Veritas NetBackup Appliance Reviews

We use the solution to back up everything we have, including SQL backup, Oracle, and VMware. It works very well. We like the solution and its price when compared with others. Data Domain and Veeam were fine, presenting the optimal solutions with the best prices. There was a period of many months that we had a lot of performance issues with Veritas NetBack Appliances, but since the upgrading has taken place it has worked very well. We do not encounter issues that are critical and the solution functions smoothly. 

The solution is the best for me, as it combines two solutions for use of our backup environment. Before 2016 we employed two solutions and it is now easier for us to manage our environment. 

The most valuable feature involves VMware Instant Recovery, which allows one to do restoration within seconds. It is very nice. We use it a lot for restoring VM.

The upgrade process of the solution needs to be improved since it is extremely complicated, especially without the benefit of a support person who can guide one through it. This can result in many problems. Occasionally we encounter issues with the backup process which necessitate support from Veritas. Consequently, I would highlight the upgrade process as being in need of improvement. 

We hope to see SQL Instant Recovery in the 9.0 version. It is the same as VMware Instant Recovery but its restoration processes are very fast, with the ability to handle a terabyte of data in a single minute. 

I have been using Veritas NetBackup Appliance since 2015. 

I consider the product to be good and very stable, although there are many things in need of improvement, such as the upgrade process. 

From the research we conducted, scalability seems good, but I cannot properly comment on this point as the size of our environment is very small. 

I feel technical support could be better. When we first started making use of the solution, we had the benefit of local support in Brazil, but today this is only an option in the United States. The support is okay, but it can take a while to receive a definitive answer. One must go through the first layer of support before being escalated, a time-consuming process. Nowadays, I consider the support to be okay, not bad, but it used to be better. 

Prior to our use of Veritas NetBackup Appliance, in 2016, we utilized Avamar. Though Avamar was a good solution and worked well, we encountered many instances of interruption in data transmission. It was, initially, a good tool, with a good appliance workflow. However, the Avamar that has been made available within the past five years does not provide a good window to sync data with Veritas NetBackup Appliance. This process is time consuming, which necessitated our use of two applications for managing our backup environment. Once we switched from Avamar to Veritas Netbackup Appliance there was no more need for two applications and these were replaced with a single one for the entire management of our backup environment. 

The initial setup is okay. It is not very difficult. While the planning stage requires the use of much Veritas material, it's easy. This is because we are talking about an appliance which has everything predefined or preconfigured.

The deployment took a long time. I believe that the process lasted a month-and-a-half. This is because it required us to do many validations, as we were replacing our solution.

The department we engaged to assist us with the installation and appliance configurations of the solution was very helpful and we did not encounter any problems. The implementation was extremely nice. I should point out that when we bought the Appliance we didn't use NetBackup and everything was new to us. This said, we had to do much configuration and planning, as we were buying not only the appliance but the solution as well.

I cannot say whether our licensing costs are on a monthly or annual basis, as we have a global contract.

As the solution is towards the end of its life, we are looking to replace it with a new or different one. While we are considering the Data Domain by Dell EMC, we are also looking at an Appliance solution. This is because the Data Domain will still require the use of NetBackup, but will serve the purpose of acting as a storage destination. We will only use NetBackup as it relates to the Data Domain. I know much about the application and we are looking to book solutions here. We would be able to take all of our knowledge of Appliance, but to use NetBackup software for third party storage.  

Prior to going with Veritas NetBackup Appliance in 2016, we evaluated two other solutions, one of which was Data Domain. However, at the time, we decided to go with Veritas NetBackup Appliance because it offered better pricing than the other vendors, with Data Domain serving as an illustrative example. 

We have a total of three people working on the Veritas NetBackup Appliance environment, two for the short and one for the long retention.

The size of the backup is very important. If this is not accounted for in the beginning of the appliance stage, many problems can arise. This was the case in our use of Dell EMC and Avamar and with all other backup solutions. With Appliance we encountered site problems, Appliance did not work well with HashBackup and there were many backups which used batch files, something that led to compression and deduplication of the data. This required us to replace or dump files so that we could use an agent for providing a direct connection to the database server software. 

