Consultant, Backup Systems at a comms service provider with 10,001+ employees
Real User
User-friendly GUI and fast support, but container support should be improved
Pros and Cons
  • "The GUI is user-friendly."
  • "The process of upgrading versions should be improved because as it is now, you have to completely uninstall the old version first, and then install the new version."

What is our primary use case?

The primary use cases are file system backup, endpoint backup, and virtualization backups.

We are using it with Quantum and Dell Data Domain.

What is most valuable?

The GUI is user-friendly.

The performance is improving. It used to be that NetWorker's performance was not very good but after integration with Data Domain, and after they switched to a quality-based network solution, the performance increased.

Over the past five to six years, the speed that NetWorker connects between networks and servers has improved. It used to take a long time.

We are using DD Boost and it is helpful.

What needs improvement?

The integration of the web API should be improved. There has been new functionality added to the API but it should be easier to understand.

The Backup module should be improved, especially the functionality for SharePoint and SQL Server. We are having issues when we are trying to backup up Microsoft applications, and it happens when the data is very large. For example, our database is 19 terabytes and this is very large for NetWorker, so it runs slowly. We are not able to tune it and segment it. If it were a file system, then we could split it into smaller pieces. In cases like this, it is very fast. However, because we are not able to divide it, the backup is slow. This is one area that can be improved because often, people don't need to take a full backup. Sometimes, then just want a snapshot of some data.

The capability of incremental backups should be included. As it is now, when DD Boost tries to compare the current backup with the previous one, it has trouble with the large versions and it can take three to four days. They cannot perform an incremental backup using VSS technology for SharePoint or MS SQL Server. Definitely, backup for Microsoft applications needs to be improved.

They should improve the support for backing up containers.

The process of upgrading versions should be improved because as it is now, you have to completely uninstall the old version first, and then install the new version. If we compare this to another product, like Veritas NetBackup, it also has good features but when you upgrade to the latest version, everything is automatic.

I would like to see better cloud integration, such as with AWS or Azure.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Dell EMC NetWorker since 2007.

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Dell NetWorker
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What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I am not in the operations team right now, but my impression is that it's stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It is easy to scale and I have not found any issue in doing so. However, there can be issues when a proper sizing tool hasn't been used. We have had trouble with giving requirements based on what the sizing tool reports.

We have approximately 100 people user NetWorker and supporting the customers.

How are customer service and support?

The technical support from Dell is very good and very fast. We have a very good collaboration with Dell, and we are one of the valued partners.

I have been dealing with issues related to one of the solutions that we have provided. One of the ones in the past two months is that the SharePoint Backup was supposed to be done using the Microsoft SQL Server writer. They do not support the third-party's product, which is fine, but it's an accountability issue. Ultimately, I don't think that they do all of the investigations properly.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We are currently using EMC Avamar in addition to NetWorker.

I have also worked with Commvault and Veeam, and the integration with virtualization is better with these products. They also support backup using VPN, which is something that NetWorker lacks.

I cannot name a feature that NetWorker has that you don't find in other products. There are, however, features lacking in NetWorker that do exist in other products. They need to keep pace with the ongoing requirements that are in the market.

How was the initial setup?

I have been working with this product for a long time, so I find the installation very easy. This is also an area that has improved over time, as it has because easier than it used to be.

The length of time required for deployment varies between environments. Recently, I deployed it and it took approximately 20 minutes end-to-end, with configuration.

What about the implementation team?

We deploy with our in-house team. Our operations team is responsible for maintenance.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The pricing for NetWorker is in the mid-range. It is not very expensive and not very cheap. There are some extra features that required an additional license. For example, we save a separate data protection suite (DPS) license.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

I have been evaluating EMC PowerProtect to compare the performance of it with EMC NetWorker.

What other advice do I have?

For a file system backup or one that is on disk or in a tape library, or for virtualization, I recommend using NetWorker. I say this because of ease of deployment, ease of use, and the user-friendly GUI. 

I would rate this solution a seven out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
PeerSpot user
IT Specialist at a university with 10,001+ employees
Real User
A complicated enterprise-level backup solution
Pros and Cons
  • "Storage-wise, EMC is user-friendly."
  • "The configuration is too complex."

What is our primary use case?

We mostly use this solution for file-based backups. 

