NAKIVO Backup & Replication Reviews

I use NAKIVO backup and replication for several of my clients. I have replaced the product called Veeam Backup and Replication. We are a small IT service and repair center and we have many large clients running VMware 6, 6.5, and 7.  We use vCenter for all of our VMs. I have three different clients using this product. One client has four servers running two CPUs each and ESXi 6.7.  This client is running NAKIVO 10.2 as an appliance server and replicating the other three server's VMs.

The general cost of doing backups has been reduced. Also, the screenshot verification feature is priceless. I know right when I have an issue. At first, NAKIVO was a bit of a learning curve. It took several failures to figure of that some error messages were just canned messages and I had to dig deeper into the issue. As it turns out, the version of ESXi or vCenter with the proper version of the VM tool is very important for NAKIVO to get a good replication. The cost has been a huge issue using Veeam in the past and if you have ever tried to buy a license for Veeam, you already know it is almost impossible.

The test reboot of replicated VM and screenshot verification is great. NAKIVO is easy to use and pretty easy to set up. I use the appliance for all of my VM backups and replications. It runs as its own VM and you connect via a web browser. I have found Edge works best. The ease of purchasing a license from Nakivo has been one of the many features I have appreciated. I could not dislike purchasing a Veeam license more than anyone else in the IT industry. Having to jump through the hoops at Veeam and then after 10 plus emails, you might get an order from Techdata. It's just a joke.

Updating VM Tools on a replicated VM could be better. I think one of the most important things NAKIVO can do is stop releasing a new version several times a year. It's important to "get it right" on a version release - too many updates will cause an issue. Also, any version update should include the ESXi Host as well as the vCenter. Not taking into consideration the vCenter version is a huge mistake and no updates should be released unless they also support the current vCenter version. That came up and I had several issues before I figured out it was a vCneter update compatibility issue.

I have been using the solution for one year.

It can be a little touchy. When the IP cannot be reached there is not much you can do. You have to figure out why the IP of the appliance cannot be reached.

The solution can scale. I have it backing up and replicating 4 servers with almost no issues.

It has not been the best. I ran into some issues right away and support got on and tried to help me. I ended up working on the issue for a week and ended up figuring it out myself.  I have tried to stay away from support altogether since then.

I used Veeam previously. I switched mainly because of the problems I always encountered while trying to order Veeam. This company is the absolute worst in the business - not to mention the price of a license.

Yes, I did not have any issue installing the solution.

I handled the setup myself.

The yearly maintenance fees are okay but they could be better.

The cost is important but I think using the appliance is probably the best as it's easy to install.

I did not evaluate other options.

I do not have any additional comments.

I have deployed the solution in the data center environment, managing both virtual machines and physical servers. Local backups have been implemented, and tasks that were previously done manually are now automated, increasing the productivity of the IT team, as they can focus on other tasks while the tool handles the backups. 

Additionally, the solution has been configured for database backups, which used to be a major headache for database administrators, especially when databases were damaged. Now, with both full and incremental backups, the response time for data recovery has been significantly reduced. The experience has been excellent.

Nakivo enables the automation of tasks within the organization, addressing issues related to forgetting such a critical task as data protection and mitigating the risk of data loss due to human error. 

Additionally, it provides a centralized environment for managing backups, ensuring constant monitoring and validation of both backups and storage usage, all just a click away. 

It is an investment that every institution that understands the value of every bit of data within the organization should make. Nakivo is an excellent option to consider.

The most notable feature of the solution is its ability to perform granular backups, allowing complete customization of what we want to back up. 

The ability to define and back up even individual critical files according to our specified schedule is highly valued. 

Additionally, its capability to back up virtual machines is noteworthy, but its ability to verify the bootability of these backups is especially practical. 

Previously, it was often necessary to restore servers without knowing if the backup would work. Now, we simply verify if the backup is up-to-date and proceed with the restoration.

NAKIVO should broaden its horizons in terms of compatibility and integration with other tools. For instance, it would be beneficial to test its integration with other virtual environments like Proxmox, as I have not yet had the opportunity to conduct the necessary tests for this new proposal from NAKIVO. 

Additionally, integrating the tool with ERP systems and monitoring tools is essential. Lastly, I would suggest putting more effort into making the user interface more intuitive to enhance the backup management experience.

I have been working with the solution for nearly a year, from design to implementation, and I am truly impressed by how comprehensive the tool is. It even features functionalities found in the most well-known backup solutions but at a more affordable price.

It is a very stable and reliable solution. At least so far, I haven't encountered any errors in the backup tasks.

It is a solution that can support growth, whether it is geographical expansion or an increase in the amount of data to be managed. You just need to keep in mind some licensing considerations.

