Dell SC Series Reviews

Name: Dell SC Series
Brand: Dell Technologies
Rating: 4.2 (52 reviews)

4.2 out of 5

52 reviews
94% willing to recommend

120 followers

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 52 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 Dell PowerStore: Dell SC Series vs Dell PowerStore. Dell SC Series is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 56% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a computer software company, accounting for 22% of all views.

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Featured reviews

Steven McClendon

Data Center Server & Storage Administrator at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees

I've used Dell SC Series at other companies as a good storage tier for servers for VMware and on HP UX servers as well It is unfortunate Dell is phasing out the SC Series. It includes cost savings for customers since it intelligently determines where to put data over time. I'm a big fan of the…

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Whitney Gray

Storage Architect at a healthcare company with 10,001+ employees

We use it for multiple databases. We use it for Oracle and for SQL. We also use it for file systems — Oracle, SQL, file system storage. Most of our use cases involve Oracle, SQL, VMware, and large file systems. I am a storage architect. have a state administrator that works with me as well…

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Jan Cipra

Senior Consultant at Gapp System

The solution is mainly used for primary storage and in more than half of the cases, we use the Live Volume, the Synchronous Replication - this Automatic Failover. Its function is for primary storage on two sites The customers really appreciate that the storage is cost-effective and that has…

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Dell SC Series mindshare

As of November 2024, the mindshare of Dell SC Series in the Frame-Based Disk Arrays category stands at 13.1%, down from 22.8% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Frame-Based Disk Arrays

Key learnings from peers

Last updated Oct 10, 2024

Valuable Features

Dell SC Series offers valuable features like Live Volume, replication, auto-tiering, and data progression. It provides easy management, supports scalability, and boasts strong performance. Its cost-effectiveness and diverse storage options, including hybrid and all-flash configurations, are praised. Users highlight its user-friendly interface, reliable support, and efficient data management features like compression and deduplication. The high-availability architecture and seamless integration enhance operational efficiency, making it a preferred choice for IT environments seeking budget-friendly yet powerful storage solutions.

"Its feature set is superior to some of the other platforms."
"It is suitable for small or medium businesses."
"Dell SC Series' most valuable features are performance and network facilities. We have no issues with its integration. The tool helps to visualize servers."

Room for Improvement

Dell SC Series users highlight several areas for improvement, including enhanced ease of use, faster support response, and more comprehensive web GUI functionality. Performance upgrades such as higher compression, deduplication, and NVMe support are desired. There is a need for better integration with VMware and popular backup systems like Veeam. Users also request improved scalability, automation for tracking performance trends, and cost reductions. Many mention concerns about the architecture's age and impending phase-out.

"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."
"Some menus aren't so intuitive."
"The tool's pricing is high and not suitable for medium companies."

ROI

Dell SC Series provides cost reduction by enabling virtualization over physical servers, leading to increased densification and lower maintenance costs due to fewer required shelves. Financial institutions benefit from the economics offered, focusing on ease of management and performance. Users experience high availability and performance without major downtime. Many have reported a good return by maximizing the lifespan to the end of support contracts, typically five years for storage, enhancing overall ROI.

Pricing

Dell SC Series offers a competitive and affordable pricing structure for enterprise buyers. Users appreciate its value, especially with features like scalability and bundling with software. While some feel licensing could be streamlined, most agree that the overall cost aligns well with market standards. Discounts and flexible pricing options are available, although some find scalability more expensive than anticipated. The series is generally seen as cost-effective, fitting well within budget constraints for many organizations.

"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

Organizations utilize Dell SC Series primarily for virtual environment storage, acting as a backbone for VM storage. They benefit from its high performance for hosting various environments, including VMware and vSphere. It supports business workloads and databases such as SQL and Oracle. Companies also employ it in converged infrastructures and for disaster recovery. Its features are favorable for replication, deduplication, and primary storage, serving mid-range and large-scale deployments effectively.

Service and Support

Dell SC Series customer service and support receive high praise for responsiveness, efficiency, and expertise. Users highlight proactive troubleshooting and quick response times. Copilot support stands out as exceptional, with seamless interaction, knowledgeable engineers, and effective issue resolution. Some note changes leading to occasional inaccurate information but appreciate the quick responses and global support availability. They rate support highly and appreciate the dedication to resolving issues, making Dell SC Series support a top choice.

Deployment

Many find Dell SC Series' initial setup straightforward, with simplicity emphasized in user-installable lower models. Some note complexity due to tiering understanding and networking. Certified installers often assist in more advanced deployments, recommending tutorials for interface familiarity. Deployment time varies from an hour to a few days, depending on size and environment. While some find initial integration complex with existing technologies, improvements over the years have made the process easier and more intuitive.

Scalability

Dell SC Series offers good scalability, accommodating various organizational sizes. Users appreciate the ease of adding storage and expanding capabilities. It supports gradual scaling, and users can add drives easily to meet demands. However, scalability can be limited by existing configurations and pricing. Some users experience constraints related to controller and rack limits. Proper planning helps address these issues, ensuring adaptability for small and medium businesses. Scalability remains a vital feature noted by users.

Stability

Dell SC Series is noted for its robust stability, with many users experiencing minimal downtime. While some faced initial challenges during deployment, issues were quickly resolved. Dell's prompt maintenance has been praised, especially for addressing component concerns efficiently. Users appreciate its capability for upgrades without significant disruptions. Though performance may have latency issues in extreme cases, most find it reliable. Adequate sizing and configuration are crucial for optimizing its stability.

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.