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From: "D. Thomas Podnar" <tom@microlite.com>
Subject: BackupEDGE 2.0 Public BETA - Help Us Make It Better and Win
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2003 01:43:13 GMT

                   BackupEDGE 2.0 Public Beta
                     Help Us Make It Better
                       WIN FREE SOFTWARE

15-July-2003

I'm pleased to announce the public debut of BackupEDGE 2.0,
along with a beta program designed to ensure that when first
customer shipments begin, it will be the best, most reliable,
most SECURE backup and disaster recovery product in its class
for UNIX and Linux systems.

We know we're very conservative when it comes to version numbers.
This release is truly worthy of a new first number. Here's the
short list of improvements / new features we've made to this
major new release...

  o  *** Data Encryption (Optional) ***
  o  Better Data Compression
  o  Unlimited Pathnames
  o  Standardized Pattern Matching
  o  Faster Virtual File Processing
  o  Better Archive Integrity Checking
  o  Enhanced Data Format
  o  Features-based Licensing

To keep this email short, I'll summarize a few of the new
features. The whitepapers available on our beta site will
provide much greater detail. See below.


DATA ENCRYPTION
===============
Customer information privacy laws. Healthcare regulations.
Internal security.
BackupEDGE 2.0 deals with these by offering incredibly secure
data encryption.
  o  Choose only the files/directories you wish to encrypt.
  o  Each backup is protected by its own, randomly generated
     256bit AES key.
  o  AES keys are protected by a 2048bit RSA key pair.
  o  Fully integrated with Fast File Restore, Instant File
     Restore, compression, disaster recovery.
  o  Cryptographically Strong Random Number Generator for
     key generation included.
  o  Fully standards-based.
  o  Optional. Don't buy it unless you need it.

COMPRESSION
===========
Optical media. Legacy tape drives. Encryption.
We've switched from 13bit LZW to the latest ZLIB.
  o Provides far higher compression ratios.
  o No temporary disk space / virtual pipe required.
    Works on systems even if they are almost out of space.
  o Compresses files that LZW would expand.
  o Significantly enhances the amount of data that can be stored
    on CD, DVD and older, non-compressing tape drives.
  o Fully integrated with Fast File Restore, Instant File
    Restore, encryption, disaster recovery.
  o All encrypted files are also compressed, as encrypted data
    is handled poorly by hardware-compressing tape drives.
  o Fully standards-based.
  
PATHNAMES
=========
Networked systems. Sentences being used as filenames.
Our current generation product was extended to support 400
character pathanmes and 170 character links.
BackupEDGE 2.0 supports virtually unlimited pathnames.
Actually the limit is currently set at _5,000 characters_,
but that's far higher than any other product, or anything
that will be needed for a LONG time.

IMPROVED DATA VERIFICATION
==========================
Full file checksumming may be enabled, providing yet another
data integrity check, which will work years after an archive
is created. Of course, header checksumming and bit-level
verification are also included.

ENHANCED DATA FORMAT
====================
Maintaining standards while providing enhancements is important.
We've stretched the OLD tar format to the breaking point, so
this release is based on the most recent version of the Portable
Archive Interchange (pax) standard as defined in IEEE
1003.1-2001 by The Open Group and the IEEE.
This is in reality the next generation tar, and it provides
standard methods for adding user extensions for feature like
compression, encryption, and long pathname support.
Of course, our command line interface remains a superset of the
familiar tar commands.
Does this make us the first "SuperPax"?

BACKWARD COMPATIBLE
===================
As a standards-based product, there is strong backward
compatibility.
BackupEDGE 2.0 can read and restore all old BackupEDGE archives.
tar, pax, and older BackupEDGE products can restore
BackupEDGE 2.0 archives up to their limits, i.e. they will not
be able to deal with longer pathnames, compressed files,
encrypted files, etc.
Of course, since BackupEDGE 2.0 will always be available as a
free 60 day web download, we recommend using it exclusively to
restore its own archives.

HELP US MAKE IT BETTER - WIN FREE SOFTWARE
==========================================
We're looking for maximum feedback on the beta release of this
groundbreaking product. Therefore, the first tester to bring
to our attention ANY major bug will win a free copy of the
final shipping product, including the encryption license.

We'll post the winners on the beta test site so everyone knows
who was first and won the prize for any particular bug. One
prize winner per individual/organization, please.

Reports of spelling errors, minor cosmetics, documentation
issues etc. won't win a free copy, but we'll still be very
grateful.


HOW TO TEST THE PRODUCT
=======================
Browse to http://www.microlite.com/beta
Download and read the Whitepapers and User Guide.
Register to receive the beta distribution.
You'll be emailed a URL for downloading.
Bookmark the URL for return visits.

Information about beta refreshes, bug fixes, workarounds,
etc. will be sent only to those registering.

As always, do NOT send beta bug reports to the
support@microlite.com email alias. Instead, send them to

                   beta@microlite.com

NOTE: The current beta is available ONLY to US residents.
If you are outside the US, please contact me personally at
tom@microlite.com and I'll see that you get access as quickly
as I can.


GRANDFATHERED SALES
===================
There is no reason to stop buying or selling current products
while waiting for the new release. All BackupEDGE SS products
registered and activated after July 1, 2003, and all clients
under a current support contract, will be upgraded at
no charge to BackupEDGE 2.0 (without the encryption option).
When BackupEDGE 2.0 shipments begin (currently scheduled for
mid-August), there will be new part numbers assigned for both
BackupEDGE 2.0 and the encryption supplement. BackupEDGE SS
01.02.04 will continue to be available, as some users may have
a qualification period before switching to the new release.
All dealer and distributor stock will be rotated upon request.

SUMMARY
=======
BackupEDGE 2.0 provides a large increase in capabilities. Please
help us make the product perfect, and take the time to see what
benefits the new features provide for you.

Best Regards,
Tom
---
  D. Thomas Podnar - President  tom@microlite.com
  Microlite Corporation         724-375-6711 Voice
  2315 Mill Street              724-375-6908 Fax
  Aliquippa PA 15001-2228       888-257-3343 Tollfree Sales
+---------------------------------------------------------+
|Makers of BackupEDGE 2.0 - Backup and Disaster Recovery  |
|Software for Unix and Linux Systems - Now With Encryption|
|Supports: Tape Drives, Libraries, CD/DVD Optical Media   |
|http://www.microlite.com          ftp://ftp.microlite.com|
+---------------------------------------------------------+

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