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HPE MSA vs VNX [EOL] comparison

Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Dell Technologies are both solutions in the Modular SAN (Storage Area Network) category. Additionally, 92% of Hewlett Packard Enterprise users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 87% of Dell Technologies users who would recommend it.
HPE MSA
Read 26 HPE MSA reviews
  • 2,280 Views
  • 2,234 Comparison Views
92% willing to recommend
VNX [EOL]
Read 36 VNX [EOL] reviews
    87% willing to recommend
     

    Comparison Buyer's Guide

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    Executive Summary
    We performed a comparison between HPE MSA and VNX [EOL] based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

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    Modular SAN (Storage Area Network)
    April 2026
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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

    HPE MSA
    Average Rating
    8.2
    Reviews Sentiment
    7.0
    Number of Reviews
    26
    Ranking in other categories
    Modular SAN (Storage Area Network) (3rd)
    VNX [EOL]
    Average Rating
    8.0
    Number of Reviews
    36
    Ranking in other categories
    No ranking in other categories
     

    Featured Reviews

    JP
    Jacques Petit
    Administrative Assistant at EUIPO - European Union Intellectual Property Office
    Ease of management and seamless storage optimization empower effective data handling
    The user web interface is a bit slow, but it is really easy to use, although you still have to wait a bit when you send an operation. We have had some drive failures, but with the redundancy, we had no data loss. We just had to replace the disk, and it goes automatically well. The main difficulty is the firmware upgrade of disks, as it means stopping all the servers to make the upgrade. It would be beneficial to have it done in the background, stopping a disk and upgrading it while keeping the system running. Regarding responsiveness of the web interface, the same issue exists with iLO on the servers, where the interface is also a bit slow. However, with the new servers, it is always faster. The small CPU dedicated to that task does not have a lot of power since it is not the main task of the machine, making it less of a real problem and just a question of responsiveness.
    Read full review
    AZ
    Alireza Zabihi
    Works at AIT
    The Nimble CS-Series has proven to be reliable with 100% uptime
    When we started the process of looking for a SAN vendor I had four primary criteria: reliability, performance, cost, and simplicity. We were really looking for a unicorn and were fully expected to have to make compromises in one of those areas. The Nimble CS-Series was recommended by our solutions provider, and we were blown away. Not only was it the most affordable option, but it was the easiest to deploy, had the best performance, and has proven to be reliable with 100% uptime.
    Read full review

    Quotes from Members

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

    Pros

    "The solution is very easy to use, it is not really complex for any user, such as non-technical individuals."
    "The solution is scalable and easy to manage."
    "The solution is pretty transparent and works well."
    "We've been very happy with the product, and have had good luck with them as far as not having any issues."
    "The cost to performance for HPE StorageWorks MSA is good."
    "The most valuable feature of HPE StorageWorks MSA is its flexibility."
    "I like StorageWorks' snapshots for our backup system. We had a pool of SSD and traditional drives. StorageWorks has a feature that transfers the hot data to high-performing drives."
    "The most valuable feature for customers is the autonomic tiering, which enhances their storage scalability as easily as possible."
    More HPE MSA pros
    "Reliability, excellent support by EMC, and VMware integration High availability including non-disruptive updates: We cannot afford downtime windows."
    "From my point of view, the configuration that I can sell is restricted to the EMC best practices. It is hard to make a mistake in a solution. It means the configuration has good performance and scalability options."
    "Technical support is fast and always fixes the issues."
    "The VNX 5700 provides a large number of features including the ability to work for both file and block as a unified array."
    "It is very stable, even during multiple power failures."
    "It is very stable, even during multiple power failures."
    "It is a great product: scalable, reliable, and robust."
    "VNX 5200 works well with a medium VMware cluster, has good performance, and enables hardware disk replication."
    More VNX [EOL] pros
     

    Cons

    "HPE should reintroduce customizable ports as they were in Gen 5, allowing customers to use both iSCSI or SC on a single controller."
    "There is room for improvement in terms of scalability. There are times when we need to upgrade the device and the firmware. Sometimes, that can be a struggle."
    "HPE should reintroduce customizable ports as they were in Gen 5, allowing customers to use both iSCSI or SC on a single controller."
    "It would be ideal if there was a better management interface."
    "It would be ideal if there was a better management interface."
    "We had a few issues with some of the firmware codes, probably about five years ago."
    "The support contract is expensive, although they are very responsive."
    "P2000 has become legacy and we can't find spare parts for it anymore. The life cycle is very low."
    More HPE MSA cons
    "Storage processor architect for real active/active HA ASIC based functions are needed"
    "There is an easy replication process between distinct data centers via VPLEX and/or RPA. But I hope in the future that EMC/Dell could replicate this with other types of storage."
    "HP EVA and once NetApp, but they both had slow performance and a lack of features so we switched."
    "VNX can improve by offering flexible upgrade options."
    "With this product, the licensing software and capacity are very expensive."
    "We encountered scalability as it is limited by backend slots, and NAS performance is significantly reduced when scaling."
    "EMC VNX needs to support bigger SSDs. Next generation EMC Unity will do this."
    "Yes, we have had issues. The system is limited by the number of enclosures."
    More VNX [EOL] cons
     

