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Dell PowerScale (Isilon) Reviews

Vendor: Dell Technologies
4.4 out of 5
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What is Dell PowerScale (Isilon)?

Dell PowerScale leads in unstructured data management with unified file and object storage, massive scalability, security, and cloud adaptability, enhancing AI, analytics, and enterprise applications with exceptional performance and resilience.

Get the Dell PowerScale (Isilon) Buyer's Guide and find out what your peers are saying about Dell PowerScale (Isilon), Dell PowerStore, Red Hat Ceph Storage and more!
Dell PowerScale (Isilon) is the #2 ranked solution in top NAS solutions and top File and Object Storage solutions. PeerSpot users give Dell PowerScale (Isilon) an average rating of 8.8 out of 10. Dell PowerScale (Isilon) is most commonly compared to Dell PowerStore: Dell PowerScale (Isilon) vs Dell PowerStore. Dell PowerScale (Isilon) is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 61% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a manufacturing company, accounting for 11% of all views.
Buyer's Guide
Dell PowerScale (Isilon)
March 2026
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Dell PowerScale (Isilon) mindshare

Product category:
NAS
As of March 2026, the mindshare of Dell PowerScale (Isilon) in the NAS category stands at 15.5%, down from 17.6% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
NAS Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
Dell PowerScale (Isilon)15.5%
NetApp FAS Series10.8%
Dell PowerStore9.0%
Other64.7%
NAS

PeerResearch reports based on Dell PowerScale (Isilon) reviews

TypeTitleDate
CategoryNASMar 20, 2026Download
ProductReviews, tips, and advice from real usersMar 20, 2026Download
ComparisonDell PowerScale (Isilon) vs Dell PowerStoreMar 20, 2026Download
ComparisonDell PowerScale (Isilon) vs NetApp FAS SeriesMar 20, 2026Download
ComparisonDell PowerScale (Isilon) vs CTERA Enterprise File Services PlatformMar 20, 2026Download
Suggested products
TitleRatingMindshareRecommending
Dell PowerStore4.39.0%96%175 interviewsAdd to research
Red Hat Ceph Storage4.1N/A82%27 interviewsAdd to research
 
 
Key learnings from peers
Last updated Mar 8, 2026

Valuable Features

Dell PowerScale (Isilon) is valued for ease of use, scalability, global recognition, and strong performance. It offers seamless multi-protocol support, reducing administration needs. Its robust data security features include ransomware protection and snapshots. It integrates AI workloads efficiently. Users appreciate its ability to eliminate data silos, improve storage efficiency, and provide reliable performance with high availability. Features like SyncIQ, single namespace, and intuitive UI enhance management while offering flexible storage solutions.
  • "Dell PowerScale (Isilon) actually combined a shared file system that scales seamlessly and works effectively, making the blocking and tackling exactly what was advertised."
  • "Regarding stability, I find no lagging, crashing, or downtime with Dell PowerScale (Isilon), and it is a highly scalable, stable, and reliable solution that I have experienced."
  • "With Dell PowerScale (Isilon), it uses not just a terabyte but petabytes of data, storing a large amount of data takes within minutes, and you can bring it down to seconds as well, as it does not take much time to upload or copy the data here and there, and upgrades also do not take much time."

Room for Improvement

Dell PowerScale faces challenges with complex deployment, expensive pricing, and inadequate cloud integration. Users highlight the need for improved technical support and streamlined hardware replacement processes. Enhancements in NAS and object storage, security features, and user interface are desired. There are concerns about slow updates, load distribution, and management tools. Better handling of small files and increased cloud-native support is needed. Users seek better collaboration between systems, especially with cloud environments like AWS and Google Cloud.
  • "Backward compatibility is something Dell PowerScale (Isilon) could work on."
  • "I have experienced a RAM failure in some of the nodes of Dell PowerScale (Isilon), and that required hardware replacement."
  • "The deployment of Dell PowerScale (Isilon) is not really complex but depends on the hardware deployment."

ROI

Dell PowerScale (Isilon) enhances high-performance storage, supports cost efficiency, and enables data management improvements. Users experience a boost in performance, increased storage capacity, energy efficiency, and reduced labor costs. Its scalability and uptime exceed user expectations. Many organizations highlight better budget management, seamless operations, and significant time savings while maintaining data integrity. The platform drives faster workflows and supports a higher customer base without additional staffing, leading to substantial efficiency gains over alternatives.

