I have been using Buurst SoftNAS for two years. File workloads are my main use case for Buurst SoftNAS, and the SMB environments are where we primarily use Buurst SoftNAS. We provide our users with a solution as a shared drive, which they can use to share protocols between themselves in our SMB environments.
Shared file access has improved collaboration but documentation and support still need work
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
The best features Buurst SoftNAS offers are the simple deployment, simple configuration, and relatively good performance for file workloads compared to other products. Home directories, departmental shares, and backup repositories are also some good features.
The deployment and configuration of Buurst SoftNAS stand out to me because the installation process is straightforward. The initial setup requires less effort, and the storage pools, shares, user permissions, and network configurations are easy to configure through the management interface.
Buurst SoftNAS has impacted my organization positively through cost efficiency compared to other NAS platforms, offering a compelling value proposition. Additionally, its stability and reliability during our testing and operational use demonstrate strong stability with no major service interruptions.
What needs improvement?
Buurst SoftNAS can be improved regarding enterprise features, as those are not yet matured enough for enterprises. It covers most of the NAS requirements, but some of the advanced features available in premium storage platforms could be more mature. Organizations like ours, which are highly specialized for storage requirements, need additional validation before large-scale deployments.
Regarding the needed improvements, I think the documentation and troubleshooting guides are not up to standard and could be improved. The best practices, architectures, and advanced configuration examples should be included in those documentations.
Customer support for Buurst SoftNAS can be improved, as I have not seen major support.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working in the IT industry for 15 years and around five years in Schlumberger.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Buurst SoftNAS is stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Buurst SoftNAS's scalability is good. It is easy to scale, and it is easy for the operational teams to work on scaling as well.
How are customer service and support?
Customer support for Buurst SoftNAS can be improved, as I have not seen major support.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I previously used ZFS-based solutions, which were an internally built solution and not a marketplace solution like Buurst SoftNAS.
How was the initial setup?
The deployment and configuration of Buurst SoftNAS stand out to me because the installation process is straightforward. The initial setup requires less effort, and the storage pools, shares, user permissions, and network configurations are easy to configure through the management interface.
What was our ROI?
I do not have numbers available regarding cost efficiency for Buurst SoftNAS, but I can confirm that we have definitely saved time. You can definitely save one hour per day per man week.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing for Buurst SoftNAS was that the pricing was initially high. After discussions with the team of Buurst SoftNAS, I was able to negotiate, and as of now, I think it is a relatively good price.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
I did evaluate other options before choosing Buurst SoftNAS.
What other advice do I have?
If you have smaller data that is not enterprise-level, you can definitely go with Buurst SoftNAS. For enterprise solutions, you will need to evaluate more options. I would rate this product a 7 overall.
