DataCore SANsymphony Reviews

My primary use case for DataCore SANsymphony is SAN rapid storage for virtual machines and the high availability for infrastructure.

The feature I found most valuable was the high availability with mirroring.

There is room for improvement in the graphical interface. 

I have been using the DataCore solution for about 12 years.

My impression is that it is a very stable solution. However, I did have one encounter with this solution's crash as the result of a wrong action taken by a user. The crash resulted in some data being lost. We had to restore some data.

My opinion is that it's a very easy solution and that it's very scalable. I am very happy with this product's ability to adapt, increase, and modify existing infrastructures.

We have about 20 clients who are using this solution.

I would rate DataCore's technical support a nine, on a scale from one to 10, with one being the worst and 10 being the best. Each time I requested help, they would call me back in 20 minutes or less.

Positive

I think that the initial setup is quite simple.

The deployment of DataCore depends on many factors, but for us, it took about one day for each server.

The license is paid twice per year.

This solution is quite fluent and stable and very easy to administer and use. I would recommend it to other people.

The primary use case is the provisioning of high-performance and redundant storage for our VMware platform. With the help of auto-tiering, the data lands on the optimal storage tier for it. Furthermore, integration into the backup system is very important to us. We use Veeam B&R, which, with SANsymphony integration, is able to work much more efficiently via storage snapshots. 

We use SANsymphony within a data center distributed over two locations. This was very easy to implement. This also includes settings that optimize the data traffic between the locations.
We plan to extend our system to 4 nodes. We want use the 2nd synchronous mirror to enhance the resiliance.

With SANsymphony, we were able to set up fully redundant storage across two locations. We use SANsymphony as the main storage for our cloud and dedicated customer environments. 

We were impressed by the integration into virtualization and the backup system. SANsymphony integrates seamlessly into our VMware platforms. Auto-tiering enables us to keep the storage content on the optimal storage tier easily. 

Synchronous mirroring ensures very high availability for us and our customers. In the event of maintenance or failure, an automatic failover takes place. The automatic failback is the cherry on top of the cake.

With the new functions of the 2nd synchronous mirror, data can now be kept even more secure and availability increased.

Integration with Veeam Backup & Replication has enabled us to improve our backup infrastructure significantly. 

The use of storage snapshots and backup via Fibre Channel reduces the load on the productive infrastructure.

It is the sum of the many, often outstanding, individual functions that help us to ensure economical and safe operation for us and our customers. The most important functions for us are

The synchronous mirror allows us to operate a fully redundant storage solution that is distributed across two sites. It can even cover the failure of an entire site. This also benefits us during complex maintenance work, as no downtime is required. 
With the 2nd synchronous mirror, full redundancy is still provided even in the event of maintenance or an unplanned outage. I know of no other storage system that offers something like this.

Auto-tiering enables us to store the data on the storage tier that is optimal for it. This also works within a vDisk, so old or cold data ends up on cheaper data carriers than the new or hot data accessed more frequently.

SANsymphony is being continuously developed. This makes it easier for us to respond to new challenges.

I see potential here in the support of NVMeoF, both as a target and in the backend. In addition, there should be new ways to improve the redundancy of the pools created with it - e.g. through extended RAID functionality (RAID5 or RAID6) or erasure coding.

Management could be improved. The management console sometimes reacts very slowly.

In the area of the HCI solution, I could imagine a different mode of operation. For example, a group of servers form a pool in which the data can be stored. 

Protection could also be guaranteed here via replication and erasure coding.

We have been using Datacore SANsymphony since 2007.

The systems are very stable. No great administrative effort is required to keep the system in good condition. Provided it is well-sized, it optimizes itself.

SANsymphony is very adaptable. Increasing the storage capacity and/or improving performance through faster systems in the backend are no problem.

Datacore support is one of the best in the industry. They offer a fast response and competent answers or even remote sessions. Support is always available 24/7/365.

Positive

We used StoreAge SVM with Dothill storage systems. 

SANsymphony has more and better functions. The TCO is also better.

The setup is quite simple if you are familiar with the storage environment. Certification as a DCIE is required. This ensures that you are sufficiently familiar with the system to install and administer it.

