The VMware Ready Data Protection Program is a partner-focused initiative to integrate and simplify comprehensive data protection of VMware vSphere 4 environments with appropriate partner products. The program is designed to help customers reduce complexity and accelerate implementation of comprehensive data protection of VMware environments and provide better functionality, choice and reduced IT expenses for partner data protection products.

Through the Data Protection program, VMware provides partners with best practices and full access to the full set of vStorage APIs for Data Protection – the enabling framework for developing integrated solutions for centralized virtual machine backup. Customers using these integrated products can perform rapid backup without disrupting applications or the end user experience. VMware also continues to support existing implementations of the previous generation of its data protection framework, VMware Consolidated Backup.

As part of the program, VMware designates partner products that provide for essential data protection processes such as backup and restore with the VMware Ready logo This means that these solutions adhere to stringent integration guidelines and pass a technical validation. Partner products using the VMware Ready logo provide optimized levels of integration, functionality, or performance. VMware Ready Data Protection solutions will also be featured with the VMware Ready logo in the VMware Partner Product Catalog.

FAQs

Q: How can my company participate in the Data Protection category?
A: If you’re not a VMware TAP member, you can find more information at http://www.vmware.com/partners/alliances/programs/. If you’re already a TAP member, download the VMware Ready Program Guide from VMware Partner Central, or contact tapalliance@vmware.com for information on VMware Ready.

Q: What are the technical elements of the VMware Ready Data Protection category?
A: Contact tapalliance@vmware.com to obtain the program materials.

Q: Do VMware Ready products use vStorage APIs for Data Protection or VMware Consolidated Backup?
A: At this time, products using either technology will qualify for the Data Protection program. In the future, only application that use vStorage APIs for Data Protection will qualify.

Q: Do all VMware Ready products meet the same criteria?
A: There are different criteria for each VMware Ready product category, based on the goals for products in that category. Although there may be similarity in the features of various VMware Ready products, they have not met the same criteria unless they are in the same category.

Q: Does VMware support VMware Ready products?
A: You should always look to the vendor for support on any hardware or software product. VMware Ready products are tested to ensure that they work as expected in combination with VMware products. If you believe that there is an issue with your VMware products, open a support case with VMware. If the issue is related to the VMware Ready product, open a support case with that vendor. If necessary, VMware and the vendor can collaborate to ensure that issues are resolved in a timely fashion.