Dell PowerFlex Reviews

Name: Dell PowerFlex
Brand: Dell Technologies
Rating: 4.1 (26 reviews)

4.1 out of 5

26 reviews
96% willing to recommend

1,732 followers

What is Dell PowerFlex?

VxRack System consists of hyper-converged rack-scale engineered systems, with integrated networking, to achieve the scalability and management requirements of traditional and cloud native workloads. The VxRack series is purposely designed to enable customers to quickly deploy Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) and/or Private Cloud architectures. VxRack Systems tightly integrate hardware with software and management layers.

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Dell PowerFlex is the #5 ranked solution in HCI Software. PeerSpot users give Dell PowerFlex an average rating of 8.2 out of 10. Based on the analysis of the 26 most recent Dell PowerFlex reviews, the overall sentiment is positive, with a sentiment score of 6.8. (Among the lowest in the category). Dell PowerFlex is most commonly compared to VMware vSAN: Dell PowerFlex vs VMware vSAN. Dell PowerFlex is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 65% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a computer software company, accounting for 15% of all views.

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Featured reviews

Ayodeji Oyewole

Managing Director at Atlantic factorial

There are two categories, namely, the appliances and the racks. The partners are able to set up the Dell PowerFlex appliances, but not fully. The partners are able to physically set up the appliances, while the OEM will set them up logically. The PowerFlex racks are fully set up by the OEM, both physically and logically. The solution's initial setup is not pretty straightforward in emerging markets at the moment.

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Scott Yoshimura

Lead Technical Product Manager at United Services Automobile Association

I would rate support for this solution a three out of ten. Considering how much we use PowerFlex Manager, it can only account for a hundred nodes. We need a lot more than that. We provide a lot of input to Dell for product enhancements. The solution is not as scalable as it should be.

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Syed Fasih

BU Head Cloud, Computing, Storage & DP at Abdulla Fouad Group

Dell PowerFlex is a one-stop-shop solution. Storage, compute, network, application monitoring, and support cases are all combined into one solution. It's very easy to administer compared to when you have a reference architecture where you need to design and build everything yourself. You would also then have to work with multiple vendors. Dell PowerFlex is easy to sell as well because it is easy to convince the customer that this is the right product rather than the reference architecture.

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Dell PowerFlex mindshare

As of November 2024, the mindshare of Dell PowerFlex in the HCI category stands at 12.6%, up from 7.2% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

HCI

Key learnings from peers

Last updated Nov 21, 2024

Valuable Features

Dell PowerFlex offers high VMware compatibility, excellent integration, and ease of management, alongside outstanding stability, scalability, and storage capacity. It boasts high performance with low latency, resiliency, and flexibility in resource utilization. Its all-in-one platform simplifies operations, supports seamless upgrades, and provides effective data protection. Users benefit from enhanced application performance, cybersecurity, and quick support. Its robust automation capabilities, AWS integration, and efficient space utilization make it highly valued for diverse IT environments.

"PowerFlex offers us more IOPS, improving the application performance. It also helps us reduce our storage and eliminate redundancy. The primary thing is that we work 24/7, so we shouldn't have operational issues."
"Dell PowerFlex is a highly scalable solution."
"The solution's most valuable feature is the storage space it offers."

Room for Improvement

Dell PowerFlex requires enhancements in monitoring tools, user-friendly interface, and simplified setup. Pricing is a concern, along with limitations in licensing and integration with Hyper-V and containers. Users seek better storage capabilities, flexible scaling options, and easier cloud migration. Simplifying upgrades and supporting diverse environments would be beneficial. Improved configuration tools and enhanced automation, analytics, and AI integration are desired for a more efficient experience.

"We are still hoping for better ways to incorporate AI. We have to extend third-party access to PowerFlex by calling the API. It would be easier if the product had built-in AI integration. If PowerFlex can contribute more to AI, it would be more useful."
"The solution’s automation and pricing could be improved."
"The tool is a bit difficult to configure, making it an area where improvements are required."

