Try our new research platform with insights from 80,000+ expert users
Soltion Architect at Datacom
Reseller
Top 5Leaderboard
Better feature scalability and good value for money but lacking in specialized analytics capabilities
Pros and Cons
  • "Dell PowerStore has good value for money and some scalability features that are better than other products."
  • "Other products have better management and analytics features."

What is our primary use case?

We have used Dell PowerStore for service and storage needs, emphasizing products like VxRail, PowerStore, and our series rack mount servers.

How has it helped my organization?

Dell PowerStore offers good value for money and some feature scalability that is better than other products.

What is most valuable?

Dell PowerStore has good value for money and some scalability features that are better than other products.

What needs improvement?

Dell PowerStore doesn't really have a lot of advantages over other products. It has no special features technically. Other products have better management and analytics features. HP emphasizes much better analytical features.

Buyer's Guide
Dell PowerStore
June 2025
Learn what your peers think about Dell PowerStore. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: June 2025.
857,028 professionals have used our research since 2012.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have used Dell PowerStore for a couple of years, probably about five years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Dell PowerStore is reasonably priced and scales reasonably well. You don't really need to do much maintenance work on it, and it's not different from any other array.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Dell PowerStore's scalability features are better than those of other products. However, there are other products that are better overall.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

HP is superior in analytics, while Dell is superior in scalability. It depends on which model of array you're talking about.

How was the initial setup?

Dell PowerStore is pretty set and forget. It takes a while to install, but it's not overly complex.

What was our ROI?

Dell PowerStore offers good value for money.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

Dell PowerStore is reasonably good value for money. There's nothing special about it technically compared to other products.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

HP emphasizes much better analytical features compared to Dell.

What other advice do I have?

I'd rate the solution five out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Reseller
Flag as inappropriate
PeerSpot user
reviewer2402937 - PeerSpot reviewer
BDM at a tech services company with 501-1,000 employees
Real User
Top 20
Improves efficiency, reduces power consumption, and our footprint
Pros and Cons
  • "The most valuable feature is the functionality of the integration between the storage and the domain."
  • "Dell PowerStore currently only allows us to copy data from our main production system to the disaster recovery site."

What is our primary use case?

We use Dell PowerStore for virtualization.

Our customers implement PowerStore for its performance and the possibility to utilize AI in the future.

How has it helped my organization?

CloudIQ improves efficiency by allowing our customers to manage their systems from one place.

PowerStore does not consume a lot of power which is great for our enterprise customers but in Italy, our customers are usually small and medium businesses and are not too concerned about the power consumption because they only run two PowerStores.

Some of our customers have seen PowerStore's four-to-one data reduction. This has reduced our customer's footprint by three to one.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable feature is the functionality of the integration between the storage and the domain. Also, the possibility of having snapshots and synchronous replication is valuable. This is helpful for our enterprise customers because they need to replicate their data.

The most important thing is for Dell RND to continue to be innovative. 

What needs improvement?

Dell PowerStore currently only allows us to copy data from our main production system to the disaster recovery site. Dell PowerStore needs to add two-way replication to include data from the DR to the production site.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Dell PowerStore for four years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Dell PowerStore is stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Dell PowerStore scalability is good because we can change parts and the controller if required. The parts are swappable.

How are customer service and support?

We have used the technical support and professional services of Dell. They have been good to work with.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I have also worked with HP and IBM storage solutions but most of my customers are already Dell users and prefer PowerStore.

How was the initial setup?

Although I don't have direct experience with the deployment, our technician has told me it is simple and can be done with a few clicks.

What was our ROI?

Our customers see a return on investment in terms of time savings because the setup is simple. The initial cost may be higher for PowerStore than some others but the life cycle is longer which makes up for it.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The price is right. The software features are included in the pricing without any additional purchase requirements.

What other advice do I have?

I would rate Dell PowerStore nine out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Distributor
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Dell PowerStore
June 2025
Learn what your peers think about Dell PowerStore. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: June 2025.
857,028 professionals have used our research since 2012.
reviewer2403036 - PeerSpot reviewer
Principle Technology Services Engineer at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees
Real User
Top 20
Simple user interface and easy to implement
Pros and Cons
  • "Dell PowerStore is very simple to implement, and its user interface is very simple."

