Dell PowerProtect Data Domain Reviews

I use Dell PowerProtect Data Domain to take backups in the Data Domain.

The best features I have observed in Dell PowerProtect Data Domain are the exception handling capabilities. For example, if any file is marked as quarantine or is suspicious, it can be excluded from the backup so the backup is not interrupted, allowing me to use the backup applications without any exceptions. Exceptions can also be excluded from the backup process, and that is one of the good components that I have seen.

The graphical interface has been quite easy to understand for people who are beginners and even for those who have good experience in backup applications. The method that Dell uses for the proxy servers and proxy application appliances is a good technology. The graphical interface and options that they are providing, as compared to other backup applications, have a more advanced level of functionality that I can utilize.

In terms of areas for improvement, I have not observed any significant issues with the product. The product is very good, and there are multiple options that I can use to utilize it in a perfect manner. If there would be any room for improvement, AI is one of the leading technologies in the market, so AI implementation should be considered. I would recommend that in the future, AI could diagnose any bugs or problems and provide recommendations. If this AI integration were integrated with this product, it could provide further enhancement.

I have been using the solution for around one and a half years.

Since I deployed it six months ago and until now, I have not observed any major issues. It is a very stable product, so I would rate it around eight to nine.

I assess the scalability of this solution as a nine.

I would rate Dell technical support as a nine because they are very good.

I deployed Dell PowerProtect Data Domain at the on-premises level, but the cloud solution is also easy to implement. There are simple options for the cloud deployment, and to enable the cloud feature, I only needed to define my subscription details and bucket details so that all files can be stored at the cloud level as well. It is not very complex.

For deployment, if starting from scratch where the Data Domain boxes are mounted into the rack, I needed to perform the cabling and then deploy the appliances. If deploying it granularly, it may take a maximum of two days, but not the entire day. I spent just two to five hours to deploy everything.

When comparing Dell PowerProtect Data Domain with other solutions or vendors, I can provide a detailed comparison. I previously used the Veeam backup solution, and the graphical interface in Veeam is very small, but in Dell PowerProtect Data Domain, its graphical dashboard and the other components are very visible and easy to understand.

In terms of efficiency, the backup application functionality is almost the same regardless of which company's backup application I use. However, when switching to Dell PowerProtect Data Domain, compared with others, it has more granularity, allowing me to utilize features in exception handling. The deployment procedure, which I deployed myself, is not very complex. The job scheduling can be defined based on my requirements, whether I need bare-metal backup or file-level backup.

Regarding the data reduction capabilities of the all-flash DD solution, I have not noticed much difference, and I cannot commit to any specific observations on that aspect.

About pricing and costing, these are considerations that were not at my level, so I cannot comment extensively on those aspects.

Regarding advice for others looking to implement this product, I highly recommend Dell PowerProtect Data Domain. If any organization is looking for a backup solution, this one is a really good solution from Dell. In terms of users, counting the virtual machines, I have taken backups of around 200 machines. I work with multiple customers, so it is not about 200, 500, or 300 machines in isolation, but the maximum backup I have taken is from approximately 200 machines. My clients are all medium to enterprise level, not small organizations.

The solution does not require complex maintenance. It is very easy to manage, and if any update or upgrade has been released, those managing the application conduct health checks every three to six months. During that period, if any upgrade has been released by Dell and if it is part of the warranty, I can raise the case to them, and they will help with the upgrade or any patching solution. I would highly rate this solution a 10 and recommend it to anyone considering implementing this product.

My main use case for Dell PowerProtect Data Domain is to store our backups and backup data.

A quick specific example of the kind of data or systems I'm backing up with Dell PowerProtect Data Domain includes backing up our SQL Server, virtual machine workloads, and production data and UAT data on a daily basis.

Regarding my main use case for Dell PowerProtect Data Domain, we are currently leveraging the immutability WORM feature and enabling it throughout our storage to enhance security. We conducted a POC and were able to implement this recent feature.

The best features Dell PowerProtect Data Domain offers mainly help us to archive our backup data. We use this for backing up and restoring the workload data as needed. It is a storage offering with embedded security features.

The security feature that stands out for me is the immutability WORM feature. The restore process works through the NetWorker solution, which helps us to manage backup and recovery. It works with Dell PowerProtect Data Domain, assisting us in the recovery process.

