OpenText Data Protector Reviews

Typically, our clients utilize OpenText Data Protector for Oracle firewall backup NDMPs and, more recently, for HANA. I have undergone training where OpenText explicitly stated their support for SAP HANA. Thus, we have a client base for whom we provide data protection using the Data Protector tool.

Every feature is important in data protection. Every feature plays a vital role. There's nothing particularly about it. 

It is easy to understand and implement. It is also easy to upgrade. These are the main challenges that we face, but OpenText Data Protector makes it quite simple.

In SAP restoration, we faced issues with changing the SIDs and changing the path for every backup object. It is quite a lengthy process to do that. We have to change that individually on every object. We have also provided an enhancement request to the OpenText team.

The backup process for SAP Oracle could be improved. When restoring, the need to alter SIDs arises, particularly in scenarios involving server changes or out-of-place restores. This leads to a requirement for modifying remote checkpoint settings and initiating the restoration process. The situation becomes more complex and time-intensive when dealing with a large number of files.

So, improvements are needed for the backup of SAP Oracle, especially for situations involving CPR codes

Another area of improvement is support. There's room for improvement in terms of the support we receive from the OEM or the technical support team.

The reason for seeking improved support is mainly due to extended response times. Mostly, I've encountered situations where an engineer has to wait until the end of their shift before passing the issue to the next level of support. This process takes too much time to resolve any issue. Unfortunately, we frequently do not receive dedicated support from the Micro Focus team.

Another area of improvement is stability of the application on Windows.

I have worked with this solution for more than two years. We currently use the latest version.

The stability is poor, especially the application which we run on Windows. It is not that stable, so we do some issues with the application. 

I would rate the stability a four out of ten. 

Our clients are normally enterprise-level businesses. So, we have approximately 30 clients using this solution.

There have been instances where Micro Focus helped us resolve cases, but most of the times, we handle the issues ourselves due to the prolonged response time from their team, sometimes taking several days.

Neutral

I would rate my experience with the initial setup a nine out of ten, where one being difficult and ten being easy. 

It is very easy. 

The deployment process typically takes around one or two hours.

To deploy the solution, you initiate the process by right-clicking in the admin interface. The deployment can be done manually or set up for automatic deployment. Information confirmation is a key step, and the solution is then automatically deployed. 

The pricing falls somewhere around seven out of ten, where one being cheap and ten being expensive. It's neither too expensive nor very cheap.

Usually, I work with the standard license rather than a capacity-based one.

I recommend it because it's simple to use, easy to understand, simple to operate, and simple to implement. The backup stability is commendable, even when dealing with NDMP and SAP Oracle backups. Based on my experience, I would suggest Micro Focus Data Protector to our enterprise clients.

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

The simplicity of the software since when it was deployed makes the training easy for the backup operators (there is a big rotation of employees in this area).

The file system backup (by far, the most used) is the most valuable feature.

Integration with the market applications must be improved, such as MS Exchange, MS Active Directory, SAP and Oracle. Other backup tools are more efficient with the integrated backups.

We encountered some stability issues. Before 2014, the system run over HPE-UX platform when some software issues were recurrent. After it moved to the x86 platform, these were reduced a lot (almost to zero).

There were some scalability issues. In the older version 7.0, we reached the clients limit (500, if I'm not wrong).

I would rate the technical support a six out of 10. The ticket takes too long to be forwarded to the superior levels of support.

Since I have been working in my company, we have been using this software.

The setup was simple, i.e., both the setup and the administration are simple. That's one of the advantages (maybe the only one) of the HPE Data Protector.

Before, we did not look at other solutions, but now we are analyzing other solutions, e.g., probably Veeam, Commvault and Veritas.

The HPE Data Protector may not be enough to support your RPO/RTO needs, specifically for application integrated backups. Possibly, some complementary solutions will also be needed.

• Customers have been able to utilize multiple data protection schemes to be implemented with a single point of contact.
• Utilizing a single point of control has helped to maximize all current data storage technologies (AIT, LTO, DLT, etc.)
• Allowed for the leveraging of the latest methodologies such as snapshots, dynamic mirrors, hypervisors, deduplication, compression (in-line, hardware and/or software), and encryption (with or without PKI integration).

• Ability to automatically detect and secure new data sources without requiring manual configuration intervention.
• Has an extensive support base for most data formats.
• Natively allows the solution to be a ‘one-stop-shop’ for any enterprise data security requirements.
• Seamlessly integrates database security (i.e., Oracle, Sybase, Microsoft SQL server).
• Utilizes product APIs: Allows for the leveraging of the latest manufacturer product innovations without compromising data security or recoverability.

Data Protector's main single point of weakness is its GUI. While being very easy to use and intuitively constructed to present users with a minimal learning curve, nonetheless:

• It can occasionally be inaccurate in its backup/recovery time estimates
• It can sometimes reflect incorrect data quantities for a specific source stream

There have been some stability issues. As with any product remaining on the cutting edge of security and protection trends, utilizing the newest features comes with its share of caution by the user.

HPE Data Protector product support is always on the lookout for customer issues and provides patches and hot fixes immediately if presented with an undiscovered flaw.