    What is our primary use case?

    We're using the solution for a specific application called Boomi for data analytics.

    How has it helped my organization?

    The application was running on an Isilon, and we needed an NFS mount. Since the solution was performing very poorly, we chose Dell PowerStore with the NVMe disk, which solved our performance issue.

    The overall energy consumption seems comparable to other products in the same class.

    Performance was the biggest challenge we were looking to address by implementing Dell PowerStore. We were running our application on an Isilon, and it just couldn't perform because it was a very chatty application with high transactions.

    What is most valuable?

    Dell PowerStore is very simple to implement, and its user interface is very simple.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I have been using Dell PowerStore for four months.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    Dell PowerStore is a stable solution.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    Dell PowerStore is a scalable solution.

    How are customer service and support?

    The solution’s technical support is pretty decent.

    How would you rate customer service and support?

    Positive

    What about the implementation team?

    We implemented the solution through a reseller, CDW. Our experience with them for the implementation of Dell PowerStore was fine.

    What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

    The solution's price was comparable to other products for the use case, size, and setup. We did go with the NVMe disc and looked to do a capacity upgrade at one point.

    What other advice do I have?

    Overall, I rate the solution a nine out of ten.

    Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
    PeerSpot user
    IT Consultant at a consultancy with 1,001-5,000 employees
    User
    Top 20
    Uses less CPU resources, has a high compression ratio, and is extremely stable
    Pros and Cons
    • "The PowerStore's compression ratio is even higher than the Unity system."
    • "With PowerStore, we have to choose between block storage and NAS functionality."

    What is our primary use case?

    We use Dell PowerStore as a storage layer behind the virtualization layer. We have IBM SCC and we have the PowerStore behind that to serve the discs to the SCC and the SCC then presents it to the hosts in the network.

    How has it helped my organization?

    The high deduplication ratio means that we need less physical storage space. As a result, we have more virtual storage space available to assign to our servers. We have not encountered any problems with the system so far. Therefore, the system is better in terms of both performance and storage efficiency.

    The compression ratio is way better with PowerStore. We were getting a ratio of 1:3 and now it is around 1:6. The compression ratio has doubled.

    Dell's values around ESG are high and they have been working on those areas throughout the years.

    What is most valuable?

    We noticed that the PowerStore has a really high compression ratio for data. It's really good for data deduplication and also compressing the data on the drives. The PowerStore's compression ratio is even higher than the Unity system. Also, the way the PowerStore is built with special CPUs for moving data around. The systems also have lower CPU utilization compared to Unity systems.

    What needs improvement?

    In the past, with Unity, we could run both block storage and configure part of the system as a NAS system. This wasn't ideal, but it provided flexibility. With PowerStore, we have to choose between block storage and NAS functionality. It would be interesting to retain the option to configure PowerStore as a block storage array and try out the NAS features to see how it performs. It was an interesting way to see if we need a certain type of storage. We were able to do that from the same system, and now we have queues when we set up the system, which one it's convenient.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I have been using Dell PowerStore for one and a half years.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    I would rate the stability of Dell PowerStore as ten out of ten.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    Dell PowerStore is scalable but we are not using the scalability of the system.

    How are customer service and support?

    The technical support is always quick to respond. They are always willing to help us and if necessary, they will search for a specialist within their Dell network who we can approach with our questions.

    How would you rate customer service and support?

    Positive

    Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

    We replaced Dell VNX with Dell PowerStore.

    How was the initial setup?

    The deployment is really easy. If we have a PowerStore and we buy another and arrange all the necessary factors that need to be available in the data center, including cabling, power, and configuration details such as IP addresses and DNS names, it's simple to roll out, and it doesn't take much effort to place it in our data center and have it up and running. It takes a few hours of work if we have done all the prep work to get it up and running.

    What other advice do I have?

    I would rate Dell PowerStore ten out of ten.

    Prior to my joining the organization, they used Hitachi and transitioned to Dell due to cost considerations.

    We haven't implemented the latest code yet, but we attended a session at the beginning of the day where they mentioned that backups can now be moved directly to the data domain from the power store. This is an interesting development, as it opens up new possibilities for backup management. For instance, we could now consider placing backup clients on a machine that is specifically designed for this purpose.

    Dell PowerStore is doing what it's supposed to do, and it's even doing it better than we were expecting.

    Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
    PeerSpot user
    Marc Gaethofs - PeerSpot reviewer
    ICT manager at Thys Bouwprojecten
    Real User
    Top 5Leaderboard
    An appliance that is well-suited for a variety of use cases when it comes to virtualization
    Pros and Cons
    • "A particularly valuable feature is its simplicity."
    • "Data reduction needs improvement."

    What is our primary use case?

    It's a good product, especially for companies dealing with virtualization. It's well-suited for a broad range of use cases and stands out when it comes to tasks like personalization. If you require power and flexibility in that regard, it's a reasonably priced, straightforward product that is easy to manage. It delivers on its promises without unnecessary complexity.

    What is most valuable?

    A particularly valuable feature is its simplicity. The reporting tools and support are good, and the solution promotes data reduction, often meeting the compression ratio. You can initially invest in less upfront capacity and expand later as needed.

    What needs improvement?

    Data reduction needs improvement. While the reporting is generally good for general purposes, it may lack sufficient detail for more technical analysis. If you want to delve into where your I/Os are going, the reporting might need more in-depth information to make informed decisions.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I’ve been using the solution for around three years.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    The solution is scalable within regions. It allows you to scale up to four nodes in one tool for extensive storage. You can create as many tools as needed, providing scalability based on the use case. It performs well for midsized use cases, especially those involving up to a hundred servers for virtualization. However, you might consider alternative products for more complex and larger-scale operations.

    How are customer service and support?

    The technical support is good as they continuously monitor the system remotely through a support agent. This agent provides critical alerts, and the response time is typically within an hour.

    How was the initial setup?

    The initial setup is straightforward. Firstly, the initial step involves unboxing, followed by configuring connectivity. There are various types of connectivity setups, including straight connectivity, direct connect, and private channel connectivity, offering diverse IT capacity configurations. The setup process encompasses unboxing, provisioning power, and connecting to the necessary switches. However, it's crucial to begin with a well-thought-out plan. One person is required to set up the solution.

    What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

    The pricing is good. There's no need to pay for a license; it's all-inclusive. The only cost is associated with a support contract based on the level of support you desire.

    What other advice do I have?

    I recommend this solution, especially if you're not moving everything to the cloud and require reliable local storage. It proves to be an excellent choice.

    I rate Dell PowerStore a nine out of ten.
     

    Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
    PeerSpot user
    Data Center Manager at a comms service provider with 11-50 employees
    Real User
    Three-to-one data reduction is the most valuable aspect
    Pros and Cons
    • "The most valuable feature is the three-to-one data reduction."
    • "The customer support is slow and has room for improvement."

    What is our primary use case?

    We typically use Dell PowerStore 500T and 1000T models.

    We sell and integrate Dell PowerStores to our customers who use it for block storage.

    How has it helped my organization?

    Dell PowerStore has helped our customers manage their systems.

    CloudIQ helps our customers mainly if they have a lack of storage space, it alerts them of the failures on the server.

    PowerStore does not consume much power.

    We have integrated PowerStore with PowerProtect and VMware to benefit our customers.

    Our customers sign a data reduction guarantee with every order. 

    What is most valuable?

    The most valuable feature is the three-to-one data reduction. The improved reliability is also valuable.

    What needs improvement?

    The customer support is slow and has room for improvement.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I have been using Dell PowerStore for four years.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    PowerStore scales well. We have sold ten systems and have not required any scaling.

    How are customer service and support?

    The technical support can be slow at times.

    How would you rate customer service and support?

    Positive

    What other advice do I have?

    I would rate Dell PowerStore ten out of ten.

    Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

    On-premises
    Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
    PeerSpot user
    Hamed Mohamed - PeerSpot reviewer
    Adv. Service Manager at ECC Solutions
    Real User
    Top 20
    Straightforward with great snapshots and no complicated configuration
    Pros and Cons
    • "There is no complicated configuration for queries and calls. You just create a model and go."
    • "The pricing could be lower. It is very expensive."

    What is our primary use case?

    Typically, the customer uses it and we manage it. We primarily use it to host the sub server.

    How has it helped my organization?

    snapshot policy you can take a versions as a backup in less than seconds and quickly created volumes from snapshot provide more flexibility and fast provisioning 
    compression and deduplication of overall hosted data maximize the benefits from the actual physical size with a ratio of 1:3 at least.