Pricing

Dell PowerScale (Isilon) is perceived as an expensive but competitive solution, with pricing justified by its features and performance. The licensing model allows flexibility by unlocking software features as needed. Despite the high initial costs, including additional expenses for certain features and components, many enterprises find value in the platform's total cost of ownership, performance, and ease of management. Pricing varies based on capacity and customer requirements, making negotiation vital.
  • "The pricing is excellent."
  • "It's a high-cost offering amounting to three or four million Swedish kronor, or about $400,000 or euros, for approximately 480 terabytes of storage."
  • "Dell PowerScale is expensive on the start-up side but we can recoup those costs quickly by not having to reapply the savings to other equipment."

Popular Use Cases

Dell PowerScale (Isilon) is primarily used for unstructured data storage across various industries. Organizations leverage its capabilities for centralizing file storage for High-Performance Computing environments, supporting large files for media, scientific research, and forensic analysis. It facilitates data management in sectors like oil and gas, healthcare, and manufacturing. Dell PowerScale also handles data replication, scalability, and data security. Users adopt it for storing and accessing diverse file types across platforms.

Service and Support

Dell PowerScale (Isilon) customer service and support are rated highly, praised for their responsiveness, knowledge, and helpfulness. Issues with level one support can occur, necessitating escalation to higher tiers for effective resolutions. While some users report delays or communication challenges, many commend quick issue resolution and strong on-site support. Availability of technical resources online and through direct engagements contributes positively to user experiences, leading to ratings between 8 to 10.

Deployment

Dell PowerScale Isilon's initial setup varies in complexity, depending on familiarity and infrastructure requirements. Some users find it straightforward, often aided by professional support, while others note complexity or necessary preparatory work, especially with networking. The deployment speed ranges from a few hours to a few days. Notably, setup efficiency improves with experience. Maintenance is generally minimal, though some users report requiring expertise for ongoing tasks. With Dell's involvement, satisfaction with installation support is high.

Scalability

Dell PowerScale (Isilon) offers robust scalability, allowing organizations to expand easily by adding nodes without manual effort. Users appreciate its seamless integration and adaptability for large workloads. The platform supports capacity growth from terabytes to petabytes, enabling flexible storage management. Organizations find it straightforward to manage, even with thousands of concurrent connections. Despite its complexity, Dell PowerScale (Isilon) remains a top choice for businesses seeking extensive scalability and efficient data handling solutions.

Stability

Dell PowerScale (Isilon) exhibits exceptional stability, as described by users. They consistently note minimal downtime, robustness, and high availability. PowerScale is praised for running without crashes or performance issues. Users appreciate its ease of management and scalability. Even rare stability challenges are resolved quickly, often attributing issues to external factors, not PowerScale itself. Many users rate its stability highly, often nine or ten out of ten, citing years of reliable performance.
These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.
Download our Dell PowerScale (Isilon) Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business18
Midsize Enterprise18
Large Enterprise39
By reviewers
By visitors reading reviews
Company SizeCount
Small Business488
Midsize Enterprise256
Large Enterprise1158
By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews
Manufacturing Company
11%
Computer Software Company
10%
Financial Services Firm
9%
Government
8%
Healthcare Company
8%
University
7%
Comms Service Provider
5%
Educational Organization
4%
Insurance Company
3%
Retailer
3%
Energy/Utilities Company
3%
Outsourcing Company
3%
Media Company
2%
Non Profit
2%
Construction Company
2%
Performing Arts
2%
Legal Firm
2%
Real Estate/Law Firm
2%
Marketing Services Firm
2%
Aerospace/Defense Firm
2%
Pharma/Biotech Company
1%
Hospitality Company
1%
Recreational Facilities/Services Company
1%
Transportation Company
1%
Wholesaler/Distributor
1%
Consumer Goods Company
1%
Recruiting/Hr Firm
1%

Compare Dell PowerScale (Isilon) with alternative products

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Learn more about Dell PowerScale (Isilon)

Dell PowerScale Isilon provides a comprehensive platform for unstructured data, excelling in scalability, management, and performance. With features like single-pane management, SyncIQ, and SmartQuotas, it handles large datasets with flexibility and robust security. Its multi-protocol support and seamless expansion improve operational efficiency. While it offers strong data protection, enhancements in cloud integration, cybersecurity, and performance are sought. Users note potential for cost reductions and streamlined configurations and mention desired improvements in object storage handling and NFS support.