Once we changed the size of the backup, the problem was solved. The issue addressed is present not only with Veritas NetBackup Appliance, but with any solution that possesses deduplication architecture. 

I rate Veritas NetBackup Appliance as an eight out of ten. 

With the NetBackup solution, we have a Flex Appliance in the central data center, which we use to backup remote sites. We will first do a local copy to a virtual appliance, and then to do a copy of the one network to the central appliances.

The most valuable technical feature for us is the deduplication ratio. This is a very important aspect in order to have a remote site backup. The advantage of the solution is that they provide agents for all types of databases and applications that are included in the solution.

The initial setup wasn't overly complex.

Technical support has been helpful over the years.

The initial setup gets easier the more you do it.

If you compare the solution to, for example, Dell Data Domain, it looks that the deduplication ratio is even higher than what we have on NetBackup. If they want to improve, then they should look at the deduplication ratio in future versions.

The configuration can sometimes be tricky during implementation.

If the features could be complete in that they can work on all systems, all operating systems, that would be ideal. We have a lot of diversity and integrations to the cloud. This means, for example, if your Flex Appliances are not sufficient, you, for example, can offload to Azure Cloud. I know in some devices it's already possible. However, it's not universally the case. 

Today, if we have to implement it as software, if we are talking about virtual appliances, we need to implement it as software. However, it could also be developed as a package, so that you just have to mount it and to have the service. That would also be an advantage.

We are a big company, and we have been using this solution already for multiple years. It's my understanding that we've used it for maybe five to six years.

The appliances that we are using with NetBackup are on our virtual private cloud. For a lot of other customers, they are using it as well for the remote site backup. Of course, we have plans to sell it more to customers and to also increase our usage amount - including the number of devices, the amount of software, and so on, that is needed. 

The technical support is not bad. We have a partner contact channel, where we can log cases and communicate with them. We're quite satisfied with the level of support we get and the amount of access we have.

We've also used HPE.

The initial setup wasn't complex. It was pretty straightforward. 

First of all, we have done it already a couple of times. That helps. You get used to it. Also, in one of our latest projects, we received assistance as well, from Veritas NetBackup. They were on hand to configure it correctly.

We have had Veritas help us with implementations. They assist in the configuration aspect of the process.

However, for the most part, we are a consultancy and service company ourselves, and therefore we have the needed resources in-house to handle most implementations ourselves.

We have a contract, a global contract, and we are providing services using that contract to different customers. However, I cannot say how much that costs us on a monthly or yearly basis.

We are an integrator and consultant.

While we tend to start by using the latest version of the solution, we may use various versions. I'm not sure which versions we are using right now.

We have a combination of different deployment types. 

My advice to others is that you should have a solution that can cover a lot of things. Especially if you look for the deduplication functionality. It's very important that you check that it's valid for complete virtual environments or VMware environments or Hyper-V environments. You can use it as a complete solution, meaning that you can have the full chain where you want to have deduplicated data streams and data storage locations. Users need to make sure that it is fitting on everything. Whatever a company chooses, they need to make sure before they start they aren't missing anything that they absolutely need.

With Veritas, you have the deduplication software and you have the Flex Appliances, and so on. I have learned also that there is some interesting functionality in the physical appliance as well, and that's not always known by teams of people. It could be useful as a DR solution, for example.

Overall, I would rate the solution at a seven out of ten. It does fill the requirements. The basic things are there. However, I have learned that other solutions have a higher deduplication ratio. If Veritas NetBackup would also come with a better deduplication ratio in the future I would rank it higher. 

For me, the main use case was as an on-premise data center backup, mainly in the Unix space with Oracle. That was the main reason to use it. I know it's got a capability in the cloud, however, we haven't used it in the cloud.

The consistency of using it over a long period of time has been excellent. The big one for me is when you're dealing with database backups, particularly. I’ve used it for Oracle and SAN, and I’ve used it a lot. It’s been great.

The solution is stable.

It’s quite scalable.

Depending on the setup structure, it can be complex to implement.

In my case, it's an enterprise environment, and they're always complicated. There's no way to get around there. With Backup Exec, everything is on Windows, and you don't have to worry about it. However, if there's going to be a critical Oracle database on the Unix system and then you're going to have new Windows and the Linux, it is going to be complicated. There's no way around it, particularly with the customers.

