Pure Storage FlashArray Reviews

In terms of Pure Storage FlashArray, I am using the iSCSI protocol. We are building virtual machines on it. It is like a data store on the ESXi hypervisor. VMware virtual machines are built on it.

Its compression ratio helps to reduce the storage footprint. We have bigger models such as FlashArray XL 150 for one petabyte of requirements in my organization. In a single pane of glass, I can see latency, IOPS, and performance data for 24 hours.

We can easily register the hosts and host groups for clusters. If there are multiple hosts in the cluster, I can group them. There are also features for volumes and volume groups.

We were able to realize its benefits after some time. If there is enough data, you can realize its benefits quickly, but when data is not enough, it will not give the expected results. It can take four to six weeks for the data to be added by different business lines.

The deduplication and the compression, particularly the compression ratio, are important features.

The dashboard is nice. It is easy to manage compared to other storage solutions such as Dell EMC.

Currently, Pure Storage support does health checks. It would be beneficial to have a health check command that can be run from the CLI to ensure that all hardware components are functioning properly rather than having to enable remote access and connect to support for a health check.

I have been using Pure Storage FlashArray for about one year.

I have not seen much downtime with Pure Storage FlashArray.

Scaling FlashArray is not difficult and is relatively easy.

The support is very quick, with account managers available around the clock due to the global nature of the company. They are spread across the US, EMEA, and APAC regions. We have multiple account managers available and designated support engineers as well. We get an initial response to our email within 15 minutes to 30 minutes.

Positive

I have experience with Dell Storage solutions like PowerMax and PowerStore, which use FlashArray disks. Dell's Extreme IO was a product similar to FlashArray that I used in the past, but its success is uncertain.

Dell has more hybrid solutions. Pure Storage is mostly focused on the FlashArray line of products. The firmware upgrades with Pure Storage are seamless and pretty quick. Pure Storage might also have an advantage from a cost perspective.

The initial setup is not difficult. After I have the management and other things in place and the box is available, with the help of Pure Storage support, it just takes about 45 minutes to an hour for a small capacity storage, such as 100 terabytes. For a larger capacity storage, it takes a couple of hours.

I have done the re-IP as well and moved the storage from one data center to the other data center. It is not that difficult.

The hardware maintenance is taken care of by Pure Storage support. We do not need to do any maintenance ourselves.

One person is sufficient for deployment, handling tasks like management and connectivity set-up.

Dell and Pure Storage offer competitive pricing, but Pure Storage might have a slight advantage.

As primary storage for structured data, Pure Storage FlashArray with the NVMe protocol is great. It works well for enterprise databases such as Microsoft SQL Server or Oracle Database.

For those considering FlashArray, ensure that from a networking standpoint, three management IPs are available. Determine connectivity requirements, whether using FC or iSCSI, and have the necessary switches ready.

I would rate Pure Storage FlashArray a nine out of ten.

In our environment, we use Pure Storage FlashArray for VMware storage. We have a few hosts that are used for creating virtual machines (VMs) and provide storage to them. We also use it for providing storage to databases.

Using Pure Storage FlashArray has reduced downtime significantly. With its replication feature, the downtime is almost negligible.

Pure Storage FlashArray is much better than the traditional storage we had. It is good for reducing downtime.

We also have some traditional storage tools that are being used in our environment. We have some servers that are still using traditional storage. I find Pure Storage FlashArray to be much better than traditional storage because it has a GUI interface. It makes the process of allocating the storage much easier, and most activities are automated. It is like clicking a button for every task.

I like its simplicity. It is very user-friendly.

Currently, Pure Storage FlashArray is mostly being used for high-performance environments that have low latency requirements and high workloads. For environments that do not have such high requirements, it could be costly. It would be beneficial to have a separate pricing point for environments with lower performance requirements or less workload.

I have been using Pure Storage FlashArray for approximately 1.5 years.

I have not observed any crashes or issues with Pure Storage FlashArray. It has been running smoothly without any stability problems.

In terms of scalability, we have enough storage allocated through Pure Storage FlashArray, and I believe it would not present any difficulties if more scaling is required.

