We are now able to analyze products, stores, suppliers and sales as quickly as we need.
How has it helped my organization?
In that occasion, the customer was one of the biggest retail companies of Brazil. The company uses SAP and other technologies to manage their transactional process but they didn't have an efficient way to process data and a better view about their business.
The appliance Netezza gave us the capability of process terabytes of data and gave us new directions and ideas to make the business more profitable. We are now able to analyze products, stores, suppliers and sales as quickly as we need to take a decision to handle any kind of issue or prevent loss of sales.
What is most valuable?
Easy Deployment
No Indexes
Extremely fast to respond queries with high amount of data
Data distribution based on hashtable concept
Zonemap
Easy to migrate data
What needs improvement?
Concurrent Queries, with this model (1000-3), we had a very big problem using front-end tools connected on it. When using a dashboard tool to use data directly from the database, I had a big problem with queries being queued and stopped running. Looking at the manual I read that Netezza has a limited number or concurrent process.
For how long have I used the solution?
For 5 years, I was the data architect responsible for the design, the implementation and optimization of all process related to it.
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What do I think about the stability of the solution?
No, I haven´t found any issues.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Yes. If the Demand for clock or disk space grow over the limit, it will be necessary to change the appliance, because it's not possible to upgrade any component of this machine. You have to buy a new one with a bigger capacity.
How are customer service and support?
Customer Service:
6/10 – Some issues about this equipment I had to discover by myself. I think that the vendor did not give me the best support to use the appliance. The machine is excellent, but I had to discover everything by myself as well figure out how to use the equipment in the best way.
Technical Support:
6/10 – I don't know if it is related to the SLA of my customer, but I think that the things are not as fast as they should be when we need help.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I used to have Oracle as my Data Warehouse solution, but despite the fact of it is very good to manage transactional environments, it does not work as fast as Netezza. We have analytical demands so we need an analytical solution. Sometimes we need to retrieve and process our whole table of inventory so it means around 16 billion of rows. Netezza can process all this amount of data and give a result in less than 40 seconds. I have never seen this performance in another database solution before.
How was the initial setup?
The setup was not complex. It was fine. Initially the vendor gave us all the support, including a hands-on course before using the machine.
What about the implementation team?
We implemented by ourselves, my team and I implemented everything.
What was our ROI?
I do not have this information.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I am not able to give this information.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
Yes, I evaluated Teradata and Exadata. Initially I thought that Teradata would be better, so my customer was not able to afford the costs. Now I am sure they made a good choice.
What other advice do I have?
Try to find someone who had already worked with this appliance to have some tips and advices to help you to use it as better as it can. I take too long to discover the best way to make it work well. With my team, I have created a data environment using Netezza as Data warehouse solution, ODI to run the ETL process, shell script. We have now five years of data stored in the Netezza database and we distribute data to all BI Applications easily and quickly. However, it would be better if we had some useful help in the past.
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.
Low maintenance, overall performs well, but interface could improve
Pros and Cons
"The most valuable features of the IBM Netezza Performance Server are the NPS server because of the reduced maintenance and overall good performance."
"IBM Netezza Performance Server could improve its interface, support for big data, and APA-based connectivity should be available."
What is our primary use case?
I am using IBM Netezza Performance Server for enterprise data.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable features of the IBM Netezza Performance Server are the NPS server because of the reduced maintenance and overall good performance.
What needs improvement?
IBM Netezza Performance Server could improve its interface, support for big data, and APA-based connectivity should be available.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using IBM Netezza Performance Server for approximately seven years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
IBM Netezza Performance Server has a very good uptime rate. We do not have a lot of servers crashing, it is a high-availability solution.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability of the IBM Netezza Performance Server is good.
We have more than 5,000 users using IBM Netezza Performance Server indirectly. We use BI tools, such as Oracle OBIEE vs QlikView which we use to develop reports and these tools connect to IBM Netezza Performance Server.
How are customer service and support?
I have not contacted the support from IBM. However, our team has connected them.
What about the implementation team?
We used a third party to do the implementation of the solution. There were approximately 25 people for the operation and it took approximately eight months.
We have two people who do the maintenance for IBM Netezza Performance Server.
What other advice do I have?
I rate IBM Netezza Performance Server a seven 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.
It is extremely easy to use. The platform is very efficient and robust as well.
How has it helped my organization?
Generally, the machine utilized for the PoC is rarely returned once the overwhelming results are seen! Customers decide to keep the project, almost from scratch! The initial KPIs are delivered with low investment. There is quick implementation and considerable outcomes which make the platform a valuable asset to the organization.
What needs improvement?
Marketing, I dare say, should be improved. The ads should never mention “big data” since the platform was not initially designed for it.
I worked years and years ago with Teradata, and this is the platform to which it should be compared. It is important to emphasize that Netezza and Teradata have different markets. Netezza performs very well “in its peculiar and valuable small world.”
For how long have I used the solution?
I have used this solution for years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
We did not have any stability issues.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It is not designed to process a huge volume of data.