Dell PowerProtect Data Domain has positively impacted my organization because the solution is robust. The hardware quality is good, and we have been using it for quite a long time. It works well with our backup solution, which is also a Dell product.

Specific outcomes and improvements I have seen since using Dell PowerProtect Data Domain include data compression helping us to save storage cost. Dell PowerProtect Data Domain effectively compresses the data, and the deduplication features allow us to save cost.

Dell PowerProtect Data Domain can be improved by enhancing the maximum allowed capacity. We currently have a limitation in the total storage size. Based on the recent increase in data size, it could be better if the model supports more capacity.

I would suggest improving the user interface for Dell PowerProtect Data Domain. We currently see some ambiguity and bugs in the reports, but they remain manageable. I would prefer to enhance the UI, which will help the admin to gain more insight.

I have been using Dell PowerProtect Data Domain for almost ten years.

Dell PowerProtect Data Domain is stable.

Dell PowerProtect Data Domain's scalability is acceptable so far.

Customer support for Dell PowerProtect Data Domain is fine.

I did not previously use a different solution before Dell PowerProtect Data Domain.

I was not in the building phase, so I did not evaluate other options before choosing Dell PowerProtect Data Domain.

My advice to others looking into using Dell PowerProtect Data Domain is that it works very well. The product is stable and works very well with the Dell NetWorker backup solution. If anyone is using Dell NetWorker backup solution, they can integrate with Dell PowerProtect Data Domain because they are coming from the same product vendor. The integration should be smooth and the support should also be fine. I would rate this product a seven out of ten.

The central purpose for which my clients are using Dell PowerProtect Data Domain is for backup. Dell PowerProtect Data Domain is used for backup purposes in case any issues occur.

What stands out to me is that if we have a backup, we don't need to lose data. If production is gone or if something is accidentally deleted, we can recover that from the backup.

For storage, I am using Dell EMC Unity, Isilon, and XtremIO. I am also going to be certified for the Azure cloud.

Most functionality is valuable with Dell PowerProtect Data Domain. The data in the backup is easy to handle. It is not complex to implement or deploy. We also get very good support from the support team. Regarding functionality, I don't think we require any improvement in terms of features. I'm trying to deploy new things on Dell PowerProtect Data Domain and Unity, and once it gets successful, I will definitely let you know about it.

In general, for improvement purposes, I can say that the features are not easy to understand to customers with Dell PowerProtect Data Domain. These features must be explained in an easier way. In Dell PowerProtect Data Domain or in Unity, we can use cloud snapshots for recovery purposes or we can use cascade replications. We need to implement these things in the storage and backup.

I have used the solution for around six years.

Since it's an operating system, I cannot say that it's 100% stable, but it is good regarding Dell PowerProtect Data Domain around eighty to ninety percent of the time.

It is scalable.

From the support point of view, sometimes the support team gets stuck somewhere, but the support team is always available at that time. We can't predict everything, but I can say the support team is available 24/7. Getting support from the Dell support team is quite helpful to us.

I would rate the support between eight to nine.

I've been using an HP product for around two months only, and I love that product. It was Alletra, I think. It's been quite a long time since I used it, from the previous year.

The installation process is very easy.

On-premises is where I usually deploy it for my clients.

The costs are quite affordable as per the company or market standard.

HP has more features compared to these other products. They have chunks of data in one GB, but here it is in KB or MB. HP is much faster than others.

I have been using Dell PowerProtect Data Domain for two years. One year has been for operational data domain specifically, and one year has been for implementation.

This first installation included racking and stacking, cabling, network configuration, license, and active file system setup.

My favorite feature on Dell PowerProtect Data Domain is the deduplication capability. This is a particularly good feature to have.

Regarding the downsides of Dell PowerProtect Data Domain, I have not encountered anything negative about it at this time. Dell PowerProtect Data Domain will be integrated into all systems in real-time, and I have not seen anything bad so far.

The last downtime for upgrading the model 9410 took a long time, approximately two hours, which could be bad for production environments.

I rate the stability of Dell PowerProtect Data Domain at 8.5 out of 10.

I find Dell PowerProtect Data Domain to be very stable. I have been using it for up to three years with no upgrading or downtime.

I think it is a good achievement for Dell PowerProtect Data Domain to remain stable for three years with no downtime.

