RESOURCES | FAQ
Frequently asked, clearly answered.
Software.
Give me a simple description of Diskover.
Diskover is like a super-smart search engine for all your data, helping you find, organize, and make sense of information scattered across your systems. Whether it’s files, folders, or hidden nuggets of data, Diskover shows you where everything is, how it’s being used, and what’s important—so you can save time, work smarter, and make better decisions.
Plus, Diskover automates the way you manage data, making it a sustainable solution to keep your digital footprint under control. Instead of endlessly buying more storage, Diskover helps you take charge, reducing waste and ensuring your data stays efficient and manageable.
How is Diskover different from the competition?
One major difference is that Diskover offers a free open-source Community Edition that can be used for an unlimited time.
Diskover is designed to be highly cost-efficient compared to the savings it delivers in storage and operational costs. It allows for unlimited users per subscription, which adds further value for large teams or enterprises managing vast amounts of unstructured data. Diskover leads the market with its strong focus on file-based workflows with rich business-context metadata for AI/ML-driven insights and automation. Diskover’s storage-agnostic approach offers flexibility, and its customizable features can be tailored to specific industry needs, making it cost-competitive in any type of environment.
In contrast, the competition may offer similar functionalities but often requires more technical expertise to operate effectively and at a higher cost. Diskover’s focus on usability, comprehensive data visibility, and cost efficiency makes it a standout choice for organizations seeking an accessible and powerful data management solution.
Do you offer different solutions?
Yes, we offer flexible options to fit your use cases! Whether you just need help finding your data or you’re tackling advanced projects like AI, data lakes, and lakehouses, we’ve got you covered.
Which solution is best for me?
Home use or testing: If you’re just starting out or want to explore Diskover, our Community Edition is perfect for home use and testing. This version is free and can be used for an unlimited time.
Enterprise: For more advanced requirements, we recommend scheduling a call with our team. We’ll help you size your environment, understand your specific use cases, and guide you toward the solution that fits you best.
Can anybody use Diskover?
Absolutely! Diskover is designed to be user-friendly and accessible to anyone, whether you’re a tech expert or just someone who wants to better understand and manage their data. From small teams to large enterprises, Diskover can be tailored to meet your needs, no matter your technical background or data challenges.
Diskover provides a suite of online support tools and a dedicated support team, ensuring you have everything you need to succeed in your data journey.
Can I use Diskover at home?
Yes, you can! Diskover’s Community Edition is perfect for personal use at home or for testing out its features. It’s a great way to explore how Diskover works and manage your personal data. However, Diskover is primarily designed as an enterprise-grade software, built to handle complex data environments, large-scale operations, and advanced use cases like AI, BI, and data lakes. While the Community Edition is ideal for smaller-scale needs, businesses looking to unlock the full power of Diskover can benefit from its enterprise solutions.
Does Diskover store my files?
No, Diskover doesn’t store your files. Instead, it creates an index—a detailed catalog—of your existing data across various storage systems. This index allows you to search, analyze, and manage your data without moving or copying the actual files, ensuring they remain securely in their original locations.
Can I open or modify my files using Diskover?
Diskover allows you to view and analyze your data, but it doesn’t allow you to open or modify a file located on your storage system. Instead, it creates an index of your files’ metadata so you can search and gain insights without changing the original files. Any modifications to your actual files need to be done within your existing storage systems.
How do users access Diskover once installed?
Diskover runs entirely through any web browser. There’s no need to install special software, so you can connect to it from anywhere with a browser and start managing your data seamlessly.
Is Diskover secure?
Yes, Diskover is designed with security at its core. While Diskover itself focuses on indexing and analyzing your data without modifying it, certain plugins can be used to move, copy, or delete files when configured. These actions are always under your control, ensuring they align with your specific workflows and permissions.
Rest assured, Diskover adheres to industry best practices and secure protocols to protect your data throughout its processes.
Can Diskover help me determine storage costs for my clients?
Yes, Diskover can help you gain a clear understanding of storage usage and costs, making it easier to determine how much to charge your clients. By indexing your data and providing detailed insights, including file sizes, usage patterns, and storage locations, Diskover gives you the tools to calculate costs accurately and allocate them fairly to your clients.
Why do you call data an ‘asset’?
Data is an asset because it holds immense value, both in its creation and its potential. Someone took time and resources to produce it, and some data—like a movie clip involving costly actors, props, and production—carries even greater value due to the factors involved in its creation.
Additionally, the cost of storing data makes it an asset. As more businesses charge clients for the space their files occupy, the importance of both data and its storage becomes clear.