We did implement it in-house.

I can't give an exact ROI. The stability, availability, and performance pay for themselves immediately.

Good sizing is the basis for a stable and high-performance environment. It is important to plan in sufficient reserves.

It can make sense to license a higher number of TB if this puts you in a better price category.

We did not evaluate other options.

SANsymphony is best in class. It's flexible, like a Swiss army knife.

SANsymphony is our software-defined storage platform that provides the best scalable high availability of our files, and it seems to have the best data protection. 

It enables us to deploy multiple servers and multiple sites to increase data availability. 

SANsymphony ensures business continuity with three lines of defense: transparent bypass of storage problems, reactivation at another location, and secure recovery of an earlier ‘healthy’ data state.

We have had no problems with our files for more than ten years.

Our filesystem has been a reliable and robust system that has been serving us well for many years. We have been using it without any issues, and it has been working smoothly and efficiently. 

The system has only experienced short downtimes for updates, which can be done part by part. This means that the company users don’t even notice any service downtimes. 

Our filesystem is a testament to our commitment to providing the best possible service to our employees, and we are proud of its performance over the years.

Our redundant file space is a reliable and robust system that has been serving us well for many years. We have been using it without any issues, and it has been working smoothly and efficiently. The system has been designed to ensure that there is no data loss, and we have not experienced any problems with it. Our redundant file space is a testament to our commitment to providing the best possible service to our users, and we are proud of its performance over the years.

Our system is designed to be scalable and flexible, so it can grow and adapt to meet the changing needs of our clients.

We regularly update our software and hardware to ensure that we are using the latest technology and security protocols. We monitor our system 24/7 to ensure that it is always running smoothly.

We have been using this product for a while now. And we have to say that we are still impressed. We need no more features. Our company needs no added or new features; it’s the best solution as it is at the moment. 

The product is (for our implementation) stable and secure. We highly recommend the solution as it is. Use it how it is, and you will see how perfectly it is working.

I'd like to see the company make the renewal of the software cheaper.

I've used the solution for more than ten Years. Our distribution partner recommended this solution. This was the best decision we have made.

We did use a different solution, however, DataCore brings us more comfort.

The service cost and setup are low. Licensing could be cheaper.

Our service provider recommended DataCore, and we have trusted the choices of our partner.

The solution allows you to virtualize storage via software and not at hardware level, allowing you to also implement hyper-convergence and hardware-independent solutions.

Since the data is written on two distinct nodes yet mirrored between them, this allows for easier maintenance of the individual nodes.

We have implemented the solution to replace the infrastructure consisting of two physical VMware servers and shared storage, thus removing the single point of failure for the connection with the storage.

This solution allows us to have greater data continuity as the data is synchronized between two servers.

In some installations, this solution allows us to have the IT infrastructure replicated between two different sites within our company, and by implementing a third server, it also allows us to have a disaster recovery site external to the company, thus allowing us to have maximum data continuity.

The data synchronization is spectacular. This is the fundamental characteristic of the solution which allows it to overcome the majority of hardware failures or electrical interruptions.

The continuous data protection feature also allows you to have protection from any malicious data encryption attacks, allowing you to perform timely recovery of storage data.

The use of the RAM cache allows you to speed up the writing and reading of data while also allowing for a possible increase in performance by increasing the RAM on the servers.

I found it a little unnecessary to have to rename the configurations within the graphics console in order to have unique names. We're having to rename the network ports in the graphical interface even if this operation had already been done at the operating system level.

There is also a web interface; however, at the moment, it does not have all the features of the standard graphical interface. It would be convenient to have all the features there too.

It would be useful to also integrate commands or scripts for optimizing the ISCSI configuration into the setup; at the moment, it is a separate script that needs to be launched.

I've been working with DataCore for about three years.

It is quite stable. However, it is important to have good coverage in order to handle power surges.

It is a very scalable solution in all directions.

The support has been excellent and punctual on every occasion.

Positive

For some customers, we used Nutanix. We switched to DataCore for an easier implementation.

The configuration is a little laborious. However, it is simple in its implementation.

