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Hitachi ShadowImage vs NetApp SnapMirror comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Jan 1, 2025

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Categories and Ranking

Hitachi ShadowImage
Ranking in Data Replication
8th
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.8
Number of Reviews
2
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
NetApp SnapMirror
Ranking in Data Replication
1st
Average Rating
8.8
Reviews Sentiment
7.1
Number of Reviews
26
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2025, in the Data Replication category, the mindshare of Hitachi ShadowImage is 6.0%, up from 5.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of NetApp SnapMirror is 15.0%, down from 21.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Data Replication
 

Featured Reviews

Bratislav Petkovic - PeerSpot reviewer
Efficient replication and helpful for improving data processing and management
The technology behind Hitachi ShadowImage has been around for a long time, and while it works correctly, it does have some issues. We have experienced problems with it, even though Hitachi provides good hardware. Technical support could also be improved, as it sometimes takes a few days to resolve issues.
Abdul-Salam - PeerSpot reviewer
Provides great data loss recovery and real time replication
Deployment was very smooth and took around two weeks. Following that, we carried out our data migration which took time. We previously used a Windows file independent server with its own local disk and Windows OS. It's not compatible with NetApp so data had to be physically migrated. We also took extra time integrating with our antivirus software and configuring external tape libraries with NetApp. We had one staff member involved in the deployment and an engineer from our partners. We have close to 900 users. The solution requires routine tasks as opposed to maintenance. We have three or four people with access to this storage.

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"The most valuable features are its ability to handle large databases efficiently and the asynchronous replication capability."
"The most valuable feature of Hitachi ShadowImage is high-speed data transfer from one server to another. Other solutions would have problems with transferring 50 TB of data. I also like that Hitachi ShadowImage is easy to use."
"There are a lot of features that are excellent. The data compression during the transfer, for example, is good. The replication is great. The durability of the solution and the speed of the data moving from one site to another is impressive."
"Data protection is a valuable feature."
"The user interface is very easy to manage. The replication is also very easy to set up."
"NetApp SnapMirror stands out for its ease of management, efficiency, and scalability, which align well with our operational needs."
"NetApp SnapMirror's ease of use and reliability are valuable features."
"The most valuable feature is the snap shot."
"Overall, the product is very good. It's an easy to use tool."
"The tool seamlessly moves data over the network without putting pressure on the network."
 

Cons

"API and script configuration in Hitachi ShadowImage is sometimes complicated, so this is an area for improvement. Another area for improvement is that the Hitachi ShadowImage interface isn't as user-friendly."
"We have experienced problems with it, even though Hitachi provides good hardware."
"If they can make the application free like other vendors or include it in all the packages, it would be great."
"The tool should also work on third-party solutions."
"Synchronous replication with read-write on both sides in both data centers is powerful but risky since it is greatly affected by high network latency."
"Compression and deduplication could be improved."
"There is probably some limitations when it comes to the scalability of the solution."
"The price could be cheaper."
"The new coursework models need to be improved. The bandwidth monitoring could also be better."
"We have different families of storage, such as the E-Series and Flash systems, but NetApp cannot be set up between them."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"I don't have pricing information for Hitachi ShadowImage because my manager handled it."
"The cost is low compared to different vendors."
"The solution has monthly and yearly licensing options."
"SnapMirror is extremely expensive. We had a hard time adjusting to our budget. If rated on a scale of one to ten, with ten being the most expensive, I would definitely rate it ten out of ten."
"It's part of the NetApp Firewall, so it's free."
"It's a highly cost-effective solution"
"The product price is reasonable."
"The pricing could be improved."
"The pricing can be improved."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
No data available
Manufacturing Company
19%
Computer Software Company
14%
Educational Organization
7%
Financial Services Firm
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
No data available
 

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Hitachi ShadowImage?
The pricing of Hitachi ShadowImage is reasonable, especially when you purchase Hitachi storage, as ShadowImage and Thin Image are part of the protector. The protector includes several components li...
What needs improvement with Hitachi ShadowImage?
The technology behind Hitachi ShadowImage has been around for a long time, and while it works correctly, it does have some issues. We have experienced problems with it, even though Hitachi provides...
What is your primary use case for Hitachi ShadowImage?
We use Hitachi ShadowImage for data replication processes. It is a practical tool for copying data from one LUN disk to another within the same storage. In our bank, we utilize it for making tests ...
What do you like most about NetApp SnapMirror?
The performance and stability are valuable features. It seems to fulfill all the requirements.
What needs improvement with NetApp SnapMirror?
They could make continued enhancements in integration with diverse platforms for the product.
 

Also Known As

No data available
SnapMirror
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

K&H, NCF, Aokang Group
University at Albany, City of Houston, Yahoo Japan, Washington Employment Security Department, DG Khan Cement Co. Ltd., AmTrust Financial Services, Sheridan College
Find out what your peers are saying about Hitachi ShadowImage vs. NetApp SnapMirror and other solutions. Updated: July 2025.
865,384 professionals have used our research since 2012.