    What is most valuable?

    The usage of the system is very straightforward. It is simple and easy to use.

    It has great snapshots. I can take a million snapshots and also schedule the timing.

    There is no complicated configuration for queries and calls. You just create a model and go.

    This generation of the product, overall, has been very nice. 

    It is stable.

    The solution can scale. 

    What needs improvement?

    There are a lot of features in IBM that we'd like to see in PowerStore as well. It has more deduplication and compression processes, all the storage, so that they do not depend on the tool embedded in the cluster. 

    The pricing could be lower. It is very expensive.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I've been using the solution for at least six months. 

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    The stability is good. It is reliable. There are no bugs or glitches and it doesn't crash or freeze. It's been perfect so far.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    The solution can scale. We can attach an expansion as needed. So far, seeing as how I haven't collected all of the information in regard to scaling, I'd rate it seven out of ten.

    We have three storage admins. The customer likely exceeds 20,000 users globally.

    The client does not have plans to increase usage at this time. 

    How are customer service and support?

    I've contacted technical support, They are fine. They are helpful and responsive. 

    How would you rate customer service and support?

    Positive

    Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

    We have received a new storage device from HP. It is MSA storage.

    How was the initial setup?

    While I did not see the deployment, my understanding is that it is easy.

    What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

    The price is very, very expensive. It is more expensive than IBM, for example. Likely the cost is $400,000 whereas IBM may be $250,000. This is a one-time payment to buy the device. There are no subscription costs. There are no other costs for support.

    Which other solutions did I evaluate?

    We've looked into IBM SS7 300 as well. I'd recommend it as it has many abilities. It can carry some uploads from storage clusters. 

    What other advice do I have?

    We are service providers.

    The solution is on-premises at our company and we manage it for the customer remotely via a private cloud.

    I'd rate the solution nine out of ten.

    Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

    On-premises
    Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
    PeerSpot user
    Partner Alliance Manager at inetum-realdolmen
    Real User
    Top 20
    Integrates with APIs, is stable, and reduces our on-prem footprint
    Pros and Cons
    • "The most valuable aspects of Dell PowerStore are the promising roadmap, and the interesting features to come."
    • "We have not seen an ROI and it would be good to have an ROI calculator made available by Dell."

    What is our primary use case?

    We are especially active in the mid-market and use Dell PowerStore for block storage situations and general-purpose storage platforms.

    How has it helped my organization?

    PowerStore was the promise our customers needed to go further with the evolution of technology. It is also a platform with container architecture that is up to date with actual technology requirements. That is important to our customers.

    CloudIQ provides us with one cloud-based platform and integration with APIs. It is a must-have in actual management platforms.

    Moving to the cloud has reduced our on-prem footprint.

    What is most valuable?

    The most valuable aspects of Dell PowerStore are the promising roadmap, and the interesting features to come. In the beginning, it was limited in the number of features but as time went by the feature came as promised. Now it is an enterprise corporate storage platform. There has been a good evolution.

    What needs improvement?

    We have not seen an ROI and it would be good to have an ROI calculator made available by Dell.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I have been using Dell PowerStore for three years.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    Dell PowerStore does what it promises with no stability issues.

    How are customer service and support?

    The technical support is okay. Our customers especially in Europe tend to have interesting local contacts that can be a problem. 

    Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

    We previously used EqualLogic but switching to Dell PowerStore felt like the natural evolution since EqualLogic reached its end of life.

    What other advice do I have?

    I would rate Dell PowerStore nine out of ten. PowerStore is a platform we focus on for the middle markets, which is important in Europe and it does what it has to do. Combined with other Dell solutions like PowerScale it fits the needs of most customers.

    In the last two versions, PowerStore has improved on everything it needed to and is now an enterprise-grade platform. It is keeping up with new evolutions like AI which is the most important thing. The position between PowerScale and PowerFlex is important as well.

    We are a multi-vendor partner, so we propose solutions to customers based on their needs and likes.

    Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

    Public Cloud
    Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Reseller
    PeerSpot user
    Buyer's Guide
    Download our free Dell PowerStore Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
    Updated: June 2025
    Buyer's Guide
    Download our free Dell PowerStore Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.