Jayson Martin - PeerSpot reviewer
Head IT Data Storage at Liberty Life Association of Africa
Real User
Top 5Leaderboard
Has superior data compression capability but there are a few caveats to using this product for data backup
Pros and Cons
  • "The product provides good backup and compression services."
  • "The licensing model was the biggest concern for our company, but the poor support after the initial implementation is of equal concern."

What is our primary use case?

Our primary use for this product is for backup purposes and compression.

How has it helped my organization?

There are a number of ways that it improved our organization with the processing of backups and saving disk space, but the costs are somewhat prohibitive.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable feature, beyond simply backing up our servers, is the data compression capability.

What needs improvement?

There are several things that can be improved with this product even though it is not bad. 

The biggest concern for us is the licensing model. In terms of feature capability, there are too many separate modular features that require licensing. I would like to see a Data Domain license for one cost that contains what we need to utilize the product to its full capability. I don't like the idea of having to worry about buying another license to do something else and add functionality. So I am suggesting that it would be good if they made the product more integrated and adaptable.

If I choose not to use only EMC products, it should allow me to make whatever integration I choose to do with ease. It is not so easy to do this.

The technical support after the initial deployment and having the service account manager on site was not so good. They should have better means of support while you are using the product to encourage success with the product and that you remain a customer. 

Buyer's Guide
Dell PowerProtect DD (Data Domain)
May 2024
Learn what your peers think about Dell PowerProtect DD (Data Domain). Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: May 2024.
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For how long have I used the solution?

We have been using the solution for about nine years

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

During the period where you have resident, live support to take care of issues the product remains stable because they help with any issues. Without a service account manager after the initial deployment, the support is poor. Because of this, stability starts to become a problem.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution is centralized to the company or business process, so I don't really have users using it as an application. I've got one division — a team — that takes care of data protection which makes use of Data Domain services.

How are customer service and support?

The initial, on-premises EMC technical support is pretty good. I have no complaints about them. Although we did have some initial support issues with Data Domain during the implementation, we always had that EMC account manager available. He dealt with most of the support issues when they arose and he was resident on-site. He was there only for as long as he was required to be there. He was very good. So we didn't really have support issues with EMC product initially as they addressed problems fully. However, when we did not have the service account manager resident on-premises anymore, the level of service changed. The regular channels for support are poor and not so responsive or they don't come back with good with solutions.

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

EMC is a solution we are starting to move away from because of the cost more than anything. We are evaluating it along-side a Veritas product currently.

How was the initial setup?

The installation and initial setup of the program was a straightforward process.

What about the implementation team?

We did use EMC services for that initial implementation and had a service account manager on site.

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

I can't say I am very happy with the cost of the EMC product because we also have got a Veritas product. The comparison is that the EMC Data Domain solution is more expensive than the Veritas and they have similar capabilities.

We were satisfied at the time we made the purchase of the EMC product, but subsequently, we went in a different direction. We added another product because we decided the price was too high for the original solution and to continue to add licenses. We are running both environments now.

What other advice do I have?

Anyone who is considering this as a solution should study the availability of the features and caveats surrounding the licensing. You will want to make sure that you are covered for all the capabilities that you require. Then, if you choose to go with the product, I suggest adding a service account manager as part of the initial scope of the project and implementation as that was very helpful to us. That sort of guarantees you will definitely have a more controlled approach to implementation and better continuity from your experience with EMC.

On a scale from one to ten, where one is the worst and ten is the best, I would rate the product about seven or eight. For us now it is a little closer to a seven.

A lesson that we learned in using the product is that its CPU capability does not match its storage capacity. These two things should be more in synch to enhance performance.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Infrastructure and Helpdesk Leader for Mexico, Chile and Colombia at a consultancy with 10,001+ employees
Real User
Helps us store data backups and has a valuable deduplication feature
Pros and Cons
  • "Dell PowerProtect DD’s most valuable feature is data deduplication."
  • "We encountered data loss during the configuration process."

What is our primary use case?

We use the product to store data backups of instruments.

What is most valuable?

Dell PowerProtect DD’s most valuable feature is data deduplication.

What needs improvement?

We encountered data loss during the configuration process. We were not able to restore the information later. This particular area needs improvement.

For how long have I used the solution?

We have been using Dell PowerProtect DD (Data Domain) for seven years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

We have encountered stability issues only twice or thrice in the last year. It suddenly crashed the operating system, and we had to restart it.

How are customer service and support?

The technical support team takes time to respond.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Neutral

How was the initial setup?

The deployment process is difficult from a configuration perspective. We can always connect with the support team. It requires two executives to work on the implementation.

What about the implementation team?

We took help from a service provider for installation.

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

The product is expensive.

What other advice do I have?

