Hitachi VSP E Series vs IBM FlashSystem 9100 NVMe comparison

Hitachi Vantara and IBM are both solutions in the NVMe All-Flash Storage Arrays category. Hitachi Vantara is ranked #14 with an average rating of 6.8, while IBM is ranked #8 with an average rating of 8.6. Hitachi Vantara holds a 2.2% mindshare in N, compared to IBM’s 1.4% mindshare. Additionally, 80% of Hitachi Vantara users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 95% of IBM users who would recommend it.

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 5, 2024

IBM FlashSystem 9100 NVMe and Hitachi VSP E Series are competitive within the storage solutions category. IBM FlashSystem 9100 NVMe is seen as superior due to its advanced features and potential for higher ROI.

Features: IBM FlashSystem 9100 NVMe is distinguished by its high-performance NVMe interface, AI-enhanced storage optimization, and flexible scalability options. Hitachi VSP E Series is known for its strong data encryption, comprehensive data protection, and robust storage virtualization capabilities.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Hitachi VSP E Series offers simplified deployment with strong integration capabilities and comprehensive customer service. IBM FlashSystem 9100 NVMe provides more complex integration options requiring technical expertise but benefits from IBM’s extensive customer support.

Pricing and ROI: IBM FlashSystem 9100 NVMe generally requires a higher initial setup cost with the promise of greater long-term ROI. Hitachi VSP E Series offers a more cost-effective initial investment with dependable ROI from efficient storage management and lower total cost of ownership.

To learn more, read our detailed Hitachi VSP E Series vs. IBM FlashSystem 9100 NVMe Report (Updated: June 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Hitachi VSP E Series vs. IBM FlashSystem 9100 NVMe

June 2025

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Pure FlashArray X NVMe

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2025, in the NVMe All-Flash Storage Arrays category, the mindshare of Pure FlashArray X NVMe is 2.8%, down from 2.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Hitachi VSP E Series is 2.2%, up from 1.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of IBM FlashSystem 9100 NVMe is 1.4%, down from 2.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

NVMe All-Flash Storage Arrays

Featured Reviews

Eugene Hemphill

Sales Manager at Multicomputos PR

Helps to save money and resources with the data compression feature

One point I'd like to improve is that the tool should start selling small boxes again. It discontinued some products and is focusing on bigger, more capable boxes, neglecting the SMB market. Even though it's not a big market, it shouldn't have removed them. One way to improve the product is to add an operational assistant that doesn't depend on VMware. It could also establish more alliances with other operational systems.

Read full review

Mir Gulzar Ahmed

IT Manager at Synergy Computers

Achieves high performance and availability with a reliable and flexible storage solution

The most valuable features of Hitachi VSP series include its high performance and availability. These are key selling points for any Hitachi product. No other storage system provides a hundred percent availability, but Hitachi offers this twenty-four by seven without needing downtime. These products are highly scalable with flexible memory and controller updates.

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MohammedIsmail

Datacenter Manager at Tracker Connect

Enhanced storage performance and an easy setup with compression challenges

We use IBM FlashSystem 9100 NVMe as a storage device in the IT industry The features I find most valuable include its use for storage and performance. The solution's compression needs to be improved, as it's not the best. Furthermore, support from the partner could also be improved as it's been…

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"The tool's valuable features are speed, security, data compression, and reliability. Its data compression feature is the best that we have ever seen. It helps us to save money and resources."

"It has good, reliable, fast storage."

"The most valuable feature of this solution is reliability."

"I appreciate the performance."

"We're able to get higher-density workloads on the same infrastructure, and we have a smaller physical footprint. The performance is excellent – during our test the bottlenecks are never on the X array, it just keeps picking up the pace to match what you need. The real-time visibility is a differentiator in my opinion."

"Pure FlashArray X NVMe will quickly overcome all the hurdles you face, including network and latency issues."

"The database workloads are pretty fast because I frequently move data from here to there."

"It is very easy to install and configure. It has got excellent diagnostics. If you really need to see how the box is performing, the console gives you a lot of information. You can set thresholds as well as alerts based on the thresholds, which is a very powerful functionality. They are very proactive. They know how to monitor and manage the systems. They see a problem, and they are all over it before us. They see the problem before we see it, which is very good."

More Pure FlashArray X NVMe pros

"It offers good file sharing."

"I rate Hitachi VSP series nine out of ten for a transactional workload requiring no compromise on availability and performance."

"The product is generally quite stable."

"The most valuable features of Hitachi VSP series include its high performance and availability."

"Its user-friendly configuration and maintenance processes contribute to its reputation for being straightforward and easily manageable."

"We are using the Hitachi VSP E Series for high IOPS."

"The features I find most valuable include its use for storage and performance."

"IBM FlashSystem 9100 NVMe is easy to use and comes with good performance."

"The storage serves the virtual environment. Most of our applications run in the virtual environment, and it serves nearly 30% of the bank's capacity."

"IBM FlashSystem provides the same software on each box, including virtualized solutions."

"It's easy to use, has good stability, and many features."

