Hot on the heels of PeerLock 4.0 is PeerSync 9.0.5, which is now available to buy through Purple Rage Software or as an upgrade for existing Peer customers subscribed to PeerSync software maintenance and support.

This eagerly awaited maintenance release offers a number of enhancements and patches highlighted by improved support for Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 plus tighter integration with PeerLock 4.0 to support advanced features in the PeerSync Collaboration Edition (PeerSync and PeerLock bundle).

PeerSync 9.0.5 has resolved several miscellaneous and display dilemmas enabling your business or organisation to operate more smoothly.

Frustrating error and access violation messages will no longer appear and the following issues have also been fixed:

• File and/or folder deletes reported during connection failures even though the target files/folders were not actually deleted;
• PeerSync failing to initialise if running with a user account name greater than 16 characters in length;
• When using Managed Files (VSS) the PeerSync session did not always close properly.

For more information about PeerSync 9.0.5, call Jan Gregson at Purple Rage on 01684 576343 or email enquiries@purplerage.com

PeerSync can also be bought online at http://store.purplerage.com.

Ah, the joys of spring. Fluffy bunnies, newborn lambs, oversized chocolate eggs and – the icing on the (Easter) cake – a software update from our good friends at Peer.

Purple Rage Software is delighted to announce that a new major release of PeerLock is now generally available for new installations, as well as upgrades for customers who already subscribe to PeerLock Software maintenance and support.

This 2013 release builds on an already successful and popular formula, enhancing PeerLock’s unique ability to turn Microsoft DFSR into a reliable file sharing and collaboration environment tried and trusted by thousands of organisations all over the world.

As you’d expect, PeerLock 4.0 boasts several feature and performance improvements and also includes advanced features that are available when working in conjunction with PeerSync in the PeerSync Collaboration Edition.

Cast your eye over these bumper benefits:

• Utilises new compiler technology for faster performance;
• Improved default locking performance for high volume environments;
• Enhanced look and feel;
• Lower CPU utilisation;
• Support for Windows Server 2012;
• Microsoft Office User Information feature allows users to see who has locked a Microsoft Office file they need to use instead of contacting an administrator to determine who has locked the file. Please note this function is available only in PeerSync Collaboration Edition (PeerSync and PeerLock 4.0 bundle)

To find out more about how Peer products can help your business run more effectively, call Jan Gregson at Purple Rage on 01684 576343 or email enquiries@purplerage.com

PeerLock can also be bought online at http://store.purplerage.com/

Securing data at remote locations can be a continual headache for IT managers. Have you ever pondered the following?

• Is an onsite back up of the data enough to ensure security?
• Is a copy of the data at HQ sufficient?
• OR do I need both to ensure reliable availability and speedy recovery?
• Also, do all remote branches have enough bandwidth for the amount of data to be backed up?

So if any of the above – or all four – are keeping you awake at night then Purple Rage Software has the ideal remedy.

NovaStor’s tried and trusted solutions for data protection in a shared data centre meet the needs of an IT environment with centralised network backup and the backups of multiple locations.

All of this is possible due to a winning combination of a simple centralised management process, unlimited scalability and reliable backup and, above all, recovery performance.

Whether the data is located centrally, locally or in the cloud, swift access is always guaranteed.

Ideal for remote offices is NovaBACKUP Remote Workforce, which delivers a solution that can be managed centrally but is optimised for data transfer over small bandwidths. Check out the other benefits:

• Simple to use;
• Desktops and laptops in home offices or for colleagues on the road can be backed up with the same solution from one installation;
• Individual access rights for centralised and local IT managers enable flexible task sharing;
• Backup rules can be created the same way as groups at the central administration.

To find out how NovaStor products can help your business or organisation run more effectively, call Purple Rage sales director Jan Gregson on 01684 576343 or email enquiries@purplerage.com

NovaStor can also be bought online at http://store.purplerage.com/

One of the biggest headaches for IT managers is ensuring constant access to shared files both at company HQ and outlying offices.

It’s a problem made worse by limited WAN bandwidth and large files and, to tackle it, many organisations have relied on WAN optimisation solutions to compress and accelerate data traffic.

