Dell PowerStore Reviews

Name: Dell PowerStore
Brand: Dell Technologies
Rating: 4.3 (84 reviews)

Vendor: Dell Technologies

4.3 out of 5

84 reviews
96% willing to recommend

370 followers

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What is Dell PowerStore?

Dell PowerStore stands out for its high performance, flexibility, and easy integration with VMware. It offers notable data compression and deduplication capabilities while providing powerful NVMe support and machine learning to optimize IT operations.

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Dell PowerStore is the #1 ranked solution in top Enterprise SAN solutions, #1 ranked solution in best All-Flash Storage Arrays, #1 ranked solution in best NVMe All-Flash Arrays, #2 ranked solution in top NAS solutions, and #4 ranked solution in top Data Warehouse solutions. PeerSpot users give Dell PowerStore an average rating of 8.6 out of 10. Dell PowerStore is most commonly compared to NetApp AFF: Dell PowerStore vs NetApp AFF. Dell PowerStore is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 53% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a computer software company, accounting for 18% of all views.

Helped 849,686 peers since 2012

Featured Dell PowerStore reviews

Brian Ricci

President at Pinnacle Computer Services, Inc.

We recommended Dell PowerStore to one of our clients. They have since standardized on Dell PowerStore. They are setting up a data center and chose Dell PowerStore 5200T to meet their needs. Their deployed ones were all 1200s or 1000s, and now, they are going with much bigger ones for the data center. They like having one interface and one vendor. It has been extremely good. Overall, it is fairly straightforward. They have standardized the platform for many of their solutions because it makes it much easier to sell and support since PowerFlex and PowerStore have the same footprint. They just put a different OS on them. The standardization makes it very handy. They can hopefully drive the prices lower, but we do not see them having any competition right now. The management is easy. Intelligence is built into it. Most of the people just set it and forget it. It takes care of itself. It adjusts itself. I am not saying that you should set it and forget it. You should be checking it once in a while, but most of our clients do not. They just set it, and if something goes drastic, such as running out of disk space, they call us, but it warns you early enough. They get a warning, and then it is just trying to get dry fast enough depending on what they are doing. Compression has improved, which is one of the enhancements that came with an update, which is great. Dell now claims 5:1, which I do not believe, but it used to be 4:1. The compression is really good and extremely important because you do not have to buy too much, and you can grow it when you need to. Compression is probably the key feature that allows us to slay the competition. I am not aware of the competition having as aggressive compression. PowerStore improves operational efficiency. Having the NVMe drives is much faster than having SSD drives. We are in a new world there, and the compression is inline, which is awesome. It is just a sweet ride. We utilize PowerStore’s built-in integrations for VMware and Kubernetes or Containers. VMware integration is very important.

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Jacques DUVERNOIS

Technical Team Leader for Servers and Storage at Orange

The most valuable feature is that it is easy to use this frame. I am a SAN administrator, but I was able to train my colleague, who had only been a VMware administrator, on the PowerStore in about half a day. Now he's autonomous in assigning volumes and creating data stores, et cetera. I don't have to help him anymore. That is the beauty of this unit and it's due to the effort Dell EMC put into the GUI. The VMware integration is very good. It integrates all the vSphere interactions when you create your data store, directly from the PowerStore GUI, into your VMware cluster. My colleague who was the VMware administrator is now able, in one shot, to provision his storage and automatically create a data store relying on this storage. That has freed up some of his time. Another important feature is the power of this frame. It's very powerful. We have almost less than a millisecond of response time, all the time, even during backup windows. That's very good compared with the VNX, of which we have two. We also have a Unity connected on this same SAN for the same kind of application. We did a comparison among the three models of frames, the VNX, which is rather old, the Unity full flash, which is not so old, and the PowerStore. PowerStore is really on top of all of them. Of course, it enables us to add compute and capacity independently. We add a lot of VMware clusters in our SAN thanks to the PowerStore. We are going to decommission the old VNXs because it's better adding capacity on the PowerStore than keeping the old models.

