Dell Avamar Reviews

We're using Dell Avamar for data and endpoint protection.

Dell Avamar has many features, and I like that it meets my company's requirements.

I also like that you can use it for client servicing and transmission, plus it has a push upgrade feature that lets you simultaneously push updates to thousands of clients.

I also found the self-service part of Dell Avamar helpful.

Dell Avamar needs improvement on its remote configuration and the recommended action for a particular endpoint, particularly when it has no protection for X number of days.

I want to see a more user-friendly and administrator-friendly Dell Avamar. The solution also needs a better UI and dashboard.

I've been using Dell Avamar for almost seven years.

Dell Avamar has ninety-nine percent stability and reliability. It's the most reliable solution, and I rate its stability as eight out of ten.

Dell Avamar is scalable, so I rate its scalability as eight out of ten.

Dell Avamar provides good technical support, so it's a nine on a scale of one to ten.

Positive

The initial setup for Dell Avamar in terms of complexity is fifty-fifty. The process is not so easy, and it's not so tough. It's a six out of ten, setup-wise.

Deploying the solution took seventy-two hours.

The contract with Dell Avamar included implementation, so my company implemented the solution with the vendor's help.

Dell Avamar, including its virtual add-ons and cloud-based offerings, is cheaper than other solutions, but in the end, the price still depends on your use case.

Price-wise, I'm rating Dell Avamar as six out of ten.

We evaluated NetBackup, Commvault, and Barracuda, but we can't compare Dell Avamar with those other three solutions because we use them for protecting different workloads. For example, we use Dell Avamar for endpoint protection, while NetBackup and Commvault are for server protection.

I'm using Dell Avamar version 19.2.

Four to five people deployed the solution.

Dell Avamar requires regular maintenance. My company has a dedicated team for maintaining the solution daily.

My company has more than sixty thousand Dell Avamar users.

I recommend Dell Avamar to businesses and teams with smaller workloads and accounts. You can use the solution to protect endpoints and servers. Still, Dell Avamar works well on small to midsized environments rather than environments with heavy workloads and complex infrastructure where using it would become more challenging. Dell Avamar now has cloud-based offerings, but I have yet to test the solution on heavy workloads. I'd recommend Dell Avamar for small to midsized environments.

I'd rate Dell Avamar as seven out of ten.

My company is a Dell customer.

Mainly we suggest it to our users, to our clients, when it comes to a fully virtualized environment of VMware.

The global duplication is great. The combination of those features with DD Boost from Data Domain, are the main features we suggest to our clients.

It is a very complete product.

The interface is fine.

We find the configuration capabilities okay.

It offers an easy initial setup. 

I don't have any notes for areas of improvement. 

We'd like to see something that could also work with Unix servers and physical servers to have a unified solution that works with everything. The use cases we have are sometimes a fully virtualized environment and sometimes a mixed environment. When it comes to mixed environments, we have to suggest NetWorker and with NetWorker, the way it works is it's a very legacy-oriented solution. It is not very cloud-oriented. It does not have many features that are the equivalent to Veeam, for example. Avamar is limiting due to the fact that it only works with virtualized environments such as VMware.

I've used the solution for less than a year. 

The solution is relatively stable. There are no bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze. I'd rate stability eight out of ten. 

The main problem with scalability is the inability of the solution to perform backups on physical servers and cloud-oriented servers.

I'd rate the general ability to scale three out of ten. 

This solution does work for companies of all sizes. The solution is very versatile in that sense.

While I don't deal with technical support, the feedback from our deployment team is that they are pretty good. 

Positive

We've used Veritas, Dell NetWotker, and Veeam. Networker works well with legacy solutions, and Veeam does it all, including UNIX, Linux, virtualized, et cetera. 

Avamar only works with virtualized environments such as VMware.

There are also price differences.

Veeam is cheaper and more complete as a solution. It is not the most expensive. Veeam is very affordable for benchmarking financial solutions. It sits in the middle of all the other solutions. It is not very affordable when it comes to small to medium-sized enterprises, however. 

In terms of simplicity of use, I would rate Veeam as the most simple and most user-friendly when it comes to simplicity of use. It has a unique interface that can allow administrators to administer a very large scale of environments - including physical, virtual, and cloud, on the same plane. That's not the case for Dell EMC's solutions.

The solution is simple to set up. As long as an administrator has some knowledge, it's not too difficult. I'd rate the solution five or six out of ten in terms of ease of setup. 