How are customer service and technical support?
Technical support is good.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I worked for different companies and my experience is really wide. Teradata is the paramount solution! Oracle’s Exadata invests a lot in both technology and marketing, sometimes losing the focus on “real” analytics. They used to address the platform as both OLAP and OLTP (“one size fits all”), which is not correct.
How was the initial setup?
The rule of thumb in the data warehousing/business intelligence space starts with a simple PoC. That being said, there must be a few questions to be answered by the platform. The data model must be simple and flexible enough to address some “extra questions” within a set timetable, in case the customer wants to extend the PoC prior to making the purchase.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Comparisons with other solutions, including pricing and licensing, is as important as a PoC.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
I compared Netezza to Teradata and Exadata.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
I think Netezza is built for Big data solution we can scale PETA scale of data. In my organization, we have upgraded Production box to Mako and it's working well for ETL and reporting symanteniousely. TCO is very low to it's peer and organization save million dollars for choosing the right technology. I worked in Teradata but when i compared with Netezza then in specific to Mart Netezza is a clear winner.
SQL is 100% ANSI compliant, but support for interfaces has been poor.
What is most valuable?
The ability to load data very quickly
SQL is 100% ANSI compliant
Queries run very fast and require no hints (Oracle)
No space management
Tuning SQL is generally pretty easy
How has it helped my organization?
For every organization that I have been in that has Netezza, the ability to load and run queries is greatly simplified and A LOT faster than any other DBMS out there.
What needs improvement?
Netezza is just starting on real time integration with Big Insights (big data). Support for interfaces has been poor. Hoping this improves.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've used it for nine years.
What was my experience with deployment of the solution?
No issues encountered.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Netezza servers used to have disk issues in the early days, however, for the most part this has been addressed.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
No issues encountered.
How are customer service and technical support?
Customer Service:
9/10.
Technical Support:
9/10.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have used Oracle and Teradata as a DBA. I have found Netezza to be the easiest in terms of DBA management
How was the initial setup?
Very straightforward. Data movement is very easy. It works better if you do 1 large file as opposed to several small files
What about the implementation team?
Netezza servers are installed by IBM but implementations are sometimes handled in house and for others it maybe a mixture with BI vendors. We are a BI vendor and do implementations.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
Most shops I am in have used Oracle, Sql Server, or Teradata. Depending on what the data is being used for (OLTP, OLAP). OLAP is the best application for a Netezza server.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: We are partners with IBM.
It works well for many “campaign” queries that run for our clinical analytical area, but while some queries do run very fast, you cannot load up the box with several queries.
Valuable Features
It can run heavy CPU queries really fast, and this is valuable.
Improvements to My Organization
We have a lot of “campaign” queries that run for our clinical analytical area and this product seems to work well for them.
Room for Improvement
While some queries do run very fast, you cannot load up the box with several queries.
Use of Solution
We've used TwinFin for over four years and Striper for around one-and-a-half.
Deployment Issues
It does not scale like other databases and expect them to run at the same time.
Scalability Issues
Netezza does not scale like other databases, so it cannot run several queries at once.
Customer Service and Technical Support
It's good.
Initial Setup
It was pretty straightforward, but we had to get several areas involved in initial setup.
Implementation Team
We worked with the vendor to implement it.
Pricing, Setup Cost and Licensing
It is a pretty expensive solution, but it is worth it for the right environment.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
It's an easy-to-use data warehouse appliance, but it doesn't support correlated queries.
What is most valuable?
Zonemap features
AMPP (SMP+MPP ) architecture
High availability
Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs)
How has it helped my organization?
The Netezza deployment is easy, and there is less administration and coding than in other databases.
What needs improvement?
Correlated queries are not supported.
Concurrency - the performance dips with number of concurrent queries; for example, if more than 48 queries are run concurrently, it queues up.
Scalability - if the data increases, you need to go for a bigger appliance as you cannot add to Netezza incrementally.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've used it for two-and-a-half years.
What was my experience with deployment of the solution?
Some minor SPU communication issues with IP protocol.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
No issues encountered.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
No issues encountered.
How are customer service and technical support?
Customer Service:
They deliver the products to customers faster and with greater accuracy, i.e. within the agreed-upon due date.
Technical Support:
Netezza already had a excellent customer satisfaction and the rating would be 8/10.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We previously used Oracle then migrated to Netezza because its deployment is easy, and there is less administration and coding when compared to Oracle. Also, the query performance is excellent in Netezza.
How was the initial setup?
It is very straightforward because Netezza's initial setup took less than two days and the entire data set was loaded onto the Netezza appliance to which users had full access to the system.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Netezza is an easy-to-use data warehouse appliance. It's extremely fast with a low cost and the customers run their BI and advanced analytics in a very flexible manner.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We also looked at Teradata.
What other advice do I have?
Netezza should have enough advantages with implementation, i.e time to deployment, price, performance, and the ability to integrate with the existing environment.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Hi Leo, this is a very helpful and detailed post I have read so far. Good job!