I rate Dell PowerProtect DD an eight out of ten.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
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PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Dell PowerProtect DD (Data Domain)
May 2024
Learn what your peers think about Dell PowerProtect DD (Data Domain). Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: May 2024.
770,141 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Mohamed -Elsayed - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Maintenance Planning Engineer at Egyptian Steel
Real User
Top 10
An excellent, stable storage solution with a wide range of useful features
Pros and Cons
  • "Our clients like the wide range of features that are available within this single solution."
  • "We would like to see the price of this solution brought down to be comparable with similar products currently on the market."

What is our primary use case?

We use this solution to store and replicate data for back-up purposes.

What is most valuable?

Our clients like the wide range of features that are available within this single solution.

What needs improvement?

We would like to see the price of this solution brought down to be comparable with similar products currently on the market.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

We have found this to be a stable solution in our experience.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

This is an easily scalable solution.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup for this solution is very easy.

What about the implementation team?

Our in-house team carry out all of the installations, deployments and implementations of this solution for our clients.

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

The licensing for this solution has a higher price point than comparable products on the market, and the licenses are payable monthly.

What other advice do I have?

We would rate this solution a 10 out of 10.

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
Nick Hamilton - PeerSpot reviewer
Enterprise IT Architect at ESTI Consulting Services
Reseller
Beneficial inline data deduplication, simple migration, and knowledgeable support
Pros and Cons
  • "The most valuable feature is the inline data deduplication."

    What is our primary use case?

    We use Dell EMC PowerProtect DD for deduplication, data protection, and data recovery. We use many different versions, including the newest versions.

    What is most valuable?

    The most valuable feature is the inline data deduplication.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I have been using Dell EMC PowerProtect DD for approximately 13 years.

    I have used the solution all the way from when it was called Data Domain to when EMC bought it, to when Dell bought EMC, and now it is called Power Protect. 

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    Dell EMC PowerProtect DD is highly stable and reliable. I have not had a time when the system did not work and in an emergency this is critical.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    The solution is simple to scale.

    We have at least a dozen clients that use Dell EMC PowerProtect DD, and they like how it works

    How are customer service and support?

    The Dell support is excellent, they have a lot of knowledge and can work us through our issues quickly.

    How was the initial setup?

    The initial setup is straightforward and is very easy to migrate to the next generation of solutions.

    What about the implementation team?

    The solution requires one or two supporting staff and is low maintenance.

    What was our ROI?

    I would rate the ROI a five out of five.

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

    The solution is expensive. However, if you pay less you receive less, it is cost-effective.

    What other advice do I have?

    I would recommend this solution to others and it is a good choice.

    I rate Dell EMC PowerProtect DD a ten out of ten.

    Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
    PeerSpot user
    Regional Key Account Manager at ACT
    Real User
    Valuable deduplication feature; capacity software increases price
    Pros and Cons
    • "Good starting capacity and scalability."
    • "They still have hardware different from the software."

    What is our primary use case?

    The primary use case of our customers is to do backup for their data.

    What is most valuable?

    One of the most valuable features is that it looks for the deduplication, which can reduce the amount of the data.

    What needs improvement?

    One improvement to the solution would be in the integration with backup software. They still have hardware different from the software.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    We have been working with Data Domain for around 10 years.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    The stability and performance of the solution is good.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    Data Domain is suitable large enterprises. Because it's scalable, the solution is targeted toward medium to large enterprises.

    How are customer service and support?

    The technical support is good. It's better than others, but if they are not familiar with the problem, they have to take their time. But in general, they are good.

    How was the initial setup?

    I have a team that takes care of the deployment. They say it's easy but it takes some time, in terms of policies and integrating with infrastructures the customer already has. These are the challenges but it's easy to use.

    A medium project takes around seven days to implement and integrate. A large project, 200 terabytes or 300 terabytes of data, will take around 15 days to 20 days to integrate with all the servers and backup software.

    The solution comes with three years warranty and support from the vendor, but we have a lot of users with electrical outages, or unexpected errors happen. So we replace the hardware in terms of the hard disk or the controller, or we do maintenance in terms of upgrading the firmware on all of it.

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

    The solution was cheap; now it's becoming more expensive. For example, if you buy it for 10 terabytes, you have to buy 10 terabyte also of software for it. It's called the capacity software. It increased our prices.

    Which other solutions did I evaluate?

    I've compared Data Domain to NetBackup Appliance. The pros for Data Domain are the starting capacity and the scalability, but the pro for the NetBackup Appliance is it's being integrated with their backup solution, which is NetBackup software. In terms of the integration with the software and the ability to have it, if you have a problem with your backup, you can restore it on the same machine. So, it's better in terms of NetBackup. 

    Overall, whenever we integrate Data Domain with NetBackup software, it's been good.

    What other advice do I have?

    I would rate the solution a seven out of ten. It's a good product that we recommend.

    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: Reseller
    PeerSpot user
    Domenico-Vizzoca - PeerSpot reviewer
    Delivery and Presales Manager at Harpaitalia italia
    Real User
    Top 10
    Technical support is lacking and needs improvement, but it is quick to deploy and configure
    Pros and Cons
    • "I like Data Domain as a protocol for data backup."
    • "Technical support needs improvement."