My rating for the scalability of Dell PowerProtect Data Domain is an eight out of 10.

I find the scalability of Dell PowerProtect Data Domain to be very simple. You can expand, but you must ensure safety if you are facing a challenging environment. You must ensure the space you will use to expand the storage. It is very easy and simple because you just buy the product and deploy it by expanding with shelves or hard disks.

I contacted technical support when a product failure occurred in NVRAM or DEMS while powering on the system. This happened to me during new installations of Dell PowerProtect Data Domain.

The quality and speed of the responses from their support are perfect. Many products take many days to reply, but with Dell PowerProtect Data Domain, the response time is fine.

When I first deployed Dell PowerProtect Data Domain, it was easy.

It took me 45 minutes to check the configuration and see how it was installed, just to have the information recorded.

I require just one person as a technician for basic deployments.

The number of technicians needed depends on what the expansion shelf will be. If it is just one controller of Dell PowerProtect Data Domain, I need just one technician. If there is another shelf, such as the DS16 or something similar, I need more technicians.

For new users starting to use Dell PowerProtect Data Domain, you just need to check some comments to know what the configured ports, IPs, and domain you have. You just need to manage the cleaning and the file system and check the storage, or if you have a disk failure, check its number.

I execute all the checks after leaving, and the system is up and continues to be monitored for just one day, or for safety, I will monitor it for one week to ensure the garbage collection will run. I rate this product an 8 out of 10 overall.

My main use case for Dell PowerProtect Data Domain is doing backup. A quick specific example of how I use Dell PowerProtect Data Domain for backup in my organization includes VM backup and Kubernetes pods backup. Apart from this, we use Dell servers.

The best features Dell PowerProtect Data Domain offers are backup data. When I say backup data, a particular feature I find really valuable is reliability, and I also value the speed. Those are the main highlights for me regarding the features.

Dell PowerProtect Data Domain has impacted my organization positively because most of my use cases are required, so it is useful for my organization. It improved data protection, and it also gives me cost cutting regarding specific outcomes with Dell PowerProtect Data Domain.

The data reduction capabilities of the All-Flash DD solution speed up the backup and recovery time. The significance of having fast backup and recovery solutions for my organization when using Dell PowerProtect Data Domain is to make it faster. Dell PowerProtect Data Domain has impacted my organization's data backup efficiency by helping the end user use case run faster and fulfill requirements.

I think Dell PowerProtect Data Domain can be improved by increasing its speed, and support-wise can be more proactive. The interface is pretty simple, but the troubleshooting steps can be further enhanced. The log could be given a GUI that is more user-friendly for troubleshooting rather than requiring CLI troubleshooting, which takes a long time.

I have been using Dell PowerProtect Data Domain for four years.

Dell PowerProtect Data Domain is stable.

Dell PowerProtect Data Domain's scalability is easier to implement.

Customer support for Dell PowerProtect Data Domain can be improved.

I did not previously use a different solution.

I have seen a return on investment because the use cases are straightforward, so newly onboarded team members can also pick up the data protector. This results in manpower savings. I would rather say it is about saving money and saving time through manpower savings, so the cost cut is there.

My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing is that the licensing is a bit costlier, but the requirement is needed, so it is useful.

We have not evaluated other options before choosing Dell PowerProtect Data Domain.

My advice to others looking into using Dell PowerProtect Data Domain is that I would suggest the same product because product-wise it is good, but support-wise it needs some improvement. I would rate this review a seven out of ten.

Dell PowerProtect DD (Data Domain) is an integrated backup appliance-based solution, and our installed base in Pakistan is substantial. We possess high expertise in both pre-sales and post-sales activities for this.

It can operate at high temperatures. Even in disaster situations, you can recover your backups. The technology has advanced significantly, and the software that operates the environment of PowerProtect is excellent. It truly is remarkable. In every instance where we've proposed and won a project based on PowerProtect, the customers have been highly satisfied and confident in their backup processes.

Dell PowerProtect DD (Data Domain) is highly consistent, durable, easy to install, scalable, and compatible with any software today. The deduplication and compression ratio is unmatchable through DD Boost software. 

There is a challenge when it comes to data recovery; the recovery window can exceed four to eight hours if you're dealing with backups older than five or ten years. The encryption and decryption processes take longer than those of all-flash technologies. This is the only challenge I see.