We are a global company. We use NetWorker and other backup products throughout the world. We have a very close and long-term relationship with the EMC Networker and we are not going anywhere. We have roughly 30 to 40 TB of data stored with them.

We use this solution daily.

We have scheduled backups, daily, weekly, and monthly and we use the dashboard as a monitoring tool; if there is a failure, we can reconnect all the operational activity.

I don't directly do the backups, my backup administrator coordinates with EMC regarding all configurations, upgrades, and operational needs.

What is most valuable?

Storage-wise, EMC is user-friendly.

What needs improvement?

The configuration is too complex. As a backup solution, it's not user-friendly.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using EMC NetWorker since 2014.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Dell EMC NetWorker is stable. We don't have any issues scalability-wise, but configuring and upgrading are complex.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Scaling out is very easy. We have a capacity-based license so we have no issues with the scalability.

How are customer service and technical support?

I personally don't deal with customer support but due to multiple unsuccessful attempts to upgrade, my administrator is not satisfied.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We are using Microsoft BPM in parallel; it's not an enterprise backup solution, but it is an alternate solution. EMC is a one-vendor solution — that's why we chose it, but it is not a good backup solution, it's a complex solution.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is complex. Currently, my team is doing an upgrade and they are having a lot of trouble. They have attempted it multiple times but are still unable to complete the upgrade.

What about the implementation team?

We are located in Pakistan, we have a vendor that supports and guides us. The configuration and upgrades are not simple compared to storage and other uses; it's much more complex.

We have our own team that takes care of all maintenance-related issues.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

We're using a capacity-based license. My administrator can take backups as per we have the license. Our license includes support and maintenance. 

What other advice do I have?

In my opinion, Networker is not a very good product. It's very complex compared to Veeam and other products. In short, we needed a single bundle solution, that's why we chose Networker. Overall, I think Veeam is better.

I don't recommend it because of its complexity and the updates, etc. We don't recommend that anyone uses Networker. We recommend looking into Veeam or another solution.

On a scale from one to ten, I would give Networker a rating of five.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Dell NetWorker
April 2024
Learn what your peers think about Dell NetWorker. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: April 2024.
768,578 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Chea Thoya - PeerSpot reviewer
Business Unit Head - Enterprise Compute and Business Resiliency at Konvergenz
Real User
Top 10
Highly reliable, quick support, and integrates well
Pros and Cons
  • "The most valuable feature of Dell NetWorker is its quick configuration and handling of large databases."
  • "Dell NetWorker could improve the GUI to include rack recovery."

What is our primary use case?

I am using Dell NetWorker for backing up mission-critical business databases.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable feature of Dell NetWorker is its quick configuration and handling of large databases.

What needs improvement?

Dell NetWorker could improve the GUI to include rack recovery.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Dell NetWorker for a few months.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is highly stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

We have four engineers using this solution in my company and we plan to increase our usage.

Dell NetWorker is a scalable solution.

How are customer service and support?

The support from the vendor was quick.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I used IBM Spectrum Protect prior to Dell NetWorker. We choose to use Dell NetWorker because it has quicker recovery time objectives and the integration into DD is a lot better.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup of Dell NetWorker is straightforward. The process took a few days to complete.

What about the implementation team?

We had some assistance when we did the implementation. However, after a while, we can do it ourselves.

What was our ROI?

We have observed a return on investment by utilizing Dell NetWorker, and we deem it a worthwhile expenditure compared to not having the solution.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The solution follows a subscription model for licensing. We pay annually to use the solution and the price is high.

What other advice do I have?

I would recommend this solution to others.

I rate Dell NetWorker an eight out of ten.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
OmobolajiOlaloku - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Enterprise System Engineer at a financial services firm with 5,001-10,000 employees
Real User
Top 5
User-friendly, easy to install, scalable, and is very stable, but they should provide local support
Pros and Cons
  • "Deduplication is the most valuable feature of this solution."
  • "I would like to see encryption included in the next release to encrypt the data that we are backing up."

What is our primary use case?

We use Dell EMC NetWorker for our database and applications.

How has it helped my organization?

Because of the duplication feature, we were able to save a significant amount of storage space. We do not have to duplicate the data that is being backed up to storage. With this feature, we can back up a single data set rather than multiple data sets.

It has enabled us to save a significant amount of storage space while also lowering our storage acquisition costs.

What is most valuable?

Deduplication is the most valuable feature of this solution.

