- User friendly interface
- Robust hardware
- Good support
Sistem Yönetimi Uzman? at a healthcare company with 10,001+ employees
User friendly interface and robust hardware but deduplication is limited
What is most valuable?
How has it helped my organization?
VMware and Hyper-V datastore (with Fiber Connect). All virtual systems are running on the Storwize V7000 storage in our company.
What needs improvement?
Deduplication and DRC synchronization. Deduplication is small, limited. We need better deduplication and disaster recovery.
For how long have I used the solution?
Since 2014.
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IBM FlashSystem
April 2025

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What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Good stability.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
No.
How are customer service and support?
Global support is good.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
Yes, I myself have used. The customer decided to switch.
How was the initial setup?
Yes, it is easy in terms of management and installation.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
Yes, I evaluated HPE, Dell EMC.
What other advice do I have?
Check IOP values and disk speed. Check often for updates and firmware. Make absolute SNMP settings for warnings and alerts.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.

Technical Manager at a manufacturing company with 11-50 employees
Quick operations, reliable, but difficult installation
Pros and Cons
- "IBM FlashSystem has been stable in our operations."
- "The solution is not easy to use and could improve."
What is our primary use case?
We use IBM FlashSystem for VM farms, physical SQL servers, and replication.
What needs improvement?
The solution is not easy to use and could improve.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have used IBM FlashSystem within the last 12 months.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
IBM FlashSystem has been stable in our operations.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability is similar to the Nimble Storage solution.
We have approximately 200 users using this solution, and we have plans to increase usage.
How are customer service and support?
We have not used the support from IBM.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We previously used free CSS Storage.
How was the initial setup?
The installation is complex and it could be easier. The concept is quite different from traditional storage. The full process took approximately three days.
What about the implementation team?
We used vendors' support for the implementation.
We had approximately three engineers for the implementation.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
There are no licensing fees, it is a one-time purchase of the IBM FlashSystem.
What other advice do I have?
I rate IBM FlashSystem a seven out of ten.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Buyer's Guide
IBM FlashSystem
April 2025

Learn what your peers think about IBM FlashSystem. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: April 2025.
849,686 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Technical Head at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
IBM FlashSystem V9000 stands for Virtualized
Pros and Cons
- "Flash disk with Easy Tier option"
- "When you provision a datastore auto-format takes a long time"
Improvements to My Organization
IT Improve our TPS (transactions per seconds)
Valuable Features
Flash disk with Easy Tier option
Same GUI as v7000
Room for Improvement
When you provision a datastore auto-format takes a long time .. to disable is you have to redo the whole process. this is a bit difficult if you want to make adjustments on the datastore
Stability Issues
none so far.
Scalability Issues
Scale in scale out design was implemented
Customer Service and Technical Support
Customer Service:
We have a good relationship with IBM
Technical Support:
Highly skilled implementor
Initial Setup
Straightforward
Other Solutions Considered
HP, EMC,
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Technical Presales Consultant at a tech services company with 201-500 employees
High performance, great technical support, and stable
Pros and Cons
- "One of the valuable features is the performance, it is one of the best in the market."
- "The installation is not easy. You need to have extensive knowledge to handle it."
What is our primary use case?
The solution can be used for backing up data, such as in databases and local clouds.
What is most valuable?
One of the valuable features is the performance, it is one of the best in the market.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been involved with IBM FlashSystem for approximately four years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I would recommend this solution.
IBM FlashSystem can expand very well, it is scalable.
How are customer service and technical support?
The technical support is very good.
How was the initial setup?
The installation is not easy. You need to have extensive knowledge to handle it.
What about the implementation team?
We have a team of three engineers that do the implementation.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Overall the price of the solution is expensive and this includes the license.
What other advice do I have?
I rate IBM FlashSystem a nine out of ten.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
Diretor de TI at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Stable storage but other solutions have more features
What is our primary use case?
I use it for virtualization and databases.
What is most valuable?
It is simple but stable storage. I use the Snapshot feature.
For how long have I used the solution?
One to three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It is very stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Excellent.
How is customer service and technical support?
I have never used technical support for this solution. I haven't needed support.
How was the initial setup?
I did the initial setup based on the documentation it came with. It was very simple.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
I looked at Dell and HPE solutions. I probably wouldn't buy a 3PAR but it does have more features than Storewize.
What other advice do I have?
My most important criteria when selecting a vendor are price, stability, support, and scalability.
I would rate this solution a seven out of 10. It is a good storage solution, but there many other options out there with more resources.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
System Administrator at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
Fast and reliable backup solution
Pros and Cons
- "The initial setup is straightforward and can be done in an hour and a half by one person."
- "The data reduction pool feature sucks and is not recommended for use with heavy workloads."
What is our primary use case?
My main use of this solution is for backup.
What needs improvement?
The data reduction pool feature sucks and is not recommended for use with heavy workloads. I also understand that the APIs don't work well and need improvement. In the next release, I would like to see a better monitoring system for metrics.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using this solution for around five years.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
This solution is scalable.
How are customer service and support?
The technical support is good.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is straightforward and can be done in an hour and a half by one person.
What other advice do I have?
IBM FlashSystem is fast and reliable. However, we also use Huawei, which is more reliable and has less frequent upgrades. I would rate this solution as eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Private Cloud
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Infrastructure Technical Specialist II at Clicks Group
Offers high performance and dependable support for fast storage needs
Pros and Cons
- "I rate the technical support from IBM as a ten."
- "The deduplication technology in IBM FlashSystem needs significant improvement."
What is our primary use case?
Our clients use IBM FlashSystem for performance-oriented needs. It offers solid performance on demand and is competitively priced. It is especially beneficial for those seeking reliable and fast storage solutions.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable feature of IBM FlashSystem is its robust back code. When integrated properly into the environment and configured according to the guidelines, it provides a very solid infrastructure that does the job on demand. Additionally, IBM FlashSystem offers competitive pricing and reliable performance. The hardware is dependable, ensuring that it functions effectively when the setup is done correctly.
What needs improvement?
The deduplication technology in IBM FlashSystem needs significant improvement. Other vendors like NetApp offer better deduplication technology, which is noticeably advanced compared to IBM FlashSystem.
For how long have I used the solution?
I started using IBM FlashSystem with IBM FlashSystem in 1996, and it has remained my primary focus since then.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability of IBM FlashSystem is high, and I would rate it as a nine. The firmware and software engine have fewer bugs, which enhances operational efficiency. However, ongoing maintenance and configuration management are crucial for optimal performance.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability of IBM FlashSystem is exceptional, and I rate it as a nine. Despite experiencing challenges with the deduplication technology, the overall scalability remains impressive.
How are customer service and support?
I rate the technical support from IBM as a ten. IBM has significantly improved in terms of listening to clients and providing quality responses, especially in the past two to three years.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup of IBM FlashSystem is neither easy nor overly complex. Like any product, it requires following the setup guidelines meticulously. If the foundational configuration is not done correctly, the system won't work optimally.
What was our ROI?
The return on investment in IBM FlashSystem is immediate due to the significant discounts we receive. The solution can comfortably be stretched from five to seven years without any failures, ensuring a long-lasting return.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
NetApp offers interesting alternatives to IBM FlashSystem.
What other advice do I have?
I would recommend IBM FlashSystem for situations requiring high performance. However, if a different product fits better and is cost-effective, alternatives might be more suitable. Skill and knowledge in integration, architecture, and operations are crucial. Often, there's a need to clean up and optimize configurations. I also rate the overall solution as eight.
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
Last updated: Apr 28, 2025
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