It also cannot provide an active-active infrastructure since you can have only a single controller in one appliance. If you want to implement a dual controller setup, you need to connect another appliance with a single controller. This limitation can be a drawback, especially because competitors offer dual controller architectures with end-to-end NVMe and Rocky-based back-end network infrastructure. Their IO systems can achieve faster recovery of backups, while Dell PowerProtect DD do not provide such high throughput.

We have been working with Dell solutions for more than 20 years. We are a Titanium partner of Dell Technologies, and we are working on the complete portfolio of Dell and Dell EMC.

The support services Dell is providing are excellent.

Positive

We are working with Dell Technologies, VMware, Microsoft, and Huawei. Due to huge costs, there is competition from companies such as Huawei, Veritas, and other OEMs. Dell EMC is experiencing high competition in terms of financials.

Customers go for Dell PowerProtect DD because of the support services that Dell is providing and good architecture.

People have been using it for over a decade to backup their data. It provides good data duplication and ratio. MTree mechanism allows for seamless transfers of backups between different systems, whether it's from one Data Domain (DD) to another DD or from one PowerProtect to another PowerProtect. Additionally, there are many features available. However, it's important to note that similar features are now also offered by competitors.

It typically takes one to two hours to complete the installation, depending on the infrastructure and the size of the project. For example, if you are dealing with a backup solution of 100 to 200 terabytes, it will generally take one to two hours at most.

As for the installation team, I am not the only one involved. We have a team of specialists, particularly when it comes to customers in the Financial Services Industry (FSI) or mission-critical environments. Dell Technologies manages a highly skilled set of expert engineers with decades of experience. We offer professional services through Dell, and we also have a certified Dell EMC team available on the ground.

Due to the critical nature of the data, the choice of implementation services that we propose to our customers depends greatly on the specific requirements. In tenders, we strive to offer both competitive pricing and high-quality service. Our deployments are typically carried out by our team members, but for Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and Requests for Quotes (RFQs), we always bring Dell Professional Services on board. Their service is exceptionally professional and unmatched in my country.

Dell PowerProtect DD (Data Domain)'s licensing cost was excellent in 2023, but after 2023, the operating environment licensing cost is huge. It is almost four times the earlier price.

I would rate this solution a nine out of ten.

Dell PowerProtect Data Domain is mainly used for backup as a target for backup. Previously, I was working in Veeam, and nowadays, I am working with Commvault. For both backup software options, the target for the backup is Dell PowerProtect Data Domain.

Dell PowerProtect Data Domain has multiple valuable functions. The DD Boost protocol is very fast in backup and while data is being transferred to Dell PowerProtect Data Domain. It is a very fast protocol. Additionally, I am using the immutability features built-in in Dell PowerProtect Data Domain, so that the backup copies are immutable. No one can edit or delete them anymore unless the retention period is over. I think those two functions are the best in Dell PowerProtect Data Domain.

The main benefits I receive from Dell PowerProtect Data Domain save time for me because of the time of backup. For example, I have reduced the backup window. Once I began working with Dell PowerProtect Data Domain, it is very fast storage, especially while the backup is being taken. The backup window has been reduced by more than 30%. In my case, I am moving data over the WAN. The speed of the backup has reduced the bandwidth and the time being taken, resulting in cost reduction. From a pricing point of view, I think it is sufficient and good for me. It is the most reasonable option for my case.

In my opinion, for the version I am using of Dell PowerProtect Data Domain, I am not sure if there is another version that will have the functionality I will discuss. I need them to add the air-gapped technology to Dell PowerProtect Data Domain, as some other vendors have. The air-gapped technology is very important.

I have been working with Dell PowerProtect Data Domain for more than five years.

The stability of Dell PowerProtect Data Domain is rated at nine. It is very stable.

The scalability of Dell PowerProtect Data Domain is good for scale-up. I have two models of scale: scale-up or scale-out. For scale-up, it is very good. However, for scale-out, I am not sure they are doing this effectively. I think they have an issue with scale-out by adding multiple controllers and multiple bays, for example.

The technical support for Dell PowerProtect Data Domain is very helpful. I have created multiple tickets with them and they have a very fast response time with very good technicalities. They are brilliant in all aspects.