    Pricing and Cost Advice

    "The solution’s pricing is reasonable."
    "This solution involves a one-time CapEx payment, followed by warranty extensions."
    "HPE StorageWorks MSA's licensing is perpetual and not integrated."
    "When we bought this solution it was very reasonably priced and they were willing to deal."
    "The solution can be a bit expensive."
    "This solution is quite expensive; they should lower the cost."
    "The price of the solution is a little high and they should provide more competitive pricing. If you want to increases the storage size there are additional fees."
    "I would rate the pricing as nine out of ten, where one is cheap, and ten is expensive."
    "While EMC tends to be on the expensive side, the stability and support of their products are top-notch and I feel are worth the cost."
    "​Reducing dependency on JavaServer Pages​ (JSP) could improve the administrative overhead.​"
    "The initial pricing and licensing are reasonable, the yearly EMC is more expensive"
    "Over time, VNX has become pricier than its competitors, and we have turned enthusiastically to Unity."
    "Make sure you understand how the licensing works and that you are getting the right set of licenses if you need array-to-array replication."
    "The initial pricing and licensing are reasonable. Yearly EMC is more expensive."
    "Pricing is somewhat higher, especially in Zambia, perhaps due to the low sales volume."
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    Top Industries

    By visitors reading reviews
    Manufacturing Company
    13%
    Computer Software Company
    11%
    Comms Service Provider
    9%
    Financial Services Firm
    8%
    Financial Services Firm
    15%
    Marketing Services Firm
    14%
    Manufacturing Company
    10%
    Construction Company
    9%
     

    Company Size

    By reviewers
    Large Enterprise
    Midsize Enterprise
    Small Business
    By reviewers
    Company SizeCount
    Small Business11
    Midsize Enterprise11
    Large Enterprise7
    By reviewers
    Company SizeCount
    Small Business5
    Midsize Enterprise6
    Large Enterprise23
     

    Questions from the Community

    What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for HPE StorageWorks MSA?
    I did not compare the cost of HPE MSA with others because we buy with a framework contract, and HP is the only brand available on that contract, so we have no comparison.
    See all answers
    What needs improvement with HPE StorageWorks MSA?
    The user web interface is a bit slow, but it is really easy to use, although you still have to wait a bit when you send an operation. We have had some drive failures, but with the redundancy, we ha...
    See all answers
    What is your primary use case for HPE StorageWorks MSA?
    We use HPE MSA as storage for the VMware servers, and we will try to use Proxmox server later on, but currently, we use VMware.
    See all answers
    Ask a question
    Earn 20 points
     

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    Compared 35% of the time
    Dell Unity XT vs VNX [EOL] Logo
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    Compared 23% of the time
    More VNX [EOL] Competitors
     

    Product Reports

    Buyer's Guide
    HPE MSA
    May 2026
    HPE MSA reportDownload HPE MSA product report
    Buyer's Guide
    VNX [EOL]
    April 2026
    VNX [EOL] reportDownload VNX [EOL] product report
     

    Also Known As

    HP StorageWorks MSA
    VNX
     

    Overview

    HPE MSA is a reliable storage solution offering dual controllers and easy management, ideal for SMBs. Known for stability, scalability, and affordability, it is user-friendly with features like autonomic tiering and robust disaster recovery, serving virtualization environments and data centers.

    With dual controllers and simplified setup, HPE MSA is tailored for ease of management and high reliability. Its design supports scalability and cost-effective operation, catering well to SMBs. Autonomic tiering, snapshots, and data deduplication enhance its performance, while strong integration and flexibility solidify its role in robust operations. Despite benefits, users note expensive support contracts and desires for improved features like synchronized replication and cloud connectivity. Improvements in data security and integration, along with better firmware updates and monitoring tools, are suggested. Its functionality spans NAS, SAN storage, managing VMware clusters, and hosting varied workloads, fitting well into infrastructures like hotels and hospitals.

    What are the key features of HPE MSA?
    • Dual Controllers: Facilitates high availability by allowing seamless failover.
    • Simple Management: User-friendly interface for easy configuration and monitoring.
    • Autonomic Tiering: Automatically optimizes data placement for performance.
    • Snapshots and Data Deduplication: Enhance data protection and storage efficiency.
    • Transparent Operations: Ensures minimal disruption during operations.
    • Flexible Integration: Offers adaptability with power and network options.
    • Disaster Recovery: Reliable with global spare support.
    What should users expect in terms of benefits and ROI?
    • Cost-Effectiveness: Affordable for SMBs, providing excellent ROI.
    • Scalability: Flexibility to grow with organizational needs.
    • Performance Stability: Consistent performance, even during power outages.
    • Easy Configuration: Simplifies setup and management to save time and resources.

    HPE MSA finds applications in virtualization, data centers, and CCTV systems. Organizations leverage it for NAS and SAN storage, making it suitable for VMware clusters and workloads like file servers and databases. Its scalability makes it adaptable for hotels, hospitals, and government projects, integrating with server services for centralized management.

    Hewlett Packard Enterprise

    With EMC VNX you'll have the right blend of flash, capacity, and application-aware software. Scale up storage for midrange workloads, optimized for virtual applications and cloud environments.

    Dell Technologies
     

    Sample Customers

    Femsa CSC, TTX, Rabobank
    Samsonite, Comanche County Memorial Hospital, Kindred Healthcare
    Buyer's Guide
    Modular SAN (Storage Area Network)
    April 2026
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