Pure Storage FlashArray Reviews

I support Pure Storage FlashArray, so I use it for storage and do some automation; however, the main use is storage.

The solution has helped decrease our total cost of ownership thanks to the compression, so we don't need to buy as much storage as we use, which helps keep our costs down.

In Pure Storage FlashArray, the dedupe and compression are excellent, and performance is good too. 

We use the Evergreen architecture for our upgrades and scaling. The portal, which we use for upgrades, is exceptional, and it influences our ability to maintain uptime because we can do most tasks from there. The single management pane of glass works effectively, and the portal is excellent.

The solution has decreased our storage footprint, so instead of using an array with a higher capacity, due to the dedupe and compression, we can use a much smaller array to accommodate our data. It has decreased our storage by four times.

The solution has helped reduce downtime, and downtime is similar to most storage solutions, which have good resilience.

More cloud connectivity would enhance the solution. Something that could be slightly enhanced is additional AI capabilities. These areas have room for improvement.

I have been using Pure Storage FlashArray since 2008, so I have 17 years of experience.

For stability, I rate it a ten out of ten. We don't have many problems.

For scalability, I rate it a six out of ten. We reach a limit. We never reached this limit, however, the architecture allows you to go until a certain size, and after that, you have to buy another array.

The environment is used across multiple locations, spread around the globe. The number of users that use the solution is close to 1000.

I would rate the technical support for Pure Storage FlashArray as an eight out of ten.

Positive

When comparing Pure Storage FlashArray with other products or vendors such as Dell and IBM, I prefer it because the support and management are better and easier. The performance and cost compared to other disk and flash storages is probably better in cost, while the performance is the same today. The main advantage is in management and support.

It's easy to deploy. We have it across multiple locations.

The solution requires maintenance, and it is easy.

I would recommend this product to other users. It is a good product. 

I would rate Pure Storage FlashArray overall as an eight out of ten. It is excellent. 

Public Cloud

Other

I am an implementation engineer for Pure Storage FlashArray. We sell it through partners to different companies in Kazakhstan.

The single management interface is advantageous, enabling us to manage all arrays from a centralized location.

Pure Storage FlashArray provides immediate benefits to our customers with its easy setup process, allowing for instant use and rapid realization of advantages.

Pure Storage FlashArray is echo-friendly and helps reduce our carbon footprint.

FlashArray provides high stability and can help reduce downtime for customers. It was helpful when migrating data from one storage to another, achieving this without any downtime.

Remote Assist is a valuable feature that supports customers and engineers in troubleshooting and resolving issues, allowing for easy problem identification and repair. Furthermore, the cloud-based log collection enhances convenience and accessibility. FlashArray's integration with the Pure One instrument provides a centralized platform for efficient management of all arrays.

Organizations with security concerns that prevent cloud utilization would benefit from a wider range of instruments available for offline operation. Currently, the limited selection of on-premise instruments hinders Pure Storage FlashArray's ability to compete effectively with other vendors.

I have been using Pure Storage FlashArray for two years.

FlashArray is a highly stable and reliable enterprise storage solution that minimizes downtime.

One advantage of the Evergreen program Pure Storage offers is that it allows for easy upgrades, such as upgrading controllers for more power or increasing data flash memory for capacity.

The support from Pure Storage is excellent. Pure support team provides great maintenance of FlashArray, and their support consists of two parts: hardware support and software support.

Positive

The initial deployment is straightforward, taking approximately 40 minutes from unboxing to operation. Pure Storage systems, including FlashArray and FlashBlade, are equipped with comprehensive features that ensure easy installation and user-friendly operation.

Two people are required to place the FlashArray into the server rack due to its weight of approximately 45 kilograms.

For emerging markets like Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, pricing is not a problem. However, we lost a lot of customers because we couldn't compete on price with other vendors.

The biggest competitor we evaluated is Huawei.

I would rate Pure Storage FlashArray eight out of ten.

