Dell PowerScale (Isilon) Reviews

Name: Dell PowerScale (Isilon)
Brand: Dell Technologies
Rating: 4.4 (54 reviews)

Vendor: Dell Technologies

4.4 out of 5

54 reviews
96% willing to recommend

991 followers

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What is Dell PowerScale (Isilon)?

Dell EMC PowerScale (Isilon) storage solutions are designed to help manage data for enterprises of all types. Dell PowerScale systems are simple to install, manage, and scale to virtually any size and include a choice of all-flash, hybrid, or archive nodes. Dell PowerScale solutions stay flexible and reliable no matter how much storage capacity is added, how much performance is required, or how business needs change in the future.

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Dell PowerScale (Isilon) is the #1 ranked solution in top NAS solutions and #3 ranked solution in top File and Object Storage solutions. PeerSpot users give Dell PowerScale (Isilon) an average rating of 8.8 out of 10. Based on the analysis of the 54 most recent Dell PowerScale (Isilon) reviews, the overall sentiment is positive, with a sentiment score of 7.5. (Among the highest in the category). Dell PowerScale (Isilon) is most commonly compared to IBM FlashSystem: Dell PowerScale (Isilon) vs IBM FlashSystem. Dell PowerScale (Isilon) is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 52% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a educational organization, accounting for 25% of all views.

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Dell PowerScale (Isilon)

December 2024

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Featured reviews

Jack Vo

Senior IT Manager at ams OSRAM

The solution can be integrated with an automation system. Dell uses another framework developed in-house. They can integrate it with machines. Sometimes, Dell PowerScale can have issues with ID, window, or mapping errors. For example, a shareholder or user might not fully understand what they're doing, which can cause problems. Occasionally, we experience connection issues, requiring us to remap the folder. Dell PowerScale might need to remap or update the credentials in such cases. For instance, if you have many shared folders already mapped, it might take time to remap or redo the credentials.

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Yamandù Correa

Head of Infrastructure and Network Services at a computer software company with 1,001-5,000 employees

Our customers have seen improvement in performance, space, and flexibility for growth and management of data protection through snapshots and other systems. The AI models are something we are looking forward to trying but are not there yet. The algorithms are specific to each company and their industry. One of the most important things is the data localization. Many scenarios require the project data traffic to be close to where it is generated and read. A lot of interaction is between users and systems. So data localization is one of the most important things in terms of using the data algorithm. We don't need to manage our PowerScale and run its storage from any location yet but it is something that is coming for sure because several customers have centralized data in main data centers. But in different locations across the globe. So this is going to be a topic. I think that through the different functionalities that the Dell platform can grant, it will be a great player. When it comes to the flexibility for supporting various data workloads while protecting them, the combination of PowerScale and PPDM and all the other components of the data protection solution right now is key. So the automatic integration between the products is one of the killer features of the solution itself. PowerScale helped us to reduce data silos. This has simplified the management of large data environments in terms of scalability and management instead of having a different solution for the right reports to see how the data evolves and how to better manage them. PowerScale can do that in combination with the other components of the ecosystem. In terms of risk reduction, We need to mention the data management and the recovery part, So of course, the integration with the data domain is key. The fact that we can rely on these functions, and the fact that we also manage different customers, and possess the recovery plans and tests that can prove the solution is working.

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Balázs Gál

IT & Broadcast Engineer at TV2 Media Group Ltd.

The disk failure handling could be better. We had a few issues because one disk failed, which slightly impacted the whole node, but overall, the performance is stable. We had to expand and increase the storage capacity, but it turned out we needed a totally new cluster because we couldn't expand the current one due to software incompatibilities. We think the backend network should be upgraded from InfiniBand to Ethernet networking, and we had to buy a new cluster. Dell has significantly increased the prices of new nodes, by a lot. As a result, we're considering new vendors because if prices increase by 300%, then the clients will look elsewhere. The disc server handling is not the best. Maybe the tiering logic could be improved. It's based on our age or some other logic but not on disk usage. If you have a tier one, you don’t want to load it completely; it deserves some free space for new data, and you can’t manage that with the current tiering logic. That’s where this software or this solution could be improved.