By treating data as an asset, Diskover helps you manage, protect, and maximize its value, turning raw information into a powerful resource for your business.
Environment.
What kind of setup do I need to run Diskover?
The setup you need depends on how you plan to use Diskover. For personal or small-scale use with the Community Edition, a basic setup is usually sufficient. However, for enterprise-level deployments, you’ll need more robust hardware and infrastructure to handle larger datasets and advanced features.
How do I install Diskover?
Community Edition: Perfect for getting started, you can quickly install and begin using Diskover with minimal setup.
OVA Option: For a simplified experience, the OVA (Open Virtual Appliance) package lets you deploy Diskover easily within a virtual machine.
Full Install: For enterprise users or advanced use cases, a full installation provides the complete setup tailored to your specific environment.
How do I configure Diskover for our environment?
Most of the configuration is done through the user-friendly interface, allowing you to tailor the setup to your specific needs without needing advanced technical skills. For more complex setups or enterprise deployments, we also provide detailed guides and support to help you optimize Diskover for your unique environment.
Does Diskover exist in the cloud?
You can get hands-on experience with the Diskover platform with minimal to no deployment effort by leveraging the Diskover Community Edition within the AWS Marketplace. The Diskover Community Edition is free to use for an unlimited time, however applicable AWS EC2 instance resource charges apply.
How do I report a problem with the software?
Please open a support ticket describing the problem as much as possible.
Support.
Do you offer any instructions?
Absolutely! We provide detailed instructions to help you get started and make the most of Diskover. Whether you’re using the Community Edition, deploying the OVA option, or setting up a full enterprise installation, you’ll find step-by-step guides.
What type of support is included with the free Community Edition?
You are welcome to any online resources we offer as well as the public Diskover Slack Workspace. Diskover does not offer one-on-one support for this free solution.
What type of support is included with an annual subscription?
With an annual Diskover subscription, you gain access to a comprehensive support package designed to assist you throughout your data management journey.
Are software version updates included?
Yes, all software version updates are included with your Diskover annual subscription and the Community Edition. This ensures you always have access to the latest features, improvements, and security enhancements without any additional cost.
Do you offer training?
Community Edition: We do not offer training for this free version, but users have access to multiple online resources.
Annual subscriptions: Besides our online resources, we offer customized remote training via Zoom that can be purchased at any time, please contact our sales team for more details.
Do I need a GitHub account for the Community Edition?
Yes, you will need a GitHub account if you want to download the free Community software. GitHub accounts are free and easy to create.
How can I unsubscribe from your newsletters?
You can 1) email us with your request, or 2) unsubscribe directly when receiving a communication using the unsubscribe link located in the footer of the email.
Annual subscription.
Why should I pay for data management software?
Managing data has become a complex and costly challenge that’s nearly impossible to handle efficiently without the right tools. Companies without data management software often face skyrocketing operating costs due to inefficiencies, reduced productivity, and the need to continuously buy more storage instead of optimizing and reusing the space they already have.
With Diskover, you gain powerful tools to streamline your data management, saving significant time and money. The annual subscription cost is minimal compared to the savings in person-hours and storage expenditures. Additionally, Diskover includes features to help you accurately invoice clients for storage costs, turning your data challenges into a strategic advantage.
Is Diskover affordable?
Absolutely! Diskover is designed to be highly cost-effective and pays for itself through the savings it generates in operating costs. With Diskover, you can:
- Make informed data decisions based on analytics.
- Reuse storage space efficiently instead of purchasing more.
- Charge clients accurately for the storage they use.
- Boost productivity with automated workflows and improved file findability.
Compared to similar solutions, Diskover is an affordable option, offering enterprise-grade features at a fraction of the cost of the competition. It’s a smart investment that helps you save time, money, and resources while optimizing your data management.
How much does an annual subscription cost?
Several variables need to be considered, such as the number of files in your environment, the complexity of your infrastructure, the potential number of geolocations, and your specific use cases. These factors help determine the solution that’s best suited for your needs.
Please contact our sales team to discuss your environment and obtain a quote.
Is there a limitation regarding the number of seats?
A Diskover subscription allows unlimited users within your organization. Anyone in your team can access Diskover through a web browser, making it a flexible and scalable solution for your entire workforce.
What is the easiest way to purchase an annual subscription?
Please contact our sales team to discuss your environment, determine the best solution for your use cases, and obtain a quote.
Can I upgrade my subscription?
Yes, it is possible to upgrade your subscription. Please contact us to start the process.
What types of payment do you accept?