You get to ROI quickly by reusing material.

The complexity of the initial installation may not be immediately clear.

We evaluated the Dell Vxrail solution.

We use it to ensure the availability and reliability of our clients' storage. It's deployed in environments with VMware, tech servers, and other equipment to establish a highly available infrastructure for our clients.

I find its high performance, total cost of ownership, strong availability, and simplicity to be the most valuable features.

The pricing could be improved.

I have been using this solution for 15 years.  Initially, we started with version 4.0, and now we're on version 10, PSP 16.

It is a very stable solution. 

It's scalable and works well in that aspect. We have around 20 customers using this solution. 

The customer service and support are quite fast. However, it is not a ten on ten because the support was unable to help with a functional program of the solution. The functionality was there, we struggled with it, but the support was unable to help us. 

Positive

The setup process is okay. Training is required for deployment, which is standard. It's not overly complicated.

The deployment process involves analysis, configuration, reception of configuration, and testing with the client.

Analyzing the installation is a very important step. It is important to analyze the installation, the infrastructure, the target, and after that configuration.

We require a team of engineers for deployment and maintenance of the solution. We have ten in-house staff members, along with some freelancers. Globally, we have eight professionals dedicated to DataCore services.

The licensing cost is reasonable, a bit on the expensive side but manageable.

Overall, I would rate the solution a nine out of ten.

My advice is to define the solution before deploying it because DataCore is indeed a good solution, but it's not the only one available. There are various other solutions in the market. 

Additionally, DataCore might not be suitable for all projects. Therefore, conducting a comprehensive analysis and careful consideration of the project's needs is crucial. Choosing this solution and deploying it should be approached with utmost importance. For instance, if you're dealing with big databases or transactional databases, it might not be the best-suited solution. The design of DataCore's solution isn't oriented towards this type of data. It's important to recognize this aspect.

I'm working on a SanSymphony infrastructure. I use it for my company, and this is also what we install for our clients.

All of the clients have to do maintenance operations during business hours, and they have to schedule it never to disturb their users. Thanks to San Symphony, they can do whatever they want, whenever they want.

I really like to dissociate virtual volumes from any virtual machines. It allows you to manage granularly the storage of your virtual machines. I separated VMs and files on different volumes in my case

Before using San Symphony, I had to work late to improve my IT infrastructure. Now, I can do it at any time of day.

We also won on availability. When one of the servers crashes, there is no effect on our production. It rarely happens; however, we would have been out of production with our previous infrastructure.

We do things differently now. We use our backup solution to backup storage rather than to backup machines, and I find it has less impact on the performance of our virtual infrastructure.

I really like the Rollback option, which is like a video of my storage. Administrators benefit from being able to return to a single previous point as precisely as they want.

I also find that the support team is a real quality of the Datacore SanSymphony environment. Opening a case is very simple, and the answers of support are always detailed with precision.

The dashboard is very intuitive, and there are many counters to diagnose what happens during a short period (like when a backup is in progress).

The product can be improved by making better filters to search event logs. When everybody shows the last event at the top of their board, San Symphony does it at the bottom, and sometimes, we don't see an alert that needs to be checked.

The service is still available every day and at every time of the day, yet only in English. For customers or technicians who don't speak and understand English, it would be great to have other language support, all the more so given the number of countries in which SanSymphony is used.

I've used the solution for three years.

I'm working on a San Symphony Infrastructure. I use it for my company, and this is also what we install for our clients. 

All of the clients have to do maintenance operations during business hours, and they have to schedule it never to disturb their users. Thanks to San Symphony, they can do whatever they want, whenever they want. 

I really like to dissociate virtual volumes from any virtual machines. It allows you to manage granularly the storage of your virtual machines. I separated VMs and files on different volumes in my case

Before using San Symphony, I had to work late to improve my IT infrastructure. Now, I can do it at any time of day. 

We also won on availability. When one of the servers crashes, there is no effect on our production. It rarely happens, but we would have been out of production with our previous infrastructure.

We do things differently now. We use our backup solution to backup storage rather than to backup machines, and I find it has less impact on the performance of our virtual infrastructure.

