You wouldn't need Replay Manager if you go with the Actifio solution. Actifio captures data from the production environment incrementally forever and creates virtual copies for multiple use cases (data protection, disaster recovery, dev/test, etc).  This architecture combines the fast data capture of a snapshot with the redundancy of a true, application consistent backup. Replay Manager uses Compellent snapshots to capture data, which work fine but use up space on the storage array and they don't provide a redundant copy of the data.  It also comes as an incremental cost and is another tool you have to manage.  Actifio's solution can provide snapshots, backups, and replication services through a single user interface without storing copy data on the production storage array (Copy Data Virtualization). Some of the key benefits of using Actifio in your scenario would be:     - Copy data would not be stored on the production Compellent array.  Storage array snapshots use your production storage capacity to store the point in time copies.  Actifio's design is to remove the copies from your production array(s) and eliminate point tools for backup, snapshots, replication, etc.     - You'd have a truly redundant and independent backup.  Storage array snapshots don't provide protection against RAID group failures, storage array failures, or storage array software issues.     - Data could be kept for longer periods of time with Actifio's built in global dedup and compression     - Instant access to virtual copies of data from the Actifio system
I am not very familiar with SAN storage. The company I work for is evaluating a backup solution that will utilize two Dell Compellents. We currently have one Compellent, but are considering purchasing another for a warm site. The quote for the second Compellent includes two instances of Dell Replay Manager. My understanding is that Dell Replay Manager can be used to take snapshots, which is understandably a good idea. We are also evaluating Actifio and Veeam as backup solutions. The Dell Replay Manager is pretty expensive and I am wondering if it is even needed if we will be using Veeam or Actifio for a backup solution. Could anyone offer any insight as to why, or why we would not, want to eliminate the Dell Replay Manager from our purchase IF we proceed with a true backup solution (Veeam or Actifio) ? Or, would it be better to ditch the Veeam/Actifio and use Dell Replay Manager? Thanks!
Dell Replay Manager needed with Actifio or Veeam ?