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Tiby Thomas

Solution Architect at CDA

Moving and optimizing workloads within the cluster is quite easy based on my experience with Dell PowerStore. The clustering feature, the Metro Cluster, deduplication capability, and compression are all important and valuable based on customer requirements. Dell PowerStore's compression and deduplication technologies are very important for customers. These features increase operational efficiency and reduce their hardware footprint. Operational efficiency is improved based on the customer industry and how their day-to-day operations and overheads are reduced. The management capabilities of Dell PowerStore are extremely easy to use and user-friendly. The benefits include ease of management and time savings. Customers have been able to consolidate data using Dell PowerStore by 25% to 30% at least.

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Dell PowerStore mindshare

Product category:

As of May 2025, the mindshare of Dell PowerStore in the NVMe All-Flash Storage Arrays category stands at 23.7%, down from 26.6% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

NVMe All-Flash Storage Arrays

PeerResearch reports based on Dell PowerStore reviews

Type	Title	Date
Category	NVMe All-Flash Storage Arrays	Apr 30, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Apr 30, 2025	Download
Comparison	Dell PowerStore vs NetApp AFF	Apr 30, 2025	Download
Comparison	Dell PowerStore vs Dell PowerMax NVMe	Apr 30, 2025	Download
Comparison	Dell PowerStore vs Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS)	Apr 30, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
NetApp AFF	4.5	20.0%	98%	311 interviews Add to research
Pure FlashArray X NVMe	4.5	2.8%	100%	35 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

Dell PowerStore's key features include exceptional performance and reliability, superior deduplication and compression, and seamless integration with VMware. Users appreciate its NVMe support, scalability, and high availability. The interface is user-friendly, simplifying management and deployment. PowerStore efficiently optimizes resources, reduces operating footprints, and supports rapid workload adjustments. Notable features also include CloudIQ analytics, cybersecurity, APEX AIOPS for advanced insights, and cost-effectiveness compared to alternatives. Its advanced management capabilities enhance operational efficiency significantly.

"Dell PowerStore's compression and deduplication technologies are a big help for our organization."
"Dell PowerStore's compression and deduplication technologies are a big help for our organization. It's saving us a lot of storage compared to what we were previously using."
"The management capabilities of Dell PowerStore are extremely easy to use and user-friendly."

Room for Improvement

Dell PowerStore requires improvements in enterprise features like site replication and more stability with integrations, notably with VMware. Users experience challenges with NAS functionality, data reduction, pricing, and software updates. The user interface and monitoring tools need enhancement, while scalability and technical support demand smarter investment. Users criticize the complexity of networking and system management. The costly technical support and price compared to competitors raise concerns, and there is a call for better cybersecurity and data protection features.

"The management UI is pretty decent and gets the job done, but the upgrade process is challenging."
"The management UI is pretty decent and gets the job done, but the upgrade process is challenging."
"The data resiliency and cybersecurity features of Dell PowerStore are just normal and would be considered medium; we need additional components such as cybersecurity vault for increased resilience."

ROI

Many users experienced cost savings through enhanced data reduction and consolidation with Dell PowerStore, leading to a lower cost per gigabyte and rack space optimization. Increased productivity was noted due to significant performance improvements. Though some users have not seen a return yet or lack concrete data, others highlighted effective returns within 12 to 18 months. PowerStore offers advantages in reducing capital expenditures, enhancing uptime, and delivering a simpler setup.

Pricing

Enterprise buyers find Dell PowerStore's pricing often high but competitive for its features and performance. Many users appreciate the inclusive licensing model, which simplifies costs by bundling necessary features without extra charges. Some express concerns about scalability and additional costs for upgrades. PowerStore is generally seen as offering good value compared to other NVMe storage solutions, though some note it is more expensive than competitors like IBM. Organizations value the potential cost savings through its deduplication and compression capabilities.

