Author: Ksenia Schevjeva

Buffalo selects Paragon Software’s exFAT and NTFS for Android drivers to embed into next generation Android Smart Box products

Buffalo Inc. selected Paragon Software’s exFAT and NTFS for Android drivers for embedding into Buffalo’s next generation of Smart Box product lines. Paragon’s NTFS for Android driver allows consumers to attach their NTFS (Windows®) formatted USB Key or Hard Drive to the Smart Box and now with Paragon’s exFAT for Android driver also included, consumers can get the full utility of the new high capacity exFAT-formatted SDXC cards in the Smart Box.

“Paragon has been a strong partner for Buffalo; their first-class OEM support as well as the superior performance and features of their technology are key reasons we have chosen PSG for our Smart Box project,” said Kentaro Odaka, General Manager of Product Development Div. Buffalo Inc. “This expansion of our partnership provides the tools necessary for our customers to access and enjoy digital content on a variety of devices.”

Paragon’s drivers offer superior management of file system integrity, fast mount speed, comprehensive data protection, powerful file system check and repair utilities, and strong journaling capabilities. Paragon’s proprietary replay journal feature protects a consumer’s data on a USB HDD or SDXC card when unsafely removed from a Smart Box, TV, or Monitor. Without this feature there is a high potential that the file system on their USB HDD or SDXC card could become unrecognizable to Windows and cause data loss.

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Paragon UFSD 9.0 Embedded for Smart TV guarantees secure high-speed recording and complete data safety on removable external storage media of any type!

First technology available to OEMs with “safe removal” and “new standby” options allowing in just a few seconds to secure data and utilize NTFS, HFS+ or exFAT file systems on Android, Linux and other open-source Smart TV devices

As consumer electronic devices advance by adopting operating systems like Android, so does the expectation of seamless interoperability with PC, Mac and other consumer electronics. Smart TV, for example, when utilizing external storage devices like removable drives or SD cards, is expected to perform better than accepted models of Windows or Linux desktop computers, not waiting too long for external media to be recognized and mounted, and not leaving external media in an inconsistent state.

Advanced devices like Smart TV are expected to recognize external media regardless of its origination — either Windows, Mac, camcorder or other media player — and to perform at full speed, allowing recording and playback for Full HD and 3D video content from external media sources.

Paragon Software addresses all these issues in its newest 9.0 line of Paragon Universal File System Drivers (UFSD) with the goal of ensuring the smoothest usage scenario possible in the world of consumer electronics. Paragon UFSD 9.0 Embedded line for Smart TV includes Paragon exFAT 9.0 Embedded, Paragon HFS+ 9.0 Embedded and Paragon NTFS Embedded.

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Paragon Software releases Drive Backup 11; Provides maximum backup and recovery protection

Application Level Exclude Optimizes Backup Results and Avoids Data Inconsistency

Paragon Drive Backup 11 is a reliable, high-performance, imaging software solution designed for workstation and server data protection and comprehensive business continuity. With the new upgrade, Paragon enhances the Drive Backup product family with the ability to exclude database applications on servers thereby avoiding potential data inconsistencies when multiple backup procedures and products are implemented within the operating environment. Further, Paragon Drive Backup 11 now supports the creation of incremental images, in addition to the traditional full-system images, of hard drives and partitions. Incremental images save IT administrative time and space on backup storage.

For virtual environments, Paragon’s exclusive technology, “ConnectVD”, directly connects to offline ESX based virtual hard disks and performs all major backup-and-restore operations on the virtual storage platform. More than one virtual hard drive at the same time can be connected to Paragon Drive Backup 11 Server editions, backups of multiple volumes can be accomplished as easily as backups of physical devices.

“For well over a decade now IT administrators have incorporated Paragon’s Drive Backup software into their disaster recovery and business continuity plans,” said Tom Fedro, president of Paragon Software Group USA. “With this new version of Drive Backup, Paragon jumps to the head of the class in providing small to mid-enterprise businesses a complete solution at a very competitive price point.”

