PeerSpot user
Technical Manager at ONE Corp.
Real User
Enables us to back up file data but it needs better UI Design for Ease of Use & Deployment
Pros and Cons
  • "I have used Micro Focus Data Protector for the file backup facilities. My primary use of the software is to backup file data."
  • "They should design the solution so that it is much easier for deployment and make the UI easy to use."

What is our primary use case?

I use the Micro Focus Data Protector for our corporate data backup requirements. That is the main business need for this product by our company.

How has it helped my organization?

I don't like any function of the Micro Focus Data Protector. Honestly, I hate the Micro Focus Data Protector. It's not really good.

What is most valuable?

I have used Micro Focus Data Protector for the file backup facilities. My primary use of the software is to backup file data.

What needs improvement?

The software needs to redesign the UI and they should organize the functions so that they are much easier to use. It's very hard to understand how to use the software.

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For how long have I used the solution?

Three to five years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Micro Focus Data Protector is stable. I have one customer using it. The data center utilizes it. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It is scalable. We use it for our data center and website.

How are customer service and support?

We haven't contacted the technical support with Micro Focus.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is very complex. It's hard to understand how the components work together and how each component is related together. I read a lot of information but I still don't really understand MFDP. I don't spend much time on it, therefore it's hard to understand. 

The information about MFDP is easy, but the application of it is not easy. When I deploy the software, I only understand it because I have written down all the information.

It just takes a few hours to finish the installation and the configuration.

What about the implementation team?

I have deployed Micro Focus Data Protector myself with some technical issues and problems.

What other advice do I have?

The Micro Focus Data Protector solution is not really good, but it is "good enough" that it can help our client requirements. If I compare Micro Focus Data Protector with other solutions, MFDP just does not have enough complexity in the UI.

On a scale from 1 to 10, I would give Micro Focus Data Protector a seven. They should design the solution so that it is much easier for deployment and make the UI easy to use.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
it_user385245 - PeerSpot reviewer
IT Adminstrator at a manufacturing company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Vendor
I like that the recovery of individual files is a quick process. Exporting our internal database from our named site manage to disaster recovery site manager could be made easier.

Valuable Features

The most valuable feature is the ability to recover individual files. It's a quick process that takes very little time. It also provides the ability to manage other tape backup systems remotely from a centralized server.

Improvements to My Organization

It's given us the flexibility to recover individual files, which is important to us because we have a lot of end users who have the tendency to accidentally delete files on the shared drives. We're able to locate which tape the files are on. It's a pretty straightforward process.

Room for Improvement

We have a disaster recovery site and I'm trying to figure out how to export the internal database from our named site manage to disaster recovery site manager, that took some time. I wrote a script that's working, but it's kind of a cumbersome script to export the internal database and import it in our disaster recovery site. I have that script going everyday. If something happens, we have the latest database with our recovered data at a different site. But this is not a good process, so it would be good to have it streamlined.

Use of Solution

I've used it for five months.

Deployment Issues

We've had no issues deploying it.

Stability Issues

It's been pretty stable. I haven't had any instances of crashes.

Scalability Issues

We've had no issues scaling it.

Customer Service and Technical Support

Technical support is OK. They helped me with exporting our internal database. They responded to me within a reasonable time, but the person with whom I spoke didn't really know how to do or understand what I was doing. I had to figure it out on my own.

Other Advice

Learning the ins and outs of the application itself will take some time to wrap your head around, but once you do it's pretty easy to manage overall. It's a pretty straightforward product.

Disclosure: PeerSpot contacted the reviewer to collect the review and to validate authenticity. The reviewer was referred by the vendor, but the review is not subject to editing or approval by the vendor.
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Engineer at a computer software company with 501-1,000 employees
Real User
We use it to back up to VTLs without any problem
Pros and Cons
  • "Micro Focus Data Protector's most valuable feature is its interaction with the fiber share. It is easy to use, we use it to back up without any problem to VTLs, and can use the Fiber Channel that is still the TCP."
  • "In terms of what can be improved, I would say integrations with MongoDB. We use MongoDB and we need to go to scripts to do backups. We need more integrations."

