I use CTERA Enterprise File Services Platform for end-user sharing, for CIFS and for NFS sharing. We use it to store biomedical equipment output and for archiving users files for long retention.
CTERA Intelligent Data Platform
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Cloud file services have improved continuous access and strengthened disaster recovery readiness
What is our primary use case?
How has it helped my organization?
CTERA Enterprise File Services Platform has impacted because of ease to use for end users and for administrators of the solutions. We gain too easy to maintain platform.
What is most valuable?
My favourite feature about CTERA Enterprise File Services Platform is the cloud synchronisation and the way the filers work. For example, when we do an upgrade from the application and the database servers perspective, the filers, which are the nodes that share the information to the users, those can continue working without the synchronisation with the portal because they have their own reduced storage space. For a two hours upgrade, the users didn't notice the upgrades or we didn't need to open a maintenance window. We can continue providing services to the users, and that is my favourite solution for that tool.
The file replication in CTERA Enterprise File Services Platform is good, and the same thing with the filers and the portal is good because you can have on the filers the more used files, similar to hot pinning. In the portal, you have all the complete directories. For me, that is good. The replication works fast, and they do a good job with that.
CTERA Enterprise File Services Platform has helped me to reduce my recovery point objectives, the RPOs, because with the solution we have a principal site and a disaster recovery site. In the disaster recovery site we have CTERA Enterprise File Services Platform components so in case of a problem in the principal site, we can migrate the sharing to the disaster recovery site. This is also implemented with a storage solution. CTERA Enterprise File Services Platform is our front-end platform for the users, but in the back end, we have Scality as the S3 bucket. CTERA Enterprise File Services Platform connects to the Scality for storage, and we have Scality replicated too. CTERA Enterprise File Services Platform uses the Scality bucket to store the data, and the RPOs work better with CTERA Enterprise File Services Platform.
What needs improvement?
There are two things about CTERA Enterprise File Services Platform that I think they can improve. The first one is the reporting or maybe the monitoring solution because they lack reporting about the shares that we have, the used space, the total space, the permissions, or other relevant metrics. Because I have seen other tools that have it. The reporting and monitoring capabilities could be improved. The second one is that the filers are a good solution, but there is a problem because when you have multiple filers in three sites or in the same site with multiple filers, we have to replicate the configuration manually. It's not automatically syncing. For us, that is a problem because if I create a share in one filer, I have to go and create the share on the other filers. That means a lot of configuration time wasted in something that could potentially be done with a tool to replicate that automatically in the backend or in the background of the solution. Those two points would be the areas most needing improvement in the solution.
Pricing of CTERA Enterprise File Services Platform is not a concern because we have CTERA Enterprise File Services Platform with more components packaged with HP GreenLake. They sell us the whole solution: the servers, the networking, and everything else. However, I have a point of view about the licensing. Currently, we have a license for 150 terabytes, but the consumption in the licensing is not just the user current data, but also the deleted data and the snapshots. That means that we have about 70 terabytes of current data for the user, but from CTERA Enterprise File Services Platform's consumption point of view, we have consumed about 120 terabytes. For me, it's a little confusing because from the point of view of the user, we have one value, but from CTERA Enterprise File Services Platform we have another value. It would be better for us to consolidate or have the same information because I have to ask them about that, and they explain it to me. At first, it was a little confusing to figure that out.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with CTERA Enterprise File Services Platform for two years, since 2024.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Yes, CTERA Enterprise File Services Platform is a stable platform. There are not concerns from users perspective about latency, out of service or disruption of the service, but also in an upgrade maintenance window.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
CTERA Enterprise File Services Platform can scale out and scale up with out problem. We can add more resources on the same servers and in case we need to create more servers it can be done without problem.
How are customer service and support?
We had to contact CTERA Enterprise File Services Platform technical support several times on the first months because we were still understanding the platform and we required some help. After the implementation was done, we had a knowledge transference for two days where they explained the solution to the whole team. When we opened cases I a noticed a great technical support level. The people that work there are always trying to help us. As a recommendation, the access to the software downloads, firmware, and updates should be more opened and allowed without having to create a case. When we worked with others vendors, we can access the software downloads without a problem, but with CTERA Enterprise File Services Platform, we have to open a case. When you open the case, they send you the links for the download but also the support team help you to create a plan to upgrade the platform.