To fully utilize Pure Storage's capabilities, explore beyond its basic features. Many companies underutilize this robust platform, often employing only a fraction of its potential. Familiarizing yourself with the full range of features will maximize the benefits and value derived from this tool.

I recommend against attempting to understand Pure Storage FlashArray independently. If necessary, do not hesitate to open a support case.

The main use case for this solution is block storage. I deal with the transportation logistics industry.

It overperforms both in terms of storage capacity and throughput, and bandwidth capability. The single management pane of glass is pretty useful, and it's nice to be able to get a snapshot of the environment. 

We have a dedicated array for our data warehouse, for our SQL Server workloads, which has allowed us to empower the SQL team to give more frequent updates to the business so they can make data-driven decisions.

Based on the last Pure Storage FlashArray that we purchased, the only thing that could be made better would be the price.

I have been dealing with Pure Storage FlashArray for about two and a half years.

The stability of Pure Storage FlashArray is extremely good, as we have never had any issues during many code upgrades, and the controllers have been resilient.

Whether Pure Storage FlashArray is a scalable solution depends on the product you're in; we ended up buying a second array. Theoretically, we can do controller upgrades and get into a larger chassis, but there was a limit to how far we could go without needing to do a full migration, so I do not have direct experience with that.

I would rate the support with Pure Storage FlashArray an eight out of ten.

Positive

We previously used Dell EMC as a different solution before switching to Pure Storage. The main reason we switched from Dell to Pure was that the management was more difficult, and we needed faster storage, specifically an all-flash solution.

It was quite simple to get online. We were fortunate that our account manager was able to come out and perform the array initialization before our go-live date. So, when we stuck it in a rack and got it online, it was already ready to go. The initial setup was straightforward. 

It's hard to determine the return on investment with Pure Storage FlashArray, as the last array we bought replaced the primary one we had run out of space on, and we moved where the SQL workload had been shipped over. Our current workload, particularly the SQL use case, would not be possible on mechanical storage, and the ease of use for the small team for the array is important for supporting that workload.

The pricing and licensing are straightforward, but I do consider it to be expensive.

I cannot say how Pure Storage FlashArray compares versus other disk or flash storage solutions in terms of sustainability, as it is not something we were interested in. In terms of cost, I believe Pure Storage FlashArray was probably competitive with other all-flash solutions, but the leading competitor had more complex management.

Pure Storage FlashArray has not helped to decrease our organization's storage footprint, as far as the physical storage or the space it's taking up in the rack. Our physical storage has not decreased because we have actually increased the number of arrays since moving to Pure, but our overall amount of data has also increased. Pure Storage FlashArray has not helped to decrease the total cost of ownership, and I believe our total cost has probably gone up, but that's balanced by our increased amount of data and number of use cases. I cannot say how Pure Storage FlashArray differs in terms of power. 

I would rate Pure Storage FlashArray a nine out of ten. It’s really good. The only negative experience I had was related to getting a replication figured out. We encountered a couple of issues with that once, but those problems were compounded by issues with our network architecture. 

On-premises

Virtualization with ESXi, Hyper-V, XenServer, KVM is the primary use case. VDI, containerization, AI, HPC are some other use cases seen in my day-to-day consulting with customers.

Being an all-flash storage, it has helped improve performance of business apps reducing latency and increasing IOPS.

One valuable feature of the Pure Storage FlashArray is its flash-based architecture, which provides a significant advantage. 

Another noteworthy aspect is their platform, Pure1, a cloud-based management and analytics platform that automatically creates an SR (case) on issue detection and proactively provides resolution.

Evergreen subscription model is also remarkable, allowing clients to receive the next hardware generation at no additional cost.

A noticeable area for improvement is the support for object storage. FlashArray does not natively support object storage like S3 or Swift, which pushes customers needing these features towards the more expensive FlashBlade. Integrating object storage into the FlashArray would benefit entry-level and SMB customers by offering a more unified solution.

7+ years

The stability of the product is excellent. I have not encountered any significant issues, such as applying firmware that introduces bugs. The overall stability of the product is commendable.

