Administrators want the flexibility to choose the best backup solution to fit their particular requirements. Administrators would like to be able to mix and match their choice of backup software with the array of file servers they use. However, the proprietary back-up agents often are not ported to all of the file servers that must be backed up. However, the administration and control aspects of backup are usually not the core competency of the storage vendor. Storage vendors have to rely on third-party backup vendors to solve the complex aspects of backup.
Backup products vary, but most vendors' architectures are similar.
Backup software on a centralized backup host can, over the network, direct a file server to send its data to a backup device, typically a tape or tape library. The tape device may be physically attached to the file server host or backup host. The protocol allows backup and network-attached file server vendors to focus investment on functionality instead of excessive porting. It also gives users an unprecedented level of choice and interoperability. NDMP addresses the problem of backing up networks of heterogeneous file servers, such as dedicated file servers, with several backup applications.