Dell VMAX All Flash Reviews

We use the solution for SAP ERP applications. We utilize both VMAX and PowerMax for different aspects of our operations.

The most valuable features of VMAX are its performance and GUI interface. We have seen significant improvements in technology over the last four to five years. The snap feature, along with deduplication, has notably enhanced our data processing speeds. We haven't experienced any outages or core-level issues in the last ten years, making us comfortable with the storage solution.

The scalability of VMAX is somewhat limited, especially in terms of cache scalability. We've had to procure additional engines to address this limitation. The configuration is also complex and requires around four to five resources for maintenance.

I have been working with the PowerMax solution for close to around ten years, including VMAX.

We have not experienced any outages or issues at the core levels in the last ten years. Our experience with the stability of the product has been positive.

The scalability is a bit limited compared to PowerMax, particularly in cache scalability. To overcome this challenge, we procured additional engines.

The tech support for EMC, especially their PowerMax products, is good. I would rate the technical support at around eight out of ten.

Positive

We evaluated NetApp but decided to go with EMC due to pricing. NetApp's pricing was a little higher, which influenced our decision.

The initial setup is quite straightforward, however, it is usually performed by our partners. It takes approximately six to seven hours on average.

Our partners perform the initial setup process.

The pricing provided by EMC is reasonable.

Before choosing EMC, we evaluated NetApp as an alternative solution.

I would recommend VMAX to customers who require high performance. Technologies have improved even in mid-range storage solutions like PowerStore. Customers should evaluate PowerStore first before considering PowerMax if it doesn't fit their requirements. 

Overall, I would rate VMAX as a seven out of ten.

It is for storage and some backup solutions, like Data Domain. We have many applications that need high performance, and it was the first all-flash array we used.

We started using it for jobs that required the best performance. Some applications needed more throughput, so it wasn't the best for everything.

The product is very good because we can stay with our strategies for IPs, and we have excellent support.

There is room for improvement in the centralized administration. There could  be better centralizing the administration process.

We have many vendors, and we need a solution that provides agility and structure across all our vendors.

I have been using Dell VMAX for three years. 

We don't have any issues. It works very well. We have low maintenance; it's pretty stable.

It's very good. They do proactive monitoring, and if something goes wrong, they come and solve the issue without us needing to contact them.

It takes around two hours to four hours to fix the issue. 

Positive

We have many vendors, and Dell is one vendor for storage. We have other vendors for other things.

Dell team helped us. It's not complex.

Normally, the first deployment is done by the provider; in this case, it is Dell. 

Overall, I would rate it a nine out of ten. If you want storage with robust performance and great performance, you need to use storage with fast network access.

I use the solution in my company for multi-site replication and DR.

The most valuable features of the solution are multi-site replication and availability. The data gets saved in each and every case, including when the power supply is off, meaning our company doesn't lose any data. If there are some issues with the hardware that occur due to multiple dependencies, the tool offers redundancy at each and every level.

The configuration part of the product is an area with certain shortcomings where improvements are required.

If the product is up and running after, if it goes down, my company has observed that there are multiple failures that occur in the tool, so it needs to be reinstalled from scratch. The tool should have an automated feature or an automated option to handle the aforementioned scenario, which one can simply go and reset, after which the tool should be reinstalled with the same configuration.

I have been using Dell VMAX All Flash for seven or eight years. My company has a partnership with Dell.

Stability-wise, I rate the solution a seven to eight out of ten.

Scalability-wise, I rate the solution an eight out of ten.

At multiple sites, there are around 5,000 to 7,000 users of the solution.

The product's initial setup phase was good.

It is not a cheap product. As the tool is expensive, I am looking at the market for some products with better prices and features that can be compared with Dell VMAX All Flash.

Against Dell VMAX All Flash, I have been considering another product called Pure Storage.

I rate the overall tool an eight out of ten.

It serves as a critical component within hyper-converged solutions, notably in VxRail deployments. Its integration is essential for Dell, providing robust functionality with VxRail. It plays a mandatory role in the Data Domain for backup purposes, ensuring comprehensive data protection within the Dell EMC ecosystem.

Compression remains a highly valuable feature. The ransomware protection feature is housed in a separate unit, specifically addressing the top twenty most critical threats. This ensures a robust defense before the backup process, providing an additional layer of security.

There is room for improvement in the backup vendor's storage strategy. Currently, the backup storage needs to be prepared or in place in DME before the backup window opens for the best backup tour and recovery. Improvements are needed in both partition recovery and scalability.

I have been working with it for approximately six years.

Stability is generally maintained when there are no upgrades; most customers opt for upgrades during the initial implementation. If the system is functioning well, there is a tendency to avoid unnecessary upgrades, especially firmware upgrades. However, it's important to note that any migration, whether related to firmware or other aspects, introduces an element of risk and has the potential to impact stability.

Scalability is being addressed through a periodic refresh cycle. The plan is to replace the existing hardware with a new one every five years.

The initial setup was straightforward.

ROI isn't immediate; its impact becomes apparent to the customer over an extended period.

The price falls within the mid-range, neither inexpensive nor high-priced.

Overall, I would rate it seven out of ten.

Our primary use case for the solution is within our banking operations, where it supports critical IT operations and applications in our data center environment.

The flexibility and ease of migration offered by the product have significantly improved our organization's operational efficiency, particularly in managing our storage needs for banking solutions.

The snapshot feature has been precious for our testing processes, application development, and managing testing environments due to its efficiency and ease of use.

While I don't have any suggestions for improvement in the product, in the past, we encountered some challenges during large data migrations that could be addressed for smoother transitions.

I've been using Dell VMAX All Flash for approximately two to three years.

The platform is stable and reliable in terms of performance.

VMAX has demonstrated scalability to meet our evolving business requirements. 

Before using VMAX, I had experience with Hitachi, IBM, and other vendors. While EMC offers efficient local technical support, it could improve its global support services.

Given my professional experience in this area, the initial setup process was straightforward. We deployed the solution through a team of four individuals, and overall, we found it easy to maintain with comprehensive contracts. However, we did encounter some challenges during large migrations.

I rate the product an eight out of ten.