Available editions of Paragon Drive Backup 11 include DB 11 Workstation, DB 11 Server, and DB 11 Small Business Server.

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Unique Paragon exFAT 9.0 Embedded Offers Hassle-Free Integration with Tablets, Phones and Smart TV Products and Provides the Smoothest Quality Playback and Recording of HD Video Content

Paragon exFAT 9.0 Embedded, the industry’s first driver technology that requires effortless evaluation and integration into hardware products such as tablets, smartphones, Smart TVs and other external memory-dependent consumer electronics. With its unique, hassle-free integration pack, Paragon exFAT 9.0 Embedded reduces effort required for evaluation and integration regardless of kernel configuration.

  • Zero effort, fully customizable

Fully customizable, Paragon exFAT 9.0 Embedded enables hardware manufacturers to recompile Binary Kernel Modules in various kernel-driver integration scenarios, such as modified kernel configurations, patched kernels or migration to a different kernel version.

  • Smooth playback, recording and read/write operations

The integration of Paragon exFAT 9.0 Embedded in tablets, phones and Smart TV products ensures the smoothest, fastest, highest quality playback and recording of HD video content. Optimizing usage of lower-speed interfaces and enabling portable Android devices to fully utilize bandwidth of SD I/O interfaces (e.g., SD HC), the integration of Paragon exFAT 9.0 Embedded into electronic devices reduces time-to-market and guarantees smoother read and write operations, better and faster performance on slower interfaces, and overall increased cost efficiency.

  • Over 140 MB/s read/write performance on modern hard drives

Devices and electronics integrated with Paragon exFAT 9.0 Embedded deliver the highest performance on the market, satisfying even the most demanding users. Paragon partners’ test results reveal an increase in achieved read/write performance of over 50 times compared to open-source solutions in devices with the integrated technology due to kernel-level implementation, hardware acceleration support, fine-tuning and customization. Electronic devices integrated with Paragon ExFAT 9.0 Embedded reach over 140 MB/s read/write performance on modern hard drives and are only limited by the available bandwidth of the storage interface (SDIO, USB, etc.).

Additional functionality includes:
  • “Standby mode” ensures file system consistency and reduces the need for file system checks and repairs
  • “Fast mount” enables instant access to the content. No more waiting
  • Provides reliable support for modern high-performance SDXC memory cards
  • Unique Paragon ExFAT 9.0 Embedded technology eliminates risks of any copyright issues

“Paragon exFAT 9.0 Embedded is the result of 18 years of industry expertise in anticipating our customers’ need to operate seamlessly in a world of different platforms in order to differentiate their products and bring them to market quickly,” commented Konstantin Komarov, Paragon’s CEO. “The recognized leading software developer in the data backup and recovery, and cross-platform solutions market since 1994, Paragon Software Group is a Microsoft premium technology partner and has delivered leading-edge exFAT and NTFS file system solutions to chipset vendors and device manufacturers across the world.” Paragon Software’s UFSD (Universal File System Driver) technologies have been chosen and implemented by the world’s leading companies, such as Intel (NASDAQ: INTC), NVidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), Broadcom (NASDAQ: BRCM), Realtek (NASDAQ: NVDA), Huawei-Hilicon, Marvell (NASDAQ: MRVL), Telechips Corp., Acer (NASDAQ: ACEIF) and many others. Paragon was the first software developer to implement a full set of drivers with read-write access to partitions of any file system. Paragon’s portfolio, based on the company’s unique UFSD technology, includes the following products: NTFS for Linux, HFS+ for Linux, NTFS for Mac, ExtFS for Mac, HFS+ Browser for Windows, ExtFS Browser for Windows. To request a demo, please contact technology@paragon-software.com or visit http://www.paragon-software.com/technologies/

Paragon Backup and Recovery 2012 Free Edition – the Most Essential PC Tool for your Data Safety, now Available for Windows 8 Developer and Consumer Preview Users Free of Charge

Most reliable and fastest data protection tool covering essential Windows 8 backup needs for free!

