Dell NetWorker Reviews

Name: Dell NetWorker
Brand: Dell Technologies
Rating: 3.9 (82 reviews)

3.9 out of 5

82 reviews
90% willing to recommend

2,309 followers

What is Dell NetWorker?

Built on a reputation of efficiency and reliability, thousands of customers trust Dell NetWorker to protect their data and applications across multiple environments, from core to edge to cloud.

Get the Dell NetWorker Buyer's Guide and find out what your peers are saying about Dell NetWorker, Veeam Data Platform, Commvault Cloud and more!

Dell NetWorker is the #13 ranked solution in best Backup and Recovery Software. PeerSpot users give Dell NetWorker an average rating of 7.8 out of 10. Based on the analysis of the 82 most recent Dell NetWorker reviews, the overall sentiment is positive, with a sentiment score of 6.8. Dell NetWorker is most commonly compared to Veeam Data Platform: Dell NetWorker vs Veeam Data Platform. Dell NetWorker is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 62% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a financial services firm, accounting for 16% of all views.

Helped 829,634 peers since 2012

Featured reviews

Derrick Brockel

Senior Manager of Operations at a comms service provider with 10,001+ employees

We had a security event back in February. We lost all our servers. We probably had 1500 servers. We used NetWorker to recover and restore VMs. It took us almost 30 days to get back up. It was not quick. However, we wouldn't have been able to recover without the product’s help. We first had to restore the NetWorker infrastructure. We used data domains. We imported the catalog. We identified the tier-one VMs we needed and got those restored. We installed security products on them to ensure they were clean. Then, we booted them up. The solution allowed us to recover our infrastructure.

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ErmiasGirma

System and Cloud Deployment Engineer at Safaricom Ethiopia plc

Currently, in my organization, I am using Dell NetWorker for open-source solutions like PostgreSQL and MySQL databases, and some large VM environments. It also supports the Dell library and is used for the library archiving system Dell NetWorker allows for extensive customization, supporting…

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Aftab Azam

Storage and Backup Consultant at Hydro One

The software itself works, but it mostly depends on the environment. If you store the tool in a remote location and you don't have good connectivity, then there won't be issues. The software does what it is supposed to do, which is take care of the backup. The one thing Dell needs to improve on is the area of NVP vProxy. Even for Veritas NetBackup, NVP vProxy is a part of the backup software, so we don't have to deploy it separately. In Dell NetWorker, you have to deploy NVP vProxy for backup using vCenter to backup VMs in VMware, which is one area I noticed is a little bit of a pain because we have to deploy, like, 10, 15 or 20 vProxy servers, which connects vCenter to Dell NetWorker and then you can add the VMs from the VMware to back them up. I know that vProxy has to be deployed. Otherwise, you cannot use vCenter as a backup for the VMs via VMware. I know that vProxy is the only thing I noticed is not a part of the software. You have to deploy a separate server, but integrating is not a problem. You can use it as a backup tool for anything you want, ranging from databases to file systems.

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Dell NetWorker mindshare

As of January 2025, the mindshare of Dell NetWorker in the Backup and Recovery category stands at 3.2%, up from 3.0% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Backup and Recovery

PeerAnalyst reports

Type	Title	Date
Category	Backup and Recovery	Jan 8, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Jan 8, 2025	Download
Comparison	Dell NetWorker vs Veeam Data Platform	Jan 8, 2025	Download
Comparison	Dell NetWorker vs Zerto	Jan 8, 2025	Download
Comparison	Dell NetWorker vs Commvault Cloud	Jan 8, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
Veeam Data Platform	4.3	17.6%	94%	422 interviews Add to research
Commvault Cloud	4.3	6.9%	95%	108 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

Dell NetWorker excels in automation, centralized monitoring, and scheduling of backups. It provides excellent deduplication with Data Domain Boost, supports various operating systems, and offers a user-friendly interface. Compatibility with numerous software, scalability, stability, and integration with VMware and databases are highlights. Users value its data compression, encryption, and backup of virtual environments. The solution’s GUI simplifies management. It consistently delivers reliable backups, supporting extensive customization and integration with open-source databases.

"Dell NetWorker allows for extensive customization, supporting various open-source databases like PostgreSQL."
"Technical support from Dell is excellent."
"It integrates well with Dell's Data Domain as a backup storage solution."

Room for Improvement

Dell NetWorker could enhance restore speed, streamline user interface design, and improve integration with modern technologies like cloud and containers. Users note that management and deployment complexities should be simplified. There is a desire for more robust support, better security features, tape space reclamation, and clearer documentation. Additionally, issues with technical support and stability, compatibility with other storage solutions, and frequent bugs across versions are areas in need of attention.

