Dell PowerScale (Isilon) Reviews

Name: Dell PowerScale (Isilon)
Brand: Dell Technologies
Rating: 4 (52 reviews)

Vendor: Dell Technologies

4.4 out of 5

52 reviews
98% willing to recommend

985 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. Dell PowerScale (Isilon) is most commonly compared to Veeam Data Platform: Dell PowerScale (Isilon) vs Veeam Data Platform. 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 24% of all views.

Buyer's Guide

Dell PowerScale (Isilon)

November 2024

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Featured reviews

Jack Vo

Senior IT Manager at ams OSRAM

Dell has the AI to protect the EMA We must write a script tailored to our specific use case whenever we upload an item, such as a file or an application, due to the demand for storing data for longer periods in cases of broken or corrupted files. With Dell PowerScale, data storage is reliable and…

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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.

We had to move metadata from standard disks to SSDs because we had issues with how the cluster handled metadata operations. With a lot of IO, the data lookup wasn't fast enough, causing performance problems. This setup resolved those issues. We no longer had the performance issues with Dell…

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Dell PowerScale (Isilon) mindshare

Product category:

As of November 2024, the mindshare of Dell PowerScale (Isilon) in the NAS category stands at 23.5%, up from 21.5% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

NAS

Key learnings from peers

Last updated Nov 4, 2024

Valuable Features

Dell PowerScale (Isilon) offers ease of management, scalability, and high performance. It enables seamless data access across platforms, supports large-scale storage with effective data protection, and integrates advanced features like SmartQuotas, CloudIQ, and OneFS. Users appreciate its reliable performance, flexibility, and cost efficiency. The system's ability to consolidate data storage, provide cybersecurity, and support a multi-protocol environment enhances operational efficiency and reduces administrative overhead.

"Features like ransomware protection, file lock retention, and third-party integrations (e.g., Superna for ransomware protection) are significant benefits."
"The most valuable feature is its single space of storage."
"Dell PowerScale has the SmartConnect and SmartConnect Pro features. That's why I like the product."

Room for Improvement

Dell PowerScale (Isilon) should focus on price reduction and simplifying deployment and management. The interface and updates process require enhancements. Integration with cloud platforms and improved support for small environments are necessary. Enhancing small file handling, redundancy, and multi-tenancy can benefit users. Users have reported challenges with integration, technical support, and configuration, while additional security features and improved data access protocols are needed. Better performance for handling object storage and streamlined processes for technical support are also suggested.

"Improvements could be made on the object storage side."
"The analytics could be improved."
"The improvement should be in AI. Everything is going towards AI."

ROI

Dell PowerScale (Isilon) offers scalability, cost efficiency, and performance improvements. Users report enhanced data management, simplified administration, reduced staffing needs, and significant time savings. It supports efficient research and media operations with improved I/O performance. Users find the total cost of ownership favorable compared to cloud storage. The platform contributes to energy efficiency and storage cost reduction while maintaining data integrity, though return periods vary based on configuration.

Pricing

Dell PowerScale (Isilon) is perceived as expensive, particularly compared to competitors like IBM or Qumulo, but it offers compelling value regarding total cost of ownership and ease of management. Customers find pricing fair and licensing flexible, allowing customization of features. While initial investment is high, the solution's reliability and scalability offset costs over time. Additional fees for services and advanced features may apply, yet overall, pricing aligns with performance and enterprise requirements.

"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."
"Dealing with the product costs and licensing areas is getting easier since Dell is simplifying the licensing process and licensing packages offered to users."

Popular Use Cases

Companies use Dell PowerScale (Isilon) for managing extensive unstructured data, typically including videos, research data, and large files, in sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, and media. They employ it for scalable storage needs, consolidating data to enhance manageability with high-performance clusters and centralizing data for easier access across platforms. These users appreciate its scalability, redundancy, ease of management, and its ability to handle diverse workloads with high concurrency connections.

Service and Support

Users report Dell PowerScale (Isilon) technical support is mixed; satisfaction varies based on the engineer's expertise. Many find it knowledgeable and responsive, but some note difficulties with initial contact. Escalation through managers helps. Support is rated highly during installation and urgent cases, with quick resolutions and good follow-up. A small subset mentions language barriers and inconsistent quality. Despite occasional issues, the majority appreciates the dedicated account managers and comprehensive support system.

Deployment

Initial setup of Dell PowerScale (Isilon) varies in complexity. While some find it straightforward, others note it can be complex without prior experience. Deployment times range from hours to weeks, often involving multiple personnel. Assistance from Dell or experienced staff eases the process. Preparation, especially network and infrastructure setup, is essential. Users highlight the simplicity of adding nodes and managing the system after initial setup, though maintenance and scaling may require ongoing management.

Scalability

Dell PowerScale (Isilon) exhibits excellent scalability, accommodating extensive storage needs and numerous connections seamlessly. Organizations appreciate its automatic expansion capabilities and ease of adding nodes without major disruptions. Despite some complexities, users find it straightforward to scale as workloads increase. The platform’s ability to manage large data volumes, handle various node types, and operate with minimal administrative effort enhances its flexibility. Several organizations highlight its robust capacity for future growth and adaptability to evolving demands.

Stability

Dell PowerScale (Isilon) is renowned for its exceptional stability, with many users expressing satisfaction regarding its reliability and robust performance. Some mentioned minor issues related to hardware or external factors, yet these did not detract from the overwhelmingly positive stability experience. Uptime ratings are frequently reported as close to perfect, while ease of maintenance and non-disruptive upgrades further enhance user trust. Organizations consistently praise its steadiness, regardless of operational challenges.

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

24%

Computer Software Company

11%

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

Government

Healthcare Company

University

Construction Company

Energy/Utilities Company

Retailer

Media Company

Insurance Company

Comms Service Provider

Non Profit

Real Estate/Law Firm

Hospitality Company

Legal Firm

Outsourcing Company

Transportation Company

Aerospace/Defense Firm

Pharma/Biotech Company

Performing Arts

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

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,