Paragon Backup and Recovery 2012 Free edition with new Windows 8 support and Paragon’s latest performance engine to deliver the fastest, most stable and effective hard disk operations. Supporting the enthusiasm of Windows 8 beta testers and the newest trends in the PC market, Paragon Software, with nearly 20 years of development experience, has been among the first to provide the most essential backup and recovery solution to Windows 8 users free of charge. Paragon Backup and Recovery 2012 Free edition has been tested on Windows 8 Developer Preview and Consumer Preview versions, and is available immediately for download.

Backup Features

Backup Capsule: A special, secured place on the hard disk that has an independent system layout (e.g., a separate partition) to store a backup image and will stay operable should the active file system be damaged; hidden and unable to be mounted in the OS to avoid accidental removal or unauthorized access

Support for the latest hardware and hard disk partitioning schemes

Support of all present-day techniques to store backup images

Disk backup to save all on-disk information as well as system service structures, including backup images of an entire hard disk (including GPT discs) or system partitions to guarantee the operating system’s working capability

Differential backup to considerably save backup storage space

Restore Facilities

Restore an entire disk, separate partition images

Restore with Shrink to restore a backup image to a free block of smaller size

Create bootable USB Flash drive, CD or DVD to recover your PC on demand

Supplementary Tools

Recovery Media Builder: builds a new “recovery media” to boot from in case of an unbootable system

Check Recovery Discs: checks the recovery media for integrity and bootability

Basic partitioning operations

User Friendly Fault Minimizing Interface

Graphical representation of the data

Comprehensive wizards to simplify even the most complex operations

A context sensitive hint system for all functions of the program

Previewing the resulting layout of hard disks before actually executing operations (so-called virtual operations)

Availability:

Paragon Backup & Recovery FREE is available for download free of charge at:

http://www.paragon-software.com/home/br-free/index.html

Paragon Software Group Adds More Value to its Hard Disk Manager 12 Products With a Major Mid-Year Update, Ensuring the Most Up-To-Date User Experience Possible!

New enhancements include the most advanced incremental imaging capabilities and updated data wiping for Professional edition users, HFS file system conversion for both editions – all absolutely free of charge!

The latest enhancements in Suite and Professional Editions include new incremental imaging capabilities boosting the efficiency of the network backup and updated data wiping for Professional edition users, and HFS file system conversion for both editions.

New features include:

  • Incremental Imaging (Professional edition): An innovative technology that doubles efficiency of the network backup, this new wizard option now allows the creation of VHD-based incremental imaging. Unlike differentials, increments not only contain data changed since the time of creating a full archive, but one of its increments as well, thus saving time and backup storage.
  • HFS file systems conversion (Suite & Pro): Convert any version of NTFS file system to Apple HFS (and vice versa) without reformatting.
  • Updated Data Wiping (Professional): 10 wipe algorithms, including specialized military and government data erasure standards, in addition to Paragon’s custom wipe algorithm to destroy all on-disk information or only remnants of deleted files and directories without affecting the used data.

Pricing & Availability:

The major update for Hard Disk Manager 12 Suite and Professional editions is available free of charge to current Hard Disk Manager 12 customers at: https://www.paragon-software.com/account/login.htm?from=my-account

Hard Disk Manager 12 Suite is available for USD 49.95 (EUR 39.95) via download from http://www.paragon-software.com/home/hdm-personal/. Hard Disk Manager 12 Professional is available for USD 99.95 (EUR 79.95) via download from http://www.paragon-software.com/home/hdm-professional/

Paragon Software Now Shipping Hard Disk Manager 12 Server for Complete Backup and Recovery for Virtual and Physical Environments

Extends Data Media Management Capabilities to VMware ESX including Partitioning, Maintenance and Configuration of Storage Media; Flexible Licensing Models Offered

New Hard Disk Manager (HDM) 12 Server, Virtual Server and Professional Editions include file- and image-based backup, disaster recovery, partition management, migration, storage media optimization, and disk wiping software. With one suite, administrators have everything needed to maintain, safeguard and dispose of their computer systems, all in one competitively-priced software bundle. Paragon Software offers flexible licensing plans for Hard Disk Manager 12.

