DataCore SANsymphony Reviews

Name: DataCore SANsymphony
Brand: DataCore
Rating: 4.6 (55 reviews)

Vendor: DataCore

4.6 out of 5

55 reviews
97% willing to recommend

1,316 followers

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What is DataCore SANsymphony?

Experience peace of mind with DataCore SANsymphony, the ultimate software-defined storage solution alleviating storage management challenges. Say goodbye to the complexities of managing different storage tiers and disruptions with SANsymphony's block-level storage virtualization technology, empowering you to automate capacity provisioning and data placement across diverse storage environments including SAN, DAS, HCI, and JBOD. Break down silos, control data placement, meet business continuity objectives, boost performance, and seamlessly expand or refresh hardware with SANsymphony. Benefit from features like asynchronous replication for disaster recovery, minimizing data loss, accelerating application responsiveness, and integrating new technology non-disruptively. Trusted by industry leaders like NASA, Thorntons, Inc., and TUI Cruises, DataCore SANsymphony guarantees unparalleled flexibility, scalability, and reliability, ensuring uninterrupted data access and application availability while reducing storage costs and inefficiencies.

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DataCore SANsymphony is the #1 ranked solution in top Storage Software solutions, #1 ranked solution in top Storage Performance solutions, #4 ranked solution in top Software Defined Storage (SDS) solutions, and #7 ranked solution in HCI Software. PeerSpot users give DataCore SANsymphony an average rating of 9.2 out of 10. DataCore SANsymphony is most commonly compared to NetApp ONTAP: DataCore SANsymphony vs NetApp ONTAP. DataCore SANsymphony is popular among the small business segment, accounting for 43% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a computer software company, accounting for 23% of all views.

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Featured reviews

TempreviewerD

Architecte Principal at Orange

The solution is constantly evolving. Recently, deduplication and compression have been further improved to meet customer needs, and updates are easily implemented without stopping production. The update assistant checks the state of health before using good practices, during checks that the data is still presented for service continuity, and afterward, if the actions carried out are indeed active. Technical support is truly available even without a production incident. This is really essential right now.

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Emmanuele Ciscato

Tecnico at Array System S.r.l.

I found it a little unnecessary to have to rename the configurations within the graphics console in order to have unique names. We're having to rename the network ports in the graphical interface even if this operation had already been done at the operating system level. There is also a web interface; however, at the moment, it does not have all the features of the standard graphical interface. It would be convenient to have all the features there too. It would be useful to also integrate commands or scripts for optimizing the ISCSI configuration into the setup; at the moment, it is a separate script that needs to be launched.

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Malte Lübkemann

IT-Systemadministrator at Abat AG

I still see room for improvement with DataCore SANsymphony in the area of alarm and task management. Currently, I find these functions somewhat confusing and there is a lack of flexibility in customizing settings according to our specific needs. One challenge we face is the handling of alerts. For example, we constantly receive alert emails when our backup script is running. This happens because for a short period of about one second the database is stopped, which DataCore recognizes as a state change and triggers a warning. However, these warnings are misleading in our case, as stopping the database is necessary for the backup script and does not represent an actual danger to the system. Looking ahead to future developments, such as the upcoming PSP17 release, DataCore appears to be addressing some of these concerns. One of the planned changes, the removal of the display of all VMs in the console, is a step in the right direction. This feature is not necessary for most users, as usually no DataCore disks are passed directly through to a VM, but is always done through the ESXi host. These improvements show that DataCore is responding to user feedback and strives to continuously optimize its products.

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Valuable Features

DataCore SANsymphony is valued for features like easy management of storage tiers and disk pools, synchronous and asynchronous mirroring, and parallel I/O which enhances performance. Its fault tolerance, scalability, and flexibility are benefits. Auto-tiering optimizes storage costs while continuous data protection offers security against data loss. The software-defined platform integrates with any hardware, supports seamless storage migration, and simplifies maintenance. Its caching capability accelerates data access, improving overall data management efficiency.

"The platform's most valuable feature is its synchronous mirroring capability, which ensures bit-identical copies of data and offers excellent failover capacity."
"The dashboard is very intuitive, and there are many counters to diagnose what happens during a short period (like when a backup is in progress)."
"The dashboard is very intuitive, and there are a lot of counters to diagnose what happens during a short period (like when a backup is in progress)."

