Item: Dell Avamar
Rating: 8
Author: Verified User

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

Dell EMC Avamar is being use as a front end backup scheduler and restorer device. It schedules backups of our VMs across multiple environments, deduplicates them, then sends them to the data domain device for storage. Once there, the data domain ages the device to our AWS instance, reducing our on-prem footprint and satisfying our need for a hybrid model.

Pros and Cons

New and improved interface no longer requires separate program to run on a management server.
The avamar interacts with the data domain device to allow for cloud storage.
The Avamar AVE footprint is much easier to install and use, given the new GUI.

Dell EMC has solved the bloated management software installation plaguing the install for years.
Dell needs to move the Virtual Edition piece into their hardware platform, to allow for better management and daily use of the product.
Using VMware for snapshoting a VM is older technology, holding back larger VM's from being backed up, to allow for a file system copy only. Real innovation would allow for better methods of snapshoting a VM.

Return on Investment

I am able to deploy multiple avamar systems much faster and remotely, which allows me to complete projects on-time or ahead of schedule.
The ease of the management has vastly improved and allowed a much better understanding and use case for Avamar.
Avamar allows for source side deduplication and is very good at providing this feature for our remote sites.

Alternatives Considered

Data Protector (formerly HP Data Protector) and CommVault

Avamar has simplied the back up approach in their VE edition and is much easier to use than Data Protector. Backing up multiple VMs takes minutes instead of hours now. Creating policies, retentions, and schedules, is vastly improved and much easier.

Support Rating

Their new management interface makes backups a breeze, without needing to learn about media agents, servers, complex agents, and complex licensing.

Key Insights

Do you think Dell Avamar delivers good value for the price?

Yes

Are you happy with Dell Avamar's feature set?

Yes

Did Dell Avamar live up to sales and marketing promises?

Yes

Did implementation of Dell Avamar go as expected?

Yes

Would you buy Dell Avamar again?

Yes

Other Software Used

CommVault, Data Protector (formerly HP Data Protector), Veeam Availability Suite

Likelihood to Recommend

The new Avamar VE has a better management front end, thus allowing for faster deployments and allowing customers including myself to easily create backups and perform restores. This new VE platform needs to be retrofitted to the Avamar hardware devices as well. This is a great solution, when bundled with Data Domain and AWS cloud, to allow for hybrid model.

Dell EMC's new Avamar VE and front end!

Overall Satisfaction with Dell EMC Avamar