With the latest upgrade, Paragon adds increased speed and functionality to the Hard Disk Manager line of products. The backup of operating systems can now exclude database applications on servers to avoid data inconsistency. This approach takes into account company policies that may incorporate different backup processes for databases. Furthermore, incremental backups with sector-based images are now supported, in addition to differential backups, to provide maximum protection for physical and virtual servers, as well as workstations. System images are not limited to being stored in Paragon’s backup container format. Drive Backup 11 can create a clone to a virtual hard drive for instant disaster recovery; an IT administrator can easily restore a critical system within two to three minutes by just booting it on a virtual machine.

“Our Hard Disk Manager product is a well-known, proven work horse; truly an all-in-one solution for the professional IT administrator and this reputation continues with our latest version, HDM 12,” said Tom Fedro, president of Paragon Software Group. “HDM 12 includes many new tools; an example would be the ability to connect directly to virtual disks, allowing an administrator to manage any virtual disk on the network with the same ease as a direct-attached physical disk.”

Paragon’s exclusive ConnectVD technology now directly connects to ESX hosted virtual hard drives and performs all major operations on the virtual storage device. Since Hard Disk Manager can be connected to more than one virtual hard drive at the same time, even partition migration can be accomplished as easily as migrating to physical devices.

HDM 12 comes with Paragon’s Boot Media Builder that creates a WinPE recovery environment to guarantee the best hardware compatibility when booting in case of an emergency or for offline usage. Further, the boot media provides additional migration features that help to move existing systems to new physical and virtual environments. Other key features include the following:

  • Instant recovery capability through virtualization
  • Seamless restore to dissimilar hardware with 3rd generation Adaptive Restore™ technology
  • Incremental and differential backups
  • Updated wizards for easy scheduling and set-and-forget operation
  • Scripting engine to accommodate unique backup strategies
  • Central, remote management available
  • New partitioning engine – fastest to date
  • Resize, move, split/merge, delete/undelete partitions
  • Partition alignment during restore
  • HFS to NTFS, or vice versa, conversion without data loss
  • UEFI support
  • GPT support and conversion to MBR
  • Flexible file system support
  • Highly secure disk wiping technology
  • VirtualBox 4 support
  • Customizable WinPE and DOS/Linux recovery media
  • Windows 8*, Server 2008 R2 support

* Tested with Windows 8 Developer and Consumer Preview versions only

Available editions include HDM 12 Professional, HDM 12 Server, and HDM 12 Virtual Server. The product is also available as a Technician License. For a full list of features and benefits, please visit: http://www.paragon-software.com/business/hdm-server/

Paragon Software Group Extends its Social Media Presence with Google Plus

With the increasing popularity of social media, Paragon Software decided to add Google Plus brand page to its already very active social media position on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and the company’s blog.

The company hopes to use its newly created Google Plus page as another opportunity with which to communicate with IT  professionals, customers and media and share helpful and interesting information on the most effective data backup and recovery solutions, as well as cross-platform technologies.

“Our move to create one more official social media page for our company means that we can communicate with our customers, IT professionals, media and prospects in more ways. We would like to lead a dialog with anyone interested in the IT market and communicate our expertise without any delays. With another social media channel available, we can also provide even more value through special content offers, promotions, and contests which we frequently run across our social media channels,” commented the company’s spokesperson.

Access all UEFI-based PC or Server Data with Paragon uEFI iSCSI Target Software

Manage, read, write, back up and restore data on new UEFI communications protocol standards-based machines from a PC of any OS type, even if the UEFI system is damaged!

Paragon uEFI iSCSI Target is an application created to manage, backup and restore data on Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI)-based computers and servers. Paragon uEFI iSCSI Target is an essential tool for PC users and system administrators switching to UEFI, as well as a fundamental technology for hardware manufacturers bringing UEFI-supported machines to the market.