The quality of support is good. The response time is good. They do not take much time to respond. They ensure someone is always available to address any issues. There is no leniency in their work. I find them good in terms of response.

Positive

I have used some traditional storage tools, such as VPLEX XIO. The difficulty there was that provisioning and reclaiming storage was very tedious and required a lot of human effort. Using Pure Storage FlashArray has made this process much simpler and efficient. I am happy to use it.

When I started using Pure Storage FlashArray, it was already being used within the environment. It was easy to learn and use. It only takes a short time to understand how to use it efficiently.

It does not require much maintenance. They do make frequent updates and the upgrades smooth. We can do the upgrades without any downtime. There is no impact on the environment when the upgrades are made. So far, it has been good.

I have not worked with other Flash solutions. I find Pure Storage FlashArray to be a reliable product. It has features for backup and restore and it integrates well with cloud environments. For high-performance environments, it is cost-efficient and user-friendly.

I have not spent much time using the dashboard that we get with Pure Storage FlashArray, but I know that if we have any performance issues, we can monitor them through the dashboard.

I would rate Pure Storage FlashArray a nine out of ten. I have been using it, and it has been performing well enough. It has helped me with my work. It has made my work much easier, but there is always scope for improvement.

We use Pure Storage FlashArray as the primary storage for our virtualized environment. 

Pure Storage arrays use flash memory, which provides faster data access and improved performance compared to traditional spinning disk storage. Pure Storage has features like deduplication, compression, and thin provisioning help reduce storage requirements and optimize the use of available space. The systems come with intuitive management interfaces and automation features that simplify storage operations and reduce administrative overhead.

Pure Storage FlashArray helps reduce downtime by 99.99 percent.

The most valuable feature of the FlashArray is Pure One, which provides a comprehensive overview of our entire storage environment. Pure One allows us to visualize our whole fleet and conduct various administrative assessments. This includes monitoring capacity usage and identifying the specific allocation of storage across our infrastructure. The FlashArray offers a centralized management system that is particularly appealing.

The self-service process encountered a bug that caused it to stall and prevent completion. Pure Storage should address these issues to enhance the functionality of self-service upgrades.

I have been using Pure Storage FlashArray for about three years.

Pure Storage FlashArray is stable. We have not had any issues.

We can quickly scale the FlashArray if the device is not nearing the end of its life. Their systems are designed to scale easily, allowing you to add more capacity or performance as needed without major disruptions.

The technical support team is knowledgeable and efficient. They quickly assign a technician to our cases, who analyses the issue or, if necessary, transfers it to another technician at the end of their shift. This entire process is smooth and seamless.

Positive

I previously used HP Storage, but Pure Storage FlashArray performs better. The IOPS is much better than what HP provides.

The initial setup is complex for exceptionally large environments. Pure Professional Services is always available to assist.

We implemented in-house with support from Pure professional services.

While more expensive than other storage solutions in the same space, Pure Storage FlashArray offers superior performance that often justifies the higher cost and adds value overall.

I would rate Pure Storage FlashArray nine out of ten.

When you purchase a Pure Storage FlashArray, you're not just acquiring storage but also investing in excellent support. With a dedicated support representative assigned to your case, you can expect immediate assistance whenever you log in, day or night.

Maintenance is required for periodic updates and patches. Pure Storage informs us when the patches or updates are available. 

Our VMware infrastructure uses a Pure Storage FlashArray as its primary SAN storage solution.

Our organization values the single management pane of glass because it simplifies administration by consolidating all necessary tools and functionalities into one location, eliminating the need to navigate between different systems. This streamlined approach increases efficiency and allows us to manage our operations effectively.

The benefits of Pure Storage FlashArray were immediately apparent, with its speed dramatically reducing machine deployment times from several hours to mere minutes.

Pure Storage FlashArray significantly reduced our storage footprint. Moving from older three-point five-inch SAS disks to Pure's smaller disks and utilizing deduplication and compression, we condensed our storage from 12 racks to just four.