You can deploy the solution in about half a day. 

I'm not really into deployment. We have a team that does deployment - a pre-sales team. I have very limited knowledge when it comes to deployment. That said, my understanding is only one person really needs to handle the deployment process. 

Jobs have to be set in the initial deployment, which is straightforward for recovering from older backups. After that, not much maintenance is required. 

The product is licensed by CPU. When it comes to Veeam, they switch from CPU to something they call universal licenses, which are instances. An instance can cover a VM, or an instance can cover a physical server, for example. It's a different model from CPU based licensing, and it has started to become a trend in Morocco especially.

I can't speak to the exact price of Avamar.

We sell the Dell EMC portfolio to others. We're a Dell partner. 

We're mainly using the latest version of the solution. 

I would advise potential new users to consider their environment before picking a solution. 

I'd rate the solution six out of ten. 

We use the Dell Avamar solution to backup endpoints, including desktops and laptops. We also use it to back up virtual servers using Dell Avamar. With this server, we take backups of all the employees' desktops and laptops. We haven't encountered any backup and restore problems with Avamar. If we will need any support, we will get it from Dell.

We have divided our infrastructure into two categories: server infrastructure and endpoints. We create endpoint backups in Avamar while the server backups are stored in the cloud.

The Dell Avamar tool is easy to configure and highly reliable for backup. It requires little maintenance, not like Commvault. Commvault has a very tough UI and requires much more team effort to configure and install on both the server and client ends. Avamar is a simple and straightforward backup system. The backup performance is also good. There is no resource pressure on the clients during backup. The duplication feature is precious for reducing backup time.

The UI is quite old. We've been using this UI since last year, and they haven't changed it. It would be better to update the UI periodically and create attractive dashboards from an administrative point of view.

I have been using Dell Avamar for 7 to 8 years.

The product is stable. We haven't encountered any recovery issues either.

The solution's scalability is excellent because the new box has a complete set of hard disks. Dell Avamar provides a single license to increase the hard disk capacity, making it easy to scale. We have around 1500 endpoints and are using two instances of IDPA to back up all these desktops and laptops. Whenever we require data, we retrieve it from the Avamar box. It's a good and reliable system for backup and restore.

Whenever we require support, we get it promptly and properly.

Positive

Previously, I also used Commvault alongside Avamar. Commvault is very challenging to configure. It is resource-intensive, whether as software or an appliance. Unlike Dell, they don't offer their own OEM box but rely on other servers. If clients purchase their servers and storage, Commvault only provides the software for installation on those systems.

Furthermore, Commvault blames server or operating system quality issues, adding to the complexity. I encountered numerous problems with Commvault. Avamar is more satisfactory since all support responsibilities fall under Dell, simplifying the process compared to dealing with multiple vendors. This centralized support from Dell has been reliable over the past seven to eight years.

The initial setup is easy. We’ve been using it long, so it's not too complicated. It takes no more than eight working hours to initially deploy the solution, at least for installing servers.

New users may need some support from the OEM side. They won't be able to install it themselves. They will require support to set up the server independently for the first time. After that, it's smooth sailing.

In Italy, we gathered all the requirements for the hybrid-based network card, bandwidth, and switch points. After that, we prepared a questionnaire with their support partner for the number of IP addresses in the LAN, which is around 20-22, and DNS records in the DNS servers. There were multiple things required to set up this deployment. After the initial installation of the servers and configuration, we began deploying the policies for the data sets, retention periods, and grouping for backup schedules. These configurations are one-time activities.

The ROI of Dell Avamar is good. Nowadays, ransomware and other malicious activities are increasing. Therefore, investing in a backup solution for your data is crucial. Your data must remain secure during destructive events, and you can easily retrieve it. We have encountered situations where a server or machine has gone down, and we have successfully recovered the data using Dell Avamar. Thus, We are delighted with its effectiveness. Furthermore, it is not expensive for us.

The product’s pricing is a bit high.

The solution is very easy to maintain. Whenever we receive any alarms from the Avamar box, we report them to Dell, and the support person helps us resolve the issues.

I recommend this solution, especially for your endpoints' data. Backing up servers, in addition to endpoints, is crucial. Nowadays, it's important to back up your servers on the cloud. This solution is very effective for your endpoints.

Overall, I rate the solution an eight out of ten.

The main use of Dell Avamar is as a backup and storage solution. 

Its deduplication technologies are the best in the market, currently. It helps organizations to reduce the storage requirements by eliminating redundant data.