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Dell PowerScale (Isilon) mindshare

Product category:

As of January 2025, the mindshare of Dell PowerScale (Isilon) in the NAS category stands at 24.1%, up from 22.2% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

NAS

PeerAnalyst reports

Type	Title	Date
Category	NAS	Jan 2, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Jan 2, 2025	Download
Comparison	Dell PowerScale (Isilon) vs Dell PowerStore	Jan 2, 2025	Download
Comparison	Dell PowerScale (Isilon) vs NetApp FAS Series	Jan 2, 2025	Download
Comparison	Dell PowerScale (Isilon) vs IBM FlashSystem	Jan 2, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
IBM FlashSystem	4.1	7.6%	91%	109 interviews Add to research
HPE 3PAR StoreServ	4.3	3.5%	94%	301 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

Dell PowerScale (Isilon) excels through its ease of management, scalability, and impressive performance. Organizations value its unified storage, simplified data access, and strong data protection features. The platform's robust snapshot and tiering capabilities enhance efficiency, while CloudIQ and SmartQuotas aid in management. Integrations with various systems and support for multiple protocols, such as NFS and SMB, streamline operations and reduce administrative overhead. Users appreciate its resilience, security, and comprehensive user interface.

"Customer service is absolutely satisfying, rating at least nine out of ten, as they have managed previous issues well."
"Eyeglass is used to monitor for malware, which is very useful for us."
"It is stable and very user-friendly."

Room for Improvement

Dell PowerScale (Isilon) faces high costs, complex configuration, and lengthy OS upgrades. There's a need for cloud integration and improved redundancy. Users report challenges with small file compression, object storage management, and HTTP data access. Enhancements in interface clarity, security features, and technical support responsiveness are desired. Users also seek better handling of disk failures, load distribution, and update procedures while integration with automation systems and streamlined multi-site functionality could be beneficial.

"Improvements could be made to reduce the costs and the high level of knowledge needed to maintain and use them. We had old hard drives with moving parts in Dell PowerScale, and due to this, we must switch to a more efficient environment with all-flash."
"Improvements could be made to reduce the costs and the high level of knowledge needed to maintain and use them."
"Always, there is room for improvement in terms of cybersecurity, as new challenges are continually emerging in the market."

ROI

Dell PowerScale (Isilon) provides significant ROI through scalable cost-efficiency and simplified management, reducing the need for additional staff, improving performance, centralizing operations, and lowering time and storage costs. Users experienced enhanced data handling, high performance, and energy efficiency, allowing for improved research capabilities and faster workflows. While initial costs may be higher, long-term savings are achieved through reduced power consumption, less hardware usage, and increased data capacity.

Pricing

Dell PowerScale (Isilon) pricing is seen as generally expensive, offering competitive features and total cost of ownership benefits. Licensing can be tailored to specific needs, allowing cost efficiency by only enabling necessary features. Options for scalability, deduplication, and data reduction help decrease costs over time. While startup and initial investments can be high, the platform supports multiple performance needs and justifies its cost through functionality, ease of management, and reliable performance.

"It's a high-cost offering amounting to three or four million Swedish kronor, or about $400,000 or euros, for approximately 480 terabytes of storage."
"Dell PowerScale is expensive on the start-up side but we can recoup those costs quickly by not having to reapply the savings to other equipment."
"We use the TNA approach which is a great opportunity for us to better manage the licenses based on how much consumption is available for the different customers so we can use that approach and scalability."

Popular Use Cases

Companies use Dell PowerScale (Isilon) for managing unstructured data in various sectors like education, healthcare, research, and media. They store vast amounts of data, including videos, genomic sequences, and business files. The platform supports scale-out storage and high-performance needs, connecting multiple data centers for redundancy and backup purposes. Organizations benefit from simplified management, scalability, and reliability, facilitating data access across different systems and locations. It's widely used for large file storage, data archiving, and video surveillance.

Service and Support

Dell PowerScale (Isilon) customer service is highly rated, responsive, and attentive. Many users report satisfaction with knowledgeable technical support. Some users experience challenges with initial support levels, needing escalation or encountering delays. Escalated issues are resolved promptly, often praised for their thorough problem-solving and fast service, including four-hour on-site support. Though some regional differences and communication barriers occur, users emphasize impressive support, contributing to their continued investment and satisfaction with the platform.