I've used solutions from other providers before. However, the main reason for switching to NAKIVO was the cost-effectiveness of the solution and the extensive software benefits it offers.

It is a solution where both deployment and future growth are easy to manage, so this aspect does not have to become a headache for administrators.

The implementation was carried out by an internal team.

Thoroughly assess your needs before purchasing the solution. Depending on how your data center operates, you will need to determine whether the licensing should be based on workload or socket. 

It’s also crucial to ensure that your network provides the necessary conditions and speeds to enable fast and efficient backups.

Yes, solutions like Veeam Backup have been evaluated.

Don’t be deterred by the competitive pricing of this solution; it is highly effective and functional. 

If you prefer not to take a blind risk, you can request a 15-day demo by simply filling out a form on the manufacturer's website.

Our primary application of Nakivo centers on backing up our comprehensive VMware environment. 

Operating within a VMware server, it serves as an integral component of our data protection strategy. This setup is crucial as it continuously safeguards our virtual machines, ensuring no data loss during critical workflows or unforeseen system downtimes. 

By utilizing Nakivo in this specific context, we can efficiently replicate and recover our vital data stores, providing a reliable safety net for operations. 

This reliability not only streamlines administrative tasks but also fortifies our approach to risk management, focusing on proactive measures and strategic resource allocation within our IT environment.

Nakivo has been instrumental in strengthening our data security infrastructure. By allowing the creation of cold stand-bys, it ensures immediate availability of recent backup data, minimizing potential downtime. This proactive measure is crucial for maintaining our operational resilience, ensuring consistent business continuity, and safeguarding client trust. 

The automation of these processes has also enhanced efficiency, freeing our team to focus on strategic tasks rather than routine backup management.

Nakivo's robust support for VMware, including both ESXi and vCenter, is invaluable, ensuring seamless integration with our virtual systems. 

The flexibility in setting up multiple repositories is crucial for diversified storage, enhancing data safety. 

Moreover, Nakivo's outstanding customer service is a standout feature, providing swift, effective solutions, which is critical to maintaining operational continuity and confidence in our data protection strategy. 

This comprehensive approach reinforces our disaster readiness and overall system resilience.

While Nakivo delivers comprehensive solutions, there's room for enhancement, particularly regarding Proxmox support. 

Expanding capabilities to fully support Proxmox environments would streamline backup and recovery processes for those utilizing this platform, ensuring consistent protection across various virtualization systems. 

Additionally, improving deduplication functionality could further optimize storage efficiency. More aggressive space reclaiming features would maximize storage utilization, allowing for cost-effective scaling. 

Enhanced deduplication and space reclamation are vital in managing growing data volumes, and ensuring system efficiency while safeguarding critical information.

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

We did not previously use a different solution.

We also evaluated Veeam.

I use Nakivo Backup & Restore with a basic license for one physical host, and I run it on a Raspberry Pi 4. The physical host runs a VMware ESXi Hypervisor 7.0, the free edition.

Primarily, I use it to back up the virtual machines from the physical server to a backup repository that is run on a NAS. My environment consists of six or seven virtual machines that range from Unix/Linux machines to Windows Server.

Nakivo, the physical host, and the NAS repository are all on the same network. The NAS is a Qnap solution with HDDs.

With Nakivo, I have the peace of mind that all of my production environment is safely backed up and can be restored safely, easily, and quickly with a few clicks.

When I changed the host server, the restoring of virtual machines was completed in a fully automated process, in a few hours, with just a few clicks. This is in contrast to it an effort of days of work restoring everything manually.

The backup process is also fully automated, with powerful scheduling, so that I do not need to worry about a loss of service for any of our services.

The most valuable features are the possibility to include a free ESXi Hypervisor into the backup, because of budget constraints, and it is lightweight. I do not need a very powerful machine to run Nakivo and can use my ESXi host for the VMs.

Deduplication saves around 50% of drive space, which is handy.

Migrating to a new environment is also done quickly because you can store the configuration and restore it in another environment. The license is also migrated.

The self-backup feature is also handy, ensuring that the solution itself is backed up regularly.

Automatic updates do not work, and every update has to be done manually. I've upgraded twice, from 10.0 to 10.0.1 and then to 10.1.1.

A mobile app for administration would be appreciated.

The user interface could use a bit of refreshing; however, on the other hand, it runs very smoothly, so if that would change I can live with the user interface looking a bit dated.

I would like to see some more detailed data regarding backups. For example, a pie chart representing the various virtual machines or other backups and how much space they need would be helpful to have.

I have been using Nakivo Backup and Restore for six months.