Dell's response time and quality are very fast and very good.

The initial setup for Dell PowerProtect Data Domain is very simple. One of my team members completed it on his own. He did not even want support in any of its operations. It is very simple. All operations, such as upgrading firmware, initializing it, and making a target, are very easy.

I purchased Dell PowerProtect Data Domain through a partner. It was through one of their partners in Egypt.

Pure Storage is the most similar option to Dell PowerProtect Data Domain. Pure Storage is a very powerful storage system that came to the market recently. I am sure they started with the end goal in mind compared to other competitors. They are very intelligent and they have integrated all other vendors' functionalities inside their product. I have not used it, but I have attended some seminars and webinars for them. They speak about very good technology.

For the same reasons I have mentioned that Dell needs to address, I would select Pure Storage because it has built-in air-gap technology and I think it is the only storage that came with all-flash SSD. Both features I am seeking for in Dell PowerProtect Data Domain already exist in Pure Storage. Regarding pricing, I think Pure Storage will take over Dell PowerProtect Data Domain.

I can recommend Dell PowerProtect Data Domain to other users. I would rate this review at six out of ten.

I am calling to complete our feedback and survey for this product. We have been using Dell PowerProtect Data Domain for about 10 years. We had an implementation of a 2200 model, but we should be receiving new devices that have been procured and are not yet delivered to us through an IPA project.

We had no additional licenses, no VTL or other add-ons; just an ordinary backup target with deduplication and compression. It is currently still employed and used as a long-term backup solution for the monthly backups.

What I appreciate about Dell PowerProtect Data Domain is that the deduplication is quite good and it simply works. It is quite insensitive to all the problems we have here in Bosnia.

The features in Dell PowerProtect Data Domain have greatly benefited our organization by allowing for easier and quicker backups and easier restores. We used different backup tools back then, and at the moment, we are using Veeam. It simply works. It is a simple tool that just works. Under the hood, all the complexity is mostly hidden from the users that use it.

I have not really noticed any drawbacks or downsides other than the price.

About 10 years.

Regarding Dell's technical support, since we did not have any need for it, I cannot complain or say anything because we had no problems with the device, and it simply works.

Over this period of time, over 10 years, I had no need for support.

Since the product works, I would rate the support at least nine.

Before, we were using Veeam more than 10 years back, and right now, we are planning a change, but due to procurement, I am unable to give more information.

The deployment of Dell PowerProtect Data Domain took about two days when it was implemented, and to change its purpose from the primary backup target to this kind of monthly secondary long-term archive, it took perhaps half a day.

It was quite quick and easy to do because our implementation is quite simple.

I and another contractor participated in the deployment.

We are a government agency, so regarding Dell PowerProtect Data Domain, return on investment is not something we do.

The implementation of Dell PowerProtect Data Domain is not really difficult for us. It is just a backup target. I would rate this product overall as a 9.

Dell PowerProtect Data Domain serves as a backup repository for my customers, where I began implementation with Avamar, using Data Domain as the repository, and integrated it with the ECS platform for cloud archiving. However, I have not performed file solutions to back up or attach directly to clients' PCs, as all backups end up on Dell PowerProtect Data Domain.

Most use cases for Dell PowerProtect Data Domain as a backup repository are in VMware backup environments, where I integrate it with IDPA, Avamar, and Veeam by installing proxies inside the VMware environment and performing all backup restoration tests and processes as needed. Although I have only performed replication once, in some cases I have installed agents inside Windows servers or customer PCs to perform agent backup or file backups.

Regarding my main use case with Dell PowerProtect Data Domain, I have not encountered any issues, though I would perform a replication scenario if the opportunity arose. Unfortunately, our customers in LatAm are not large enough for such projects, as their architectures typically involve active-passive or active-active setups for servers and storage, but not for backup solutions, which presents a challenge in educating customers on the need for proper disaster recovery or business continuity architectures.

What I value most about Dell PowerProtect Data Domain are its deduplication features, as the amount of information that can be stored is quite impressive. I also appreciate the DD Boost protocol for its enhancements and integration with other platforms, and I recall a provider using that protocol to improve the transportation layer, along with the data-at-rest encryption that protects all information inside Dell PowerProtect Data Domain. Primarily, the standout feature is the DD Boost protocol.

