Looking for a simpler alternative to Commvault
Posted by the_mosthated@reddit | sysadmin | View on Reddit | 24 comments
We’re evaluating replacements for Commvault in a relatively straightforward VMware environment with around 50TB of on-prem data at a single site.
The environment includes roughly a dozen SQL and file servers, several application servers with mostly static data, and a handful of Linux appliance VMs.
Our biggest requirement is simplicity. We don’t have a dedicated backup administrator, so the platform needs to be easy for general sysadmins to manage day to day without a huge learning curve.
The main frustration with Commvault has been that it feels overly complex for what we actually need. The interface isn’t very intuitive, and there are a lot of enterprise features and workflows we realistically won’t ever use.
Curious what others have moved to in similar environments and what has been easier to operate long term without sacrificing reliability.
981flacht6@reddit
I have Rubrik and I absolutely love it. It would do exactly what you're asking for.
Their support is great, the implementation takes like 1-2 day. Upgrades are easy.
I have 15 Tb, VMware vSphere 8, they have support for Nutanix, Proxmox, Hyper V coming if you end up migrating later.
TechMonkey605@reddit
Druva. Buy direct not through Dell
hftfivfdcjyfvu@reddit
Metallic.io. Commvault under the covers but a pretty saas based interface to use it. Flexible for where you store your backups including lots of on prem or cloud options
sryan2k1@reddit
Rubrik
touchytypist@reddit
If you can’t afford Rubrik, then I would say Cohesity is a close second
ihaxr@reddit
I loved Rubrik as a DBA because you can live mount the database restore directly to the SQL server without having to copy the .bak file and have space for it and the restored database. It just mounts directly from Rubrik and consumes no space.
DueBreadfruit2638@reddit
We use Datto BCDR with their Siris server. It's easy to configure and works very well.
whetu@reddit
Inherited a poorly setup Veeam platform. Switched to N-Able Cove.
Cove isn't perfect, but I prefer it to Veeam. It's easy to setup, and easy to use. Cloud-only is one approach but that can hurt if you do lots of big restores (sql .bak files for example), so having something like a NAS present for a local copy (Local Speed Vault in Cove parlance) may be a consideration.
seanpmassey@reddit
Your main requirement is simplicity? That’s not enough to go on. What are your actual requirements?
Do you have policies are retention periods? Offsite backup targets? What are your RTO/RPO requirements? Any specific application or database requirements?
Have you thought about how changing backup software will impact your business continuity/disaster recovery plans and run books?
Commvault has a lot of knobs, and it is not the easiest software to operate. There are solutions that are easier to use. But you need to go into this process with more than “we just want something simple.”
plump-lamp@reddit
Cohesity. We had veeam. It is insane how much easier and reliable cohesity is.
CantThinkOfAUserNahm@reddit
Rubrik.
techretort@reddit
I moved from Veeam to Commvault when I moved jobs.
Dear god I miss Veeam
BoysenberryDue3637@reddit
I was in a veeam shop and have to say it was the easiest backup system I ever stood up. Oh and it just worked day in day out. My guys were in the 99.8% annual backup success.
Markuchi@reddit
Implemented commvault. After a couple of years due to how cumbersome it was moved to veeam and never looked back.
spantosh@reddit
I’d personally recommend taking a look at Veeam Backup & Replication for an environment like yours.
For VMware environments with SQL servers, file servers, Linux VMs, and around 50TB of data, Veeam tends to be very straightforward to operate while still offering solid reliability and recovery options. The interface and daily management workflow are generally easy for sysadmins to handle without needing a dedicated backup specialist.
A lot of environments we support use Veeam with enterprise NAS or repository storage, and it has worked well for long-term management, monitoring, restores, and scaling without adding too much operational complexity.
The Community Edition is also useful if you want to test the platform and get familiar with the workflow before moving into production licensing.
Feel free to DM me if you want guidance on sizing, architecture, licensing, or general best practices for your environment.
_Do_The_Needful_@reddit
Thanks ChatGPT.
spantosh@reddit
Nice catch 🤣
bartoque@reddit
The backup tool (and support for it) of choice is just one side of the coin.
Where you store it is another hugely important one.
So what is that currently and can you actually re-purpose that backup medium with another backup tool?
What are the requirements and must-haves for such a backup target. Was immutability for example considered or even thought about at all? Is a local backup target required/needed.
And I can't decide/guess for anyone what they would consider wimple(r)? As you still would have to get to know about the intricacies of any solution to make it work.
Veeam is still a soft-only company as they don'f offer a purpose build (deduplication) backup device, like various other vendors started or where alreaey doing for a long time. Yes they offer an ibstallable iso to deploy on standard x86 hardware, but that hardware support would be from another vendor.
coltsfan2365@reddit
Scale
Apprehensive_Bit4767@reddit
Rsync is good , but not in this scenario you need to use veeam I use it at a couple of jobs before this and it made restoring things so easy. I can't tell you how many times I got the request oh I accidentally deleted a file off the server or accidentally move something can you find it
Professional-Heat690@reddit
Veeam everyday, every workload.
gjpeters@reddit
Just adding to the common theme... Veeam.
Alexandre_Man@reddit
rsync
dreadpiratewombat@reddit
Before you go chucking the tool you have because it’s too complex, learn to actually use it. Learn why those knobs exist. If you think Commvault is too complicated, I’d hate for you to look at Veeam. Better for you to have the features and know what they’re for without using them than deploy some different solution without understanding and then have it bite you in the ass. For reference, Commvault is, in my experience, pretty entry level for a moderate enterprise VMware environment.