It does have some issues better left behind. I am specifically thinking of Data Protector, Version 8, which went ‘off the rails’ fairly quickly and is best avoided.

Upgrading from Version 7 directly to version 9 is supported and strongly recommended.

We did not have any scalability issues. One of the shining attributes of Data Protector is its scalability.

Data Protector can easily coordinate and maintain any user's storage deployment, regardless of the complexity. This includes:

• Backing up a single server with a hand loaded DDS tape
• Entire multi-petabyte data centers with remote site coverage
• On-site/off-site storage duplication

Customer Service:

HPE support (Tier 1) can be a bit frustrating (as with virtually all vendors) with their reliance on keywords gleamed from user support calls.

More often than not, they can point a user quickly to patches or support documentation to alleviate the issue at hand.

Backline support provides individual customer assistance with an amazing level of familiarity with any given user need.

This often leads to developing enduring lines of communications with the best and brightest developers anywhere.

Technical Support:

I would rate technical support as follows:

• Tier 1: 6.5/10
• Tier 2: 8/10
• Tier 3: 9.5/10

We previously used Backup Express and Alexandria. They were both file products. One lacked the breadth and depth of source compatibility, and the other had almost insurmountable configuration implementation issues.

The installation was very straightforward. You simply:

1. Point to a source to be secured
2. Define a pool of media
3. Define a backup device
4. Create a schedule

Poof! You’re in business.

Vendor interaction for basic to moderately complex deployments is usually not needed. For complex multi-site, multi-vendor, deployments, HPE provides a wealth of assistance to attack and resolve even the most convoluted enterprise environments.

For the most extreme, complex environments (FIPS, Tempest, DoD, etc.), HPE consulting provides excellent support from the initial design to complete overhaul/upgrade.

This is not a simple answer. ROI is almost immediate for basic, single data center deployments.

However, for complex multi-site, multi-vendor, encrypted, de-duplicated, WAN tuned deployments, ROI can be an ongoing challenge. Retention requirements can change quicker than IT budgets can be formulated.

Pricing/licensing is Data Protector's single best offering. In its most basic environment, the only license required is for whatever target device is required.

If time and quantities permit the use of a single tape device, then there is no license cost above and beyond the initial base product purchase. (This includes a single tape drive license).

As your data environment grows, you can add as many sources as you like with no additional costs.

It is only when expanding the number of backup devices (tape drives/arrays, disk targets, etc.) that additional licenses are needed.

I personally have deployed this product at many customer sites and I only needed the basic, out-of-the-box license to protect an entire data center.

Other products (i.e., Backup Express, Alexandria) were pre-existing solutions which had become inadequate for the task at hand and required replacement.

I cannot recommend a better solution for enterprise-wide data security and retention.

One of the most valuable features is its integration with 3PAR and StoreOnce. The integration is more important than the features.

The integration of the tool benefits our organization. The support is unified from one company for all data, storage, and backup processes.

In the next release, I would like to see more integration with VMware and HPE Recovery Manager Center (RMC). We don't have RMC, unfortunately. We are planning on getting it.

I have asked about the Data Protector and its integration with RMC. It is only integrated for managing and doesn’t go much deeper. This tool is also missing some configurations and functionalities that I want.

The tool and its functionalities are stable. You can find more features with other products, but they will be adding more features in the new version.

This tool is scalable.

We were using NetBackup. Although it has more features, we switched to this tool because it has single integration and single support.

I was somewhat involved with the setup. It was in-between straightforward complex. The initial configuration takes time, as does the customization and fine-tuning of the jobs.

We're doing a huge backup for SAP. We do a backup every 10 minutes of very critical data. We don’t do the whole backup, but rather the database log backup. This data is really huge. It took us time to fine-tune it and make it better. HPE assisted us with this process a year and a half ago.

I would suggest finding out what features you need before buying.

We have two different systems. We use Microsoft Azure Backup for VM machines and Micro Focus for our file server, database, and cloud backups, like Exchange Online and so forth.  

The online backups of Office 365 have room for improvement. This is now available for the Exchange Online part of Office 365, but we're still waiting for SharePoint Online, Teams, etc. We know that it's coming, but it takes time.

We have been using Data Protector for more than 20 years. We started using it when it was an HP solution, but then Micro Focus acquired it. It was always the same product.

Data Protector is highly stable.

Data Protector is scalable. 

I've never heard any complaints about Micro Focus support, so I think it's okay.

Data Protector is quite simple and easy to deploy. The deployment is always the same. It's on a server, and the agents are deployed to the machines in a straightforward way. We have two engineers who deploy and manage all our backup solutions. 

We switched from device licensing to volume-based licensing for Data Protector.

I rate Micro Focus Data Protector eight out of 10. We chose Data Protector years ago because it supported all the systems and databases we needed. Other software packages covered a special range of products but didn't offer broad support. This was a long time ago, so I don't know the situation in the market today.

We run all of the bank applications on it. 

The solution allows us to be able to backup and exchange directly to backup Microsoft Exchange.

The solution is not intuitive enough. I think they should work on the user experience and the graphical interface. These can be a lot better.