One issue that can be highlighted is the migration challenge. If there is a need to move the data from one backup solution to another, it might be difficult since there is no option for a straightforward migration.

In this company, I've been using this solution for more than five years, but I have previous experience with it as well.

The stability is good. 

It offers scalability for both medium and large enterprises as it is able to handle growing data volumes. I would rate it eight out of ten. 

The initial setup and configuration is a bit complex and it may require vendor support and technical expertise.

I would recommend this solution as a good choice for medium to enterprise-level companies. It might not be beneficial to smaller businesses due to its high cost.

It is a great fit for enterprise-level businesses that are operating with large volumes of data. Compared to other solutions, it provides the best value for the cost.

Overall, I am highly satisfied with Dell Avamar. I would rate it nine out of ten.

Our clients have found Avamar to be effective for their backup and disaster recovery needs. It serves as a comprehensive data protection suite, meeting the requirements of all virtualization platforms.

Dell Avamar has significantly streamlined our data deduplication and backup processes across the board. When it comes to reliable backup solutions, we occasionally integrate Data Domain and Isilon, including Isilon RCS, into our backup strategy alongside Avamar.

Integrating and managing Avamar with other systems in our IT environment is highly straightforward.

The deduplication technology has significantly improved our storage efficiency, thanks to its embedded nature. It's a combination of hardware and software features working hand in hand, complementing each other. This synergy, based on deduplication and data compression, often results in impressive ratios, such as a 32:1 reduction in data footprint within the tenant domain.

All the features in the system are highly valuable.

The only missing component is the option for bare-metal backup. Performance can sometimes be affected when tools are utilized for tasks like backup or deep archiving.

I have been using it for approximately ten years.

As a distributor and solution architect, scalability is crucial. We carefully assess and size our solutions, aiming to outpace competitors by addressing all potential challenges. Our solutions are meticulously designed to be intelligent and innovative, staying ahead of the competition.

It is renowned for its technical support, prioritizing direct engagement with customers rather than focusing solely on sales and marketing. Their support is known for being responsive and effective.

In our distribution model, we offer a range of solutions from IBM, Veeam, Veritas, and Dell, tailoring our recommendations to the specific needs of each client. Whether it's hardware, software, or support services, we prioritize post-sale support to ensure customer satisfaction. Our focus is on delivering comprehensive support services that encompass all aspects of the customer experience. Veritas is a solid product, but it tends to be on the higher end of the cost spectrum compared to Dell.

The deployment process is remarkably easy, thanks to the tools provided by Dell EMC. The Solve Desktop guides us through each step, offering scripts and facilitating feedback, ensuring smooth execution. Whether it's a third-party backup appliance or a backup appliance, setup can be completed within five to ten minutes. However, concerns arise with policy scheduling, integration, and customization for applications and databases, which may require additional time. The time required for the entire deployment process, including installation and configuration, typically ranges from two to three days in complex environments. This duration can vary depending on the number of certified individuals with experience in the specific tool, database, or third-party product integration. The expertise and understanding of the engineer implementing the solution play a significant role, as it's more about the person's knowledge and skills rather than the product itself. A single engineer is capable of handling the implementation. Maintenance is straightforward, and I haven't encountered any glitches in the past.

Dell's pricing structure is not overly expensive. It operates on a frame-based license system, primarily utilizing front-end capacity or CPU-based models. Currently, there are no core-based licensing options available.

There are three key pillars to consider when making recommendations: price, product reliability and performance, and support. Price comparisons are crucial in today's global market, while product features and performance also play a significant role. However, the most crucial factor is support. Overall, I would rate it nine out of ten.

My primary use case is backend storage for our VMs. We are fully virtualized, using VMware for our virtualization layer, and we use multiple VMs for our applications, so we have multiple workloads for the education school information systems. Then we have our ERP and HR systems, and our infrastructure monitoring the networking solutions, and so on. All these VMs are backed up using Avamar.

By bringing in Avamar and keeping the repository on the data domain, we got a very high DDU and high compression and reduction in data size.

The most valuable features are data deduplication and compression, backup and replication, and instant backup, which allows us to restore our data at any given point in time.

There are two areas for improvement I would suggest. First, some integrations are not in place, such as the email alerts, which are not compatible with Office 365 SMTP gateway. Secondly, Avamar has no APS for monitoring or alerting.

I've been using this solution for three years.

