What is our primary use case?
My main use case for Striim is mostly for migration projects, where I migrate databases from SQL Server on Azure to Google Cloud SQL.
I can walk you through a quick specific example of how I used Striim during one of these migrations: there is an agent that I install on the source server, which starts the continuous data capture connecting to the source database, replicating all the database objects including tables with data, stored procedures, functions, and other database objects, with the target database specified as Google, but other source and destination combinations such as on-premises, AWS, and some other clouds can also be included.
One thing I would add about my use case of Striim is it is not very seamless; there were some failures encountered that were problematic, especially for very large databases where replication issues arise after a couple of days, making it difficult to backtrack and start the process again, effectively wasting a lot of time.
Striim is not deployed in my organization, as I used it strictly for a client's data migration while working for a consulting company; it was deployed on Azure, which is a public cloud, with replication to Google Cloud Platform.
How has it helped my organization?
Striim has impacted my organization positively as a data migration tool by streamlining data capture during migrations, replacing inefficient import and export methods that couldn't provide the latest data and changes, keeping everything synchronized with the CDC feature.
Regarding the time saved with Striim compared to previous manual methods, I believe these migrations are not even possible without it due to the size and complexity involved, and it greatly assisted in accuracy during the cutover phase, allowing for thorough database checks before final migration to Google Cloud Platform.
What is most valuable?
The best features Striim offers include continuous data capture and a smooth replication process from source to destination, along with a testing environment that allows for checks before cutting over and doing the DNS update.
What stood out to me about how Striim handles continuous data capture compared to other tools or manual methods is there was no other way I could see to migrate these very large SQL Server databases over to Google Cloud Platform over the internet, as Google Cloud Platform recommended; the CDC works nicely by replicating data as changes happen to the source database, running syncs to the target, and applying changes in near-real time.
As for additional features or schema conversion options, I cannot add anything at the moment since I didn't use many of the schema conversion options, focusing primarily on migration to Google Cloud Platform.
What needs improvement?
Striim can be improved in handling CDC connection or connectivity issues that impact data capture, as well as improving recovery options from errors, because starting from scratch with large databases wastes significant time.
I would add that there was a need for better documentation and support, especially regarding SQL Server, as I found it lacking during my experience while relying on support from Google individuals.
I chose a 7 out of 10 because of the need for better support, documentation, making the process slightly more efficient, and the cost, given that Striim is a licensed product with limitations on the number of databases.
There are no other improvements needed for Striim that I haven't mentioned yet, aside from support, documentation, and better handling of CDC failures.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Striim for a data migration of large SQL Server databases from Azure to Google Cloud Platform, where Google recommended using Striim for continuous data capture and replicating everything that we have on Azure on Google Cloud Platform.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
In my experience, Striim was fairly stable, but there were a few instances where it failed during the CDC process after a couple of days, which complicated recovery.
How are customer service and support?
Customer support was non-existent, with some documentation shared by Google personnel but no access to a customer portal for support tickets.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I did not previously use a different solution; the only data migration solution I employed is AWS Data Migration Service.
What was our ROI?
I have seen a return on investment that is more qualitative than quantitative, stating we migrated incredibly large databases in about five days, which is a much shorter timeline compared to several weeks if attempted manually.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing was limited to one instance, which was a factor, as we were working with Google professional services to acquire the necessary license for migration. We had to request additional licenses for the second database we wanted to migrate with Striim, facing restrictions around the schedule that impacted flexibility.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
Before choosing Striim, I did not evaluate other options, as it was the recommended tool for SQL Server data migration by Google, and while I knew of AWS's DMS service, there wasn't another option from Google.
What other advice do I have?
I would rate Striim a 7 out of 10, as it did the job but there are aspects that could be improved.
I used Azure as the cloud provider for deploying Striim.
My recommendation to others reading reviews on PeerSpot is to consider Striim's CDC requirement for migrations to Google Cloud Platform, as it might be the tool for you.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Microsoft Azure