The support deserves a nine on a scale from 1 to 10, 10 being the highest.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
In my career, I have used NetApp solutions, HP solutions, Windows file server, and Scality. Scality had a Samba implementation, but I migrated from Scality because all the configuration and all the administration tasks were over CLI. Then I migrated to CTERA Enterprise File Services Platform to have a better administration platform for shares management, but I continued with Scality as the storage backend solution because of the replication and the ring platform. Those are the four solutions that I have worked with before CTERA Enterprise File Services Platform.
How was the initial setup?
The initial deployment of CTERA Enterprise File Services Platform was more or less difficult overall. As I mentioned, architecting the solution and seeing the components took a little more than we expected because it was difficult to understand the components and the way they work. After all the components were checked, all the networking was reviewed, and all the requirements were completed, the implementation took about two or three days, more or less. The architecting took about two weeks.
What about the implementation team?
It was a team effort for the deployment of CTERA Enterprise File Services Platform because in our company, we have the cyber security team, networking team, and infrastructure team. We had to work together to complete all the requirements for CTERA Enterprise File Services Platform to be implemented. There was a team of about six to eight people internally and about two or three people from CTERA Enterprise File Services Platform.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
There was a all inclusive solution with HPE GreenLake services, then there is not information about pricing or setup cost. About licensing is simple, ease to understand but a little bit confused for compared user consumed space and Ctera space.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
Qumulo, IBM, Dell and Scality solutions.
What other advice do I have?
When we started with CTERA Enterprise File Services Platform and architecting the solution, there was something difficult to understand because of the different components they have: the database, the application or the portal, and the filers, and how they sync the information. After we finished the implementation, after about six months or so of using it, it's good because all the administration tasks are done via a graphical user interface. Before, we used another solution that was all done via CLI and was harder to use. CTERA Enterprise File Services Platform is all about the graphical user interface, and after several months, I can use it without a problem.
I use the Ransom Protect feature in CTERA Enterprise File Services Platform, and we have it in a monitoring state. They have found some behavioral analysis and reported it to us in cases where users deleted a lot of files or moved the files, and sent us an email about ransomware behavior. I have activated it right now, but that's in monitoring, not in active status, because in active status, they will disconnect the user.
CTERA Enterprise File Services Platform does not require any maintenance on my end. I would rate this solution an 8 on a scale from 1 to 10.
Centralized file services have accelerated global content collaboration and strengthened security
What is our primary use case?
I primarily use CTERA Enterprise File Services Platform to replicate our marketing content to our regional offices. Marketing uses the Adobe application suite for creating and managing file content, and they replicate that content out to our regional locations where our regional graphical marketing people tailor that content to those regions.
CTERA Enterprise File Services Platform is used not only for replication to regional branches, but also for the sharing features that we use to share content externally with clients and customers.
Our organization utilizes the most replication, file sharing, and sharing content using CTERA Enterprise File Services Platform as well as the security features within the platform.
What is most valuable?
The best features of CTERA Enterprise File Services Platform include replication, which has offered the biggest advantage for using the solution.
The replication workflows have replicated content to our branch offices and cached that content, which makes that content accessible to our regional offices around the globe and makes accessing that data much easier and much faster. In turn, turning around the changes to marketing files is much quicker.
The file services, SMB sharing, and replication have all positively contributed to CTERA Enterprise File Services Platform, so much so that we are looking at moving our global file share services over to it.
Global file locking prompted our team to consider moving global shared services over to CTERA Enterprise File Services Platform. Once CTERA Enterprise File Services Platform announced that they now support global file locking, that was the missing component that was keeping us from going to CTERA Enterprise File Services Platform. Now that that feature is offered, the solution is whole.
CTERA Enterprise File Services Platform has complemented our security posture at the company. CTERA Enterprise File Services Platform has complemented my company's security posture with virus scanning, ransomware protection, and ACLs. My impressions of the enterprise class solutions being offered by CTERA Enterprise File Services Platform include ransomware protection, versioning, and virus scanning, all of which contribute to the security.
What needs improvement?
I cannot think of any areas at this time that could be improved. CTERA Enterprise File Services Platform is a well-rounded platform.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using CTERA Enterprise File Services Platform for the last eight years.
Centralized Control, Secure Hybrid Cloud, and Fast Global File Sync
What do you like best about the product?
Centralized Control & Security,Global File Syncing & Performance and Hybrid Cloud Flexibility
What do you dislike about the product?
Need more Micro-level logs about file/share modification.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
CTERA addresses the critical challenges of modernizing unstructured data storage by eliminating the fragmentation, high costs, and performance bottlenecks associated with traditional NAS and remote scanning sites file servers.