Because of its inadequate access to memory and hardware, and restrictions on disk size, architecturally limited BIOS will be replaced by UEFI in the near future on all PC systems and tablet devices. Paragon Software brings nearly 20 years of development experience to UEFI-based PC systems of all types, and is among the first developers to provide a cross-firmware solution to consumers and hardware manufacturers alike.

Paragon uEFI iSCSI Target is installed as a software application on any UEFI-based PC system or UEFI-based server. Paragon uEFI iSCSI Target grants immediate access to the UEFI-based PC or server data from any remote PC, regardless of its operating system, with the ability to work with data on UEFI-based machine as if locally connected. Paragon uEFI iSCSI Target can be used by system administrators working with corporate computer systems to quickly and efficiently recover backup files, deploy workstations, or to remotely access data on OS-damaged machines or servers.


The installation of Paragon uEFI iSCSI Target can be performed in three easy steps:

1. Configure the software on your UEFI-based PC and create a recovery USB stick.

2. Boot from Paragon uEFI iSCSI Target recovery USB stick.

3. Connect Paragon uEFI iSCSI Target through the MS iSCSI Initiator.

Become an early adopter and download this component for free>>

A significant number of home PC users don’t practice effective personal data safety measures, according to Paragon Software SURVEY

10K users surveyed back up and defrag regularly, but do not take advantage of alignment, wiping, and other data safety technologies. Every third PC user knows little about virtualization

Paragon has conducted an online survey of more than 10,000 owners of the company’s latest Hard Disk Manager products where respondents were asked to answer 22 questions about their usual PC hard disk management and maintenance procedures. While the outcome of several questions was positive, such as the general trend toward frequent (more than once per month) data backups, the survey highlighted some gaps in technology adoption and personal data safety procedures.

About 45% of respondents stated that they do not utilize automatic partition alignment, which can significantly improve performance of a hard disk during partitioning and copy operations and restoring a backup image to new hard drives. Further, despite the efficiency and maintenance benefits of virtualization and cloud storage, 58% respondents currently do not use data virtualization.

In terms of external storage options, nearly 40% of those polled do not use or plan to use solid-state drives (SSDs), while 23% plan to move to an SSD in the near future, making a full-suite product like Paragon Hard Disk Manager crucial to those technology adopters. Manual data installs, as in the case of 66% of those polled who use no special programs or tools for data and system migration when upgrading or replacing their PCs, represent an opportunity for PC users conserve effort and ensure fidelity by automating their migration procedures.

A full 15% of all those who do back up their data reported storing their backup files on the same drive that hosts the stored info. “While data backups are crucial components to disaster recovery, it’s just as important to have a safe place to host the backups,” said Pavel Astafurov, supervisor of the survey. “By conducting this survey, we hope to bring some safer techniques and procedures to light.”

More disturbing, around half of all PC users polled either do not utilize any data wiping tools or only use the standard “format disk” wiping functions to erase personal information on old hard drives, leaving potentially sensitive information available to anyone who may gain access to the hardware. With a tool like Paragon Disk Wiper or wiping disk feature offered with the Hard Disk Manager, Paragon’s products guarantee absolute 100% data erasure and personal information security.

“According to the survey, the top three most important factors when selecting software like Paragon Hard Disk Manager and other Paragon Software products include reliability, performance and hardware/software compatibility,” said Pavel Astafurov, supervisor of the survey. “We are very pleased that our users appreciate our products and are willing to entrust us with the protection and maintenance of their most valuable data, and that we fully meet the expectations of our customers.”

Paragon Software found that the most popular hard-drive operations were those related to backing up and defragmenting, with 80% of respondents stating that they do both regularly. To continue supporting PC users in their most essential disk utility operations, Paragon Software, having developed the most reliable and fastest PC system utility tools for nearly 20 years, currently offers a wide range of products to manage and maintain hard drives.