What is our primary use case?

Our primary use case is to back up databases, file systems, servers and information in the database.

What is most valuable?

Micro Focus Data Protector's most valuable feature is its interaction with the fiber share. It is easy to use, we use it to back up without any problem to VTLs, and can use the Fiber Channel that is still the TCP.

What needs improvement?

In terms of what can be improved, I would say integrations with MongoDB. We use MongoDB and we need to go to scripts to do backups. We need more integrations.

The feature I would like to see in the next release is only more integration with new databases.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Micro Focus Data Protector for about 20 years.

We are currently using the latest update in some platforms. We are using version 10.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Its performance and stability are okay.

In terms of maintenance, we only need to do updates when we receive information. Not more than.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Micro Focus Data Protector is an easily scalable solution.

We have six people in my company using it.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup was simple for me because I am experienced and have used Data Protector for many years. It takes one hour maximum.

What other advice do I have?

I would recommend Micro Focus Data Protector to other users.

On a scale of one to ten, compared with other solutions, I would give it a nine.

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
it_user437310 - PeerSpot reviewer
System Engineer with 501-1,000 employees
Vendor
We can recover the user-specific data when there is data loss, such as a mailbox or file server.

What is most valuable?

  • Backup to Disk with StoreOnce software catalyst
  • Disaster Recovery
  • Zero downtime backup

How has it helped my organization?

Data Protector helps us to maintain data consistency and recover data with minimum downtime. We can recover the user-specific data when there is data loss, such as a mailbox or file server.

Having dual-cell manager in the environment at primary and secondary sites, data restoration and services can be made up in case the primary site goes down completely.

What needs improvement?

  • Technical Support
  • Troubleshooting
  • Restore using multi-path
  • Restore for Microsoft Exchange
  • GRE

For how long have I used the solution?

I've used it for more than seven years.

What was my experience with deployment of the solution?

I've had no issues with deploying it.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

There isn't much instability as the product has been stable with the exception of a few bugs during upgrades.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

There have been no issue with scalability until now for mid-level datacenters.

How are customer service and technical support?

Customer Service:

4/10

Technical Support:

Technical support is very poor and I would rate it as 1/10. The response from L1 is very slow and there is no handover when the engineer finishes the shift. There's no direct interaction with the L2 or L3, which makes the case take more time. L1 basically behaves as a mediator for transferring the information from the customer to L2 or L3, and they don't perform any troubleshooting.

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

I haven't migrated a customer with different solution to Data Protector, but I have seen a customer move from Data Protector to Avamar, Veeam, and Commvault, who had better product offerings.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is straightforward if you understand the architecture correctly.

What about the implementation team?

We implemented it with out in-house team.

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

Licensing is categorized for each sub component rather than on the basis of services which is what we would like. For example, there is one license for all GREs, and similarly one license for all zero downtime backup products.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

No other options were looked at.

What other advice do I have?

It's easy to learn for new users, not complicated, and has a simple backup and restore procedure. Last but not the least, it's easy to recover in case of disaster. The drawback is that there is some inconsistency and bugs with the level of technical support.

I would recommend the product to others keeping in mind the ease of implementation, maintenance of software, and easy backup and restore steps.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
it_user381510 - PeerSpot reviewer
IT SysAdmin at a manufacturing company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Vendor
The most valuable feature for us is its ability to connect and integrate with all the other systems of our company. The database, stability, ease-of-use, and the interface need improvement.

What is most valuable?

I think that the most valuable feature for us of HP Data Protector is its ability to connect and integrate with all the other systems of our company. It's very important to us that all individual solutions in our IT infrastructure are able to work together.

How has it helped my organization?

Because HP Data Protector connects with the other systems in our company, we're able to better use our time and resources to address other concerns instead of dealing with issues of incompatibility.

What needs improvement?

There are several areas for improvement, including the database, the stability, ease-of-use, and the interface (which is too old).

For how long have I used the solution?