The solution is very stable, with no breakdowns so far. Backups are performed regularly, no errors regarding the creation of backups or with restoring from backups. The connection to repositories and inventories is stable and without outages or disconnects. We are especially impressed, because it is running on a Raspberry Pi.

You can deploy multiple transporters which can scale your solution without much additional cost.

Support is top-notch. They are very diligent and helpful.

It is my first solution of this type.

The setup is really simple and straightforward and it can be run on a Raspberry Pi.

The initial setup is extremely straightforward, the Knowledge Base and User Guide are very concise and to the point. We had no issues with the process.

Our in-house team is responsible for deployment and maintenance.

Our projected ROI is 12 months.

Regarding the licensing, I would advise speaking to the Nakivo representatives and you can get the best option for your environment.

I did not evaluate other options.

We have used Nakivo to provide a fully automated backup solution without user intervention with on-site backup and copy to the cloud. 

We provide support and consulting services to SME businesses in the UK, and simplicity and a lower cost are paramount. 

We have implemented Nakivo for these clients, installed to a stand-alone NAS device. This can sit on the network alongside the existing systems and simply be pointed at the servers and workstations targeted for backup. It can manage the backup externally and the backed-up resources will run without any staff intervention. 

This has allowed us to move our clients to an automated solution that simply plugs into their existing infrastructure, removing the need for manual media handling. We have seen an increase in resistance to clients using staff resources to manage manual media handling. 

Nakivo's solution based upon a discrete NAS has provided a very neat "plug-in" solution that connects to their networks and targets their existing servers and creates a local disc-based backup resource. To this is added a simple AWS EC2 resource, which is an automatically configured host for cloud copies of the local backups for DR and archive. 

The ability to install a solution to a stand-alone, low-cost NAS and run and manage from there has been a very helpful facet of the projects. The ability to eschew manual media handling is an essential change in SME environments, where the staffing overheads for media handling and storage in the age of cloud backups was becoming onerous. 

The main advantage from our perspective is the ability to plug this solution into an existing infrastructure on a cheap device and point the backup at the server targets and configure the backup options in a simple menu; linking to a cheap cloud resource for a simple solution for off-site storage.

There has been a slight tendency to bloat, where each new feature uses slightly more resources. It would be helpful to be able to have a custom footprint so that only the required features are installed.

We have been using Nakivo for approximately two years.

It has proved very stable on the whole.

As it can be run from different platforms, it is very scalable.

Nakivo support has been very flexible and responsive. 

Previously, we used Veritas BackupExec and we changed due to the ease of use of Nakivo and the LCO.

Very simple to set up, including automatic installation of agents and build of AWS resource. 

This is a product that we set up and manage for our clients.

Cost is very appropriate for SMEs.

We evaluated Acronis before choosing Nakivo.

Support has been very good and product development and enhancement very active.

We use Nakivo to back up our VPS servers and NAS devices. The UI and features are quite satisfactory, and there are several expansion possibilities. We liked the new MSP feature, which gives users specific access to specific machines. 

NAKIVO runs on a Linux server that requires low resources, so it gives us the option to expand our services and maintain the backup infrastructure to our budget. 

It provides very good support that responds immediately when we need help or instructions. 

It also provides an easy-to-use UI for setting it up.

NAKIVO gives us the security to retain valuable data backups and recover them in case of emergency. 

It provides our customers with a backup option in case they accidentally delete something or restore their applications to previous versions if something needs to be restored.

It also gives us the option to provide our customers with backup infrastructure as a service based on the MSP feature that NAKIVO has.

NAKIVO runs on a Linux server that requires low resources, so it gives us the option to expand our services and maintain the backup infrastructure to our budget.

There are features that we would like to be integrated such as the ability to exclude directories, the creation of an image for bare metal restore as well as the creation of Plesk integration to use NAKIVO as a Plesk backup tool. The last one is very important and will make the solution stand out among similar products. It's a feature that Acronis already has, and it makes it very easy for admins or customers to restore their files, emails, and databases directly from inside the Plesk panel very fast.

I've used the solution for about a year.

The solution is a steady product. That said, in some cases, you may need help from their support.

Scalability is fast, with some room for improvement.

NAKIVO support is one of the best that we have worked with.

Positive

We used Comet, however, we made the change due to its pricing change, which made the old solution very expensive for a hosted solution.

The setup was very easy. We were following NAKIVO's documentation.

We set NAKIVO up from our end, and it was very easy.

It's very well priced based on the features and the services that it provides.

We also checked Comet, Acronis, and Veeam.