I’ve used the solution on and off for 20 years. It’s been a very long time.

I'd say it's very stable. I use it specifically for enterprise customers. Small customers use Backup Exec. There are no bugs or glitches and it doesn’t crash or freeze.

The product is extremely scalable. Expanding is not an issue at all.

We’re a large SME. 1,000 people or more are using it.

In my new role, I have no plans to increase usage.

Tech support has usually been good when we've had disasters, or we need to do recovery. Support has been good and we’ve been able to get access to them. We’ve been satisfied with their level of assistance overall.

With NetBackup, just setting it out to different server times and nothing else is okay. Other things are a bit more complicated.

That said, it’s been eight years since I’ve done a live deployment. We got the appliance and had to set everything up.

I was working with a consultant on the last setup I did.

I’m not sure what the latest pricing models are.

I mainly use the on-premies version of the deployment. I don’t typically deal with cloud deployment.

We’re always using the latest version of the solution.

I would recommend the solution to others for enterprise on-premise.

I would rate the solution seven out of ten.

I personally find Veritas NetBackup Appliance hassle-free. All that is needed is a web control or Java control to operate the NetBackup software, and I don't need to take care of anything else. 

The other valuable feature is the performance. When we deploy to a server and install network software on it, there is a lot to take care of. With Appliance, everything is on the go and is already pre-installed and fine-tuned. It already matches the performance and metrics. It is great for replication, network performance, CPU performance, and storage performance.

Veritas NetBackup is software, so there are multiple OS issues, OS packages, and updates.

I would like to see the Java control replaced with web control in the next release. There is currently web control, but it is confusing when using Java control. Web control requires no granular settings. Web control should be enhanced so that it looks and feels like Java control. This would enable a person switching from Java control to Web control to not be hesitant to adopt the web version. Currently, Web control is entirely different from Java control.

Veritas NetBackup would benefit from better-explained error codes. The technical documentation should be easy to read, easy to set up, and be more understandable. There are two or three possibilities for one single error, so Veritas should try to bifurcate or separate the issues so each has its own ID.

I have been using Veritas NetBackup Appliance for a year.

Veritas NetBackup Applicance is stable.

The solution is scalable. It is sufficient for our existing environment. I have not encountered any situation where I have had to scale up the Appliance. Our administration team uses Veritas NetBackup. There are currently three people managing it.

I used customer service and support frequently during the initial setup because I was new to the product. Veritas support needs improvement. They contact you on time and follow up on time, but they are unable to understand the problem and develop a solution.

Neutral

NetBackup software is embedded into the appliance, so I do not need to worry about installation. The initial setup is very easy.

Veritas NetBackup Appliance is priced well compared to other solutions.

We compared Veritas NetBackup Appliance with Rubrik and Commvault HyperScale X. Veritas was more affordable and better priced. HyperScale X is very expensive. Veritas has a good reputation in the industry and a good market presence.

I would rate this solution a seven out of ten.

It's a backup solution. I use it for backup and recovery.

I like the solution. It works well. 

The integration to the VMware environment is good.

The documentation is okay. You are able to follow it and it is helpful.

One big feature which we really like is that it is a little bit immutable. There are a couple of storage locations.

I don't like the interface of Veritas. It could be improved. It's not that user-friendly right now.

It's hard to get to the backups. There are too many tabs.

It's like to see replication in Veritas.

The setup is a bit more complex than Veeam.

It's quite new. We implemented the product this year. 

It's very new. everything is working. It's quite stable and reliable. We haven't had any issues. 

We have three people using the solution right now. 

We are working with one model replaced as we're going to take a higher model. It is possible to scale. We're going to expand usage. 

We haven't been in touch with technical support.

We use both Veeam and Veritas. The platform is different from Veritas.

Working on Veeam, is very simple and very vertical, very English. With Veritas, you have to work on it to get into the backups. You have to go through so many tabs and menus to reach the backup. The way you handle it is more complicated than Veeam.

I don't see replication in Veritas. Right now, Replication is purely on the Veeam side. Veeam is doing both.

I did find the Veeam setup easier. 

