Re: Status of BUDR product?

Hello to all,

I have been watching the monster thread in the other forum - "Call for Kaseya to shift development focus...fix the core modules not add more modules", http://community.kaseya.com/xsp/f/114/t/13617.aspx).  I'll let that thread stand on its own. But I would like to create a new thread here to ask some specific questions to Kaseya powers-that-be about the status of BUDR.

Is the BUDR product dead?  Or are their plans for any updates, or enhancements or improvements?  If there are plans, can you please provide some specifics regarding what the planned updates/enhancements/improvements?  And what will we see them?

And a specific question, we will ever see the Acronus GUI again?

We have a rather small number fo BUDR licenses now, as comapred to by total K agent licenses.  I need to implement backups for more of our managed PCs.  I would like to buy more BUDR licenses and use it as our standard backup (at least for desktop PCs). But, (like KES, sorry to bring that up), I haven't seen any significant updates to the BUDR product in a while, in fact, we took a step backwards in losing the feature of the Acronsi GUI (which could be used for testing and troubelshooting).

If the BUDR product is end-of-life, that's fine. I will move on.  I just need to know. If its a viable product that's here to stay, I'd love to hear some specifics and time lines.

Thanks very much!

Lloyd

We use the BuDR product and it seems to be working just fine.

Yes, additions to the product are always nice but it has everything it needs. Was there something specific you want them to add?

We use a lot of BUDR, it is on most of our managed servers and a good number of managed workstations.

I agree with Lloyd that it feels like this is abandonware, especially after that other backup offering with appassure fell apart.  I also worry about the newer versions of acronis, we have been badly burned by the newer standalone true image products of late trying to get consistent backups.

It is ok but could be better.

1.  Scheduling is weak (this is an overall Kaseya thing rather than acronis specific).  I would really like to ability to schedule jobs to run on certain days of the week instead of this every X business.

2.  Application awareness - exchange and SQL as examples

3.  Ability to set more options that acronis can do such as throttling the bandwidth

4.  Multiple backup locations would be very nice.  We have one customer that we have on the older Acronis version because we could not do this.  He schedules the backup jobs locally in the GUI.

Let's not forget the following:

1. We're using V10 and not V11.
2. What about application awareness for SQL & Exchange??
3. What about a GUI (I know this is because of a decision by Acronis). right now V4 of BUDR is a PIA to deal with when recovering files.
4. Agree with firstcall about scheduling weakness. Need to be improved.

I find the module is fine, but to mee it seems to be stuck in limbo for the past 2 years.  

bump...

Just a friendly bump.  Can somone from Kaseya provide any information about the status and roadmap of BUDR?

Are their plans for any updates, or enhancements or improvements?  If there are plans, can you please provide some specifics regarding what the planned updates/enhancements/improvements?  And when will we see them?

Some specific questions...

- Will we be getting an updated version of Acronis?

- WIll the Acronis GUI be returned to us?

- Any new features for application backups or restores - such as AD, Exchange, SQL?

Thanks!

Lloyd

Bump to Lloyd's bump!

Would be nice to see an official Kaseya statement on this...

We are working diligently on getting into your hands an update to Kaseya Backup.  Specific functionality details available as we get to Controlled Release.  I have asked the product team for an ETA on controlled release.

@Brandon,

Thanks very much the the post. We anxciously wait news of the next release, including an ETA as well as some specifics regarding what the planned updates/enhancements/improvements?  

I'll take this opportunity to repeat a comment that I have made in other posts... I really think it would be most helpful if Kaseya published some time of roadmap - with rough timelines and a list of features/functions that will be included.  As paying customers, we are flying blind - with no real knowledge of what's coming, or not coming.  I think that would be a big help. Something like the ConectWise roadmap that si published would ve great.

Lloyd

Roger that @lwolf.  The roadmap is being worked on.

Good to hear the roadmap is being worked on... and when can we expect to see it?

Thanks Brendan.

Thanks very much for the reply Brendan. I'll sit tight for a while.

