IBM Storage Protect vs. Quest Rapid Recovery

Tivoli does well running file-level backups, but Exchange is clunky and restores are really hard. With no SharePoint agent, if you use SharePoint you will need another product like AvePoint DocAve. The web-based GUI console is MUCH improved over earlier versions, but you will still need to be a command-line guru to make Tivoli do everything, and local (node) config files still rule. This product was originally ported from Unix and retains may of its 'nix roots.

Incentivized

I belive AppAssure is now part of the Dell protection Suite. We have a very messy backup process where we run several backup products: one product for virtual, one for physical, Appassure for special backup needs. If you are looking at AppAssure, ask yourself if you're willing to use the entire backup suite from Dell. I feel one of the key things for backup is a single pane of glass. Can you manage a majority of your backup needs and processes from this one product

Incentivized

• Tight integration with Db2. As an IBM product, it works seamlessly with Db2. You can query what is stored in TSM via Db2 itself. You can also use DB scripts to maintain the items being stored there.
• Like most of its competitors, Tivoli handles deduplication well.
• Provides a GUI for browsing and maintaining items stored there. I rarely use this feature, due to the next item I will post:
• Command-line interface directly from my Db2 database servers.
• Both client and server-side deduplication, compression and encryption are available.
• If the requirements are zLinux and DB2 support then it's the most solid solution.
• Can be complex to implement, but once up and running, it is rock-solid and immensely scalable.
• Scalability is huge. Can be added onto easily.

Incentivized

• Backup email reporting is good.
• Deduplication makes backing up larger jobs much more manageable.
• Restoring files is fairly simple and quick.

Incentivized

• Deployment and configuration is not easy for an unexperienced IBM Spectrum Protect administrator
• Operations center uses a lot of data and needs a lot of storage for larger environments
• Have not seen a redbook about it in the past 10 years

• We have many repository corruptions and have to blow our backups away. I would not recommend using this if you are keeping a long retention.
• We upgraded the agent and it created a new base image. Duplicate base images are eating up into our repository space.
• I would like to see the repositories go away and use the type that was introduced for replay.

Incentivized

Not required, company closed. TSM is not used in my current role at my current job.

Incentivized

It is suitable for a huge part of our organisation, supports many operating systems (including Windows, Linux and IBM AIX), supports many databases - also for online backups (like Oracle, Db2 and SAP HANA), has an Operational Center for control, command-line and GUI for backup/restore. It just works well, once setup correctly.

Incentivized

The few times we've called for support we eventually got an answer, but it's IBM and a very big company and getting to a support agent is hard.

Incentivized

In the very few instances we've needed support they have been quick, friendly, knowledgeable, and dedicated to servicing our needs. That has only improved since AppAssure was bought out by Quest.

Incentivized

Our initial installation really was not optimum. With the help from Dell Profession Services we were able to get our implementation sized correctly and better understand how to get better deduplication results

Incentivized

We have been using TSM (former ADSM), rebranded Spectrum Protect and now rebranded Storage Protect a long time already. The product served us well. Last time we compared it to competitors we found they all had something lacking. And switching backup suites is no small task if there is data you need to keep 5, 7 or 10 years anyway. Commvault gets close, but doesn't match all features.

Incentivized

Price, features, and ease of use made AppAssure an easy decision for us.

Incentivized

• It can be used as a disaster recovery solution when you have the right configuration (either replication or tape copies in a safe location). This way it can be a lifesaver for any company.
• It can bring back the information you need if you are hit by ransomeware.
• It is also needed if you are accounting for user error, sometimes people delete the files they need by accident and without a backup solution they are out of luck

Incentivized

• Because the backup software is so scalable for a Managed Service Provider, it has made managing backups for our clients daily very easy and low effort, thus increasing our revenue.
• The software runs on a wide range of hardware which has made repurposing older equipment a very effective way of deploying it to our clients cheaply.
• We have used the backup software for approximately 8-10 years, however the software does not seem to be getting heavily developed which means in comparison to other vendors it is going to quickly become obsolete.