It is very intuitive and easy to use.

What needs improvement?

I believe that the area of support could be improved. They don't appear to have an adequate number of staff members to assist us if we have any problems. It would be extremely beneficial if they could provide local support.

I would like to see encryption included in the next release to encrypt the data that we are backing up.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been working with Dell EMC NetWorker for three years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It is very stable. We have no issues with the stability of Dell EMC NetWorker.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Dell EMC NetWorkerDell is a scalable product.

We upgraded to a newer version twice.

We have a large company with over 200 users.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup was easy.

What about the implementation team?

We were able to complete the installation ourselves.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

Dell EMC NetWorker is very expensive.

Licensing fees should be reduced. It is a bit expensive, but it is a good application.

What other advice do I have?

I used to manage the backups, but I am no longer responsible for them.

I would rate Dell EMC NetWorker a seven out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: partner
PeerSpot user
Michael Schwarzer - PeerSpot reviewer
Managing Director at INT/box GmbH
Real User
Top 5
Works well for small-scale NFS file backup and disaster recovery
Pros and Cons
  • "The most valuable features for us at the moment are NFS, file system backup, and IP backup."
  • "We are looking forward to better stability in future versions."

What is our primary use case?

I was hired as a solution architect and implementation specialist for this solution. We are maintaining this solution for a customer in Hamburg, Germany.

I am working with an SAP on Oracle solution at the moment.

Our customers use this solution for backup and disaster recovery.

The usual deployment model for this solution is on-premise.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable features for us at the moment are NFS, file system backup, and IP backup.

What needs improvement?

The main problem that we are having had to do with stability. We are looking forward to better stability in future versions.

Our customers often ask for better integration with Microsoft Exchange.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using this solution for six years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Stability is something that needs to be improved.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

This is a highly scalable solution, but on a larger scale, it is not very stable.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I was contracted to migrate our client's disaster recovery environment from Tivoli Storage Manager to EMC NetWorker.

How was the initial setup?

The solution itself was easy to set up, but configuring a global disaster recovery environment was quite complex.

What about the implementation team?

I am a consultant who implements these solutions for our clients.

What other advice do I have?

When it comes to choosing this solution, it depends on the environment and the scenarios that you're focused on. There are many advantages with EMC NetWorker compared to other disaster recovery solutions, but the software is lacking in some areas that other vendors focus on. It really depends on what you want to get from the solution.

I would rate this solution an eight out of ten.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
System Administrator with 1-10 employees
Real User
The best feature is the DR replication for us. But, the implementation was difficult.
Pros and Cons
  • "This solution is really the best in the market! After evaluating other solutions, we automatically decided to use this one."
  • "The best feature is the DR replication for us."
  • "There are some limitations regarding scalability of the product."
  • "We have faced problems with the initial configuration of the solution."

What is our primary use case?

Primary use is a mixed and match backups, which include my file server, the Linux server as well as a the SQLs. As of now, we won't have that much of a challenge. But, sometimes it was required to make some manual intervention for any additional things. With Networker, we are having DD 25 MB as a back up solution. In addition, we are keeping the backup. So, currently it is working.

How has it helped my organization?

Earlier, we used the Veritas backup solution. Before, we had a lot of manual steps. Now, with Networker, we do not have those steps.

What is most valuable?

Currently, the best feature is the DR replication for us. So, whatever data we are taking in the backup, it will get replicated end of day to our DR site.

What needs improvement?

In Rubrik, we were getting less time for backup the things because snapshot feature is there. So we asked that our EMC account manager help us. He suggested some block based backup, but we have seen that it won't stand as compared to the rubric snapshot back up. Rubrik and Veeam has the directly cloud interface. So, you have to just  configure the credentials for the cloud access and you can start taking the backup from Rubrik, which means the local backup is after schedule. So currently we don't think there is anything  like this with the Networker. We would like Networker to have a cloud side approach, which it does not currently have.

In addition, we have been facing some problems what with the initial configuration. I heard that Networker has released some beta versions. 

For how long have I used the solution?

Three to five years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The stability is not so good, in the middle range.  Within the last 3 months, we were having some issues while just storing the backup. But it has been resolved within a one to two weeks. In regards to another case, it took a bit longer.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

This solution is bundled with this DD 2500. But, there is some limitation for scalability of the DD 2500 shells. I can add only one more single shell, and that is a limitation.