"IBM FlashSystem 9100 NVMe is one of the leading storage systems in the world...I rate the solution's stability a ten out of ten."

"The most valuable feature of the solution is its upgrades, as we don't have to do much homework because of its different controllers."

"Good performance with a user-friendly UI."

More IBM FlashSystem 9100 NVMe pros

Cons

"Efficiency improvements would always be welcome, but I'm not sure if they could get more efficient."

"It is on the expensive side."

"It's more multi-tenant functionality in their Pure1 manage portal that is lacking."

"They could add more support for file storage and different types of storage."

"Every time I think of something that needs to improve, they're one step ahead, which I love. The only area I wish to see improve, I believe is coming, is in the FlashBlade product. Blade implementation fell short on a few of the services."

"The UI for this solution needs to be improved."

"Many options to check performance, like read, writes, random writes, and random reads, are missing in Pure FlashArray X NVMe."

"The software layer has to improve."

More Pure FlashArray X NVMe cons

"Hitachi should work on unified storage platforms."

"There is room for improvement in simplifying the overall complexity of the environment."

"The solution's support duration or end-of-support life is very short."

"The graphical user interface is somewhat outdated, lacking some of the modern features found in other solutions."

"Hitachi is quite expensive, and small to medium-sized organizations usually do not purchase it."

"Hitachi should work on unified storage platforms."

"The support could be better."

"Other vendors have included a block and file system. IBM doesn't include a file system. And yet, it's very necessary for all organizations' networks to have file systems. We have other systems for the file system, however, ideally, we would like to have one system with these features."

"I would like to see IBM products become more affordable because they can be quite expensive, which limits their accessibility to a broader customer base."

"The solution's compression needs to be improved, as it's not the best."

"The pricing should be more competitive."

"IBM FlashSystem 9100 NVMe is currently at the end of its lifespan and will soon become obsolete in the markets."

"The tool's architecture is complex. It also needs to add data utilization reports."

"Deduplication and compression should be improved."

More IBM FlashSystem 9100 NVMe cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"With VMware, we pay $300,000 annually."

"Its price could be better. It is not too expensive, but it is the high-end cost. It is kind of a Rolls-Royce. You pay a lot, but you get a lot out of it. So, the price pressure on the way down would be great, but at the end of the day, if you need to do the work, you just pay for it."

"The licensing is on a yearly basis."

"The product is expensive."

"With Pure Storage, we would like to continue seeing price reductions with flash storage. I don't think we're any different than anybody else when we continue to look to the industry for price reductions of both NVMe and traditional SSD storage. We would like to see these prices continue to decline and erode, even displacing large spinning disks."

"We pay approximately $50,000 USD per year in licensing fees."

"They can tout the functionality and cutting edge technology that they have, but that's where the price tag comes in. The cost is high, but I think as they grow their business and get more customers that it will probably go down a little bit."

"As far as the licensing costs, everything is included in the license."

More Pure FlashArray X NVMe pricing and cost advice

"The pricing is fair, with additional costs for support services."

"Hitachi VSP E Series is an expensive solution."

"Compared to its competitors, IBM's offering is the most cost-effective."

"The price of the FlashSystem 9100 NVMe is reasonable."

"The price of IBM FlashSystem 9100 NVMele can be considered affordable when taking into account the operating system that is required for it to function properly. This operating system, which is licensed by IBM, may carry a higher cost, but it is worth the investment for larger corporate entities, such as insurance companies, Fortune Five companies, and banks, who make up a significant portion of their target market. The FlashSystems are designed for larger corporations and multinational enterprises, and may not be the most cost-effective solution for smaller businesses."

"The product has an average cost."

"The solution is priced well."

"Compared to other solutions, the cost of IBM FlashSystem 9100 NVMe is reasonable, with a one-time payment of around $70,000. However, additional support is available for $25,000 for three years. The overall maintenance cost is steep."

"On a scale of one to ten, where one is a low price and ten is a high price, I rate the pricing an eight."

"Price-wise, the solution offers excellent pricing to its users. In short, the prices offered by the solution are competitive compared to similar solutions."

More IBM FlashSystem 9100 NVMe pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

15%

Financial Services Firm

11%

Manufacturing Company

11%

Government

No data available

Computer Software Company

19%

Manufacturing Company

12%

Financial Services Firm

10%

Healthcare Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Pure FlashArray X NVMe?

Pure FlashArray X NVMe helps to improve our processing speed. It is user-friendly and easy to use.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Pure FlashArray X NVMe?

I am an engineer and am not aware of the setup cost.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Pure FlashArray X NVMe?

Adding some functions to the product would be beneficial. Storage replication should be essential, and the analytics ...

See all answers

What do you like most about Hitachi VSP E Series?

Its user-friendly configuration and maintenance processes contribute to its reputation for being straightforward and ...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Hitachi VSP E Series?

The solution is expensive, which can be considered a con.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Hitachi VSP E Series?

Everything has room for improvement. Hitachi is quite expensive, and small to medium-sized organizations usually do n...

See all answers

What do you like most about IBM FlashSystem 9100 NVMe?