By combining edge caching with cloud-native storage, CTERA enables a global file system that delivers local-level performance for remote users while maintaining centralized control.
By combining edge caching with cloud-native storage, CTERA enables a global file system that delivers local-level performance for remote users while maintaining centralized control.
Seamless Collaboration with Robust Global File Access
What do you like best about the product?
I love CTERA’s global file system architecture as one of its strongest features. Users get local LAN-speed access to files via edge filers and a global namespace across sites and cloud, which allows seamless collaboration without the usual latency pain. Shares are accessed very quickly with no issues, making the experience smooth and efficient.
What do you dislike about the product?
Nothing
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
I use CTERA for storing, modifying, and accessing files from the cloud, solving SMB and NFS shares issues. Its global file system architecture allows LAN-speed access and seamless collaboration without latency, making file sharing quick and issue-free.
Effortless Setup and Migration with CTERA
What do you like best about the product?
I really like the easy setup of CTERA Gateways for migrations. It makes bringing down data from the portal simple without needing to manually migrate it. The integration with tools like CTools helps in moving files effortlessly. Also, I find it easy to set up and migrate in CTERA.
What do you dislike about the product?
I don't like the monitoring features in CTERA. A simple consolidated dashboard to monitor all the gateways would be better, and it's frustrating that old logs are not available at times to find the root cause.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
CTERA solves performance and access issues, and I appreciate the easy setup of CTERA Gateways for migrations. It helps bring data down easily from the portal, eliminating the need for manual data migration.
Simplified Storage with Easy File Management
What do you like best about the product?
I like how simple CTERA is to use, especially appreciating the simplified UI. The Gateways and Portals stand out to me as they allow us to create new edge filers and manage shares easily. I also find CTERA's better functionality and versatility compared to our previous solution, like its version control and deduplication capabilities, to be a strong advantage.
What do you dislike about the product?
I think monitoring could be better. There's no simplified monitoring dashboard where we can see the status of all gateways at once.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
I use CTERA for managing NFS and SMB shares, solving major storage and network problems, and its gateways and portals make it easy to create new edge filers and shares.
Efficient File Access with Stellar Support
What do you like best about the product?
I like how CTERA provides easy file access through Samba or NFS, solving path issues effectively. The easy setup configuration in edge filers and enabling NFS makes downloading files straightforward. I appreciate the quick response from support, which adds to the ease of use. The deduplication feature is also something I find valuable.
What do you dislike about the product?
Monitoring can be improved. Migration is taking a long time.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
I use CTERA for easy file access in the cloud, resolving path issues. It allows users to access files through Samba or NFS with easy setup configuration in edge filers.
Effortless File Access and Storage Management
What do you like best about the product?
I use CTERA for accessing user files and folders for day-to-day operations and archiving files as per business policy. What I like most about CTERA is the easy access it provides to customers for files and folders through a simple share path, which is great for users spread across the globe. It has minimized physical storage usage, as everything is stored in the cloud, making it easy to access user data globally. The initial setup required minimal effort, which was a big plus for us.
What do you dislike about the product?
I find monitoring the console of all my CTERA edge filers in one place could be improved.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
I use CTERA for simple user access to files globally, reducing physical storage by storing everything in the cloud, making data easily accessible.
Strong Replication Infrastructure Keeps Shares Accessible
What do you like best about the product?
The replication infrastructure between the portal and the database, together with the filer solution, lets us continue using our shares without needing to access the Cloud (Portal). The engineering support has been excellent.
What do you dislike about the product?
It would be useful to have the share configuration replicated between filers. Regarding licensing, it would be better to base it on actual space consumption rather than on deleted space (snapshots).
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
We use Ctera as an enterprise-scale solution for file sharing through NAS protocols (CIFS/NSF services). Before Ctera, we relied on a Samba solution managed through the CLI, which was difficult to administer.
Reliable File Services with Room for Enhanced Monitoring
What do you like best about the product?
I like CTERA because it provides easy NFS sharing and the deduplication of files, which saves disk space. It's also being used for distributed file services and data sharing, making the setup of Edge filers easier if one goes down. It's great for allowing file access across multiple sites around the world.
What do you dislike about the product?
Monitoring can be improved especially in a multiple edge filer environment. Migration of files took more time than expected.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
I use CTERA for distributed file services and data sharing globally. It eases setting up Edge filers if one goes down. I like the easy NFS sharing and file deduplication which saves disk space.
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