It took us a day to deploy the product. It did not take long. 

I'd rate the ease of setup at a three out of five due to some general complexity. 

It's a new appliance. Right now, it is working fine. We don't really need to worry about maintenance. 

There were vendors involved in the deployment. We did not handle it on our own. 

I'm not involved in procurement and pricing. I can't speak to the exact cost.

My understanding is that the solution is a bit on the higher side in terms of cost.

We're working with the latest version of the solution. We are running a POC and will become a customer. 

I'd rate the solution five out of ten. The functionality is complex. I prefer Veeam.

The solution is primarily used for business continuity. We use it for backups.

The backup capabilities are very good.

We find the ability to allow for business continuity to be very helpful. Our systems are not very stable, where we come from here in Kenya. There can be serious problems very often. There are many incidents and businesses can just collapse. The peace of mind of having a backup on hand is critical.

The initial setup is very simple.

The solution is stable. 

The product is quite scalable. 

Technical support is very good.

We find the pricing is reasonable. 

I'm not sure if I have seen any area that needs improvement. I'm not overly technical, and I personally haven't had any real issues. 

The monitoring could be a bit better.

I've used the solution for about a year or so. 

The solution is very stable. There are no bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze. It's reliable. 

The solution is mature and very scalable. It's not a problem to expand. 

As an established brand, Veritas has a very good technical support team. We are quite pleased with the level of service provided. They are helpful and supportive. The staff is knowledgeable. 

It's my understanding that the initial setup is straightforward. I have not seen anything about the solution that would make the process overly complex.

The pricing is fair. It's not overly expensive. 

At the moment, I don't have any relationship with the company, however, I would like to be a reseller and implementer.

I mainly handle consultancy on business continuity. I look at products to propose to my customers on business continuity, storage, and backups.

I'd rate the solution at a seven out of ten.

The NetBackup appliance features customized software that is designed for storage.

The NetBackup software is based on Red Hat Linux, but we should have multiple software options for that. We should have more OS options. Also, there are too many tools and intermediaries. Everything should be built into an all-in-one solution.

I have been using NetBackup for more than 10 years.

NetBackup is stable. If it is in a remote place, we can put lead backup plans in place for backing up and sending metadata to the main data center. 

NetBackup is a scalable solution, but it costs more to scale up. 

I work with multiple backup tools, and Veritas is in the middle. The support isn't great.

Setting up NetBackup is straightforward, but we sometimes get some weird errors while we are trying to configure it. There are so many processes to deal with because all of these products are legacy backup tools. They are a little more complicated than next-generation backup tools like Rubrik or some of the newer ones on the market. It doesn't require many users for maintenance. 

I rate NetBackup six out of 10 for pricing. 

Veritas is becoming stable again, but two or three years ago, everyone was switching from Veritas to Commvault or emerging tools like Rubrik due to the bad support and high cost.

Today, everything is a converged backup solution with everything built in. However, Veritas started in the 1990s, so everything was added to that software. I think we need to have a very huge version change in Veritas to keep pace with modern requirements and simplify things.

I rate Veritas NetBackup Appliance seven out of 10 overall. 

It has a lot of very good features. The virtual tape library (VTL) feature is most valuable. Overall, it is easy to use.

Feature-wise, it is quite good, but it is very costly. Its price has gone up quite significantly over the years, and that makes people like us look at alternatives.

I have been using this solution for more than 10 years.

Its stability is very good.

Its scalability is very good. We have installed it for hundreds of servers.

Their technical support is excellent.

It is quite easy. It is not super easy. We have a lot of different environments. Some of them are quite challenging, but the common environment is quite easy.

It is not good for small environments. It is good for huge and complex enterprise environments, and at the end of the day, you get an ROI. I don't recommend it for small environments because out of 50 features, you probably need only two or three features, but you have to pay for all the features. That's why it doesn't suit small environments. You see a return on investment in very complex, multi-platform environments. 

We pay annually. It is a huge figure for us.

It is probably among the top solutions. It has the most features that are there in the market, but its price is making us look at alternatives. We are looking at some of the other options, but we haven't explored many. We are open, and we are evaluating all of them.

I would rate it an eight out of 10.