The solution is highly scalable, particularly when there is a need to expand capacity. An expansion shelf can be purchased and connected when needed.

Opening a case with Pure is a smooth process, and they prove to be reliable, even in severe cases where infrastructure issues arise. Their support is top-notch, and their NPS scores reflect this.

Positive

Over a five-year cycle, compared to other vendors, cost savings of at least 10% can be achieved if configured optimally.

Pure Storage FlashArray is a premium product, but the introduction of the C-series has been a strategic move to make it more accessible to budget-conscious customers.

We mainly use FlashArray to provide flash storage for SQL and Oracle databases in production.

FlashArray has improved the stability of our servers and critical databases stability and server stability. We began seeing benefits two to three weeks after we deployed. The platform is more flexible and has lower latency.

The Direct FlashArray stands out as one of the best features in the market. The Pure1 storage management lets us see the details about utilization and everything else for all 40 storage boxes in one place. This is a crucial feature if you're using FlashArray for critical databases. 

I would like FlashArray to add reports that help us forecast our predicted resource needs based on current usage. 

We have been using Pure Storage FlashArray for three years.

I would rate the stability of FlashArray as nine out of 10.

I rate FlashArray's scalability nine out of 10.

I rate Pure Storage customer service nine out of 10.

Positive

We previously used Dell EMC. Creating storage groups and mapping was more complex. Pure FlashArray is simpler and easier to use, and our storage staff doesn't struggle as much with it.

The initial setup is easy and does not require much expertise. Even individuals with five or six years of experience can handle it.

We have seen a return on investment as the solution has reduced resource requirements, allowing less experienced personnel to manage the storage. You don't need 15 years of experience to work on this. It can be easily handled by someone with five years.

I would rate Pure Storage FlashArray a nine out of ten.

The cost of Pure FlashArray is a bit high compared to peers, but its sustainability and features justify the price.

I rate Pure Storage FlashArray nine out of 10. I recommend FlashArray. It protects your data and has low downtime. 

On-premises

I use Pure Storage FlashArray for backend storage in our VMware environment.

The most valuable features I have experienced are the centralized management and redundancy under speed of the right disk. Everything is in one place with the entire dashboard, all alerts, and usage reports. I can expand the drive and take backups at the VM level to Pure Storage backup files seamlessly. I have also observed minimal outages.

The pricing needs to be improved as they offer very high budgeting prices. Searching is a big challenge in Pure Storage FlashArrays, especially when trying to restore a VM. I can only search manually, which is a required improvement.

I have been using Pure Storage FlashArray for almost five years.

It was not difficult to deploy. I had help from Pure Storage and was able to migrate our storage easily.

I have not seen any instability. It's good.

The support is good, and the response time is satisfactory.

Neutral

I used Hitachi and EMC in previous projects.

The initial setup was easy. It was a project that took around four to five months because we had small sites that needed integration.

It required an entire team for deployment. Around four people were involved.

I don't have the billing details right now, but the pricing is high.

I like Nutanix better from the presentations I have seen, but I did not work directly with it.

On the scale from 1 to 10, I rate Pure Storage FlashArray nine. I have contacted technical support when there was a data restore challenge, and the support quality was good.

On-premises

I primarily work with small and medium-sized businesses, and Pure Storage FlashArray has consistently been our primary storage array. Initially, we dedicated it to SQL Storage, but after witnessing its exceptional performance, we expanded its use to encompass everything else in our environment. Previously, we used VNX from EMC, which was incredibly slow. The significant improvement from tens or hundreds of milliseconds to microsecond response times motivated us to upgrade and make FlashArray the core of our infrastructure.

I immediately recognized the benefits of Pure Storage FlashArray, including the instant improvement in response time and performance compared to my previous storage solutions. A decade ago, Flash storage wasn't ubiquitous; it was considered a high-end solution, primarily utilized for caching, while spinning disks remained the standard. Therefore, the speed of FlashArray was remarkable. Over time, as FlashArray became more commonplace with increased adoption and competition, its reliability and seamless integration with VMware and other products solidified my decision to continue using it over alternatives like Nimble or other Gartner Magic Quadrant recommendations.