Pure Storage FlashArray reduces downtime compared to our previous storage solution. While our previous system was reliable with minimal downtime, it still required occasional maintenance, whereas Pure Storage FlashArray operates seamlessly without any maintenance requirements.

The Evergreen architecture provides a fantastic refresh cycle where storage, including the crucial controllers at the system's core, is replaced every three years during maintenance renewals. This effectively means that even after nine years, the system remains equivalent to a brand new one. This is greatly important to our organization's ability to maintain uptime. 

I appreciate the ease of provisioning storage on Pure Storage FlashArray. The deduplication and compression features make it cost-effective and remarkably straightforward to use.

Pure Storage FlashArray is fantastic. It shows and does everything I need, which is why I've used it for so long. However, improved reporting on the deduplication and compression functionality would be beneficial. While a general reduction in space usage is evident, it's impossible to determine the specific deduplication or compression rates for individual disk systems.

I have been using Pure Storage FlashArray for nine years.

I rate the stability of Pure Storage FlashArray ten out of ten.

Although we haven't needed to scale significantly yet, the system appears capable of scaling.

The technical support always replies quickly, and the support quality has been fantastic.

Positive

We previously used HPE non-flash storage, but they did not offer the deduplication, compression, or SSD options that the Pure Storage FlashArray provides.

The initial deployment is straightforward, even for someone who has no experience with Pure Storage FlashArray. It takes less than one day.

Deploying a Pure Storage FlashArray can involve various infrastructure components, making it more efficient to use a team. In most organizations, a single person would lack the necessary access to all the systems involved in the deployment process.

We implemented Pure Storage FlashArray nine years ago when it was new to the market and obtained it at a preferential price. However, the current retail price may be relatively high, and discounts may not be available.

I would rate Pure Storage FlashArray ten out of ten.

Pure Storage handles all maintenance. Upgrades are initiated by simply sending an email request to Pure Storage, which manages the upgrade process.

Pure Storage FlashArray offers fantastic performance and is easy to set up, but it's important to consider the types of workloads you'll be using, as this can impact its data deduplication and compression efficiency.

We use Pure Storage FlashArray as our client storage solution. We create dedicated hosts and allocate appropriate storage space to each host server to accommodate their needs.

Our clients were experiencing difficulties running jobs and encountering storage limitations. By implementing Pure Storage FlashArray, we can remotely access the host server and expand the storage capacity to meet our clients' needs.

The FlashArray's single pane of glass is crucial for providing clients with easy access to IOPS and other essential features. This means the FlashArray must be highly accessible, with increased bandwidth, but no additional requirements.

Compared to Dell Unity, Pure Storage FlashArray offers a more comprehensive port configuration, providing eight front-end and four back-end ports. Dell Unity limits connections to two front-end and two back-end ports. Furthermore, Pure Storage FlashArray includes an Ethernet, USB, and management port, enhancing its connectivity options. In contrast, Dell Unity uses a heterogeneous storage environment, combining flash arrays and SAS arrays, which requires manual configuration and assignment based on specific requirements. Pure Storage FlashArray, on the other hand, exclusively employs Pure FlashArray components, eliminating the need for heterogeneous storage and simplifying management.

Pure Storage FlashArray helps save our clients a maximum of 30 percent in resources.

Pure Storage FlashArray has to be available for our clients 24/7, which has significantly reduced downtime.

I work with Pure Storage FlashArray models 2K and 8K. Compared to Unity, these arrays offer significant advantages, such as NVMe technology and higher IOPS. Additionally, they provide more storage capacity and are easier to access than other models.

I want to improve the overall service level of the solution.

I have been using Pure Storage FlashArray for two years.

Pure Storage FlashArray is stable. The arrays are good for four years, after which we must destroy them and migrate the data to a new one.

I would rate the scalability of Pure Storage FlashArray nine out of ten.

We use NetApp for file-level access and EMC, VMAX, and PowerMax. We will continue using NetApp for file-level access, which requires us to provide a shared folder or create a new one. We will allocate storage space to this specific folder, not the entire cluster. This minimal storage is necessary for administrative access and small activities or groups using NAS storage. For larger datasets, high IOPS, or big data storage, we use Pure Storage FlashArray.

