Panzura CloudFS and IBM FlashSystem compete in the cloud storage and data management category. Panzura's collaboration and synchronization tools give it an advantage over IBM's performance strengths.
Features: Panzura CloudFS offers advanced collaboration, synchronization, and data compression features, making it ideal for global file access and disaster recovery. IBM FlashSystem is recognized for its high performance, low latency, and high IOPS, with robust hardware and software-defined capabilities like virtualization and compression.
Room for Improvement: Panzura CloudFS needs enhancement in its Edge feature and international user performance, particularly in remote access. Issues with some file types and high storage costs are notable. IBM FlashSystem requires improvements in replication, scalability, and deduplication. Complex initial configurations and occasional support delays are areas needing attention.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Panzura CloudFS is praised for easy deployment in public and hybrid clouds, with excellent support and integration capabilities. IBM FlashSystem, primarily on-premises, offers flexible deployment but receives mixed feedback on customer support.
Pricing and ROI: Panzura CloudFS is seen as costly but provides significant productivity gains and network resilience, offering a clear ROI. IBM FlashSystem has competitive pricing but requires meticulous licensing and setup to achieve optimal benefits, impacting ROI clarity.
The solution can comfortably be stretched from five to seven years without any failures, ensuring a long-lasting return.
We have seen return on investment compared to other OEMs, which took approximately three years after implementing IBM FlashSystem.
Previously, we had latency issues with syncing up files between offices. Files were not locked, leading to overwrites which cost us literally hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost time and revenue.
We saw the benefits of Panzura CloudFS immediately because our remote offices were able to share files immediately after the product went live.
Panzura CloudFS saves us a significant amount of time frequently.
Customers of alternatives like Dell and Hitachi enjoy more reliable and comprehensive support services directly from vendors rather than third-party subsidiaries.
I rate the technical support from IBM as a ten.
IBM customer support is responsible, efficient, and responsive, though it is expensive.
The support staff and the number of people they have on staff right now are truly good.
When we have a priority-one issue, we typically receive a call within 20 to 30 minutes.
I would give the support for Panzura CloudFS a ten out of ten because they are responsive and helpful.
For larger enterprises, scalability is an issue as the price becomes prohibitive.
The problem arises when migrating data to a later IBM FlashSystem version due to issues with firmware compatibility.
The scalability of IBM FlashSystem is exceptional, and I rate it as a nine.
Unlimited users can access the system without issues.
From our original entry with Panzura CloudFS, we have added an additional seven sites, and deploying those additional nodes was very seamless and did not take any effort.
The latest version, 8.0.2, has better ease of decommissioning filers and bringing new ones online.
Customers have infrastructure that is 100% stable.
The firmware and software engine have fewer bugs, which enhances operational efficiency.
I would rate it a nine out of ten for stability.
We have never had their system crash on us.
There were times with file lock issues between filers, causing various anomalies, but with their ongoing development, these issues have improved.
Despite marketing promises, these features do not function effectively and can impact performance.
There is room for improvement in the troubleshooting part, specifically related to IBM Spectrum for Insight.
An additional function that could be helpful is reducing the time it takes to delete volumes, especially if they are compressed or deduplicated.
When something goes wrong somewhere, there should be a little bit better alerting with issues before they become a big problem.
The GIS data formats, such as a geo database, have been found better kept outside of Panzura CloudFS.
It would have been nice if they had offered them in increments, of 5, 10, 15, or 20 terabytes than having to get a whole chunk of 25 terabytes again for licensing purposes, which is a little costly.
To install or upgrade any software features, the cost is high, which makes it challenging for smaller companies who do not require advanced features like deduplication or compression typically needed by larger organizations.
The pricing is high; storage solutions are always expensive.
It did require us to purchase new hardware, however, that was not overly expensive.
They should consider more attractive pricing for companies of our size.
Overall, it is quite costly compared to NetApp and similar solutions.
There is a significant amount of data reduction, achieving a ratio of one to three.
The most valuable features are performance and reliability.
There is built-in compression, a data reduction feature, and artificial intelligence-driven insights that calculate warnings and errors to redirect to customers automatically.
It is very reliable and very quick.
It helps us increase network resilience. We have a primary object library stored in the cloud and have Panzura Mirroring which allows us to place data in a secondary cloud for added resiliency.
There is no degradation of speed because these filers have cached the data, and they are constantly swapping metadata and updating with each other, which is a very attractive method of getting us to use these applications.
| Product | Mindshare (%) |
|---|---|
| IBM FlashSystem | 7.2% |
| Panzura CloudFS | 2.9% |
| Other | 89.9% |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 47 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 21 |
| Large Enterprise | 59 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 2 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 7 |
| Large Enterprise | 3 |
IBM FlashSystem products are enterprise computer data storage systems that store data on flash memory chips. Unlike storage systems that use standard solid-state drives, IBM FlashSystem products incorporate custom hardware based on technology from the 2012 acquisition of Texas Memory Systems. This hardware provides performance, reliability, and efficiency benefits versus competitive offerings.
Panzura CloudFS is a cloud file system that enables efficient collaboration and data synchronization across multiple offices with features like file snapshots, data protection, and network resilience.
With Panzura CloudFS, organizations achieve seamless file synchronization and management across distributed networks. Offering a single namespace and capabilities like compression, deduplication, and metadata management, it simplifies administration and supports enterprise-level applications. Despite its strengths in speed, security, and customer support, there are areas for improvement such as performance for international access, alert systems, and pricing.
What are the key features of Panzura CloudFS?Industries such as architecture and biotech leverage Panzura CloudFS to manage complex file needs efficiently. It supports applications like AutoCAD and lab data management, offering real-time access and synchronization, important for businesses with distributed teams needing high resiliency and redundancy.
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