i cant decide between the following backup software. veritas netbackup, veritas backupexec and arcserve. still cant make a decision which one i take as the backup solution. so i wanted to ask you guys for help. which should i take.

i have a lto2 backup unit. have 3 servers.

server 1: DC, DNS, Print, File

server 2: Exchange

server 3: SQL server (this one has also the tape unit.)

Arcserve and Backup exec are 2 programs that i have used.

From my personal experiance i've found Arcserve to be much more stable. I have a scenario, at one of my clients, much like yours, 3 servers, (1 Exchange,1 DC/SQL, File/Print, 1 custom application). The SQL server has a DLT drive with Arcserve installed, the Exchange server has the Backup agent for Exchange, the custom app server has the open file agent installed. This setup has been incredibly stable.

Backup Exec, i've had numerous problems. Just last night at one of my clients i attempted to service pack Backup Exec 9. Now 2 of the services won't start.. /sigh

I too have had issues with BUE. Of course, this was with version 8 and 9, but I am using ArcServe here and love it.

Netbackup is out of your scope so Arc/BE are you best choices. I've used both and they both have their pros and cons. Support from Veritas has been a more maddening experience for me though. I mean, how can you screw up tar?

why would netbackup out of my scope. to big, expensive. or is it not for what i want.

I agree with Dashel it should be out of your scope. Yes it would be too big and expensive for what you have stated you want to backup. Stick with Brightstor Arcserve or Backup Exec. Just FYI Gartner research shows backup exec to be the strongest of the 2 products with CA restricting the R & D budget of Arcserve in the next few years.