The storage serves the virtual environment. Most of our applications run in the virtual environment, and it serves ne...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for IBM FlashSystem 9100 NVMe?

The tool is expensive, though I do not know the specific licensing costs.

See all answers

What needs improvement with IBM FlashSystem 9100 NVMe?

The solution's compression needs to be improved, as it's not the best. Furthermore, support from the partner could al...

See all answers

Comparisons

Dell PowerStore vs Pure FlashArray X NVMe

Compared 29% of the time

TrueNAS R-Series vs Pure FlashArray X NVMe

Compared 18% of the time

Pure Storage FlashBlade vs Pure FlashArray X NVMe

Compared 14% of the time

IBM FlashSystem vs Pure FlashArray X NVMe

Compared 11% of the time

HPE Alletra Storage vs Pure FlashArray X NVMe

Compared 9% of the time

More Pure FlashArray X NVMe Competitors

Dell PowerStore vs Hitachi VSP E Series

Compared 41% of the time

Hitachi Virtual Storage Platform vs Hitachi VSP E Series

Compared 36% of the time

NetApp ASA vs Hitachi VSP E Series

Compared 13% of the time

Hitachi VSP 5000 Series vs Hitachi VSP E Series

Compared 11% of the time

More Hitachi VSP E Series Competitors

Hitachi Virtual Storage Platform vs IBM FlashSystem 9100 NVMe

Compared 36% of the time

Dell PowerStore vs IBM FlashSystem 9100 NVMe

Compared 26% of the time

Dell PowerMax vs IBM FlashSystem 9100 NVMe

Compared 23% of the time

Pure Storage FlashArray vs IBM FlashSystem 9100 NVMe

Compared 14% of the time

More IBM FlashSystem 9100 NVMe Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Pure FlashArray X NVMe

May 2025

Download Pure FlashArray X NVMe product report

Buyer's Guide

NVMe All-Flash Storage Arrays

May 2025

Download Hitachi VSP E Series product report

Buyer's Guide

IBM FlashSystem 9100 NVMe

June 2025

Download IBM FlashSystem 9100 NVMe product report

Also Known As

Pure FlashArray//X NVMe, Pure FlashArray//X, FlashArray//X

No data available

IBM FlashSystem 9100, FlashSystem 9100

Overview

Pure Storage FlashArray//X is the world’s first enterprise-class, all-NVMe flash storage array. It represents a new class of storage – shared accelerated storage, which is a term coined by Gartner – that delivers major breakthroughs in performance, simplicity, and consolidation.

Pure Storage

Hitachi VSP E Series offers an advanced storage solution designed for enterprises seeking scalability and performance. It is suitable for a range of applications, providing reliability and efficiency to meet demanding IT environments.

Hitachi VSP E Series is designed to enhance storage capabilities with robust features catering to needs such as data management, storage optimization, and system versatility. This series integrates seamlessly within IT infrastructures, offering improved data protection and resource management. Its enhanced storage architecture ensures data integrity while supporting high data loads efficiently, making it a go-to choice for enterprises requiring high-performance storage systems.

What are the most valuable features of Hitachi VSP E Series?

Scalability: Enables seamless expansion as data requirements grow, ensuring continued performance without disruption.
Reliability: Provides consistent uptime and data protection, minimizing risks associated with data loss.
High Performance: Delivers fast data processing speeds to support demanding applications.
Data Management: Offers advanced data management tools for streamlined operations and efficiency.
Energy Efficiency: Designed to reduce power consumption while maintaining optimal performance.

What benefits and ROI should be considered?

Cost-Effectiveness: Benefits from lower operational costs due to efficient data handling and energy use.
Operational Efficiency: Enhances work productivity by optimizing data processes, leading to better resource allocation.
Flexibility: Supports various deployment scenarios, allowing adaptation to different business needs.
Data Security: Enhances data protection mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access and data breaches.

Hitachi VSP E Series is widely implemented in industries such as finance, healthcare, and manufacturing, where data integrity and speed are crucial. Its ability to integrate with existing IT frameworks makes it a valuable addition to businesses aiming to streamline data processes while maintaining high standards of data protection and system reliability.

Hitachi Vantara

IBM FlashSystem 9100 combines the performance of flash and Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) end-to-end with the reliability and innovation of IBM FlashCore technology and the rich features of IBM Spectrum Virtualize - all in a powerful 2U enterprise-class storage system. Providing intensive data driven multicloud storage capacity, FlashSystem 9100 is deeply integrated with the software defined capabilities of IBM Spectrum Storage allowing you to easily add in the multicloud solutions that best support your business.

IBM

Sample Customers

Fremont Bank, Judson ISD, The Nielsen Company

Information Not Available

Buyer's Guide

Hitachi VSP E Series vs. IBM FlashSystem 9100 NVMe

June 2025

Free Report: Hitachi VSP E Series vs. IBM FlashSystem 9100 NVMe

Find out what your peers are saying about Hitachi VSP E Series vs. IBM FlashSystem 9100 NVMe and other solutions. Updated: June 2025.

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