ROI

Dell PowerFlex has shown financial benefits by significantly decreasing the number of required Microsoft SQL licenses from 40 to 8, resulting in cost savings. Internal teams acknowledge the bundled support reduces maintenance expenses over its four-year lifespan. Human support is a key factor in the investment's value, with users expressing satisfaction with the support team's services. While financial teams handle calculations, operational metrics indicate that PowerFlex is utilized effectively without direct charges.

Pricing

Dell PowerFlex pricing is generally seen as fair and competitive in comparison to Nutanix and HP. However, perceptions vary with some considering it expensive. Setup typically involves partner companies for deployment, but some customers manage it independently, incurring only standard licensing fees. Users suggest more flexibility in VMware licensing and better management in license use. The price is generally rated six to nine out of ten, indicating potential areas for improvement.

"From my perspective, pricing is expensive. If they can reduce the pricing or offer more customer incentives, it would attract more users."
"The solution's pricing could be much cheaper and affordable."
"If one is cheap and ten is expensive, I rate the price as eight and a half. The tool is expensive."

Popular Use Cases

Dell PowerFlex is primarily used for cloud applications, storage and compute nodes, hyper-converged infrastructure, private cloud deployments, and supporting mission-critical applications. Companies utilize it for rapid provisioning of storage and compute resources, simplifying management, and integration into core networks. It serves sectors like banking, government, and utilities and supports diverse applications, from smart metering to hydrology. Users appreciate the contained infrastructure, reduced power consumption, and enhanced performance capabilities, leveraging its flexibility and scalability.

Service and Support

Dell PowerFlex customer service and support are generally good, with many users praising its responsiveness and 24/7 availability. Some customers have experienced fast resolution times for issues, while others express frustration with the process and wait times, especially when escalations to higher support levels are necessary. Local support teams are often helpful, but there are concerns about global support responsiveness and alignment with specific business hours, particularly for critical operations in banks.

Deployment

Many found Dell PowerFlex's initial setup straightforward and quick, requiring minimal manpower. However, some encountered complexity, especially in integrating with existing hardware and managing prerequisites like networking and storage configurations. Several reviewers used external support for deployment, which helped when faced with challenges in larger environments. Certain installations demanded comprehensive knowledge of networking and data protection, often involving multiple expert teams to accomplish successful deployment.

Scalability

Dell PowerFlex is described as highly scalable, allowing easy addition of nodes and resources. Users praise its ability to support vast user bases and varying organizational sizes. Adjustments, such as network upgrades, have been straightforward. Some indicate potential for better horizontal scalability, yet many rate it highly. Various enterprises, including government entities, utilize Dell PowerFlex effectively, indicating satisfaction with its adaptability to growing demands and diverse environments.

Stability

Dell PowerFlex receives high marks for its stability, often rated nine or ten out of ten. Users consistently highlight its reliable performance, with minimal issues or bugs. The solution handles applications effectively, provides redundancy, and maintains security. While it's highly recommended for small to mid-sized environments, some express concerns about its suitability for high-end applications. PowerFlex's stable performance over extended periods and across multiple nodes is noted by many.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our Dell PowerFlex Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

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Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

15%

Financial Services Firm

12%

Manufacturing Company

12%

Government

Healthcare Company

Retailer

Educational Organization

University

Energy/Utilities Company

Insurance Company

Construction Company

Comms Service Provider

Media Company

Real Estate/Law Firm

Non Profit

Legal Firm

Pharma/Biotech Company

Performing Arts

Wholesaler/Distributor

Hospitality Company

Transportation Company

Outsourcing Company

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

Aerospace/Defense Firm

Logistics Company

Marketing Services Firm

Compare Dell PowerFlex with alternative products

Learn more about Dell PowerFlex

The result is a fully tested, pre-configured, hyper-converged system with simplified operations at data center and Service Provider scale. VxRack Systems support the deployment of a variety of application workloads, allowing IT to rapidly deliver new services while improving overall agility and efficiency.

Dell PowerFlex was previously known as VxFlex, VxRack FLEX, PowerFlex.

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Dell PowerFlex customers

Canopy, 8x8Inc., Atos, Canadian Pacific, City of Denton, CenturyLink, BNP Paribas, Asyaport, EDF, CSC, Fox Sports, Insight, Hunter, KPIT, Paetec, Rosetta Stone, Sonda, Xerox