I would give the stability a rating of seven out of ten. There are still some improvements to be made in terms of ensuring stability in the product.

Scalability is very good. Right now, we have ten users, including backup administrators, compliance, and audit. The backups run every day.

I would rate technical support as six out of ten. They don't respond in a timely manner when you report issues.

The initial setup was complex. It's because it's not user-friendly. I think they can work a lot harder at making the solution more intuitive. Deployment took about two weeks. For deployment and maintenance, we only needed two people.

We used a reseller that helped with the deployment. They were fantastic. I liked them a lot.

For us, the solution is bundled with other HP licenses, so I can't say how much the licensing is exactly. There are no other costs above the standard licensing fee, however.

We are using the on-premises version of the solution.

In terms of advice that I would give to those thinking about using the solution, I'd say this: it's a very good application. It does the job. It can be better, but it does the job. It does everything any basic backup application should do. The interface could be more intuitive and more colorful to help with its ease of use.

I would rate the solution seven out of ten.

It is really helpful in giving us a great backup and restore environment, and it's especially a great help in doing the granular recovery for VMs, SharePoint, and Exchange servers.

It is very reliable on the server side for providing a trustworthy backend. The installation was simple and provided an easy way to install even on Unix servers. It has excellent features like deduplication.

Reporting on scheduled backups via the advanced scheduling option are non-existent, and this needs to be available.

VM backups needs to be improved. They need to make it similar to the way Veeam and Commvault are doing the virtual backups.

We've had no issues with its stability.

There have been no issues scaling it.

Customer Service:

It's not good and needs to be improved.

Technical Support:

It's not good and needs to be improved.

We were using EMC previously, and switched because this is easier to manage and it's cheaper.

It was easy and there were no major difficulties.

A vendor team came and performed the implementation. I recommend that you get a professional services team come and do it for you.

The ease of use for operators provides a quick response when restores are needed by the business.

The licensing structure provides cost savings to business.

We rely on generating daily reports on our stocks for auditing purposes. Those reports are useful; so I would say they are the most valuable feature.

It is also very good that you can use it either from the command line or from a GUI. It depends on who is using it, what they want to do with it, and on their preferences.

Our data footprint was constantly growing. We couldn't back it up according to the backup schedules we had, so we needed a solution for this.

We have used Data Protector for as long as I have been at the organization. We're a huge HPE house, so all of our technology for backups is HPE. We were hoping to leverage as much of our current HPE technology as possible by keeping all our technology and software within one software house. Over the years, the ratio of capabilities in terms of what we wanted compared to what it was able to give us has changed.

A couple of years ago, I said that the reporting wasn't sufficient. There should be better reporting within Data Protector, rather than making you turn to an additional HPE software application.

I think that no company can get reporting right. Whatever software I use, we are always looking for reports that they just can't provide.

Our data footprint has grown massively, and we're asking a lot more of it than it can do. When I started back in 2012, it was perfectly fine. It was the hardware that was not capable of providing us with what we wanted, not the software. Now it seems that the hardware is providing us with what we want, but the software is not.

If I base my evaluation on the conversation I had recently with my SME for backups, the software is not very stable. Maybe that's because it is integrated with the hardware layer. I would say that it runs, but there are always a lot of errors. The software's stable, but the actual components are not stable for doing what we want.

We have scaled out and, therefore, needed the software to scale with that technology. We have a global backup solution, so it has been scalable in that respect.

Based on a recent conversation, technical support has been working to fix a problem for six months, but still haven’t actually fixed it. With the process that he says he had to go through, they need to look at it, and start getting their third-line engineers working directly with the customer much faster.

The professional services department is excellent in terms of the setup and configuration. We updated the hardware technology to work with the software. I definitely couldn’t fault them in that respect. The issues are with troubleshooting and when you need support.

We are looking at other vendors now. With the announcement that the software layer is leaving HPE, we need to make sure we can protect our assets; so, unfortunately, we will be looking at other backup vendors.

• We had a chat with Veritas because we are already a Veritas customer. We are going to check with them first because we already have that relationship with them.
• We looked at an offshoot called Navigator. We felt this was going to give us everything that we wanted from a reporting point of view. I had to provide reports for our stocks, but I also wanted to provide reports for our CEO on how our data footprint was changing. Navigator was incredibly expensive.

If you’re looking to move from one software to another, you need to understand how well it can be integrated with your legacy information and be backward compatible. If it’s not backward compatible, you must be given a clear strategy or process to follow.

From an auditing point of view, or a needs discovery point of view, the most important thing to look for in a vendor is the capacity to understand your environment; and provide you with the right solution and a process to follow.

Go out to your network and ask people. If you've worked in IT, I always say it is worthwhile reaching out to old colleagues. If you're still in contact with them, ask them what they are doing, why they are using that software, and what the benefits are of using that software. You're going to understand more from someone’s first-hand experience.

A company can come in and say, “We have all these customers that can be references for us; but they just pick really small customers who it has been easy working with. They're not going to tell you about a customer like us who has been currently having lots of difficulty. So I'd say: Use your network and ask them if they can help answer your questions.