Room for Improvement

DataCore SANsymphony requires advancements in pricing clarity, technical support, and iSCSI connectivity. Improvements are needed in user interface, performance reporting, and enterprise-wide management. Users desire integrated web-based consoles, better integration with Veeam, and support for Linux. Licensing costs and update processes are significant concerns. Networking protocols and redundancy features require enhancement. A need exists for better alarm management, language support, and faster integration of new technologies like NVMeoF and erasure coding.

"One area where the solution could improve is its software platform. Many customers have expressed dissatisfaction with the software running on Microsoft Windows."
"For customers or technicians who don't speak and understand English, it would be great to have other language support, all the more so given the number of countries in which SanSymphony is used."
"For customers or technicians that don't speak and understand English, it could be great to have other languages support, all the more so given the number of countries in which SanSymphony is used."

ROI

DataCore SANsymphony provides substantial value, quickly covering costs within the first year. High availability and favorable storage expenses enhance efficiency. Users experience superior security and cost management compared to alternatives. Calculating return can be challenging in dynamic environments, yet many report favorable outcomes by reusing materials or upgrading hardware without new licensing. Stability, availability, and performance consistently cover expenditures.

Pricing

DataCore SANsymphony's pricing and licensing costs are generally considered high, with fees based on terabytes and additional charges for extra features. Installation costs are reasonable, especially when managed by experienced IT partners or certified integrators. The solution offers a strong price-performance ratio and is praised for its easy-to-understand licensing model. Subscription models may prove costly over time, but users find it cost-effective compared to alternative storage systems. Proper planning and hardware selection are crucial for maximizing value.

"It is relatively expensive, and the additional costs for hardware and storage can make it a significant investment for customers."
"DataCore SANsymphony's pricing is very high and should be much cheaper."
"We have licensing costs on a yearly basis. They charge per terabyte, so in terms of cost, it can be very costly.They have three different features, and you have to pay extra for those."

Popular Use Cases

DataCore SANsymphony assists users in optimizing high availability, redundancy, and performance across virtualization environments. It supports VMware, enabling synchronized data storage, software-defined storage features, and storage virtualization, independent of hardware. Users can utilize functionalities like auto-tiering and asynchronous replication for efficient storage management and backup integration. The system enhances data reliability, leverages existing storage, and supports diverse workload applications like SQL and Oracle databases while ensuring minimal downtime and maintenance flexibility.

Service and Support

DataCore SANsymphony customer service and support is often praised for excellence, speed, and competence. Users find the team responsive and efficient, handling requests swiftly. Although some encountered occasional challenges, many describe experiences as exceptional, citing fast responses, competent answers, and proactive assistance. Customers appreciate the knowledgeable staff and frequent updates, highlighting the support as among the best in the industry. However, satisfaction can vary depending on individual cases and issues.

Deployment

DataCore SANsymphony's initial setup is generally straightforward with good documentation and comprehensible wizards. While experienced SAN administrators find it easy and flexible, others may need external support. Complex environments or additional iSCSI configurations can extend installation time. Certified professionals and thorough planning are beneficial. Users appreciate the flexibility and options but acknowledge a learning curve for setup processes. Professional services are often engaged for key feature implementations, ensuring smooth deployment in various scenarios.

Scalability

DataCore SANsymphony exhibits exceptional adaptability, accommodating storage expansion effortlessly. Users praise its ability to scale effectively in all directions, across backend and frontend. Many highlight its capacity to add various hardware and expand without issues. While feedback indicates scalability is virtually limitless, users appreciate the ease of increasing storage and performance. Several note its capacity to handle extensive installations, with support for a significant number of nodes, adapting to diverse architectural needs.

Stability

DataCore SANsymphony is noted for high stability, earning praise from numerous users for its robust performance. Users have experienced zero downtime and report the system to be stable, trustworthy, and reliable. Many attribute improved stability to recent Microsoft server upgrades, with SANsymphony adapting well over the years. Users emphasize the system's ability to handle storage without failures, indicating its optimized and self-maintaining nature. Reports of any stability problems are rare and typically linked to external components.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our DataCore SANsymphony Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

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Computer Software Company

23%

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Learn more about DataCore SANsymphony

DataCore SANsymphony was previously known as DataCore Virtual SAN.

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DataCore SANsymphony customers

Volkswagen , Maimonides Medical Center, NASA, Thorntons, Inc., TUI, ISCO Industries, Pee Dee Electric Cooperative, United Financial Credit Union, Derby Supply Chain Solutions, Mission Community Hospital, Bellarmine College Preparatory, Colby-Sawyer College, Mount Sinai Health System, The Royal Institute of International Affairs, Quorn Foods, Bitburger, University of Birmingham, Stadtverwaltung Heidelberg, NetEnt to name a few.