Lloyd

BUDR is an absolute joke.  After migrating to this from Mozy it has been an absolute headache.  The main reason we migrated away from Mozy is that we wanted the data on-site.  Key features that BUDR is missing:

1.  No way to backup if you are offsite.  The days of desktop computers are quickly coming to an end.  More people are working from the field and traveling more.  There is no way to back up unless you are on the LAN

2.  No way to easily see a list of machines with their last good backup date.  Yes you can see a list and their last backup.  If you want to see if that backup is successful you have to click on the individual log.

3.  No easy way for the end user to tell when their last backup was.

4.  No easy way for an end user to initiate a backup.

5.  Scheduling system is way too basic.

6. What happens if an incremental backup fails?  There seems to be a big mystery as to whether you need to run a full backup afterwards.

Hey nsummy... here's a response to your post:

1. You probably should look at KOB for this... especially as K matures this product line.
2. I run daily reports to get this results.
3. Why would the end user want to know? If so, then setthe alert to email them an alert when finished. Or you can automate a weekly report for this.
4. Sure there is. have the user open the K portal and select the backup now script.
5. Agreed! I am still eaiting for K to integrate the existing scheduling system (with some additional improvements) into the BUDR module.
6. Not sure what you are referring to here?

It would be nice if someone from Kaseya were to give us an update and status on when the next BUDR version will come out, and what will be in it.

Thanks for the response David:

1. KOB is more expensive than Mozy and has about half of the features, not to mention all it is is a backup system to Amazon S3 with inflated costs.  Currently we back up locally to Synology Diskstations which in turn back up to Amazon S3,  for standard amazon pricing.

3.  Half of the users don't care, half though like to know.  Mozy provides an icon in the taskbar that shows the last backup and allows for a simple manual backup option.  Not to mention the option to pause and also a status bar.  With BUDR they are left in the dark and have to trust the system to work.

6.  maybe you can enlighten me.  If an incremental backup fails, can I just run another incremental backup, or do I need to start over?

And one last HUGE complaint that I forgot about:  Adding files to a backup set.  What a step back.  There is no easy way to do check boxes to select file types or certain folders.  You have to manually type in the paths.  A huge pain if someone has a new folder they need backed up or certain files left out.  We have 50 users and I have spent hours manually entering this info.

I agree that KOB's functionality and operation is stripped down and hard to use.  We like the fact that it is part of Kaseya, but it is a "fail" as far as a module from a function and usability standpoint.  I would like to know if Kaseya beta tests their modules with real MSP's and listens to the feedback.  I can't imagine any MSP liking the KOB product with so many other easier to use products out there.  I would have preferred that Kaseya just integrate with Mozy rather than deliver this.

I have been using Kaseya for 6 years. One of the big reasons I chose Kaseya in the first place was due to the BUDR integration.

That said, the current status of BUDR is an absolute disaster. Frankly, it scares me to death that I am depending on it in any way. The issues are, literally, too numerous to mention. Please, please get on top of BUDR. it is one of the single most important modules of the system, and it should be at the very top of the to do list for Kaseya.

The time is very quickly approaching when I will be forced to explore alternatives, I cannot stave it off much longer at the expense of unnecessary risk for my clients.

I am installing BUDR on to a SBS 2011 box as I type this, and the sad thing is that I don't feel at all confident that I am delivering a quality solution. I actually feel bad for implementing my "go to solution", so something has to change.

Since months we get no more informations about the status/development of BUDR so now we have purchased another backupsolution (500 licenses).

We need a reliable partner that give us the answers to our questions and not just promises. The next step will be to convert our existing 2000 BUDR licenses zu our new Backuppartner.

Richard

@Alan M - I have a meeting tomorrow where I will get the latest status update for Kaseya Backup.  

@Richard - Sorry to hear about your frustration.  I hope your new solution is a better fit for your business.

Richard,

What's the new product you're using and how do you like it.

@Brendan: I think it's very important to get a flow on information whats going on with "our kaseya". in germany we call it "aus dem nähkästchen plaudern" (perhaps someone can translate it) ... information for internal use and strategic decisions ...  and some information we can tell our best customers ...

@Kai - Thanks for the feedback.  We are working to improve our efforts around a published product roadmap.  That's part of the meeting I have tomorrow.

