Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Backup Exec VS SnapRAID

Compare Backup Exec VS SnapRAID and see what are their differences

Backup Exec logo Backup Exec

Backup Exec provides simple, complete backup and recovery protection for your business, to cover all data wherever it resides. Try free for 60 days.

SnapRAID logo SnapRAID

A backup program for disk arrays. It stores parity information of your data and it recovers from up to six disk failures.
  • Backup Exec Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-07
  • SnapRAID Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-09

Backup Exec features and specs

  • Comprehensive Support
    Backup Exec supports a wide range of platforms, including virtual, physical, and cloud environments. This makes it highly versatile for diverse IT infrastructures.
  • Intuitive Interface
    The software features a user-friendly interface that simplifies the process of backup and recovery, reducing the learning curve for new users.
  • Efficient Deduplication
    Backup Exec offers efficient data deduplication, which helps in saving storage space and reducing the overall backup time.
  • Strong Encryption
    The solution provides robust encryption both during data transmission and at rest, ensuring high levels of security for sensitive information.
  • Reliable Recovery Options
    Backup Exec provides a variety of reliable recovery options, including granular recovery for applications like Microsoft Exchange and SharePoint.

Possible disadvantages of Backup Exec

  • Cost
    The software can be expensive, particularly for small to medium businesses with limited budgets.
  • Complex Licensing
    The licensing model for Backup Exec can be somewhat complex, making it difficult for users to determine the most cost-effective licensing option.
  • Performance Issues
    Some users have reported performance issues, particularly with large-scale environments, which can affect the speed and efficiency of backups.
  • Limited Advanced Features
    While comprehensive, Backup Exec may lack some advanced features that are available in other enterprise-grade backup solutions.
  • Technical Support
    Although support is available, some users have found that response times can be slow and the quality of support can vary.

SnapRAID features and specs

  • Data Protection
    SnapRAID provides data protection by offering redundancy through parity, which helps in recovering data in case of a drive failure.
  • Flexibility
    SnapRAID allows the use of disks of different sizes and types even after the initial setup, which is not common in traditional RAID systems.
  • Snapshot Storage
    SnapRAID uses snapshots to protect against accidental deletions and file system corruption, maintaining multiple points in time for recovery.
  • Read Performance
    Since SnapRAID is not a real-time RAID solution, it doesn't impact read performance. Data is read directly from the data disks.
  • No Drive Spanning
    Unlike traditional RAID systems, SnapRAID doesn't span files across multiple drives, which reduces complexity and the risk of data loss.

Possible disadvantages of SnapRAID

  • Not Real-Time
    SnapRAID is not a real-time RAID solution, meaning changes are not protected until a sync operation is performed.
  • No Write Performance Improvement
    SnapRAID does not improve write performance as traditional RAID systems do, since it doesn't stripe data across disks in real-time.
  • Manual Sync
    Users need to perform manual sync operations to update parity information, which can be cumbersome and requires regular maintenance.
  • Limited to Static Data
    SnapRAID is best suited for data that doesn't change often, such as media libraries, since frequent changes require constant sync operations.
  • No Real-Time Redundancy
    Real-time redundancy is not available, leaving the system vulnerable to data loss between sync operations.

Analysis of Backup Exec

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Backup Exec is considered a reliable and effective backup solution for businesses of various sizes. It is especially praised for its ease of use, comprehensive feature set, and strong support from Veritas. However, it's essential to evaluate it against specific business needs and IT infrastructure to ensure it aligns with organizational goals.

Why this product is good

  • Backup Exec by Veritas is known for its robust data backup and recovery capabilities. It supports a wide variety of platforms including Windows, Linux, and virtual environments, making it versatile for different IT landscapes. It offers features like deduplication, integrated data protection, and multi-cloud support which enhance its efficiency and scalability.

Recommended for

    Medium to large enterprises looking for a scalable and versatile backup and recovery solution, IT managers and administrators who need comprehensive support for both physical and virtual environments, and organizations that require flexible cloud integration options.

