Try our new research platform with insights from 80,000+ expert users
Deputy director at Central Bank of Nigeria
Real User
Great uptime feature and scalable with very high availability
Pros and Cons
  • "The uptime feature is great."
  • "The solution is quite expensive."

What is our primary use case?

We use it to run our current infrastructure and its core and resource planning applications.

What is most valuable?

The uptime feature is great, and their availability is very high. Since we have been using it, we have not experienced any downtime.

For how long have I used the solution?

We have been using this solution for more than ten years and are using the Power8 version. It is deployed on-premises.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It is stable, and it has 100% uptime.

Buyer's Guide
IBM Power Systems
October 2025
Learn what your peers think about IBM Power Systems. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: October 2025.
872,098 professionals have used our research since 2012.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It is scalable, and we have a process on demand. Whenever we need additional resources, we pay for the activation. We have close to 10,000 users, and we do not have any plans to increase our users.

How are customer service and support?

The technical support is a direct line, and they are responsive.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We found IBM to be more robust and able to meet our use cases.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup took us time because we migrated from a legacy to a power system. The migration took us about one week. The OEM IBM provided the consultant that did the installation.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The solution is quite expensive, and deploying it was also expensive. The pricing could be lower.

What other advice do I have?

I rate this solution a nine out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Senghak Ky - PeerSpot reviewer
Head Of Information Security at Sathana Bank
Real User
Has good performance and is stable and scalable
Pros and Cons
  • "We've been using it for a long time, and it's stable."
  • "I think the cost should be cheaper."

What is our primary use case?

We use it to run our important systems and applications.

What is most valuable?

I think the performance is good.

What needs improvement?

I think the cost should be cheaper.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been using this solution for more than five years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

We've been using it for a long time, and it's stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It is scalable. We have about 1000 users.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

There is a yearly licensing cost, and it's an expensive solution.

What other advice do I have?

I recommend IBM Power Systems to those who are interested in having the hardware. I would rate it at eight on a scale from one to ten.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
IBM Power Systems
October 2025
Learn what your peers think about IBM Power Systems. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: October 2025.
872,098 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Amjad Banna - PeerSpot reviewer
Computer Engineer at GCE
Real User
Best stability in the world, valuable LPM, and scalable
Pros and Cons
  • "We found working with IBM Power Systems that LPM is the most valuable feature."
  • "I would like to see IBM Power Systems integrate with all cloud types."

What is our primary use case?

We are currently using IBM Power Systems for applications and database core banking.

What is most valuable?

We found when working with IBM Power Systems that LPM is the most valuable feature.

What needs improvement?

I would like to see IBM Power Systems integrate with all cloud types.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using IBM Power Systems for the past seven years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

IBM Power Systems is the most stable solution in the world.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The scalability of IBM Power Systems is good.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

IBM Power Systems is very expensive. We have mid-range, entry, and enterprise. Every machine has its own licensing.

The setup of IBM Power Systems is complex. There are many steps and it takes three days to a week.

Before you purchase IBM Power Systems you should consider capacity requirements. 

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

I work with Dell servers in addition to IBM Power Systems.

What other advice do I have?

I would rate IBM Power Systems an eight out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Md Al-Amin - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior System Analyst at Thakral
MSP
Top 5Leaderboard
Reliable, stable and high-performing
Pros and Cons
  • "Power Systems' best features are that it's reliable, stable, and easily available. It's also really scalable and can be virtualized without third-party software support."
  • "The price is a bit high and could be improved."

What is our primary use case?

IBM Power Systems is used for data centers for CVS, activation, and databases.

What is most valuable?

Power Systems' best features are that it's reliable, stable, and easily available. It's also really scalable and can be virtualized without third-party software support. Power Systems has its own PowerVM where you can make VMs and have multiple systems in the same server, which benefits customers in terms of licensing.

What needs improvement?

The price is a bit high and could be improved.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been working with Power Systems since 2012.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

PowerSystems is very reliable, it has very little downtime, so we don't have to worry about it going down or performing badly.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Power Systems is really scalable.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is very straightforward - we migrated one bank in three days. The software is also 100% record compatible, so we don't have to think about compatibility and worry that older things won't work.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

Power Systems is a bit more costly than other products in the market, but in terms of ROI and the longevity, performance, and reliability that Power Systems provides, it's worth it in the long run. 

What other advice do I have?

