Dell PowerScale (Isilon) Reviews

Name: Dell PowerScale (Isilon)
Brand: Dell Technologies
Rating: 4.4 (53 reviews)

Vendor: Dell Technologies

4.4 out of 5

53 reviews
98% willing to recommend

989 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 53 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.

Buyer's Guide

Dell PowerScale (Isilon)

November 2024

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Featured reviews

Jack Vo

Senior IT Manager at ams OSRAM

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 secure. The system ensures that data is safely stored and easily accessible, providing peace of mind with robust security measures.

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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 platform performs really well. We're a media company with 14 TV stations. This solution is very capable of meeting our demands well. We use the SMB protocol for storage access, and it performs really well. The best thing is that it works. We don't have to maintain it too much; we usually upgrade once a year. We can get more than gigabit throughput from it.

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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 18, 2024

Valuable Features

Dell PowerScale (Isilon) is renowned for ease of management, scalability, and performance. Users appreciate its ability to seamlessly handle petabyte-scale data, provide reliable security features, and allow non-disruptive upgrades. The system's scalability and flexibility enable users to expand data storage without downtime. Its integration with different protocols and robust data protection enhances efficiency and reduces risks. Features like SmartQuotas, CloudIQ, and OneFS streamline operations and optimize storage utilization.

"It is stable and very user-friendly."
"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."

Room for Improvement

Dell PowerScale (Isilon) is expensive and lacks compatibility with small environments. Users find issues with cloud integration, complex updates, and management. The interface needs simplification, improved data handling, and better multi-tenancy support. Security and technical support require enhancements, as does redundancy during failures. The pricing strategy and automation integration could be improved. Additionally, object storage handling and analytics need attention, and streamlined support processes would be beneficial. Pricing clarity and expansion limitations also need addressing.

"Always, there is room for improvement in terms of cybersecurity, as new challenges are continually emerging in the market."
"Improvements could be made on the object storage side."
"The analytics could be improved."

ROI

Dell PowerScale (Isilon) delivers cost-efficiency and performance enhancements, allowing scalable storage and centralized management. It simplifies administration, reduces power consumption by 30%, and expedites workflows. Users experience improved data handling, data integrity, and storage deduplication, facilitating better budgeting and lower costs. Performance enhancements and time savings are evident, with significant return on investment observed in various business operations, especially in media and payment sectors, compensating for the initial expense over three to five years.

Pricing

Dell PowerScale (Isilon) users cite it as an expensive yet valuable storage solution. While initial setup may appear costly, its scalability and total cost of ownership provide compelling long-term benefits. The licensing model allows feature-based customization, enabling tailored cost management. Some users negotiate competitive rates with resellers, while others appreciate known costs in lieu of cloud uncertainties. Despite the high price tag, users deem the solution fair given its features, management ease, and performance.

"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

Dell PowerScale (Isilon) serves organizations with large-scale unstructured data needs, including massive file systems, video storage, and scientific research. Entities utilize PowerScale for scalable and reliable storage solutions, supporting user shares, data center storage, and disaster recovery. It's integral in diverse fields like genomics, media, healthcare, and manufacturing. PowerScale is valued for its scalability, allowing data consolidation and efficient management across various infrastructures, with both on-prem and cloud implementations, often used in hybrid models.

Service and Support

Dell PowerScale (Isilon) customer service and support vary in quality. Many express satisfaction, highlighting knowledgeable and responsive teams. Some mention needing to escalate issues or facing language barriers. Several report mixed experiences, citing varying agent expertise and reduced performance in recent months. Despite a few delays, overall support, including four-hour on-site assistance for urgent issues, remains quick and commendable. Generally, support for Dell products is regarded positively, with high ratings from numerous users.

Deployment

Dell PowerScale (Isilon) setup experiences vary. Some find it straightforward and quick, taking just a few hours, especially with prior familiarity or external support. Others describe it as complex, requiring days or weeks, particularly without regular handling. Complexity often stems from aspects like data migration, network configuration, or specific hardware needs. Many praise its ease for experienced users, yet emphasize the need for planning, while others benefit significantly from vendor assistance during installation.

Scalability

Dell PowerScale (Isilon) is highly scalable, seamlessly handling large data storage needs. Users appreciate its automatic tiering and easy capacity expansion by adding nodes, which allows for flexible growth without extensive manual configuration. It accommodates a large number of connections and users, making it suitable for enterprise customers. Some find its backward compatibility challenging, but many highlight its ease of management. Expanded clusters offer mixed storage node configurations for optimized performance.

Stability

Dell PowerScale (Isilon) is widely regarded as stable and reliable. Users report minimal disruptions, emphasizing strong availability. Many have experienced almost 100% uptime, with incidents mostly due to external factors or manageable hardware failures. Some mention occasional support challenges and rare stability issues. Performance maintains robustness over time, even under challenging conditions. PowerScale is noted for its ease of management and seamless upgrades, earning high stability ratings from many users.

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

Energy/Utilities Company

Retailer

Media Company

Comms Service Provider

Insurance Company

Non Profit

Real Estate/Law Firm

Hospitality Company

Legal Firm

Outsourcing Company

Transportation Company

Aerospace/Defense Firm

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,