Service and Support
Alfresco customer service endeavors to satisfy users, providing assistance from both company and community resources. Technical support is deemed good but has a slow internal workflow, leading users to find resolutions independently. Enterprise Edition includes responsive support via tickets, whereas Community Edition often relies on forum solutions. Users rate technical support between 3.5 and 4 out of 5, with support from partners typically faster and more effective. Hyland assistance for classes or recertifications is friendly and helpful.
Deployment
Alfresco's initial setup varies in ease depending on familiarity with technical concepts. For those without specific knowledge, basic setup offers defaults, simplifying the process. Advanced setup requires understanding of components like database and server settings. Many find the setup straightforward due to helpful documentation and stack installers. Training and guides from Hyland assist with challenges, making Alfresco's setup manageable. Some liken the ease to SharePoint, while professional deployment may take weeks.
Scalability
Alfresco is reported to excel in web, application, and database scalability. It utilizes Apache web servers for load-balancing and supports separate scaling for its database layer using MySQL or PostgreSQL clusters. Users found its clustering capabilities robust, requiring minimal resource adjustments. SAN storage is typically used for metadata and content, aiding disaster recovery scenarios. Advanced J2EE frameworks are employed, and users note ease of scalability adherence with resources guided by Alfresco's specifications.
Stability
Alfresco is stable for users who follow proper installation and upgrade procedures, requiring certified administrators. Some users reported no stability issues, although simultaneous server requests can cause downtime, mitigated by JVM settings. Migration elements like Solr and Dojo JS require careful handling during upgrades. Users note a steep learning curve prone to errors, necessitating experienced support. Properly sized architecture is essential for large repositories, and minor improvements could enhance stability.