    What is our primary use case?

    Dell PowerProtect DD (Data Domain) is the customer's requested solution. I did not suggest this solution to the customer.

    I use Dell PowerProtect DD (Data Domain) for disaster recovery, and for the backup of disaster recovery for a large society for training in Italy 

    The backup on the secondary Data Domain and then backup on the cloud.

    What is most valuable?

    I like Data Domain as a protocol for data backup.

    What needs improvement?

    I prefer the HP solution.

    Technical support needs improvement.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I have been working with Dell PowerProtect DD (Data Domain) for ten years.

    It is deployed both on the cloud and on-premises.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    Dell PowerProtect DD (Data Domain) is a stable solution.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    Dell PowerProtect DD (Data Domain) is absolutely scalable.

    How are customer service and support?

    I would rate the technical support a one. It could be better.

    How would you rate customer service and support?

    Negative

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

    Previously, I did not use another solution. I am only familiar with Data Domain.

    How was the initial setup?

    Only one day is required for Data Domain setup and configuration.

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

    I can't remember what the license costs are. They might be paid monthly or every two months.

    What other advice do I have?

    I would not recommend this solution to others.

    I would rate Dell PowerProtect DD (Data Domain) a five out of ten.

    Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

    Hybrid Cloud
    Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
    PeerSpot user
    Ozgur Fakir - PeerSpot reviewer
    Senior Technology Consultant at GlassHouse
    Reseller
    Top 10
    Good compatibility, great documentation, and easy to set up
    Pros and Cons
    • "It is a stable solution."
    • "We would like faster instant recovery."

    What is most valuable?

    The data application compression is great. I also like Cyber Sense, Cyber Lock, fast parallelizing insights, and Sure Backup.

    The initial setup is easy.

    It is a stable solution. 

    You can scale the product well. 

    The interface is good. We are very familiar with it and are comfortable using it. 

    The documentation is good. They are very accessible. 

    The compatibility is very good. 

    What needs improvement?

    We would like faster instant recovery.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I've used the solution for around 20 years. 

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    It's very stable. I can replicate the Data Domain, virtual addition, to my local physical version. There are no bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze. 

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    The product is scalable. If you want to expand it, you can. 

    In my client's company they have about 1,000 people on the product.

    We likely will continue to expand the solution. 

    How are customer service and support?

    In my company, we handle the technical support on our side. We are an insured company for Dell also. We have about 100 technical people that can assist.

    How was the initial setup?

    The product is very simple to set up. It's not overly complex or difficult. 

    It takes about half an hour to compare all the data and for Data Domain to be set up in Azure. Also, I can see the source image and open Data Domain, and just share the source to my DPS solution, the networker. It works better.

    You only need one person to maintain the solution. 

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

    The price is reasonable. However, it varies from project to project. While we've tried cheaper options, the features just weren't as good. 

    Which other solutions did I evaluate?

    We just want to learn the difference between the DPS solution in Azure and Azure's own backup solution. I'm trying to measure for my customer if the DPS solution has different features for a better backup from an Azure site's backup.

    I can compare the instructions in the also Azure site as well. I have a lot of mechanical Data Domain on my site. Also, I have got Data Domains on the Azure site.

    What other advice do I have?

    I've been a consultant for 20 years. I'm a distributor. 

    I would advise others to try it out. 

    Our customers work with a solution partner, and we offer training. It's good to have some help and insights at first.

    It's a market leader. I'd rate it an eight out of ten. 

    Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer:
    PeerSpot user
    Senior SAN Administrator at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees
    Real User
    Stable and scalable
    Pros and Cons
    • "I find the data to be most valuable."
    • "I would like to see integration with public cloud."

    What is our primary use case?

    We use model number 6800. The operating system is 7.4.

    What is most valuable?

    I find the data to be most valuable. 

    What needs improvement?

    The price is on the high side.

    I would like to see integration with public cloud.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    We have been using Dell EMC PowerProtect DD (Data Domain) for almost ten years. 

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    The solution is, thus far, stable. 

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    The solution is scalable. 

    How are customer service and support?

    The technical support is okay. It's not bad.

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

    I did not work with other solutions prior to using Dell EMC PowerProtect DD (Data Domain).

    How was the initial setup?

    The initial setup was handled solely by the Dell EMC, so it was okay and not that complex. 

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

    The price is a bit steep. 

    We pay for the support every three years. 

    What other advice do I have?

    I am an end user.

    I feel the solution works fine for us. 

    There are around four or five people working with this solution in our company.

    My advice to others looking into implementing this solution is that they acquire the requisite knowledge. It is important to be properly trained in how to use it. 

    I rate Dell EMC PowerProtect DD (Data Domain) as an eight out of ten. 

    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 PowerProtect DD (Data Domain) Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
    Updated: May 2024
    Buyer's Guide
    Download our free Dell PowerProtect DD (Data Domain) Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.