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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 computer software company, accounting for 12% of all views.
Buyer's Guide
Dell PowerScale (Isilon)
December 2025
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Dell PowerScale (Isilon) mindshare

Product category:
NAS
As of December 2025, the mindshare of Dell PowerScale (Isilon) in the NAS category stands at 15.7%, down from 17.4% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
NAS Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
Dell PowerScale (Isilon)15.7%
Dell PowerStore10.2%
NetApp FAS Series10.2%
Other63.900000000000006%
NAS

PeerResearch reports based on Dell PowerScale (Isilon) reviews

TypeTitleDate
CategoryNASDec 29, 2025Download
ProductReviews, tips, and advice from real usersDec 29, 2025Download
ComparisonDell PowerScale (Isilon) vs Dell PowerStoreDec 29, 2025Download
ComparisonDell PowerScale (Isilon) vs NetApp FAS SeriesDec 29, 2025Download
ComparisonDell PowerScale (Isilon) vs CTERA Enterprise File Services PlatformDec 29, 2025Download
Suggested products
TitleRatingMindshareRecommending
Dell PowerStore4.410.2%96%153 interviewsAdd to research
Red Hat Ceph Storage4.1N/A82%27 interviewsAdd to research
 
 
Key learnings from peers
Last updated Dec 28, 2025

Valuable Features

Dell PowerScale (Isilon) offers ease of management, scalability, and flexibility. Its user-friendly interface and single pane of glass enhance data management. SmartQuotas, CloudIQ, and policy-based tiering provide efficient storage utilization. PowerScale supports diverse protocols like NFS, SMB, and S3 for seamless integration. Additional features include high availability, data protection, and strong cybersecurity. Its scalable architecture ensures optimal performance and seamless upgrades while helping organizations consolidate multiple storage solutions into one platform.
  • "What I appreciate about Dell PowerScale (Isilon) are its best features: it supports both file and object storage, and it is very easy to manage."
  • "Dell PowerScale (Isilon) is brilliant for scalability and really, really good in that regard."
  • "The features of Dell PowerScale (Isilon) that I appreciate the most include the scale of architecture and the way it is designed, which benefit my company by providing less downtime and less overhead."

Room for Improvement

Dell PowerScale (Isilon) could benefit from better pricing and cloud integration, as well as improved redundancy and file handling. Users want simpler configuration and updates, enhanced security features, faster technical support, and additional metadata reporting. The UI could be more user-friendly, and existing protocols like HTTP require better security measures. There's a demand for increased object storage capabilities, streamlined management tools, enhanced AI features, and expanded deployment options for smaller environments.
  • "I have escalated questions to the technical support team of Dell, and I find the support center to be very poor compared to what it was during EMC's time."
  • "The product itself is capable of very much, but the initial deployment experience can be lacking possibly because it does not incorporate any design phase."
  • "I think Dell PowerScale (Isilon) can be improved, as the cost models are quite expensive for administration."

ROI

Users report significant ROI with Dell PowerScale (Isilon) due to its scalability and cost-effectiveness. Centralized management and simplified operations reduce admin needs, allowing teams to focus on strategic tasks. Performance and reliability improve, supporting research and media workflows efficiently. Onsite storage benefits from reduced total cost and energy consumption. Data integrity is maintained, and long hardware life ensures sustained usage. Enhanced usability and reduced power consumption are key advantages contributing to ROI.

Pricing

Dell PowerScale (Isilon) is perceived as expensive but fair, with pricing influenced by configuration and scale. Initial costs are significant, though manageable through negotiation or promotional offers. Licensing is flexible, allowing selection of necessary features, with options like deduplication adding value. While overall costs can be high, users find value in its performance and scalability compared to competitors like NetApp or Qumulo. Additional charges may apply for services and specific features.
  • "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) serves varied data management needs across numerous sectors, including healthcare, media, and research. Organizations utilize it mainly for unstructured data storage, archiving, and high-performance computing. It efficiently manages large data volumes like videos, genomic data, and surveillance footage, while also enabling data accessibility and security. It supports cross-platform data sharing, scalability, and reliable backups, making it essential for extensive file systems and growing data storage needs.

Service and Support

Dell PowerScale (Isilon) support is generally rated as responsive, knowledgeable, and helpful, with positive interactions noted. Some users find the initial support level lacking, requiring escalation to resolve issues effectively. There are mixed experiences with support quality depending on the agent, with some noting delays and challenges during support interactions. On-site and advanced support are seen as highly effective, while the initial engagement can be less reliable. Language barriers and regional support inconsistencies are occasionally mentioned.

Deployment

Many users found Dell PowerScale (Isilon)'s initial setup easy, while some noted complexity if unfamiliar with the system. Experienced users reported straightforward installations, often completed within a few days. Assistance from Dell EMC was beneficial for smoother execution. Proper preparation, particularly for networking, was advised. Deployment times varied from a few hours to weeks, influenced by environment size and prior experience. Maintenance generally required minimal effort, with some needing multiple staff for larger setups.

Scalability

Dell PowerScale (Isilon) is recognized for its impressive expandability and flexibility, accommodating significant storage needs effectively. Users appreciate its seamless integration of new nodes without downtime and the system's ability to manage high workloads across various configurations. The platform supports extensive scaling capabilities, making it suitable for large enterprises and complex data environments. This flexibility allows organizations to manage growing demands, enhancing operational efficiency without impacting system performance.

Stability

Dell PowerScale (Isilon) is praised for exceptional stability, often achieving five nines uptime. Many users report it has been reliable with minimal disruptions or downtime. They mention rare stability challenges, typically involving external factors or support issues, not the technology itself. Solutions endure hardware issues gracefully, maintaining performance. Additional commendations highlight its resilience during unusual circumstances, with consistent high ratings for stability over years of usage, often rated nine or ten out of ten.
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 Business16
Midsize Enterprise16
Large Enterprise34
By reviewers
By visitors reading reviews
Company SizeCount
Small Business505
Midsize Enterprise292
Large Enterprise1265
By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
12%
Manufacturing Company
11%
Financial Services Firm
9%
Government
8%
Healthcare Company
7%
University
6%
Educational Organization
5%
Comms Service Provider
4%
Retailer
3%
Insurance Company
3%
Energy/Utilities Company
3%
Construction Company
2%
Media Company
2%
Non Profit
2%
Performing Arts
2%
Outsourcing Company
2%
Hospitality Company
2%
Legal Firm
2%
Aerospace/Defense Firm
2%
Real Estate/Law Firm
2%
Pharma/Biotech Company
1%
Transportation Company
1%
Recreational Facilities/Services Company
1%
Wholesaler/Distributor
1%
Recruiting/Hr Firm
1%
Consumer Goods Company
1%
Marketing Services 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.
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.
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.
Storage & Data Protection Specialist at General Dynamics Land Systems4.5We use Dell PowerScale (Isilon) for SMB and NFS storage, appreciating its UI and scripting capabilities for automation. While behind on AI integration plans, it's faster and more user-friendly than previous solutions, providing a good ROI.
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.
Senior Consultant at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees4.5We use Dell PowerScale (Isilon) mainly for archiving and log management. It's easy to manage, and we are satisfied due to good ROI and minimal issues. However, I'd like more on-premises services and analytics for data insights.
Senior Infrastructure Specialist at a healthcare company with 10,001+ employees4.0Our healthcare storage utilizes Dell PowerScale (Isilon) for storing radiology images since 2018. I find SyncIQ's data resilience particularly valuable. We've expanded as drive sizes increased, consolidating from our previous Windows SMB solution to optimize storage efficiently.