The deployment process is straightforward. We will access the GUI, partition the volumes, isolate the host group, and segregate the host. As part of my previous work, I was also involved in decommissioning Pure Storage systems. When dealing with Pure Storage, it's essential to verify the status of the volumes. Ensure that all volumes are offline before proceeding with the decommissioning process. Once the volumes are offline, we will delete them, remove the WWPNs, destroy the volumes, and finally delete the host server. We can deploy around 30 servers per month.

While Pure Storage FlashArray may carry a higher price point, our clients observe a return on investment due to the significant time savings enabled by its exceptional IOPS performance. This increased efficiency more than justifies the initial cost.

Pure Storage FlashArray offers higher performance and IOPS than Dell Unity, thanks to its use of 32-gigabyte cables. While it comes with a higher price tag, this investment often translates to significant improvements in performance.

I would rate Pure Storage FlashArray nine out of ten.

Pure Storage FlashArray offers exceptional accessibility, ensuring our clients experience minimal to no performance issues, even during intensive I/O operations. Our clients have consistently reported high IOPS and successful job execution without encountering any errors or delays. This rapid response time, measured in milliseconds, underscores the FlashArray's ability to provide seamless storage access.

Our clients are enterprise clients.

Maintenance is necessary for ports, DIMs, fans, power units, and arrays. If a power unit fails, a redundant unit will access the data. We will notify the client of any issues and submit a service request for resolution. After the replacement, we will verify the GUI and log into the Pure FlashArray to check the status of the specific disk. If it's online, we'll take a screenshot and close the case after making the changes.

I recommend Pure Storage FlashArray to others due to its exceptional IOPS performance and user-friendly interface.

We use the solution for virtual machine storage. Any virtual machine that we run is stored in Pure Storage. Everything from databases to applications runs off it.

The product provides ease of management. It has a lower cost of ownership. The tool has reduced our power consumption.

We use the metro cluster. It is very intuitive and easy to set up. The data reduction technology is pretty good. We see quite a good reduction in our data. It’s probably in line with other vendors. The performance is excellent. As a storage platform, the solution has been good and very reliable. It's quite difficult to find anything negative to say about it.

There should be improvements in internal data management. If we suddenly dump large amounts of data onto the storage system, it takes a while to process it. The vendor has said that it would be fixed in future releases.

I have been using the solution for 20 months. I am using the latest version of the solution.

I rate the stability a ten out of ten.

The scalability is excellent. I rate the scalability an eight out of ten.

The support is okay.

Positive

The deployment process was very straightforward. It was up and running in an hour. We need two engineers to maintain the product.

The price is reasonable. We don’t pay to license any of the features. I rate the pricing an eight out of ten.

I also use Dell EMC and XtremIO.

We do routine upgrades. It’s not that often. It happens every six months. I will recommend the tool to others. Pure Storage has simplified our operations and released our engineers to do other functions. Overall, I rate the solution a ten out of ten.

The setup was extremely simple. 

The solution offers amazing performance. The speed and reliability of their flash arrays are great. In terms of flash storage, they're on it. The performance is there.

Their evergreen solution is probably the most needed in any industry. Especially today in unprecedented times and supply chain issues, their evergreen solution is amazing. 

Whenever we come out with a new feature for our system, we just swap out the storage controller. We don't change anything on our desk and we get the new features. That evergreen approach in your third year costs you nothing. 

It's a great company, great solution. They're dominating in their space for a good reason.

Even their management, their interface, is just the best in the industry. 

The solution can scale.

They're in a continuous act of improvement with a continuous delivery state. Everybody should be following their model right now. We are so impressed with Pure that even as we are an M&A-based company, if we acquire another company, Pure is automatically selected to be the storage that's going to replace whatever they have if they're not already using it. We have no complaints about how they run things.

I can't see where they can make anything better, unless, of course, they lower their prices even more. Even so, it's not so expensive. Even at the price point that they have right now, no one's complaining. 