ACH is the easiest solution for all parties, but we also accept wire transfers, credit cards (with applicable processing fees), and checks.
Can I pay monthly for my subscription?
Currently, we only offer annual payment options for subscriptions. This ensures a streamlined process and allows us to provide the best value and support for our customers. If monthly payments become available in the future, we’ll be sure to let you know!
Can I cancel my annual subscription?
Yes, please contact us with your request.
Free trial and demo.
How can I get a demo of Diskover?
Please contact us to schedule a demo session. Before the demo, we may arrange a quick call to learn about your environment and use cases, ensuring the demo is tailored to your specific needs.
How long can I try Diskover?
You can enjoy a free trial of our annual subscriptions for 30 days, giving you plenty of time to explore Diskover’s features and capabilities.
You can use the free Community Edition to start understanding your data for an unlimited time.
What is the best way to try Diskover with mimimal efforts?
The easiest way to experience Diskover is by using our OVA (Open Virtual Appliance) option. It allows you to deploy Diskover quickly within a virtual machine, minimizing setup efforts and technical requirements. With the OVA, everything you need is pre-packaged, so you can get started in no time and focus on exploring Diskover’s powerful features.
Software activation.
How do I activate my software?
Community Edition: this free edition doesn’t require a license and can be used for an unlimited time.
Annual Subscriptions: you can find all the details in our online documentation.
Can I share my license key?
No you can’t! Your license key is private and attached to a hardware ID. Please refer to the following license agreements binding to the usage of our products:
How will I receive my license key?
We currently send license keys via email.
Answers to what you want to know?
This is a description.
Do I need a separate license for each Elasticsearch node?
A single license key is issued and is keyed to the number of Elasticsearch nodes you purchased.
Terminology.
Data management/curation.
Data curation is the process of organizing, managing, and enhancing data to ensure it is accurate, accessible, and meaningful for its intended use. It involves cleaning up outdated or irrelevant information, categorizing data effectively, and enriching it with metadata to make it easier to find and understand.
In the Context of Diskover:
Diskover takes data curation to the next level by automating much of this process. It helps you identify redundant or obsolete files, organize your datasets with enriched metadata, and streamline workflows to keep your data relevant and manageable. This ensures your data remains an asset rather than a liability, driving better decisions and efficiency.
Digital asset.
A digital asset is any content or file stored digitally that holds value to an individual, organization, or system. This includes documents, images, videos, audio files, software, and even data like metadata or structured information in databases. Digital assets are often used in workflows, decision-making, and operations, making them essential for businesses and individuals alike.
In the Context of Diskover:
Diskover helps you manage your digital assets by providing a comprehensive view of all your files, including where they’re stored, how they’re used, and their associated metadata. By organizing and optimizing digital assets, Diskover ensures they remain valuable and easy to access, enabling better efficiency and smarter use of resources.
Elasticsearch node.
An Elasticsearch node is a single instance of the Elasticsearch software running on a server or a machine. Nodes work together as part of a cluster to store, search, and analyze data in a distributed manner.
Key Characteristics of an Elasticsearch Node:
- Scalability: Multiple nodes in a cluster work together to scale horizontally, handling large amounts of data and high query volumes.
- Redundancy: Nodes replicate data across the cluster, ensuring reliability and fault tolerance.
In the Context of Diskover:
Diskover uses Elasticsearch nodes as part of its powerful backend to index and search massive datasets. These nodes allow Diskover to process data efficiently and provide fast, scalable search capabilities, even in complex environments with vast amounts of unstructured and structured data.
Elasticsearch cluster.
An Elasticsearch cluster is a collection of one or more interconnected Elasticsearch nodes working together to store, search, and analyze data. The cluster provides distributed data processing and high availability, making it scalable and resilient for handling large datasets and complex queries.
Key Characteristics of an Elasticsearch Node:
- Distributed Architecture: Data is split into smaller parts (shards) and distributed across multiple nodes for efficient processing and storage.
- Fault Tolerance: By replicating data across nodes, clusters ensure reliability even if a node fails.
- Scalability: Nodes can be added to the cluster to increase storage capacity and processing power.
- Centralized Management: A single cluster manages all data and operations, enabling seamless coordination between nodes.
In the Context of Diskover:
Diskover leverages Elasticsearch clusters to handle indexing and searching for large-scale data environments. The cluster architecture ensures that Diskover remains fast, reliable, and scalable, allowing users to manage and analyze vast amounts of unstructured and structured data effortlessly.
GET STARTED WITH
DISKOVER
Ready to manage your data everywhere from anywhere?