IBM Spectrum Virtualize Reviews

Vendor: IBM

4.4 out of 5

36 reviews
90% willing to recommend

195 followers

What is IBM Spectrum Virtualize?

IBM Spectrum Virtualize is a dependable solution that improves data value, security, and simplicity for new and existing storage infrastructure. Proven over 12 years in thousands of deployments, its innovative virtualization capabilities help organizations achieve better data economics by supporting new workloads that are critical to their success. IBM Spectrum Virtualize software helps make new and existing storage more effective and standardizes functions traditionally deployed separately in disk systems for greater flexibility and potentially lower costs.

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IBM Spectrum Virtualize is the #12 ranked solution in top Software Defined Storage (SDS) solutions. PeerSpot users give IBM Spectrum Virtualize an average rating of 8.8 out of 10. IBM Spectrum Virtualize is most commonly compared to Red Hat Ceph Storage: IBM Spectrum Virtualize vs Red Hat Ceph Storage. IBM Spectrum Virtualize is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 57% 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.

Buyer's Guide

IBM Spectrum Virtualize

January 2025

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Featured reviews

EdwinVan Halm

Virtualization Architect at Halm-IT

The primary use case is high availability and disaster recovery. They use it as an active-active cluster located in two physical locations for quick recovery using immutable snapshots The quick restore, the low latency, and the ease of use are some of the most valuable features. The product is…

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Nicolae Chirea

System and Solutions Architect at Seidor

The primary use case with IBM Spectrum Virtualize for us is in relationship to databases I like that it can virtualize more than three hundred storage providers. I enjoy the performance, replication, and compression. I value all of the features. I would like to see three-side support. When we do…

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it_user672441

Storage Chief Architect at Unisys

There are things that occur when you get to this size and capacity. We're very large, i.e., petabytes. When you get to that sheer volume of the numbers of things, it is too big for people to keep track of. So, it's okay if you have 50 volumes, and I can watch them. I can assign people to watch them. But when you have 5,000, it's not possible anymore. So you need capabilities within the products that would do what that person would've done watching the 50. So, they have this “cognitive IT” sort of thing going for them. I don't think they've realized they can apply that cognitive concept to that. It is like, "Okay, I'm going to use software to watch all that." Now, they have some of that already with Easy Tier that automatically moves data around. It is perfect. Now I need that same concept extended into other areas.

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IBM Spectrum Virtualize mindshare

As of February 2025, the mindshare of IBM Spectrum Virtualize in the Software Defined Storage (SDS) category stands at 1.6%, down from 2.2% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Software Defined Storage (SDS)

PeerAnalyst reports

Type	Title	Date
Category	Software Defined Storage (SDS)	Feb 2, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Feb 2, 2025	Download
Comparison	IBM Spectrum Virtualize vs StarWind Virtual SAN	Feb 2, 2025	Download
Comparison	IBM Spectrum Virtualize vs Red Hat Ceph Storage	Feb 2, 2025	Download
Comparison	IBM Spectrum Virtualize vs Nutanix Cloud Infrastructure (NCI)	Feb 2, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
Red Hat Ceph Storage	4.1	20.3%	81%	23 interviews Add to research
Nutanix Cloud Infrastructure (NCI)	4.3	5.7%	94%	197 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

IBM Spectrum Virtualize offers valuable features like seamless data migration and virtualization across multi-vendor storage, providing enhanced flexibility and ease of management. Users appreciate the single abstraction layer for streamlined control and integration, high compatibility, and reliability. Its capabilities include non-disruptive operations, storage mirroring, thin provisioning, compression, tiered storage, and multi-site setups. The graphical user interface and continuous feature enhancements ensure intuitive navigation and adaptability, leading to significant cost savings and improved performance.

"In my opinion, the quick restore, the low latency, and the ease of use are some of the most valuable features."
"I like that it can virtualize more than three hundred storage providers."
"The ability to add the virtual machine on the Spectrum environment to sort out the data movers(DMs) and their schedules is a valuable feature. You are able to have, for example, four data movers to balance them so you do not have too much work on one data mover."

Room for Improvement

IBM Spectrum Virtualize requires enhancements in resiliency and stability, adding features like deduplication and seamless cluster migration. Users desire better management tools, GUI improvements, integrated cloud storage, and support for smaller clients and concurrent disk additions. Challenges exist with volume expansion in mirrored environments, I/O group risk, and node limitations. Three-site replication, long-term reporting, and enhanced training programs are requested for improved operability and integration with operating systems like VMware.

"The training program could be improved."
"I would like to see more baseline replication and integration with the operating system between Vmware and IBMI."
"The only errors I find sometimes is the solution tells me I cannot operate it because a service has turned off, you can just go back to the VM, go to services, and turn back the services. However, this should improve."

Pricing

IBM Spectrum Virtualize users note that bundled licensing is cost-effective, offering flexibility. Pricing is competitive compared to EMC, Veritas, and Dell, with significant value even at the entry point. Many find the price excellent given the support and capabilities, especially in high-performance scenarios. While it may be slightly more expensive due to enterprise features, multiple pricing options are available based on size, subscription, and usage. Coordination with vendors can maximize cost efficiency.

"I think it is a good value for the price."
"This solution came as an additional cost for the TSM package we chose."
"The entry point of pricing for this product is the most amazing price ever in the industry."

Popular Use Cases

Organizations use IBM Spectrum Virtualize for virtualizing various storage units, enabling efficient data migration and disaster recovery. It normalizes different storage arrays into a single view, aiding in mobility and performance management. Customers, including banks and retailers, utilize it for open environment testing and production. It supports block storage requirements, ensures high availability, and facilitates rapid data recovery with active-active clusters. Deployments occur on-premise and in the cloud, covering entry to enterprise tiers.

Service and Support

IBM Spectrum Virtualize customer service and support receive mixed feedback. Some users find technical support effective and responsive, praising its reliability and expertise, especially at higher support levels. However, others express dissatisfaction, citing difficulties in reaching knowledgeable staff and delayed responses. The support quality varies depending on regions and support tiers. Many users recommend improvements in initial support responses, wishing for faster resolution times and better access to experienced technicians when escalating issues.

Deployment

Users described IBM Spectrum Virtualize's initial setup as generally straightforward and easy, though complex for some. Assistance from business partners or resellers was often noted. Involvement varied, with some managing configuration and planning, others seeking additional training. The setup included cabling challenges, but following best practices simplified the process. Sometimes initially complex, setup often became more intuitive, especially when assisted by professionals or when users gained familiarity with the system’s requirements.

Scalability

IBM Spectrum Virtualize is often praised for its robust scalability. Users report it caters well to various needs, though some note constraints like node limits or volume counts. With the ability to scale from small to large setups, it accommodates diverse storage expansion strategies. Some express optimism about future enhancements, while others highlight its flexibility with different storage technologies. Despite potential limitations, many find its scalability satisfactory for infrastructure growth and enterprise environments.

Stability

Users report IBM Spectrum Virtualize as generally stable, with some occasional issues. Many note high reliability and minimal downtime, praising the system's resilience during updates and heavy workloads. However, certain users experience minor problems linked to environmental conditions or specific configurations. While there have been bumps with earlier versions, stability has improved over time. Users are largely satisfied with uptime and IBM's responsiveness to addressing any challenges encountered.

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

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