This method has its drawbacks, however, as remote data access can still be slow and acceleration packages are costly to install and maintain.

Thankfully, those clever folks at Peer Software have come up with the answer – PeerSync Collaboration Edition.

This smart software mirrors data on servers in branch and remote locations, enabling speedy access at LAN speed while maintaining centralised co-ordination and control of file versions.

Here’s the technical bit…

File collaboration sessions consist of two or more servers and a folder hierarchy called the Watch Set, which are kept synchronised by propagating file locks and modifications to all servers in real-time.

When compared to WAN acceleration techniques, the benefits are:

• Performance – Every staff member has fast LAN access speeds to all data and only altered parts of a file are replicated;
• Version control – File version conflicts across mirrored sites are eliminated;
• Reduced bandwidth requirements – Overall WAN bandwidth requirements are lowered, therefore reducing costs.

To find out more about PeerSync products, call Jan Gregson at Purple Rage on 01684 576343 or email enquiries@purplerage.com

PeerSync can also be bought online at http://store.purplerage.com/

Bringing a new storage system online involves migrating existing data from older systems onto new servers or solutions.

It’s a big ask for even the most experienced IT manager and a recent independent survey revealed that more than 80 per cent of data migration projects fail to meet timescales, budgets – and their goals.

Issues needing consideration before this epic data journey can go ahead include:

• How much data needs to be migrated – and will the structure migrate exactly as it is?
• How fast is the migration engine?
• Does the IT manager have the necessary permissions to migrate the data?
• Are the systems on the same LAN/WAN or different domains?
• Can staff continue working even as data is being migrated?
• How can you validate that all data and settings have migrated successfully?

Peer Software has the answer – PeerSync Migration Edition, whose centralised management console allows your IT manager to configure and monitor migration jobs between participating systems.

This product supports migration between Windows to Windows and Window to NetApp as well as EMC to NetApp and Net App to NetApp environments.

Other advantages of Migration Edition are:

• Allows migration to take place on live production systems;
• Works with files and folders in any language;
• Migrates files even when administrators lack necessary permissions on a file or directory;
• Receives automated alerts for file activity replication issues.

For more information about PeerSync products, call Jan Gregson at Purple Rage on 01684 576343 or email enquiries@purplerage.com

PeerSync can also be bought online at http://store.purplerage.com/

Purple Rage Software has long believed NovaBACKUP is at the top of its game – so we weren’t surprised by the results of a recent speed test.

Thanks to a new backup engine and intelligent compression algorithms, short backup windows are guaranteed.

To confirm its speed advantage, Nova BACKUP Business Essentials were tested under identical conditions as Acronis Backup & Recovery and Symantec Backup Exec. The tests were conducted on a system with 16GB RAM and Intel Core CPU. To mirror typical business processes, data was backed up to a USB drive.

In time-honoured fashion, we’ll announce the results in reverse order:

• Third – Acronis Backup & Recovery – 28 minutes;
• Second – Symantec Backup Exec – 26 minutes;
• Drum roll, please – the winner is NovaBACKUP Business Essentials – 12 minutes.

Protecting digital assets is a crucial part of an IT manager’s role and enhanced backup speed is vital for a smooth running working environment.

If backing up outside regular office hours is not possible, system load caused by backing up  should be reduced to a minimum – which is exactly why NovaBACKUP is the perfect fit for your business or organisation.

For more information about the benefits of NovaBACKUP, call Jan Gregson at Purple Rage on 01684 576343 or email enquiries@purplerage.com NovaBACKUP products can also be bought online at http://store.purplerage.com/

Here at Purple Rage we’re happy to announce that NovaBackup 14.1 is available today.

This new version builds on the award winning features of previous versions:

• Its faster than ever;
• It is certified for Windows 8 and Windows 2012;
• More flexible with remote management of backup disaster recovery and product licencing;
• More powerful than ever with fully integrated cloud backup functionality with free 2 GB storage included;
• Easier than ever with a new wizard to protect all critical data in simple 5 steps.