"I am not very satisfied with the support. The interface on the Java application makes it difficult, whereas the web interface is simple to use."
"The graphical user interface (GUI) of NetWorker needs improvement."
"I am not very satisfied with the support."

ROI

Dell NetWorker delivers significant return on investment through substantial financial and resource savings. Users commend its ability to maximize resource efficiency and mitigate downtime, with some achieving a 60% return in money and time savings. Its robust recovery solutions minimize operational costs, particularly during server incidents. Several users realize it as a valuable expenditure compared to not using it. While some have not measured ROI, many recognize its importance in data backup and restore without challenges.

Pricing

Dell NetWorker offers two licensing models: capacity-based and traditional. Users find the licensing complex but appreciate the mid-range pricing, noting it's cheaper than some competitors like Commvault but more costly than others like Veeam. Discounts are available, particularly for educational and government sectors. NetWorker can be obtained free with Dell's Data Protection Suite or Avamar, with costs typically ranging from $20,000 to $30,000 monthly. Pricing is often complemented by bundled packages that enhance cost-effectiveness.

"Dell NetWorker is an expensive solution. None of the backup products are cheap. The licensing model offered is usually a five-year one."
"The pricing for the telecom, government, and banking sectors is relatively affordable."
"On a scale from one to ten, where one is cheap and ten is expensive, I rate the solution's pricing an eight out of ten."

Popular Use Cases

Organizations use Dell NetWorker primarily for backing up critical servers across mixed environments, including Unix, Linux, Windows, VMware, and Hyper-V. It handles backups for file servers, databases like SQL and Oracle, and takes on roles in disaster recovery. This tool supports both physical and virtual workloads, simplifying data protection. Users leverage its capabilities for incremental backups, archiving, and integration with systems like SAP and Microsoft Exchange. It provides robust support for large-scale and complex environments.

Service and Support

Customer service and support for Dell NetWorker receive mixed reactions. While some highlight fast response and helpfulness, others mention delays and lack of in-depth knowledge. Many have experienced inconsistent support quality, with high satisfaction in some regions like the US but dissatisfaction in others. Technical support is often criticized for slow response time and limited expertise, though higher-level support tends to be more efficient. Overall, improvements in response time and knowledge are suggested.

Deployment

Experiences with Dell NetWorker's initial setup vary significantly. Some users find it straightforward and simple, especially with adequate documentation and knowledge of IT infrastructure. Others experience complexity, particularly in environments with multiple servers and additional integrations. Technical expertise is often required, and deployment times vary based on infrastructure size, ranging from as little as 20 minutes to several days or weeks. The setup process often depends on the user's familiarity with similar technologies.

Scalability

Dell NetWorker is often regarded as scalable, yet experiences can vary. Some find it easy to scale with good flexibility, while others face challenges related to infrastructure limitations and cost. It supports a wide user base and can handle numerous servers, but larger environments may encounter stability issues. Reviews indicate scalability ratings from five to nine out of ten, emphasizing its suitability for large enterprises, though some prefer alternatives like Veeam or Commvault.

Stability

Dell NetWorker stability receives mixed responses, with some users experiencing no issues, while others report bugs and requisite frequent updates. Users suggest avoiding initial releases due to potential stability concerns in early versions. Many appreciate its reliability in daily operations, rating it around 7-8 out of 10. It shows excellent long-term stability yet requires proper configuration and monitoring. Some versions had issues that later patches fixed, while others find frequent server reboots necessary.

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

Download our Dell NetWorker Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers

By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

16%

Computer Software Company

11%

Manufacturing Company

Government

Comms Service Provider

Healthcare Company

Energy/Utilities Company

Insurance Company

Retailer

University

Educational Organization

Real Estate/Law Firm

Non Profit

Construction Company

Media Company

Hospitality Company

Wholesaler/Distributor

Transportation Company

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

Legal Firm

Consumer Goods Company

Outsourcing Company

Pharma/Biotech Company

Performing Arts

Logistics Company

Compare Dell NetWorker with alternative products

Learn more about Dell NetWorker

Inherently flexible, NetWorker helps you deploy and leverage the data protection that fits your needs. NetWorker protects both physical and virtual environments, including VMware and Microsoft Hyper-V, as well as cloud workloads on AWS, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud.

NetWorker is available as part of Dell Data Protection Suite, which offers comprehensive data protection software applications and tools. NetWorker is delivered as software and as a virtual edition.

Dell NetWorker was previously known as NetWorker.