Avamar is very stable - we've hardly seen any issues with it. We have had some problems with the virtualization layer but not with the product itself.

It's very scalable. We did face some issues with using multiple applications, but we added a couple of proxies, and it's gone very well since then.

Dell's support is excellent - if any issues occur, we open the case, and the maintenance gets done. The only problem is that sometimes they can be slow to respond.

I previously used Veeam Backup & Replication, but it wasn't very reliable or cost-efficient because there was no deduplication or compression, so we switched to Avamar.

The initial setup was very straightforward and took about a week.

I used a partner involved by the principal vendor, from a company called MDS. They were really professional and were experts on the product.

We have seen huge data reduction and data deduplication and compression, which is very cost-effective and cost-reducing for the company. Overall we've saved around $200,000 when it comes to storage.

Avamar's pricing is quite competitive compared to other vendors. We don't pay any costs in addition to the standard licensing fees.

We evaluated Veritas and had previously used Veaam, but when we compared overall cost, integration, stability, and agility, we found Avamar was one of the best.

Before choosing any backup solution, run a use case so that you can evaluate the product and have proof of concept. I would rate Avamar as nine out of ten.

Centralization is Avamar's biggest advantage. It moves data to a central location from various geographical locations. 

Avamar needs a greater emphasis on storage targets. If it's going to keep pace with the times, it needs more ability to leverage cloud storage.

We've been using Dell EMC Avamar for 10 years or more.

Avamar is stable.

Avamar is scalable.

Dell EMC support used to be outstanding, but lately, they seem to have dropped the focus, I've noticed. In the past year, the support hasn't been quite the same. I think they're focusing more on other products. In my opinion, they're not giving the same level of focus in terms of support and development to the Avamar-type products.

Installing Avamar is complex. It is complicated to install, configure, and get it working in a complex network. However, it's the same with most data protection products. 

Avamar is expensive.

I would rate Avamar five out of 10 because it lacks cloud capabilities. Two years ago, I would've rated it nine, but these days, I give it a five. Avamar is a good product with a lot of potential, but if Dell isn't willing to put more effort into developing it, my advice would be to look elsewhere. Look at Veeam, Rubrik, or other products in the industry. There are products more suitable for enterprises, especially if they're migrating to the cloud. If they're traditional and have their own data center, I would recommend Avamar. Avamar is a stable, good product if you can justify the cost. If they need something that integrates with the cloud, they should look elsewhere.

I'd recommend Veeam, which does a better job of integrating cloud assets with native storage. It isn't locked into its own specific storage, like your data domain or that sort of thing. The configuration is more straightforward, and it's more cost-effective. Still, the primary reason is that Veeam is ahead of Dell products in the cloud space. These days, most organizations are moving to the cloud, and Veeam seems to be ahead of the game in that space. Dell EMC needs to lower Avamar's price and add more features to stay competitive.

My clients use Avamar to back up VM solutions on VMware's infrastructure.

The fast backup and recovery and the Full Backup features are valuable. When our customers have issues with data loss, Avamar helps them recover data within a few minutes.

Some customers need to back up to tape, but Avamar lacks support, so it costs a lot.

I would like to see backup for container-based applications. Avamar doesn't support container-based backup right now. Dell has a new product called PPDM that they just announced last year, and it has a feature for container-based backup solutions. However, PPDM doesn't support legacy applications like Notes and Domino and some of the high-end databases. Avamar supports all these, including Unix and Linux.

I've used the solution for more than five years.

I rate Dell Avamar's stability a ten out of ten.

I rate Dell Avamar's scalability a ten out of ten. There are over 100 servers, and I have ten companies as clients. One is an enterprise-level business, and the rest are medium-sized businesses.

The initial setup is easy. I rate it a ten out of ten. The time taken to deploy the solution depends on the end customer's environment. If it's complex, we'll need about one day to deploy. The price is quite low because right now, most of the Avamar appliances, like the DP4400, which comes together with Avamar, are ready to use. We just need to put the required IP addresses in the initial stages. After that, it's ready to use. We then just add a host to back up to Avamar. In this case, completing the implementations takes about two to three hours.

I rate the pricing a seven out of ten because it is expensive. I don't think small companies would choose Avamar because the price is high but reasonable for medium-sized companies. Normally, there are no additional costs when we choose the DP4400.

If the customer is a small business, I would not recommend Avamar because of the price. If the customer only wants a simple platform for data protection, though, Avamar is a really good option.

I rate Dell Avamar a ten out of ten.