What are the key features of Dell PowerScale Isilon?
  • Single-pane management: Simplifies data control and monitoring through a unified interface.
  • SyncIQ: Ensures efficient data replication for business continuity.
  • SmartQuotas: Provides intelligent quota management for optimized storage allocation.
  • Multi-protocol support: Facilitates cross-platform data access and integration.
  • Seamless storage expansion: Allows effortless scaling to accommodate growing data needs.
What benefits should users consider when reviewing Dell PowerScale Isilon?
  • Operational efficiency: Reduces workload with easy management and automation.
  • Enhanced security: Offers comprehensive data protection and recovery options.
  • Scalability: Supports large-scale data storage with flexible growth capabilities.
  • Performance: Delivers high-speed data processing for demanding applications.
  • Integration flexibility: Adapts to on-prem and hybrid cloud environments for diverse deployment needs.

Organizations across industries utilize Dell PowerScale Isilon for large-scale unstructured storage, supporting applications like video archiving, genomic data storage, and high-resolution imaging. Educational institutions, research centers, and media enterprises rely on its scaled-out storage capabilities, providing centralized, secure storage for diverse applications in hybrid, cloud, and on-prem environments.

Dell PowerScale (Isilon) was previously known as PowerScale, Dell EMC Isilon.

Dell PowerScale (Isilon) customers

OMRF, University of Utah, Translational Genetics Research Institute, Arcis, Geofizyka Torumn, Cyprus E&P Corporation, Colburn School, Columbia Sportswear, Harvard Medical School, University of Michigan, National Library of France,

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Product Categories

Product Categories
NAS
File and Object Storage

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Dell PowerScale (Isilon) Reviews Summary
Author infoRatingReview Summary
Systems Engineer at Unisity LLC5.0We use Dell PowerScale (Isilon) for large data storage and retrieval, benefiting from its flexibility and scalability. Despite deployment challenges, our satisfaction with the product remains high, especially as it integrates well with our existing systems.
Solutions Architect at a university with 10,001+ employees4.0I use Dell PowerScale (Isilon) for file sharing and enterprise needs; it scales well, minimizes downtime, and is reliable, though the administrative costs are high. I rate it 9.5 out of 10 for overall performance.
Storage Platform Engineer at Expedia Group5.0I've used Dell PowerScale (Isilon) for seven years as a stable, scalable file server with excellent replication and snapshot features, though it lacks SAN support and could improve backup integration and technical support responsiveness.
Senior Manager, Information Security & Infrastructure at National Football League4.0I've managed Dell PowerScale (Isilon) for 18 years and found it reliable, scalable, and low-maintenance, though its UI could improve. It's cost-effective, supports our file storage needs well, and customer service has always been responsive.
Technical Video Lead, Av at a real estate/law firm with 1,001-5,000 employees5.0I've used Dell PowerScale (Isilon) for years and found it fast, stable, and highly scalable, though complex to set up. Once configured, it requires minimal maintenance, and support is generally solid, with room for easier initial configuration.
Senior System Engineer at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees4.0I implemented Dell PowerScale (Isilon) in 2021 for large-file storage, replacing AIX NFS; it’s scalable, stable, easy to provision, and supports NFS/SMB/S3. SyncIQ helps DR, but large replications are slow and I had a RAM failure.
Pre-Sale Engineer at Arab Operators5.0I worked closely with the customer to deploy Dell PowerScale (Isilon) for surveillance archiving needs, appreciating its scalability, data protection features, and automation, though a built-in chatbot could enhance the user interface experience.
IT Manager at a government with 10,001+ employees5.0I extensively use Dell PowerScale to host forensic data, finding its multi-protocol support and performance invaluable. While planning AI integration, the anticipated OneFS updates will enhance backups. Its ROI is evident, outperforming alternatives like NetApp and HPE.