How are customer service and technical support?

We have used them, but we need to renew the service.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I have used Rubrik and Veeam in the past.

How was the initial setup?

The implementation was difficult and, due to some reason, it was not done properly and we had to suffer a lot. The problems were only rectified only a month ago, after multiple follow- up with EMC teams.

What about the implementation team?

When considering a vendor, I think it is key to find a solution that has:

  • Minimal manual intervention
  • Low cost

What was our ROI?

Any person who is going to be installing this product should have full knowledge, and they should deploy whatever most valuable features are there. They have to explain it to the end-user and get it utilized for them.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The low cost is important.

What other advice do I have?

Dell EMC Networker is really the best in the market! After evaluating the solutions, we automatically decided to use this solution.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
AndreTan - PeerSpot reviewer
Data Continuity Specialist at Sapta Tunas Teknologi
Reseller
Top 10
Efficient backup and recovery with processes, centralized management, and seamless integration with various platforms, providing reliable data integrity for enterprise environments
Pros and Cons
  • "The feature that offers the greatest benefits in ensuring data integrity is its backup capability."
  • "Regarding improvements for NetWorker, I believe implementing cross-platform restore functionality is essential. This feature would allow for compatibility with various backup software solutions, similar to Veeam."

What is our primary use case?

We use Dell NetWorker in the banking sector.

How has it helped my organization?

It optimizes Backup and Recovery procedures, making them exceptionally swift.

The types of data and systems we predominantly safeguard with Dell NetWorker include VMs. It enables us to protect infrastructure, bare metal clients, databases, and applications.

Dell NetWorker itself cannot replicate, hence relying on Data Domain for replicating data and backup configurations. 

Integrating Dell NetWorker with other Dell products can bring significant advantages to both our organization and our clients. Utilizing NetWorker enhances our understanding of the backup environment and workload.

What is most valuable?

The feature that offers the greatest benefits in ensuring data integrity is its backup capability. This feature significantly enhances speed and efficiency, which is crucial for our operations. Additionally, NetWorker can be installed on Linux systems, and it offers a virtual appliance option, which enhances security measures.

What needs improvement?

There's an issue with the management environment. Regarding improvements for NetWorker, I believe implementing cross-platform restore functionality is essential. This feature would allow for compatibility with various backup software solutions, similar to Veeam. Additionally, enhancing features related to virtualization infrastructure would be beneficial.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been working with it for four years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It exhibits remarkable stability. One of our clients has utilized it for over a decade, encountering only a single issue during that time. I would rate it eight out of ten.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I would rate its scalability capabilities seven out of ten. Our clients are mostly large enterprise organizations.

How are customer service and support?

I would rate the customer service and support nine out of ten.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

How was the initial setup?

I would rate the initial setup six out of ten because technical expertise is required for the process.

What about the implementation team?

Deployment typically takes approximately thirty minutes if you are familiar with the required steps.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The pricing for the telecom, government, and banking sectors is relatively affordable. Dell offers bundled packages, making it cost-effective, especially when considering the inclusion of DTS data protection.

What other advice do I have?

Before implementation, I recommend investigating to determine the types and sizes of workloads, as well as the expectations of their usage. Overall, I would rate it eight out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
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PeerSpot user
Pratyush Bhosale - PeerSpot reviewer
Chief Manager - information technology at UTKARSH SMALL FINANCE BANK LIMITED
Real User
Top 10
A stable enterprise-level data protection software, but it could be more user-friendly
Pros and Cons
  • "I like that it's stable and scalable."
  • "It could be more user-friendly."

What is our primary use case?

We run a software-based service. You need a network of software, and for that, you need one physical server with the connectivity of fiber cables and fiber cords. The server configuration has to be high.

What is most valuable?

I like that it's stable and scalable. 

What needs improvement?

It could be more user-friendly. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been handling Dell NetWorker for about a year and a half. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Dell NetWorker is a stable product. 

On a scale from one to ten, I would rate its stability at seven.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Dell NetWorker is a scalable product.

On a scale from one to ten, I would rate its scalability at seven.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

I have a capacity-based license, but I don't know the exact cost of that license.

What other advice do I have?

On a scale from one to ten, I would give Dell NetWorker a seven.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Dell NetWorker Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
Updated: April 2024
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Backup and Recovery
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Dell NetWorker Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.