Analysis of SnapRAID

Overall verdict

  • SnapRAID is considered a solid choice for users who require a software solution for data redundancy and integrity in a home server setup. It is especially appealing for those who have a large media collection or create backups, as it provides thorough data protection without constant spinning of disks, reducing wear and tear. However, it may not be the best fit for users looking for real-time data redundancy in environments with frequent write operations, because parity is only updated upon manual synchronization.

Why this product is good

  • SnapRAID is a popular choice for those looking to manage disk arrays because it combines the features of RAID with the flexibility of independent disks. It offers data protection against disk failures through parity, allowing users to recover lost data. Additionally, SnapRAID is highly valued for its ease of use, extensive documentation, and the ability to use disks of different sizes without any issues. This flexibility makes it suitable for personal and home server environments where users may add or remove disks as needed. Moreover, SnapRAID's snapshot feature provides additional data protection by preserving the state of your files at specific points in time, which is particularly useful for recovering from accidental deletions or file corruption.

Recommended for

    SnapRAID is highly recommended for home users, small businesses, or enthusiasts who manage media libraries or backups. It is ideal for those who need a cost-effective solution that offers data security and flexibility without the complexities of traditional RAID configurations. Users who favor efficient storage utilization and who prefer managing their data storage with a hands-on approach will find SnapRAID to be an excellent tool for their needs.

Backup Exec videos

Backup Exec 15 Review by an Independent Technician

More videos:

  • Tutorial - Backup Exec 2014 Tutorial and Review by an Independant Technical Consultant
  • Review - Installation of Veritas Backup Exec 21

SnapRAID videos

Snapraid and Unionfs: Advanced Array Options on Openmediavault (Better than ZFS and Unraid)

More videos:

  • Tutorial - How to setup Snapraid and DrivePool in Windows
  • Review - Part 5 - Perfect Media Server 2017 - Installing and Automating SnapRAID

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Backup Exec and SnapRAID)
Cloud Storage
61 61%
39% 39
Cloud Computing
0 0%
100% 100
Monitoring Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Backup & Sync
89 89%
11% 11

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Backup Exec and SnapRAID

Backup Exec Reviews

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SnapRAID Reviews

9 Of The Best FreeNAS Alternatives For Your Storage Needs
SnapRAID is another of the FreeNAS alternatives that enable you to store information and then provide you with a secure backup. The best part about this app is that it works effortlessly with both Linux and Windows.
15 FreeNAS Alternatives 2020 | Best Storage Operating System
You should know that SnapRAID is an excellent file server system for small businesses enabling users for effective data management without affecting the internal structures. We highly recommend SnapRAID to SMBs owners.
15 Best FreeNas alternatives in 2020
If you may feel a need to backup all your data then you won’t find the best tool than SnapRAID which is one of the best alternatives to Freenas. It is a type of useful backup program for all types of disk arrays which can store huge data of information. Yes, you can also recover the entire data up to 6 disk failures just with the help of this alternative to Freenas. You...
10 Best FreeNas alternatives in 2020
This FreeNas alternative is reinforcement the management program that stores the halfway data of any information and, later on, makes them ready to recuperate back the information from up to six information disappointments. SnapRAID is, for the most part, intended for the home media communities to make these clients ready to deal with their information successfully with the...
Source: omy9.com

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Backup Exec and SnapRAID, you can also consider the following products

Acronis Backup and Recovery - Acronis Backup is a data recovery solution that offers more ways of storing and recovering drives, folders and files as compared to other similar solutions.

TrueNAS Core - TrueNAS Core (formerly FreeNAS) is a storage operating system strong and robust enough to meet the needs of enterprise level businesses.

SolarWinds Backup - Modern server backup software

XigmaNAS - File Sharing, OS & Utilities, and Security & Privacy

Altaro VM Backup - Altaro VM Backup is a leading virtual machine backup and replication platform specially designed for VMware and Microsoft Hyper-V environments.

OpenMediaVault - OpenMediaVault is the next generation network attached storage (NAS) solution based on Debian Linux.