I've used it for about four years.

What was my experience with deployment of the solution?

Yes, we've had some issues with deployment. Sometimes we've needed to connect to a client and launch the deployment from there.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Yes, we've had issues with stability. Specifically, the database that uses this version of of Data Protector is unstable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

We haven't had any issues with scalability of the solution itself. The only thing that holds it back are the licenses we've had to purchase to run more jobs.

How are customer service and technical support?

Customer Service:

I'd say that customer service is nice.

Technical Support:

Technical support is good, but it seems that we're always needing to update versions.

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

We used a previous solution and we switched to HP Data Protector based on our partner's recommendation.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup was complex and we needed support from HP to complete it.

What about the implementation team?

A vendor team implemented it for us. They had a nice level of expertise.

What was our ROI?

I'd say that our ROI is bad.

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

HP Data Protector is an expensive solution.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

We did not evaluate other options.

What other advice do I have?

My advice would be to evaluate it first. My opinion is that HP doesn't improve this product enough.

Disclosure: PeerSpot contacted the reviewer to collect the review and to validate authenticity. The reviewer was referred by the vendor, but the review is not subject to editing or approval by the vendor.
PeerSpot user
it_user339234 - PeerSpot reviewer
System Engineer at a government with 501-1,000 employees
Vendor
It provides us with reliable backups and restores., but the graphical interface needs to be improved.
Pros and Cons
  • "The reliability of HP Data Protector is the most valuable feature for us."
  • "The graphical interface needs to be improved."

How has it helped my organization?

It provides us with reliable backups and restores.

What is most valuable?

The reliability of HP Data Protector is the most valuable feature for us.

What needs improvement?

The graphical interface needs to be improved.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

No issues encountered.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

No issues encountered.

How are customer service and technical support?

Customer Service:

It's great.

Technical Support:

It's great.

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

We used Arcserve 2000, and switched because Data Protector is more reliable and the licensing options are better.

How was the initial setup?

It was mostly straightforward.

What about the implementation team?

The implementation was done by a technical team from HP who had a great level of expertise.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

We also looked at Symantec Backup Exec.

What other advice do I have?

It is fast, reliable, and its licensing policy is great.

Disclosure: PeerSpot contacted the reviewer to collect the review and to validate authenticity. The reviewer was referred by the vendor, but the review is not subject to editing or approval by the vendor.
PeerSpot user
it_user568026 - PeerSpot reviewer
Director and Information Technology Responsible at Liebherr
Vendor
The most valuable feature is the number of agents available to back up our data.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable feature for me is the number of agents available to back up our data.

How has it helped my organization?

It provides one solution for all our backup needs.

What needs improvement?

We could use the ability to do snapshots for mass storage systems.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The stability is very good.

How is customer service and technical support?

Technical support is very good.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup was 12 years ago. That’s a long time ago.

What other advice do I have?

I would advise colleagues to have a look at it, and maybe to choose it.

The most important criterion when we select a vendor is the catalog of products, quality of the product, and the price.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
it_user366666 - PeerSpot reviewer
Operation Team Manager at a consumer goods company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Vendor
We find the simplicity very useful.

Valuable Features

It's very easy to use. Really, the simplicity of it is something we find very useful. Otherwise, it might not be a solution that's beneficial for us.

Improvements to My Organization

Our central system must be powered at all times. Data Protector is always available for powering our central system. It does exactly what we need it to do.

Room for Improvement

It works with virtual machines, but it's way too complex right now. Also, the licensing structure is not very good.

Use of Solution

We've used it for 15 years.

Deployment Issues

It deploys without any issues.

Stability Issues

It's quite stable.

Scalability Issues

We use the 300 series servers. We've determined that it won't scale any more for us while we researched an alternative backup solution. Have have 90% virtualization now that we're suing VMware and CommVault.

Customer Service and Technical Support

Technical support is quite good.

Initial Setup

The initial setup was complex.

Pricing, Setup Cost and Licensing

It's not an expensive solution.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
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Updated: May 2024
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