PowerSystems is better than all other systems in the market, and I would recommend it to anybody whose application does not have a dependency in the operating system and machine. I would rate PowerSystems as ten out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Raul Tapia - PeerSpot reviewer
Director of the Office of Technological Infrastrure at mef
Real User
Perform well, responsive support, and high availability
Pros and Cons
  • "The most valuable feature of IBM Power Systems is its performance."
  • "IBM Power Systems could improve by having a cloud feature."

What is our primary use case?

I use IBM Power Systems for databases.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable feature of IBM Power Systems is its performance.

What needs improvement?

IBM Power Systems could improve by having a cloud feature.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using IBM Power Systems for approximately 15 years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The stability of IBM Power Systems is good.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

IBM Power Systems is scalable in my experience.

We have approximately 10,000 people using this solution in my organization. We do not plan to increase usage.

How are customer service and support?

The support provided by IBM Power Systems is very good.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I have not used any other solution in the past.

How was the initial setup?

The setup of IBM Power Systems is easy because I have experience with it before. The full deployment took approximately four months.

What about the implementation team?

We used a partner for the implementation of the solution.

We have seven engineers that provide the maintenance and support of our IBM Power Systems.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The price of IBM Power Systems is expensive and could improve.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

I have evaluated Oracle before we decided to choose IBM Power Systems.

What other advice do I have?

I would advise those who want to use IBM Power Systems to always have technical support.

I rate IBM Power Systems a ten out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
reviewer1178952 - PeerSpot reviewer
I.T. Head - Infrastructure, Network and Security at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
Offers processing power, stability, and security that is compatible with most of the solutions that we work with
Pros and Cons
  • "Some of the most valuable features are the processing power, stability, and security."
  • "I would like to see the scaling model improved so it's not just either tiny or huge."

What is our primary use case?

The use case is for hosting a lot of the bank's applications.

What is most valuable?

Some of the most valuable features are the processing power, stability, and security.

What needs improvement?

I would like to see the scaling model improved so it's not just either tiny or huge.

For how long have I used the solution?

We have been using IBM Power Systems since 2001, so it's been 20 years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

IBM is quite stable. That's one of their most popular aspects. We just upgraded our power systems recently, so we're going to be working with them through the next five years at least.

The solution is being used quite heavily.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The scalability is a bit above average. It's not the best, but it's a good deal.

The SKU modeling part they have is not very flexible toward customers. Either you have to go very big or you have to go very small. There isn't an in-between. There's not a lot of variety in this.

How are customer service and support?

I have onsite support and I talk to technical support a lot. My experience has been good.

How was the initial setup?

Setup was straightforward, with the help of the professional services from IBM. Maintenance is handled by the IBM team, especially the hardware.

What about the implementation team?

We used IBM partners. Usually it's IBM themselves, not the partners.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The licensing costs are okay. With IBM Power Systems, it's inclusive, so you can differentiate the price of the hardware from the software itself. The power systems are quite expensive. In the end, you equate a means of value. From a value proposition, it is either justifiable or not.

The additional costs are the maintenance and warranty professional services.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

Compared to similar solutions, IBM Power Systems has a proven record. They have their own reputation. You have the availability of technical expertise in the market. They're quite compatible with most of the solutions that we work with.

What other advice do I have?

I would rate this solution 8 out of 10.

My advice for an organization that is looking to implement this solution is that they should have the adequate expertise of personnel that can run the system. They should study their TCO and ROI regarding whether it is worth investing in this, given that it's a very expensive solution. These are the two most important aspects.

I would also advise dealing with an appropriate partner or dealing with IBM directly.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
reviewer1166205 - PeerSpot reviewer
Brand Leader at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
Top 20
Great performance and reliability, but machine learning, software testing and compatibility, and price should be addressed
Pros and Cons
  • "When it comes to reliability, availability and profitability, nothing can beat IBM Power Systems."
  • "Software testing and the compatibility of software products that are available in the market should be addressed."

What is most valuable?

When it comes to reliability, availability and profitability, nothing can beat IBM Power Systems. The machine has great availability and is very serviceable. One can do so many things while the machine is up and running. There is no need to shut anything down. This is how we have been conducting our business for the past few years. 

What needs improvement?

There are several features which I feel should be added to the solution, including those concerning the graphic processors. 