The interface has always been one of my favorite features because it's fantastic from a usability standpoint.

FlashArray significantly reduced our storage footprint, shrinking it from 30 views down to just six. This dramatically decreased our overall impact, not only in terms of space but also power consumption. We went from hundreds of power-hungry spinning disks to a mere 30 FlashArray disks, resulting in a substantial difference in energy usage.

I have not had any downtime due to storage failure since using Pure Storage FlashArray.

Pure Storage FlashArray reduced our total cost of ownership by decreasing the number of labor hours required.

The most important feature of any storage array is its reliability, measured by its uptime. This is the core selling point of Pure Storage FlashArray. In my five years selling and troubleshooting storage solutions, I experienced firsthand the frustration and consequences of downtime and issues. These problems were notably absent with Pure Storage FlashArrays, which is what initially sold me on the brand.

The interface lacks the same level of control as some other arrays I've used. So, while it's easy to use and simple, it offers different control. I dislike that if I need to fine-tune something, I usually have to engage Pure Support because the ability to manipulate settings isn't in the interface. I prefer to be able to do things myself rather than rely on external help.

When we started using Pure Storage, they were a smaller company focused on expanding their user and customer base. However, as they grew, their customer service declined. A few years ago, I was using a four- or five-year-old Pure Storage FlashArray, and after three years, they informed me that I needed to upgrade my disk to continue receiving support. This forced me to spend an unreasonable amount of money on an upgrade, especially for a small business. Unlike other storage providers like EMC or NetApp, third-party support wasn't an option. I feel that Pure Storage's growth has led them to lose touch with their customers and the excellent support that once set them apart. Their support philosophy has changed, and this negatively impacts the overall experience, particularly for critical data center components.

I have been using Pure Storage FlashArray for ten years.

There was one instance about ten years ago when I had some high latency in certain situations, and Pure Storage patched that quickly. So, I'd say the Pure Storage FlashArray is extremely stable.

Scaling up the Pure Storage FlashArray can be expensive if you don't initially size it correctly. If your first array reaches its capacity, you'll need to purchase a whole new array to upgrade. While it is scalable, planning and sizing it correctly during your initial purchase is crucial to avoid unnecessary costs.

I've used many storage arrays over the years, but I have yet to use or personally manage an all-flash array. I have extensive experience with spinning disk arrays, including EMC, VNX, NetApp, and a few Dell EqualLogic.

The initial deployment is straightforward. I have done five of them so far. Usually, someone from Pure Storage is on-site for each deployment. I even deployed one during COVID-19, which was a bit challenging, but they allowed me to proceed and guided me through it because I had prior experience. Overall, the process is straightforward.

The deployment takes a couple of hours, and one person with experience is enough to complete it.

I need to get updated pricing information because it's been a while since I last checked. When I last looked, the prices were reasonable, and we could get an excellent array for about $60,000. So, overall, their pricing is reasonable. However, I haven't looked at their newest pricing, and I know they just released something impressive, like a six-terabyte NVMe or something like that. I'm curious about the pricing for those ultra-dense, high-density storage options, but I still need to check them out.

I rate Pure Storage FlashArray eight out of ten.

If you're considering a Pure Storage FlashArray, it's a solid choice for performance and value. However, be aware that they may pressure you to upgrade after a few years if your model becomes outdated, potentially costing you an additional $50,000 to maintain support. So, while it's a top-tier option from a technology perspective, factor in the possibility of future upgrade costs when making your decision.

Maintenance is not required. From a support perspective, if something breaks, it automatically notifies Pure Storage. They will inform us of the issue and send a replacement part. If we are under maintenance, they will send the part or dispatch someone to fix it. Generally, it's a very hands-off system. They proactively notify us if we're running low on capacity or if there are performance issues, which I've only encountered once due to a bug they quickly patched. Overall, it's a hands-off experience.