Kai Osthoff:

in germany we call it "aus dem nähkästchen plaudern"

I asked a German friend of mine how she'd translate this German idiom into English.  She struggled to find a business-focused translation to this, but said it's something equivalent to "spill the beans" - for what that's worth.

Hi,

@Kai ... that's it

@Brendan  ... I am also sorry but we need a partner with a clear and continous communication. We must make strategic decisions to be prepared for the next 2-3 years ... here we get only the information that something is done ... But what? and when?

Richard

@Brendan

Just saw the roadmap.  I did not see any update for the BUDR.  You mentioned above that it would be on the roadmap.  "@Kai - Thanks for the feedback.  We are working to improve our efforts around a published product roadmap.  That's part of the meeting I have tomorrow."

Is there going to be an update and if so what is going to happen to BUDR in the next version.

@Brendan: Just read your roadmap. Thanks for the update and ongoing update-process from now. But you missed out a complete product - BUDR! Please share your thoughts. I need a roadmap to optimize my relationship with your product and our customers. at the moment it's missing really essential features like: backup sbs-product from microsoft.

Like @gdoubinin and @Kai both mentioned, I don't see anythign related to BUDR on the roadmap.  I did see notes for Online Backup 2.0, but nothing for BUDR.  But then again, my wife often makes fun of me for not being able to find things that are sometimes right in front of my face. So maybe I am just overlooking it ? :-)

I'll go back to my original post from December.... Are their plans for any updates, or enhancements or improvements?  If there are plans, can you please provide some specifics regarding what the planned updates/enhancements/improvements?  And when will we see them?

If the BUDR product is end-of-life, that's fine. I will move on.  I just need to know. If its a viable product that's here to stay, I'd love to hear some specifics and time lines.

Thanks very much!

Lloyd

The specifics for the roadmap of BUDR are missing from the roadmap.  Originally some vague details were included, but the decision was made to more more specific so those details and specifics are being re-worked for public consumption.  Sorry for the delay.

Hi Brandon. Thanks for the update.

You know I have to push a little bit... do you expect that we will see more information within the next 2 weeks? 2 months?  Longer?

Thanks :-)

Lloyd

Less than 2 weeks.

Great, thanks Brendan.  I'll sit tight for a few weeks.

Lloyd

As many of you will have noticed, we have just announced our new OEM partnership with Storage Craft. This is a very exciting new long term strategic partnership that allows us to bring a range of new options to our customers as a part of our overall Business Continuity strategy.

We are also building a new module that leverages this new technology alliance. There will be a formal Product Announcement shortly which will describe the features and direction for this product.

What is particularly exciting is that the module being built will allow you to use any existing installation of Shadow Protect. So if you already own the product, you just need the Kaseya module to manage it centrally, you don’t need to purchase new Shadow Protect licenses.

We are planning to release this module in Q2 of 2012, a full product announcement and roadmap outline will be available shortly. Pricing information will be made available as we get closer to the release.

We have many customers that are very happy with our current image based backup product BUDR, based on the Acronis engine, and we will continue to maintain and support BUDR in it’s current version for as long as our customers wish to use it. For existing BUDR customers who do wish to move to to this new module we will provide an competitive replacement deal, the details of which will be available closer to release time.

Here at Kaseya we believe this alliance will help take us to the next level in our Business Continuity strategy and finally cracks the code for the right technology to meet the demands of our growing and increasingly advanced customer base.

Please look out for more announcements soon.

Brandon, does this mean BUDR5 is not going to be?

I hope this is inaddition to BUDR5.  I am waiting for Brendan to come out with the road map for BUDR in another week as he stated above.  Paying for OEM of Acronis then get asked to pay for OEM of Storage Craft doesnt give me comfort.  The same thing can happen in a year or two just like the Acronis software being way behind on versions, and functonality, or appassure with the relationship just comes to an end.  Then what we get asked to go to someone else to pay for another OEM.  I like using BUDR, but sometimes a different product can be positioned to a different client, and it is always better to have move vendors to choose from then being limited

The roadmap is updated.  When we announce the new module more details on pricing and your options if you choose to make a move to the new module powered by StorageCraft will be available.  If you have any concerns right now, please feel free to call your rep.