Dell PowerProtect DD (Data Domain) Reviews

We've primarily been using the solution as a backup. What we understand is that we can create it with Veeam where Veeam backs up the network into Data Domain.

It's very easy to use Data Domain once it's been set up. The interface is also user-friendly.

The firmware upgrades could be simplified. I'm in the process of struggling to upgrade right now.

The dashboard could be more interactive.

The solution is very stable.

The solution isn't very scalable from what I understand, but I haven't attempted to scale the solution myself. We only have about ten IT personnel on it.

Technical support is good. I'm satisfied with them.

The initial setup was straightforward. I was finished with the setup after two to three hours.

We implemented the solution ourselves.

We are using the on-premises deployment model.

I would recommend the solution. I would rate it eight out of ten.

We use the on-prem deployment model of this solution and sometimes the public cloud. Our primary use case is for on-prem backup and for replication servers. 

The most valuable features are the deduplication and compression and the Data Domain Boost feature. It's compatible with other backup software. 

We have had deduplication and replication issues. When we used another backup software we noticed that it didn't have the same issues. 

Our customers would like to enhanced deduplication and compression features with Veeam software. 

It's stable. 

In terms of the scalability, I would rate it a ten out of ten. It's better than average. 

Their technical support is good. I would give it an eight out of ten. It could use enhancements. 

The initial setup was straightforward. It only takes around fifteen minutes or less. We required five staff members for the implementation. 

We used a service team for the implementation. 

There are a lot of different models and each one has a different price. Some models require spending more on additional fees. 

I would rate it 9.5 out of ten. 

The primary use is as a company backup.

The most valuable features are the DD Boost and the multiple applications and model platforms.

The solution needs a better cloud version. We need a solution that has a better understanding of the cloud.

The pricing model needs to be improved.

The stability is very good.

Scalability isn't the best.

The solution has excellent technical support.

The initial setup was straightforward. Deployment takes about two weeks with migration. You only need a few people for deployment and two or three people for maintenance.

We used an integrator to assist with the implementation.

I don't know the exact pricing, but I believe the solution is costly. You may also need to pay for extra features above the standard licensing.

We use the on-premises version of the solution. 

I would rate the solution nine out of ten.

Our customers have a lot of big data that they work with. The solution allows them to decrease the amount of data which can appear over the network and optimizes the bandwidth of the network itself.

The deduplication feature is the most valuable part of the solution.

The backup storage is also very good.

The solution could adjust the size of the discs. The processor or the cache on the Data Domain could be better.

Technical support is very good.

The initial setup is very straightforward. Deployment takes about a week. We needed two engineers to handle the initial setup.

EMC is very expensive for small customers. For enterprise-level companies, like banks, it offers a good price. 

We use the on-premises deployment model.

We're a reseller; we offer this solution to our clients.

I would rate the solution eight out of ten.

The primary use of the solution is inline deduplication.

The solution offers good storage. Also, deduplication and completion are the best features, in my opinion.

The pricing should be adjusted. Customers continuously talk about the price. They know it is a good solution and they really need the type of storage the solution offers, but it costs somewhere around $100,000 and up for enterprises. It's not cheap, but it's very important for data vendors. My customers are banks and petroleum sectors, so they need the backup and archiving systems. They can't leave a data center without it, even if the cost is high.

The solution is very stable. My customers have been very pleased with the solution so far.

The solution can scale up to one petabyte right now. It's very good for enterprise-level organizations.

I think this level of scale is still only for cloud providers. It's not for every customer. If I am a cloud provider or internet service provider, I can use it, as my scale is very, very, large. With any other company, you will not need more than 200 kilobytes. 

The level of technical support depends on your SLA. You have, for example, next business day, full support, full support plus, full support in four hours, onsite service, etc. 

EMC is under the Dell technologies portfolio. You've got one of the best technical support teams looking out for you. 

Pricing is related to size. A lower range solution might be about $33,000. My customers use higher range versions with a price of around $100,000. That's the price for both the hardware and the software.

