Using standard backup packages with agents over the network is often adequate for backing up virtual environments -- how can this process be improved? This IT Briefing addresses this question and more, including:

• What about host systems other than Windows? How do system administrators deal with the Red Hat ESX operating system? Does it need to be backed up?
• What about the most critical virtual systems? Many users want comfort in the knowledge that if the problem is with the VMware environment there are options to allow the business to continue. What are these strategies?
• Virtualization makes greater efficiency possible. So, what products and strategies are available from the virtualization standpoint to manage backups "natively?"