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Dell SC Series Reviews

Vendor: Dell Technologies
4.2 out of 5
118 followers
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What is Dell SC Series?

Dell EMC SC Series arrays provide a unified platform for the ultimate in performance, adaptability and machine-driven efficiency. SC Series software delivers modern features that help you meet aggressive workload demands using the fewest drives necessary. With an open, future-ready design, SC Series storage integrates seamlessly with applications and infrastructure, enabling you to scale on a single platform and add capabilities without forklift upgrades.

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Dell SC Series is the #3 ranked solution in top Frame-Based Disk Arrays and #27 ranked solution in best All-Flash Storage Arrays. PeerSpot users give Dell SC Series an average rating of 8.4 out of 10. Based on the analysis of the 53 most recent Dell SC Series reviews, the overall sentiment is positive, with a sentiment score of 7.6. (The highest in the category). Dell SC Series is most commonly compared to Hitachi Virtual Storage Platform: Dell SC Series vs Hitachi Virtual Storage Platform. Dell SC Series is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 54% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a computer software company, accounting for 24% of all views.
Buyer's Guide
Dell SC Series
January 2025
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Dell SC Series mindshare

As of January 2025, the mindshare of Dell SC Series in the Frame-Based Disk Arrays category stands at 13.3%, down from 19.6% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Frame-Based Disk Arrays

PeerAnalyst reports

TypeTitleDate
CategoryFrame-Based Disk ArraysJan 9, 2025Download
ProductReviews, tips, and advice from real usersJan 9, 2025Download
ComparisonDell SC Series vs Hitachi Virtual Storage PlatformJan 9, 2025Download
ComparisonDell SC Series vs IBM System Storage DS8000 SeriesJan 9, 2025Download
Suggested products
TitleRatingMindshareRecommending
Hitachi Virtual Storage Platform4.236.7%96%52 interviewsAdd to research
IBM System Storage DS8000 Series4.734.3%85%6 interviewsAdd to research
 
 
Key learnings from peers

Valuable Features

Dell SC Series excels in auto-tiering and offers excellent integration and management ease. Users appreciate its performance, reliability, scalability, and the ability to switch between storage types. The replication, low latency, and cost-effectiveness, combined with high availability, make it a preferred choice. Features like Live Migrate, deduplication, compression, and multi-site federation enhance its value. Customers value the flexibility for upgrades, efficient storage provisioning, and robust support.
  • "Dell SC Series offers a lot of performance, being one of the best performing storages Dell ever made."
  • "It was very easy to install, maintain, and provides excellent manageability."
  • "Its feature set is superior to some of the other platforms."

Room for Improvement

Dell SC Series needs more user-friendly interfaces, better performance, and faster technical support. Users desire improved integration with popular backup systems, NVMe support, enhanced compression features, and easier scalability. They experience slow administration, outdated architecture, and complex initial setup. Better support for higher-tier performance, cloud integration, and cost-effectiveness is required. The current phase-out of Dell SC Series also concerns customers, as they look for long-term solutions with superior capabilities.
  • "If Dell SC Series could have supported the protocol NVMe over TCP, that would have been great. It does not."
  • "Dell SC Series is no longer available, while Dell PowerStore, which supports NVMe over TCP, is different and not very affordable."
  • "If Dell SC Series wasn't being phased out, adding an NVMe tier and secure snapshots like those on the PowerStore platform would be beneficial."

ROI

Dell SC Series has led to a reduction in costs through virtualization and improved return on power, cooling, and maintenance. Users have experienced a densification increase due to flash technology, leading to better cost effectiveness. High availability and performance contribute significantly to the financial benefits. Many have successfully used Dell SC Series for its full lifecycle, benefiting from reduced support expenses and increased array efficiency, resulting in greater overall satisfaction with disk response times.

Pricing

Enterprise buyers find Dell SC Series to be generally affordable with a cost-effective pricing model. It offers competitive rates, particularly appealing for long-term investments, as they allow scaling by adding cheaper DAEs. Licensing can be complex, suggesting a need for simplification. Users with corporate discounts or those purchasing package deals report significant savings. Support fees vary widely depending on array size. Some users find initial setup straightforward, though other feedback highlights areas for pricing improvement.
  • "There are costs involving the solution, vendor fees and product safety which are additional."
  • "The pricing is reasonable, but it is expensive."
  • "This solution could be better priced in comparison with other vendors."

Popular Use Cases

Dell SC Series is primarily used for storage in virtual environments, acting as the foundation for VM operations and supporting various applications such as databases, VDI, and business workloads. Organizations leverage it for both public and private cloud services, converged infrastructure, and disaster recovery. It is favored for its reliable performance, fast IOPS, and compatibility with platforms like VMware, Oracle, and SQL, making it suitable for diverse IT operations.

Service and Support

Dell SC Series customer service is highly regarded. Users consistently praise the responsive and proactive support, particularly highlighting the excellence of Copilot. They appreciate the swift resolution of issues and knowledgeable staff. Some report minor errors and a desire for improved real-time availability. Users find technical support effective, with thorough monitoring and quick hardware shipments. Dell EMC support is considered among the best, often providing additional assistance beyond standard expectations.

Deployment

Dell SC Series's initial setup is often described as straightforward and simple. Many note that certified installers are helpful, especially for complex environments. Some express that understanding certain technical elements is important, while others mention the ease of using the user interface. The setup duration can vary, often taking just a few days, although larger companies may experience more complexity. Many appreciate the assistance of professional services for seamless deployment.

Scalability

Dell SC Series demonstrates strong scalability, accommodating various user needs. It's able to expand via additional drives and expansion enclosures while maintaining performance. Some organizations noted limitations, such as controller constraints, yet many found it suitable for small to medium-scale businesses due to its ease of adding storage. Though adding more drives may become costly, it's designed for growth through federation. Scalability is appreciated by users who effectively strategize their storage expansion.

Stability

Dell SC Series users report strong stability. Some experienced initial issues, but they were resolved swiftly by Dell EMC. Many state no downtime, efficient upgrades, and automatic tiering benefit. Stability depends on the environment, but most find it reliable without major bugs. Despite minor concerns like latency under specific conditions, users continue using Dell SC Series for stable operations. Many appreciate its maintenance support. Stability rates highly, around eight out of ten.
These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.
Download our Dell SC Series Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers
By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
24%
Financial Services Firm
9%
University
9%
Government
8%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Educational Organization
5%
Real Estate/Law Firm
5%
Healthcare Company
4%
Insurance Company
3%
Outsourcing Company
3%
Media Company
3%
Legal Firm
3%
Hospitality Company
2%
Retailer
2%
Construction Company
2%
Non Profit
2%
Wholesaler/Distributor
1%
Energy/Utilities Company
1%
Logistics Company
1%
Venture Capital & Private Equity Firm
1%
Comms Service Provider
1%
Consumer Goods Company
1%
Recreational Facilities/Services Company
1%

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Learn more about Dell SC Series

Dell SC Series was previously known as SC Series Storage, Compellent.

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Dell SC Series customers

TGen, Frost Science, Gerrie Electric

Related questions

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When evaluating Frame-Based Disk Arrays, what aspect do you think is the most important to look for?

Product Categories

Product Categories
Frame-Based Disk Arrays
All-Flash Storage

Popular Comparisons

Popular Comparisons
Hitachi Virtual Storage Platform vs Dell SC Series Logo
Hitachi Virtual Storage Platform vs Dell SC Series
IBM System Storage DS8000 Series vs Dell SC Series Logo
IBM System Storage DS8000 Series vs Dell SC Series
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