We are using Nakivo Backup & Replication to back up ten virtual machines from our Nutanix cluster with some 80 virtual machines. Our goal is to replace the existing backup solution completely with Nakivo Backup and Replication and to have an offsite backup of all important servers to one of our branch offices with a Synology NAS with Nakivo Transporter installed. Offices are connected with a 500 MB VPN; the Nakivo appliance is running on our Nutanix cluster. Currently, we are using an Enterprise Essentials license.

Veeam Backup and Replication is the main backup solution at our customer's site, but it stopped working while backing up our now 5TB file server - and after some weeks of investigating the whole issue with Veeam support, I had to decide to search for an alternative solution. Nakivo offered a free trial which was very easy to set up and immediately worked. To be totally honest, it has an affordable price. 

The bandwidth-optimized deduplicated offsite backup to a Synology NAS was another must-have, which would have been possible with Veeam, too, but we would have had to build a Windows-based server for that.

The first really good thing about Nakivo Backup and Replication was the fact that I could install and configure the trial version in maybe half an hour and had a successful backup of our file server on the same night. I used different repositories to test - a Synology NAS with Nakivo Transporter and a CIFS share on a Windows bases server. Both worked without any problems. Then there was another point, that was really important to me: having an offsite backup to a Synology NAS at an office branch. I had to take a look at some options to optimize data flow, but the backup copy job works like a charm.

At the moment, there are actually not many features I am missing. It would be good if I could have a remote upgrade of our Synology Transporters, but the manual upgrade is easy and no problem at all. 

Some SNMP features to configure our monitor software would be great since emails sent to me sometimes could be lost in all those other mails. 

Some customers from Germany might have a problem when contacting English speaking sales and support team, but that has never been a problem to me, although my English hasn't been used much in the last couple of years.

I've been using Nakivo Backup & Replication for Nutanix since 2020.

There have been no crashes and no unfixable errors (there is a good knowledge base, and self-explaining error messages).

Since I'm using Nakivo to backup only ten virtual machines at the moment, I will have to wait until I backup my whole Nutanix cluster to find out about the scalability.

The sales representatives are nice; we didn't need technical support.

I'm still using Veeam Backup and Replication, but since this solution had huge problems backing up our file server (5 TB), I switched to Nakivo for some servers and will be completely replacing replacing Veeam by the end of its maintenance.

Yes, if you just follow the steps outlined in the setup assistant, you get it going in less than half an hour.

I implemented the solution by myself.

After weeks of working with Veeam support without any success, I can say it was worth every Euro spent since I have a working solution and can sleep better.

Nakivo has way lower licensing costs than Veeam - at least in our environment, with Nutanix as the protected cluster. Talk to your sales representative; they sold me the right license.

I am using Veeam and tested only Nakivo as a possible replacement.

I do not have any other comments at this time. 

After looking around the internet for a quick, simple, and easy solution, I gave Nakivo a chance. I implemented it for backing up a small customer environment with one VMware host and four guests. The guests are two Linux and two Windows servers.

It's connected to a Synology NAS station via an NFS mount. The customer was looking for a quick way to back up their environment after recently suffering a significant data loss due to a user error. It had a real impact on their business and they asked for my help in putting something in place.

The customer didn't have any backup solution in place to protect their current server environment. This was a very quick and simple solution that fit their needs, and it was free!

They are now able to get a daily backup of their environment, including their main file share that has thousands of files stretching back for at least seven years. The loss they sustained cost them at least two man-weeks of effort to restore. 

Nakivo is very easy to set up and configure, and I chose the simplest install option possible. It is an OVA running on their server, which plugged right into their environment.

Nakivo's installation and background documentation is on point, answering a few simple questions I had.

This product has a very clean and intuitive GUI.

After running this for a week, I've found that the data compression and data deduplication is extremely valuable and efficient.  The server also has a very low overhead impact on the VMware server.

I would think that as it's used in larger environments that might be more than one server, and you're going to need a better authentication mechanism. For example, integration into Active Directory or some other form of LDAP would be helpful.

I had to manually install SNMP, which wasn't hard, but a step I had to take, to plug this into the monitoring system.

I've been using Nakivo for a couple of weeks.

Nakivo has been extremely stable so far.

I am not sure about scalability because I haven't used it in a large situation yet.

I haven't needed to interact with technical support.

They had no previous backup system.

Very simple and easy to use via an OVA setup.

I deployed it myself.

The ROI is Infinite because it's free for this kind of small environment!

As a free solution for a small environment, this is a great solution!

I spend about an hour browsing other free solutions, but they were either limited by too few backup targets or didn't provide dedupe.

For the most part, I don't have anything I'd change for this small type of environment. It has been super simple and easy to install, configure, and use. The operation of the application works as advertised.