minimum of 6 years old without renewed support) automatically move from "LICENSES NOT UNDER SUBSCRIPTION" status to "LICENSES NO LONGER SUPPORTED" status.
While these licenses will continue function properly...
- Non-priority email support will no longer be provided.
- Support renewals will no longer be available for updates and upgrades. New retail licenses will need to be purchased.
To check your expiration status, you may view any backup report, or under EDGEMENU you may select File -> About edgemenu.
Emergency Telephone Support will still be available at fees published on our web site support pages. Please see our Support End Of Life Information page for additional information.
When you update a Support and Maintenance Subscription, you'll always receive a new Activation Code. Always remember to:
- Enter the new Activation Code that you receive into EDGEMENU.
(EDGEMENU -> Setup -> Activate BackupEDGE -> Activate)
- Update your BackupEDGE to the latest supported release. This can be done manually, or if the server is connected to the internet, by running EDGEMENU -> File -> Check for Updates.
- Make and test new RecoverEDGE media or images after the update.
This will keep BackupEDGE functioning optimally!
Operating System Updates and Upgrades
Whenever new updates or upgrades are released by an operating system vendor, it is important to check our Linux Support Tables and UNIX Support Tables to ensure that we support the release you are updating / upgrading to, and you know the minimum BackupEDGE release required for proper operation with that update/upgrade. BackupEDGE and RecoverEDGE are not like word processing software. They require intimate knowledge of the kernel to do their jobs properly.
Please note that the tables show the minimum required releases. Newer releases are always checked for backward compatibility, and contain the latest patches, fixes and feature and performance enhancements. If you need support for a newer operating system and don't see it in these tables, please send us an email to sales@microlite.com.
Easy update availability is another good reason to keep your BackupEDGE license under a current Support and Maintenance Subscription. Keep safe, everyone.
Tom
D. Thomas Podnar
President
Microlite Corporation
724-375-6711
tom@microlite.com
https://www.microlite.com