I really like the Rollback option, which is like a video of my storage. The benefit is for administrators because they can return at a single previous point, as precisely as they want.

I also find that the support team is a real quality of the Datacore SanSymphony environment. Opening a case is very simple, and the answers of support are always detailed with precision.

The dashboard is very intuitive, and there are a lot of counters to diagnose what happens during a short period (like when a backup is in progress).

The product can be improved by making better filters to search event logs. When everybody shows the last event at the top of their board, San Symphony does it at the bottom, and sometimes, we don't see an alert that needs to be checked.

The service is still available every day and at every time of the day, but only in English. For customers or technicians that don't speak and understand English, it could be great to have other languages support, all the more so given the number of countries in which SanSymphony is used.

I've used the solution for six months.

I have never heard one of my customers complain about the stability of San Symphony.

I knew about San Symphony six months ago, and this is the second update that I can see. Developers are working in line with what customers are asking for.

Every time I needed support, they gave me a solution.

Positive

I did not use a different solution previously.

The initial setup is very simple. There are documents to send to Datacore Support, and these were a little bit difficult to fill.

We are the vendor team, so for our use, we did it ourselves

The ROI is difficult to estimate.

I did not evaluate other options; my company already has a partnership with Datacore.

I am an infrastructure engineer for a partner and 95% of the infrastructure that I recommend and/or install and maintain for my clients are based on the triptych: SANsymphony/vSphere/Veeam.

I have often succeeded in convincing clients to add security to their storage by replacing an old single-site infrastructure while providing a Business Continuity Plan solution.

Of all the customers where I installed the DataCore solution, only one decided not to keep it; however, it was for reasons of political strategy following a change of CIO.

The main feedback from my customers concerns the performance of the DataCore SANsymphony - thanks to the embedded Auto-tiering technology which avoids users purchasing an expensive physical storage when the majority of their data is no longer active beyond a few weeks and do not need to be stored.

They have a quality support team, which offers assistance in French when necessary (particularly for Public Service customers who do not speak English fluently). They respond very quickly to engage with any serious problems encountered.

Auto-tiering to obtain performance at a lower cost without the customer having to purchase ultra-fast storage is great. The ease of increasing the volume of storage without interruption of services and without impact on users is helpful. At the same time, they are leaving the choice to adapt storage technology according to a user’s needs. The abstraction of the hardware layer, especially when it is necessary to change the brand and/or model of equipment during infrastructure renewal is good. The possibility of installing the solution in HCI mode for small structures makes it possible to address large accounts as well as small businesses.

I would like to see SMPA (Shared Multi-Port Array) technology developed with the aim of allowing a configuration identical to other storage arrays: instead of having a single storage controller per site, competing arrays all have 2 controllers for redundancy and securing data access (3Par, Unity, MSA, etc.) It would be necessary to automate the operation of two nodes managing the same storage per site and no longer be obliged to manage it by a system of scripts which must be revalidated each time the product is updated.

I've used the solution since 2002.

There will always be problems with a software solution; the responsiveness of the support and developers allows them to be corrected very quickly, and even sometimes individually, in relation to a specific problem for a particular client.

In the majority of cases, the failures that I encountered with my clients had their origin in one of the other components of the infrastructure (hypervisors or switches).

Scalability is one of the many advantages, as the evolution of the solution is simple and does not interrupt services.

Of all the software that I use in my job, it is the one that has the best support. When the problem is not with DataCore, they often help me and sometimes even directly provide the solution to modify the settings on the other components of the infrastructure causing the problem.

Positive

Sometimes some customers use other storage solutions, but whenever possible; I advise them to switch to DataCore

The initial training and accompanying certification made it simple and practical to implement the solution.

I am not able to answer for my clients; however, as long as they do not move to another solution, their ROI should correspond to their expectations.

Most of the time, it is easy to prove that in the long term, this solution is the most advantageous for the client cost-wise; both in terms of equipment renewal and ease of handling.

When I started proposing and installing, I only knew about traditional infrastructures that did not provide security at the data level.

My professional career will end soon; however, as long as the product is available, I will continue to recommend it to more and more new customers and maintain it among those who continue to use it.