Deployment

Users of Dell PowerScale (Isilon) often find the initial setup ranging from straightforward to complex, mainly dependent on familiarity with the system. Many report a simplified process aided by detailed instructions or professional assistance, citing quick deployments occurring within days. Some indicate a need for prior technical preparation or experience to ensure smooth implementation. Setup time can vary, with some cases reaching a week or more, especially if involving intricate infrastructure or additional configurations.

Scalability

Dell PowerScale (Isilon) is noted for seamless scalability, accommodating extensive petabyte-level storage and wide user bases. Users found expansion straightforward, with node integration simplifying processes and reducing management complexity. Many appreciated the ease of scaling large workloads without significant downtime or user interruption. The adaptability to future needs is frequently highlighted, allowing organizations to manage storage growth efficiently without manual intervention, supporting diverse environments, including media and research applications.

Stability

Dell PowerScale (Isilon) shows exceptional stability, often described as rock-solid with minimal downtime. Users highlight its reliability during complex operations, ease of management, and resilience against issues like power disruptions. Occasional issues are typically resolved swiftly with support. Frequent praises for its availability and performance are noted even when managing extensive data refreshes. Only minor concerns arise, such as the need for improved support expertise and internal load balancing. Overall, users rate the stability highly.

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

Download our Dell PowerScale (Isilon) Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers

By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Educational Organization

25%

Computer Software Company

11%

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

Government

Healthcare Company

University

Construction Company

Retailer

Energy/Utilities Company

Comms Service Provider

Media Company

Insurance Company

Real Estate/Law Firm

Hospitality Company

Non Profit

Legal Firm

Aerospace/Defense Firm

Outsourcing Company

Transportation Company

Pharma/Biotech Company

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

Performing Arts

Wholesaler/Distributor

Consumer Goods Company

Compare Dell PowerScale (Isilon) with alternative products

Learn more about Dell PowerScale (Isilon)

With Dell PowerScale, your data lake always stays simple to manage, simple to grow, simple to protect, and simple enough to handle the most demanding current and future workloads.

Ideal for companies of any size, from small enterprises to multi-national ones, Dell PowerScale storage provides secure collaboration, modular scalability, flexible consumption models, and easy cloud integrations, all with management tools spanning multiple platforms.

Key Benefits of Dell EMC PowerScale Storage

Centralized management: Manage your storage infrastructure from a single unified platform.
Data protection: Dell PowerScale offers security, data protection and replication tools. Back up and protect your data from cyber-attacks with an integrated ransomware defense system.
Artificial intelligence: PowerScale is the foundation for building an integrated and optimized IT infrastructure for AI projects, from concept to production.
Cloud support: Store and manage your data on the cloud and move data between your data center and the cloud. Dell PowerScale runs data-intensive cloud workloads with no outbound traffic costs.
Long-term storage: Dell PowerScale offers highly efficient and resilient active archive storage or long-term data retention for large-scale data archives. With the proven scalability architecture of PowerScale, you can meet your growing archiving demands. Dell PowerScale has a wide variety of enterprise-grade data protection and security options to keep your archived data safe.

Reviews from Real Users

Dell EMC PowerScale storage stands out among its competitors for a number of reasons. Two major ones are its scalability capabilities and its user-friendly centralized management system.

Rachel B., a chief operations officer & acting CFO at Like a Photon, writes, "PowerScale allows us to manage storage without managing RAID groups or migrating volumes between controllers. It has really simplified things. We're not having to worry about the underlying infrastructure. That takes care of itself. We just worry about the data. It's really easy for deploying and managing storage at the petabyte scale."

Keith B., the director of IT at NatureFresh Farms, writes, "The single pane of glass for both IT and for the end-user is a valuable feature. On the IT side, I can actually control where things are stored, whether something is stored on solid-state drives or spinning drives... The single pane of glass makes it very easy to use and very easy to understand. We started at 100 terabytes, and we moved to 250 and it still feels like the exact same system and we're able to move data as needed."

Dell PowerScale (Isilon) was previously known as PowerScale, Dell EMC Isilon.

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Dell PowerScale (Isilon) customers

OMRF, University of Utah, Translational Genetics Research Institute, Arcis, Geofizyka Torumn, Cyprus E&P Corporation, Colburn School, Columbia Sportswear, Harvard Medical School, University of Michigan, National Library of France,