Netbackup is more expensive than Backup Exec. What do you get for your money?
The most obvious difference between Netbackup and Backup Exec, is that Netbackup is designed for BIG business. Backup Exec is aimed more at small and medium business. Over recent years, Backup Exec has gained features to make it more scalable and manageable, and improve its functionality. Specific example of this are the Central Admin Server Option, and the addition of encryption capabilities. Recently Netbackup has been adding packages (the non-Enterprise versions) which target small and medium business.
| Backup Exec | Netbackup | |
| Availability | Reseller and retail | Certified Partners only |
| Media server support | Windows | Windows, Netware, UNIX |
| Scalability | Small and medium business | Medium and large business |
| Data deduplication? | No | Yes |
| Vault management? | Yes | Cost option |
| Multiplexing? | No | Yes |
| Storage Lifecycle Policies? | No | Yes |
| Dissimilar hardware restore? | No (Except with System Recovery Option) | Yes |
| Synthetic backups? | Yes | Yes |
| Disk Staging (D2D2T) | Yes | Yes |
| Inline copy | No | No |
| Encryption | Yes | Cost option |
Backup Exec is a retail product – you can buy it from a reseller or off the shelf. Netbackup isn't available off the shelf, only from a Symantec partner.