Ensure you receive a written guarantee that the discs will remain in service for at least the next three years and won't require replacement at your expense. Also, confirm you have conducted thorough research to avoid unforeseen costs arising in the next three to five years.

On-premises

I use FlashArray to manage storage and DR sites for my clients.

We saw the benefits of Pure Storage immediately. The biggest benefit was data reduction. We migrated 700 terabytes of storage to Pure Storage and reduced that to 400 terabytes. It managed the bottlenecks since the storage was moved to mNVRAM instead of mechanical devices. Unfortunately, since our staff is based on the storage size, I lost one of my coworkers because of the incredible reduction we achieved.

The main benefit of FlashArray is the speed, and the compression you can get with these boxes is insane. FlashArray's single pane of glass management is nice. It allows you to manage storage easily.

You can even review the devices from your phone. You don't need to be connected to your company's website or VPN to access alerts and reports. While you can't manage the devices using your phone, you can review all the important details about the machine. 

The device is incredibly user-friendly. To create a volume, go to "Volumes," which will give you all the options for what to do with the volume. You can go to "replications" and it will show you everything you can do with replications. It's very straightforward.

FlashArray could improve on the administrative side. For example, when you need to upgrade the boxes, we can't do that ourselves. We need to open a ticket with support and have them do that for us. You don't need to be on the call with them. We tell them we have a slot that we want to upgrade, and they send us an email when it's done. 

I'm hands-on, but I don't have a way to play with the device. In terms of troubleshooting, there isn't much to troubleshoot. I can see the logs, and that's all. I wish they had more APIs to connect to other environments. They should expand their catalog. Right now, they have the top APIs, but Pure Storage lacks APIs for small companies. They have VMware, Oracle, and the top brands. 

I have used FlashArray since 2019.

I only experienced lag once, and that was my error. I accidentally shrunk the bandwidth. After a few P1 calls, we realized it was our error. The reading and writing are pretty fast, and there are lots of logs and reports that help you diagnose the problem. We haven't had much downtime, and there is redundancy. 

Scalability is simple. You can add an array when you need more storage. 

I rate Pure Storage support eight out of 10. Pure Storage technical support resolves issues quickly. We had to open a P1 ticket because we lost a volume. They got on a call with us and had our device running in a couple of hours, but it took us 30 to 45 minutes to get an engineer. 

However, it went smoothly once we got someone on the phone. We also work closely with our account team. They provide use with tips on how to get the most out of our product

Positive

I used IBM v7000, Infinidat, and Dell Data Domain for various clients. FlashArray has advantages in terms of user-friendliness, speed, and compression. The other solutions are highly robust but use a mechanical disk. Moving to FlashArray was a game-changer. 

Infinidat can offer similar performance, but FlashArray's compression is a little better. Pure Storage is also a small machine, so it draws less power. It isn't a huge device you must put in a rack. It doesn't have a mechanical disk producing lots of heat. 

Deploying FlashArray was simple. Pure Storage had its engineers on-site to help us with the various network options. They configured the devices, so we had to connect them to the network switches and the LDAP. After that, we only needed to log in with our credentials and create the volume. 

Installing the devices and setting up volumes took a couple of weeks. It depends on your network speed because copying all that data can take a long time. With a fast network, you can set up a device in 10 to 15 minutes. We had 700 devices, but it was pretty simple once all the old data was in Pure Storage. The only post-deployment maintenance was upgrades. 

We take care of the customer's environment using three teams. One handles the storage and SAN. One is responsible for Windows, and one handles the Unix system. 

No storage device is cheap, but Pure Storage is fairly priced and offers what you pay for. You get all the licenses in the future when you purchase a license. 

They have an Evergreen program, where they upgrade your hardware every three years. It's cheaper than buying a new one. They replace the old hardware for a discount, but you have to pay for a new license for ransomware protection and a license to connect to VMware and manage all your VM farms. 

I rate Pure Storage FlashArray nine out of 10. I recommend keeping in touch with the Pure Storage team and taking advantage of the training and certification. They have good academies where you can learn how to administer the devices. 

On-premises