The solution is very stable. Its performance is amazing. There are no bugs or glitches, it does not crash or freeze. 

The scalability is right there if you need it. It's instantaneous. You add another roll of flash right in there. It's literally plug-and-play. That flash becomes online and immediately available. You couldn't ask for a smoother experience. It's just been amazing.

We have 19,000 employees and 3,000 employees from a corporate level. There are about 4,000 different businesses functions that all run their products off of these solutions that we provide from IT.

We've never really had to call tech support for this product as we haven't had any issues. I attribute that to these guys paying attention to everything, every single detail, to make sure that their product is seamless.

We used to use IBM XIV.

We migrated from IBM XIV into Pure Storage FlashArray and we did that migration ourselves. Due to Pure Storage's professional services, we did an entire migration in under 30 days, which was unprecedented for a company this size and we did that without impacting business. 

Nobody was taken down, our stores were still running, our warehouses were still shipping. However, the entire time, this was the equivalent of basically moving the basement from underneath your house, while you are sleeping and replacing it with one we wanted. The process was amazing.

We use one person to handle the maintenance. There's a backup to them if we need to have something covered, however, they've not had to do anything with the storage. One person might look at it one hour out of the week to make sure we're doing fine.

We were able to do our migration due to the brilliant people at Pure Storage. We worked through all of it together. It was an amazing setup experience. 

There are true cost savings with this product. If you're an OPEX-adverse organization the cost per period is just really low. We were paying $90,000 per period with IBM and we have 13 periods. We went to Pure Storage and now we're doing $38,000 per period - and yet we have the highest performance here. Pure Storage will give you savings.

We entered into a partnership with Pure Storage.

I'd rate the solution at a ten out of ten.

I am an implementation engineer for Pure Storage FlashArray. We sell it through partners to different companies in Kazakhstan.

The single management interface is advantageous, enabling us to manage all arrays from a centralized location.

Pure Storage FlashArray provides immediate benefits to our customers with its easy setup process, allowing for instant use and rapid realization of advantages.

Pure Storage FlashArray is echo-friendly and helps reduce our carbon footprint.

FlashArray provides high stability and can help reduce downtime for customers. It was helpful when migrating data from one storage to another, achieving this without any downtime.

Remote Assist is a valuable feature that supports customers and engineers in troubleshooting and resolving issues, allowing for easy problem identification and repair. Furthermore, the cloud-based log collection enhances convenience and accessibility. FlashArray's integration with the Pure One instrument provides a centralized platform for efficient management of all arrays.

Organizations with security concerns that prevent cloud utilization would benefit from a wider range of instruments available for offline operation. Currently, the limited selection of on-premise instruments hinders Pure Storage FlashArray's ability to compete effectively with other vendors.

I have been using Pure Storage FlashArray for two years.

FlashArray is a highly stable and reliable enterprise storage solution that minimizes downtime.

One advantage of the Evergreen program Pure Storage offers is that it allows for easy upgrades, such as upgrading controllers for more power or increasing data flash memory for capacity.

The support from Pure Storage is excellent. Pure support team provides great maintenance of FlashArray, and their support consists of two parts: hardware support and software support.

Positive

The initial deployment is straightforward, taking approximately 40 minutes from unboxing to operation. Pure Storage systems, including FlashArray and FlashBlade, are equipped with comprehensive features that ensure easy installation and user-friendly operation.

Two people are required to place the FlashArray into the server rack due to its weight of approximately 45 kilograms.

For emerging markets like Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, pricing is not a problem. However, we lost a lot of customers because we couldn't compete on price with other vendors.

The biggest competitor we evaluated is Huawei.

I would rate Pure Storage FlashArray eight out of ten.

To fully utilize Pure Storage's capabilities, explore beyond its basic features. Many companies underutilize this robust platform, often employing only a fraction of its potential. Familiarizing yourself with the full range of features will maximize the benefits and value derived from this tool.

I recommend against attempting to understand Pure Storage FlashArray independently. If necessary, do not hesitate to open a support case.