What is our primary use case?
We use the solution for LDM, PDM and scripts implemented in the database.
How has it helped my organization?
When it comes to doing logical or physical Data Modeling, you can do that in other tools as well, or you can do that in Excel. What's best about this tool is that it is easy to use and productive, and it supports a number of databases like Oracle, Informant, Db2, and many more. This is a stable tool.
What is most valuable?
PowerDesigner is the market's best tool for Data Modeling. It provides a number of features like multiple team members can work using the repository function. They can work and submit the change into the repository and pull from it. Therefore, you do not need to maintain manual files and do not need to make any comparisons manually. The tool is pretty good at handling that stuff.
It provides you with the capability of having dynamic licenses that you install on the server, and every user borrows the license at each login and returns it after use. This helps maintain the efficient use of the service and is cost-effective.
We are able to work seamlessly with PowerDesigner.
All the features are in working condition, and the product is in good shape. You can easily compare two databases, and you can easily compare two models. You can easily take out data dictionaries and re-import models. You can work on existing models too. ..
What needs improvement?
The only restriction comes when you have to work on the NoSQL databases and typically when you have to work on any JSON structures. There are some limitations. For example, it cannot work on NoSQL databases, and there is no update on that as well. However, you can still do the Logical Modeling for NoSQL applications. You can do logical models - just not physical ones. The tool should support NoSQL databases, like MongoDB, etc.
When you implement PowerDesigner, and you do implementation on the server, you also set up a portal. The portal is a web browser link you set up, where a person can use the browser and easily see what models were submitted to the repository. If you want to manage access and edit a file from the browser, you can easily do so without installing Client.exe. However, that portal is very slow. The portal takes a lot of time to respond if you have a number of tables in the schema it will take minutes to populate these tables. Portal performance needs improvement. Everything else is good and it's really a good tool, however, if these things can be improved, it can be even better.
For how long have I used the solution?
I started using the solution in 2015 and have about seven years of experience with it.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It's a stable system. It never crashes. The only thing to look out for is if you're using low-end machines for repository services. However, that's the problem on your end. That's not the fault of the product. We do not recommend a low-configuration machine. There needs to be a minimum configuration of two CPUs, which is the machine they recommend. Depending on the load, you have to increase that. When you purchase the product, you will get a technical assessment for the installation. At that time, you can mention the requirements, and they will give you guidance on what machine type you can use.
I'd rate the general stability an eight out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It's a scalable product. PowerDesigner does come with a Load Balancer to support multiple license servers. Adding new licenses for users is also a bit easy.
It is very scalable. I'd rate the ability to expand a ten out of ten.
How are customer service and support?
Technical support needs improvement.
I implemented the product about three years ago and got help from support when I was implementing this for my company. I just kept on raising the request and not getting a response for five or six days. When you are buying technical support, it needs to be solved much faster and shouldn't take five or six days. Make sure you agree on SLAs.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
In my current organization, we are not using this solution, however, if I was asked to change solutions, I would change back to this product.
How was the initial setup?
For the deployment process, you need a minimum of one server or you can have three servers at a maximum. You need two CPUs and a four GB machine at a minimum. However, if you wanted to do all the installation on a single machine, you can use the eight GB machine instead of a four or six GB.
For the distribution of the license, you can install the license server and do a dynamic distribution of the license where a person opens the .exe on their local system. They can use the license and return after use by closing the .exe. This feature can only be achieved by implementing the license server.
Another .exe needs to be installed on the server to store the model in repository services. You can do your work on your local server and after you are done, you submit the model to the repository. When the model submitted to repository services is saved on the server, other users can connect to the repo and take the latest copy when required to refer to and work.
Portal services can also be installed and used for model sharing. For example, If you have 50 people, you wouldn't want to buy a license for everyone, and therefore, you can create 50 accounts in PowerDesigner's portal instead of passing out 50 licenses.
One person is sufficient in terms of handling deployment. It takes two to three days to set up everything. The ideal process takes three to four hours only, however, before that, you have to set up the server, and you have to do other activities on the server, including first-time logins and Java updates. Those things sometimes take time. If you don't have anyone from IT helping you on the server part and if you're doing everything yourself and the server is available, it takes only three hours. On the cloud, it is a little easier. On-premises you also have to open the firewall ports and everything. On the high end, it might take three days, however, not more than that.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The licensing is manageable. Earlier, they had multiple license styles, and they used to charge differently. Nowadays, they have only two categories, an enterprise version, and a data architect version. It is around 5,000 euros.
If you compare it to the market and other tools and look at the functionality, it's pretty good. For a big organization, the cost would not be a big concern.
If you decide to pay for support, you get one year free when you buy a license. After that, they charge 30% of the license every year for support coverage.
The documentation, however, is pretty good, making it feasible to go without support since you can likely troubleshoot on your own.
What other advice do I have?
I'd advise others that, when you are considering licensing if you need bulk licenses, you can easily get a deal from PowerDesigner. You can easily negotiate with them since they do like to negotiate if you are buying in bulk.
When you are doing this negotiation, at that time, you can negotiate a contract in which they will be responsible for implementing it in your environment. If you are doing the installation on your own, you can ask for technical support that will provide quick responses during the implementation to avoid waiting on tickets during setup.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Hybrid Cloud
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
*Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