"The pricing structure and licensing model of Dell PowerStore are pretty decent. It's pretty competitive."
"The rate is always too high. Nobody likes paying for it. I have not seen a client yet who says that the price should be higher.Initially, people look at it, but when they see what the benefits are, it is a no-brainer. We can give them good pricing at the outset."
"The pricing structure and licensing model of Dell PowerStore are very good and I like it. We chose it because it was reasonably priced and met our requirements"

Popular Use Cases

Organizations use Dell PowerStore primarily for VMware environments, high-performance storage in virtualized infrastructures, and database management. Many incorporate it for block storage and VMware virtualization, leveraging its ease of integration and efficiency. It assists companies handling medical analysis, financial market monitoring, SaaS applications, ERP systems, and hybrid setups. Dell PowerStore is favored for its high-tier VM support, data migration, deduplication, and storage reliability across various industries, including finance, healthcare, and education.

Service and Support

Dell PowerStore's customer service and support are mostly positive. Users report fast, proactive responses and appreciate their global reach and dedicated support managers. However, some encounter challenges, like slow responses at higher support levels or difficulty due to time zones and language barriers. While many praise Dell's efforts, emphasizing professionalism and effectiveness, there are occasional struggles with case management and communication. Overall, many rate their experiences highly, valuing prompt action and problem resolution.

Deployment

Many find Dell PowerStore's initial setup straightforward and user-friendly, although some encounter challenges. Migration aspects are usually handled well, and the configuration is generally smooth with the right preparation. Networking issues and specific configurations may require attention or support from Dell or external partners. Most agree that PowerStore is quick to set up, often taking only hours. Those with experience in storage find it particularly simple to install and deploy.

Scalability

Dell PowerStore offers excellent scalability with both horizontal and vertical expansion options. Users appreciate its ability to easily add capacity and increase performance across various environments. Some mention the cost challenges associated with higher-end expansions, while others highlight its scalability as a distinct advantage. Its design accommodates different user needs, making it suitable for a range of business sizes. High scalability scores are often given, reflecting satisfaction with its expansion features.

Stability

Dell PowerStore is generally considered highly stable with many users reporting no issues. Some encountered minor software and upgrade challenges, often without impacting performance due to effective redundancy. Various entities highlighted its reliability, noting no significant failures in production environments. Ratings for stability frequently reached nine or ten out of ten, with users appreciating its robust performance. Occasional issues, primarily relating to early adoption or firmware, were common but handled successfully.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our Dell PowerStore Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers

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Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

18%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Financial Services Firm

Government

Healthcare Company

University

Comms Service Provider

Educational Organization

Retailer

Insurance Company

Real Estate/Law Firm

Non Profit

Energy/Utilities Company

Construction Company

Hospitality Company

Wholesaler/Distributor

Media Company

Legal Firm

Outsourcing Company

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

Transportation Company

Consumer Goods Company

Performing Arts

Aerospace/Defense Firm

Pharma/Biotech Company

Engineering Company

Compare Dell PowerStore with alternative products

Learn more about Dell PowerStore

Dell PowerStore is designed to offer a comprehensive approach to IT infrastructure by enhancing performance and simplifying management. It is particularly suitable for companies that require scalable solutions to increase compute or capacity independently. Featuring built-in intelligence, PowerStore allows efficient storage consolidation and reduced footprint, while integration with CloudIQ enhances monitoring and analytics. However, there are areas for improvement, such as stability, enterprise features, and the user interface. Pricing is high, and support responsiveness needs attention. Organizations primarily use PowerStore for VMware environments, storage, and data protection, supporting high-performance databases and VMware workloads. It is utilized in data centers for disaster recovery and hybrid setups.

What are the key features of Dell PowerStore?

Flexibility: Independently scales compute or capacity
High Performance: Offers powerful NVMe support and machine learning
Integration: Easily integrates with VMware
Data Efficiency: Provides data compression and deduplication
Simplified Management: Built-in intelligence for efficient storage management

What benefits should users consider?

Performance Optimization: Enhance IT operations with machine learning
Scalability: Increase compute or storage capacity as needed
Integration Potential: Improve efficiency with VMware and CloudIQ
Data Protection: Reliable for disaster recovery and hybrid environments

In industries like IT, finance, and healthcare, Dell PowerStore supports efficient data management and enhances infrastructure performance. Organizations leverage it to manage extensive data, streamline virtualization processes, and facilitate migration from legacy systems, while integrating cloud and on-premises infrastructures for improved operations.

Dell PowerStore was previously known as PowerStore.