We’ve got special pricing for you so you can upgrade immediately. Get your order in for an upgrade or new licences before the end of the year and get even better prices.

Want to know more? A fully functional evaluation is available at www.purplerage.com/download or if you prefer, contact sales@purplerage.com or call 01684 576343 to request an evaluation to be sent to you.

NovaBACKUP can be ordered online at http://store.purplerage.com

We look forward to hearing from you.

Nowadays laptops aren’t just those flexible friends you throw – we mean delicately place – on the back seat of the car.

Increasing numbers of businesses are opting for laptops as replacements for bulky PCs to boost productivity through mobility.

However, there is one major disadvantage – 60 per cent of corporate information is at risk as laptops are the least protected digital asset.

Traditional backup solutions have neglected storage capabilities outside the office and failed to address the following dilemmas:

• How do you ensure efficient and secure data transfer from anywhere in the world?
• How do you handle the different connectivity states of a laptop user – “on net” in the office, “off net” but connected remotely, when at home or in a hotel, or “temporarily disconnected” when working during a flight?
• How do you ensure backups occur to the central corporate storage infrastructure?

There is a solution – courtesy of those clever people at Peer.

Available from Purple Rage Software, PeerSync Backup Edition for Laptops allows workforces on the move to meet the challenge of operating in Timbuktu or Tadcaster.

This product supports IT managers’ demands for centralised control, configuration, deployment and monitoring of continuous data protection.

It also removes the need for end-users to backup themselves or save their work only on the corporate data centre servers.

PeerSync Backup for Laptops can be extended with Backup Edition for Servers – together they add up to a time and cost saving solution.

For more information about the benefits of PeerSync, call Jan Gregson at Purple Rage on 01684 576343 or email enquiries@purplerage.com

PeerSync products can also be bought online at http://store.purplerage.com/

Maintaining back up operations at remote offices can be an expensive and risky exercise.

And it’s also potentially damaging when backup tapes containing unencrypted data and customer information go AWOL.

If you’re in need of real-time backup – and don’t want to invest in a costly wide area network (WAN) upgrade – then Peer Software has the answer.

PeerSync Backup for Servers is a world class product designed to securely synchronise and replicate gigabytes – and even terabytes – of branch office data across a WAN in real-time with a central server.

This best-of-breed solution doesn’t just create one large backup file – it creates and maintains file and directory replicas on the target server for Windows to Windows, Windows to Net-App or Net-App to Net-App.

Other stand-out features are:

• File deletion and revision protection;
• Reporting and alerts via email – file backup failures are immediately emailed for fast alerts;
• Support for open file and database backup;
• Option to add PeerSync Backup Edition for Laptops and Workstations (there’s more on this product in the next Purple Prose blog);
• Intelligent connection check with auto-resume – when connectivity is unavailable, the backup process will store missed events in memory.

For more information about PeerSync, call Jan Gregson at Purple Rage on 01684 576343 or email enquiries@purplerage.com

PeerSync can also be bought online at http://store.purplerage.com/

Midland-based specialists Purple Rage Software do solutions to help you do business – and  keep your company’s data safe.

It’s easy to dismiss the data backup process as expensive and complicated but prevention is far better than cure.

The ideal solution is NovaBackup, the highly rated backup software and data protection solution from NovaStor.

Whatever the size of your business, it’s fast, reliable and easy to use – and there are plenty of options including:

• NovaBackup Business Essentials – the ONLY data protection software solution for small and medium businesses serious about protecting their critical information. An all-in-one package at a competitive price;
• NovaBackup Business Protection – backs up and protects important files on all of your computers from one control panel;
• NovaBackup Remote Workforce – protects data securely in your head office, independent of your employees’ location.

Look out for version 14.1 which gets released on the 5th December. More details to come.

Want to know more? A fully functional evaluation is available at www.purplerage.com/download or if you prefer, contact sales@purplerage.com or call 01684 576343 to request an evaluation to be sent to you.

NovaBACKUP can also be ordered online at http://store.purplerage.com/

We look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards,

Jan Gregson