The DD Boost protocol improves my workflow with Dell PowerProtect Data Domain by using a native communication protocol, which allows for faster information transfer without protocol translations. Its integration with Dell's other products like Avamar is beneficial, and the openness of DD Boost enables compatibility with other vendors, making it important for customers with large information volumes to store efficiently and perform both backups and restorations with ease.

The impact of Dell PowerProtect Data Domain on my organization has been significant, particularly because its integration with Avamar and Veeam allows for instant recovery where the disk of VMs runs on Dell PowerProtect Data Domain, facilitating an easier restoration or recovery process since I can simply perform a vMotion to recover the VM.

I cannot quantify the exact time saved, but I have two scenarios with customers needing to restore large VMs. The ability to restore these in a few minutes is a remarkable improvement compared to the hours typically required for the whole restore process.

The significance of having fast backup and recovery solutions with Dell PowerProtect Data Domain for my organization revolves around business continuity, focusing on how quickly I can help customers get back on track.

Dell PowerProtect Data Domain is currently well-developed, and at this moment, I cannot think of any improvements needed.

I have been using Dell PowerProtect Data Domain for approximately eight years, implementing backup solutions and installing it as a repository for backups, including integrations with Veeam.

Dell PowerProtect Data Domain is stable; however, stability does depend on the customer's infrastructure and network setup. In terms of support, implementation, and maintenance, it is very predictable and easy to maintain in a positive sense.

The scalability of Dell PowerProtect Data Domain is impressive, as you can add expansion shelves that significantly increase capacity.

The customer support experience I have had with Dell PowerProtect Data Domain is quite good, characterized by fast service and a support team that resolves issues in a short time.

In my ten years of experience, I have not used a different solution. We explored alternatives but remained with Dell PowerProtect Data Domain.

I perceive a return on investment from Dell PowerProtect Data Domain in terms of the valuable time saved for every customer, emphasizing that time is indeed valuable.

Pricing, setup cost, and licensing are not my areas of expertise, as I mainly focus on implementation engineering.

Before choosing Dell PowerProtect Data Domain, we did not evaluate other options, as we consistently opt for Dell PowerProtect Data Domain.

I advise those considering Dell PowerProtect Data Domain to try it out, as there are various products on the market, but Dell PowerProtect Data Domain is easy to use, easy to install, and integrates well with the customer's environment, boasting spectacular backup and restore capabilities. I recommend conducting a proof of concept of the product. I have rated this product a ten.

My role in using or managing Dell PowerProtect Data Domain involves overseeing its implementation and operation. The significance of having fast backup and recovery solutions for my organization when using Dell PowerProtect Data Domain is that when you actually need it, it works efficiently. We have the ability to live restore, so we do not have to wait until the restore is fully finished.

The features of Dell PowerProtect Data Domain that I value the most include the simplicity of deployment, which is one key feature, and the data reduction we achieve on our appliances compared to other solutions.

The impact that Dell PowerProtect Data Domain has had on my organization's security is significant as the appliance comes with built-in security features, allowing us to limit access to the appliance, whereas with other solutions, we have to do that ourselves. With the Cyber Recovery Vault, we get an air-gapped solution.

The impact that Dell PowerProtect Data Domain has had on my organization's data backup efficiency is notable, as the data reduction is a major benefit.

I believe Dell PowerProtect Data Domain can be improved, but I do not have specific examples I would want to see in the next release.

I have been using Dell PowerProtect Data Domain for approximately four to five years.

I rate customer service and technical support at a nine out of ten, as there is always room for improvement, but at this moment, I do not have any major complaints about the support services. They are always able to help us when needed, and the responsiveness of the support team is excellent.

Prior to adopting Dell PowerProtect Data Domain, we were using a build-your-own solution, which was a backup to disk solution where we repurposed a server with disks and used it as a repository for our backup solution.

My experience with pricing, setup costs, and licensing is that at first, it obviously costs more than a simple setup where you bring your own resources. However, after a while, I see the return on investment regarding maintenance and lifecycle management and operating in a day two scenario, which is where the real savings work.

I also rate Dell PowerProtect Data Domain a nine out of ten. My advice for someone considering trying it is to be open to a new solution, give it a try, and see what it actually does. I would rate this solution a nine overall.