I am referring to the GPU based machines involved in machine learning. The new systems focus on the part involved in experiencing, but not on machine learning. The product should come with a comprehensive portfolio which will address all the high performance computing requirements, in additiona to machine and deep learning. This is an issue which I raised with IBM. 

Software testing and the compatibility of software products that are available in the market should be addressed. This is an issue we sometimes face, as this particular product is not tested, certified and available in Power Systems. We have lost deals over this. 

The price of the solution could be somewhat better and this is what lowers my rating of it to a seven or eight out of ten. We directly compete with Intel-based products, which several vendors make available, and a price improvement would certainly give us an advantage over the competition. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using IBM Power Systems for more than 10 years.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

I rate the solution as a seven or eight out of ten for its price. As we are talking about a very competitive market, the pricing could be a bit better. This would give us a definite edge over the competition, as we find ourselves in direct competition with Intel-based products, which are available from a number of vendors. 

What other advice do I have?

This system is ideal when it comes to performance and reliability. I don't see any need for improving on its current features and functionality. 

We are resellers of IBM FlashSystem. 

Owing to the issues with its pricing, I rate IBM Power Systems as a seven or eight out of ten. 

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. partner
PeerSpot user
Sector Manager at ESky IT
Reseller
A very stable and capable solution for core banking applications, but it needs better scalability and migration process and easier management
Pros and Cons
  • "We value the stability and technology capability of this solution the most. It is very stable, and the processor technology of IBM is very good. When you have a CIO and you are dealing with C-level every day, you can, without any doubt, support the core banking or critical applications with this solution."
  • "Its management can be made easier because it is not easy to manage. They should also find a new way for migrating from an old Power Systems to a new one. The migration process is currently very complicated. It should be made easier to scale. Currently, its scalability depends on the initial sizing, whereas in Nutanix HCI, you can add whatever you need and whenever you need it."

What is our primary use case?

IBM Power Systems is used for the core banking applications. We have accounts with financial enterprises in Egypt. We propose this solution if you are a bank, you are upgrading or migrating bank applications from Oracle or other vendors, and you would like to have a stable platform in terms of hardware and software.

What is most valuable?

We value the stability and technology capability of this solution the most. It is very stable, and the processor technology of IBM is very good. When you have a CIO and you are dealing with C-level every day, you can, without any doubt, support the core banking or critical applications with this solution. 

What needs improvement?

Its management can be made easier because it is not easy to manage. They should also find a new way for migrating from an old Power Systems to a new one. The migration process is currently very complicated.

It should be made easier to scale. Currently, its scalability depends on the initial sizing, whereas in Nutanix HCI, you can add whatever you need and whenever you need it.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using this solution for one year.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It is a very stable platform in terms of hardware and software.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Scalability is there, but it depends on the initial sizing. You need to plan for scalability from the beginning because it depends on the series of our systems, processors, and the number of processors that have been activated during the implementation. So, it depends on the sizing, whereas with Nutanix HCI, you can add whatever you need and whenever you need it.

It is usually focused on enterprise customers. In our company, we have around 20 to 25 users. We plan to increase its usage.

How are customer service and technical support?

I don't contact their support team, but based on the experience of our team, they are usually supportive. Our team doesn't seem to have any issue with IBM technical support. I would rate them a nine out of ten.

How was the initial setup?

I am into sales, and I don't implement Power Systems. Based on the experience of our technical team, the initial set up usually goes smoothly. The issue comes only while migrating from the old one to the new one. For the whole migration, which included the initial setup and testing, it took at least six months.

What about the implementation team?

We upgraded Power Systems from version 7 to version 9, and we worked with the IBM team during the implementation phase. We successfully completed its implementation with their help.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

Its price depends on the sizing.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

We evaluate Oracle Exadata or Nutanix HCI. For a huge sizing, we go for Power Systems. For a small sizing, we can use an Intel-based solution. Nowadays, some of the core banking applications are moving to the Intel platform, and that's why we are recommending Intel-based solutions, but IBM Power Systems is still a number one solution. It is our preferred platform for core banking applications.

What other advice do I have?

Before starting the implementation, I would advise others to take enough time in planning its implementation, especially the sizing.

I would rate IBM Power Systems a seven out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Private Cloud
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. partner
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Download our free IBM Power Systems Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
Updated: October 2025
Product Categories
Rack Servers
Buyer's Guide
Download our free IBM Power Systems Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.