Backup Express achieves superior performance through a three-tiered architecture, concurrent processing, strategic distribution of work, and sophisticated I/O techniques. Simply put: It is built for speed.
Backup Express: Speed helps you get the job done

• Optimises catalog searches and minimizes disk space usage through scheduled catalog maintenance. High-performance catalog condense dramatically speeds condense operations and reduces space required for the catalog.
• Maximises network throughput and minimizes data transmission and network congestion by backing up and restoring data intelligently via the optimal network path.
• Provides high-performance image-based volume-level snapshot backup with volume or file/directory restore.
• Uses DAR (Direct Access Recovery) with NDMP to directly access specific files. This eliminates multiple tape loading and streaming, reducing restore times by 98%.
• Writes data concurrently to an unlimited number of tape drives anywhere on the network.
• Splits large files and partitions across multiple devices concurrently to reduce both backup and restore times.
• Reduces server I/O bottlenecks by distributing backup processing.
• Backs up and restores concurrently between a single node and multiple devices, multiple nodes and multiple devices.

Backup Express Architecture
Backup Express’s three-tiered architecture makes use of open interfaces and is ready to support new and developing technologies. It uses the same device drivers that the native operating system uses, allowing you to leverage the newest hardware and firmware. Fully compatible with all leading tape formats including SDLT-x, LTO-3, and AIT-4, Backup Express also supports the leading tape libraries, VTLs and Silo.
Backup Express’ architecture has four components:

• Master Server: The computer that contains the Backup Express catalog as well as the programs that control distributed processing, including media management, scheduling, and other backup/restore functions. There is typically one master server per environment, and it can have one or more storage devices attached.
• Storage Devices: Either individual tape drives, automated tape libraries or disk-based destinations, VTLs, storage device options are numerous. They are always associated to a device server and/or master server.
• Device Servers: Computers that have one or more storage devices attached.
• Clients (Basic and APM): Computers that are backed up to a storage device attached to the master server or a device server. APM clients can be protected using both file and image block-level technology.