I'm using the solution as a technical case professional. I'm selling it to my customers.

I sell the on-premises deployment model.

It's the best solution for deduplication and compression of storage, but the pricing is a little high. 

The solution works with any backup software. You might use it as a standalone or use it with VM, or solutions like Symantec, CMC software, etc. 

For those considering implementing the solution, I would say that they need to know their data gross and they need to allow for architecting. They need an understanding of their current backup situation and what they will need. They will need to remember to back up every day if their data is very, very important. 

When you are buying a backup solution, the Dell EMC team has an architecture team. They can be used to study the environment, so they can advise on what you need. A new user won't have to worry about it. Dell EMC will take care of everything.

Also, a user will still need to do data protection. They need to buy security devices for their environment. They should make a backup outside of their environment and make sure the backup is not connected to any internet connection to avoid hacking. 

I would rate the solution ten out of ten.

Used as a backup target with NetBackup 8.0.

DD Boost.

Short backup window has made a difference in the way my organization functions.

I would like them to improve on the short backup window as it would make my organization even more efficient.

From 2011 until now.

Some small issues.

No issues.

No issues.

Nine out of 10.

We used IBM ProtecTIER. We move to EMC Data Domain for better performance.

Straightforward.

We implemented using a vendor team.

Three years.

It is expensive, but the performance and deduplication cover for the cost.

IBM ProtecTIER and Oracle's Zero Data Loss.

Deduplication and VTLs.

As the cost of tapes start to mount, using the DD box for daily and weekly backups, and just keeping monthly backups on tapes, has greatly reduced the cost of backups.

It is an extremely useful tool to use for example in my case, in a redundant environment, as I manage duplications through Netbackup with Storage Lifecycle Policies. I keep my daily and weekly backups on the DD boxes replicated on both sites, and download the monthly backups for archive purposes.

That way I get the instant recovery that the DD unit provides, and in case I need to go live on the secondary environment, I can restore any vmware server in a matter of hours.

1 - Adding tapes to the VTL is a complex task.

2 - If DB backups could be somewhat compressed it would just be the dream product.

5 years on different versions of DD.

None on basic deployment for CIF usage, the VTL and virtual tapes is more complex to setup.

None at all, I have hardly had to reboot the boxes aside from a firmware update.

None, I am adding a second disk box and it is pretty much plug and play.

Excellent, when there is a new firmware update, EMC will call me to do the upgrade without even having to ask.

I have had a couple of hard drive fail, and they sent a replacement right away.

Very good, I had only had to deal with first level support for firmware updates, had some minor discrepancies with the steps to follow, after reading the instructions on how to do the firmware upgrade, the tech wanted to jump a couple steps.

No, we had regular backups to tape and a staging area, but no deduplication.

Initial setup is pretty straightforward, VTL configuration is a bit more complex.

Implementation was done through a vendor, their level of experience was very good. At the time of implementation I have had experience with the technology, but had not participated in the initial setup of the product.

With the increasing amount of data handled every year, the money we save on tapes, plus the speed that the DD allows backups to be done and having instant restores, makes this product the best investment a backup environment can add.

At the time of purchase, there was no other solution that was able to perform the same tasks.

Deduplication

Features of Archiving 

*) Thanks to deduplication, backups take less capacity in Data Domain than traditional storage devices. 

*) Backups to VTL take less time to finish than traditional tape backups (the time traditionally allowed to mounting/seaching tapes is avoided).

*) Using DDBoost improves DataDomain system throghput up to the double and Network usage during backup will be reduced.

DDBoost function is not compatible with IBM TSM. Since DDBoost is one of Data Domain key options  (it enhance its performance up to the double), it wil be great if in the next future Tivoli Storage Manager can support it!

< 1 year

The deployment is very easy. No problem encountred.

No

10/10

Initial setup is easy: After hardware installation (which is well documented) you just have to power up the data domain device then run a script which configure your device.

Then you can configure backups devices using webgui and this is really easy.

The EMC Data Domain product is a real success and customers which have never bought EMC products are now buying Data Domain...