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Dell PowerPath Reviews

Vendor: Dell Technologies
4.2 out of 5
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What is Dell PowerPath?

EMC PowerPath: Host-based software for automated data path management, failover and recovery, and optimized load balancing. PowerPath automates, standardizes, and optimizes data paths in physical and virtual environments as well as cloud deployments to deliver high availability and performance.

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Dell PowerPath is the #3 ranked solution in top Storage Software solutions. PeerSpot users give Dell PowerPath an average rating of 8.4 out of 10. Dell PowerPath is most commonly compared to NetApp ONTAP: Dell PowerPath vs NetApp ONTAP. Dell PowerPath is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 73% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a healthcare company, accounting for 15% of all views.
Buyer's Guide
Dell PowerPath
September 2025
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Dell PowerPath mindshare

As of October 2025, the mindshare of Dell PowerPath in the Storage Software category stands at 16.5%, up from 10.1% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Storage Software Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
Dell PowerPath16.5%
NetApp ONTAP37.7%
DataCore SANsymphony25.0%
Other20.799999999999997%
Storage Software

PeerResearch reports based on Dell PowerPath reviews

TypeTitleDate
CategoryStorage SoftwareOct 4, 2025Download
ProductReviews, tips, and advice from real usersOct 4, 2025Download
ComparisonDell PowerPath vs NetApp ONTAPOct 4, 2025Download
ComparisonDell PowerPath vs DataCore SANsymphonyOct 4, 2025Download
Suggested products
TitleRatingMindshareRecommending
NetApp ONTAP4.337.7%98%90 interviewsAdd to research
 
 
Key learnings from peers

Valuable Features

Dell PowerPath offers advanced load balancing and superior IO metrics, enhancing operating system performance and reliability. Its migration capabilities allow seamless OS data transfers within EMC storage systems. The user interface is intuitive. It is recognized for flexibility, scalability, and ease of setup. Multipathing technologies, like Round Robin, enhance configurability and performance monitoring. Disaster recovery processes are simplified, ensuring efficient and reliable backup restorations.
  • "The solution has improved our performance, reliability, and redundancy."
  • "The product is very reliable."
  • "The most valuable feature of the solution stems from the fact that disaster recovery scenarios are very good and easy to use in Dell PowerPath since it is available in a simplified form."

Room for Improvement

Dell PowerPath has stability issues and bug challenges during OS upgrades. It lacks compatibility beyond EMC portfolios and does not support diverse storage products. Users desire a GUI for data migration. The high cost is a concern, with declining support quality after Dell's acquisition of EMC. PowerPath needs better integration with other technologies like HPE 3PAR and Dynatrace. Compatibility for older operating systems like Solaris is necessary alongside comprehensive backup reports for Linux VMs.
  • "The product must adapt to other storage technologies like HPE 3PAR."
  • "The solution should provide extensive reports on backups and backup failures."
  • "The product's price is an area of concern where improvements are required."

Pricing

Enterprise users generally find Dell PowerPath to have a fair pricing structure, often included with storage purchases, reducing additional costs. Opinions vary, with some considering it expensive, particularly for multipathing features with other operating systems, while others rate it highly, scoring eight to ten out of ten for value. Overall, pricing is viewed positively without significant concerns, acknowledging the relative expense compared to alternatives.
  • "The product is a little bit expensive."
  • "The solution is expensive."
  • "I rate the product's price an eight on a scale of one to ten, where one is affordable, and ten is really expensive. Dell PowerPath is an expensive tool."

Popular Use Cases

Dell PowerPath is utilized for multi-pathing, enhancing performance and availability across multiple operating systems including AIX, Linux, and Windows. Organizations employ it for storage, load balancing, and database I/O management, benefiting from simplified support and deployment due to its integration with Dell EMC. It eliminates dependency on multiple vendors, providing a single support point. Its ease of use and robust capabilities make it suitable for both standalone and virtual hosts.

Service and Support

Customer service and support for Dell PowerPath is praised for effectiveness, though availability is occasionally lacking. Users note a decline since the Dell and EMC joint venture, particularly in the initial support level's experience. EMC's service previously surpassed the current standard. Despite this, support is highly rated, timely, and dependable once past the initial stage. Responses are prompt, and technical assistance is often scored eight out of ten.

Deployment

Many users found Dell PowerPath's initial setup to be easy and straightforward. Some organizations required more time to complete the deployment phase, though they noted that the core installation could be done quickly. Feedback on ease of setup varied from high to moderate, with some opting for deployment on platforms like Microsoft Azure. Despite differing timelines and methods, the installation process was generally considered manageable.

Scalability

Dell PowerPath is noted for its scalability, being flexible and license-dependent. It is rated highly for scalability, often nine out of ten. Users, including medium and enterprise-sized businesses, appreciate this aspect. Teams managing hardware frequently use it, and multiple IT personnel maintain it. The licensing model allows deployment on multiple operating systems with a single open license, contributing to its perceived scalability across different business sizes.

Stability

Dell PowerPath's stability receives mixed ratings. Some rate it nine out of ten, while others rank it lower at three out of five, citing room for improvement. Feedback from clients indicates fewer issues, enhancing stability perceptions. Many users confidently rate its stability close to ten, highlighting a reliable performance in most scenarios. While labeled "quite stable" by some, the need for certain enhancements remains a concern for a few users seeking perfection.
These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.
Download our Dell PowerPath Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business3
Midsize Enterprise2
Large Enterprise2
By reviewers
By visitors reading reviews
Company SizeCount
Small Business11
Midsize Enterprise12
Large Enterprise61
By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews
Transportation Company
15%
Healthcare Company
15%
Retailer
12%
Financial Services Firm
11%
Performing Arts
6%
Government
6%
Educational Organization
5%
Manufacturing Company
5%
Construction Company
4%
Computer Software Company
4%
Real Estate/Law Firm
2%
Hospitality Company
2%
Outsourcing Company
2%
Energy/Utilities Company
2%
Insurance Company
2%
Logistics Company
1%
Media Company
1%
Non Profit
1%
University
1%
Legal Firm
1%

Compare Dell PowerPath with alternative products

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Learn more about Dell PowerPath

AUTOMATE FAILOVER/RECOVERY

PowerPath automates data path failover and recovery to ensure applications are always available and remain operational.

OPTIMIZE LOAD BALANCING

Adjust I/O paths constantly to leverage all available data paths and to monitor and rebalance the dynamic environment for the best application performance.

STANDARDIZE PATH MANAGEMENT

Simplify and standardize data path management across heterogeneous physical and virtual environments as well as cloud deployments.

Dell PowerPath was previously known as PowerPath.

Dell PowerPath customers

Healthcare Residential Service Company

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Product Categories

Product Categories
Storage Software

Popular Comparisons

Popular Comparisons
NetApp ONTAP vs Dell PowerPath Logo
NetApp ONTAP vs Dell PowerPath
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Dell PowerPath Reviews Summary
Author infoRatingReview Summary
Senior Manager of Operations at a comms service provider with 10,001+ employees4.0I use Dell PowerPath for load balancing our databases and I/Os, finding its multipathing capabilities with technologies like Round Robin valuable for optimizing service times. It requires better integration with technologies like HPE 3PAR and Dynatrace.
Co-Founder at Tech RIdge Solutions4.5I find Dell PowerPath to be a sturdy, reliable solution with excellent disaster recovery features, though its cost is high, and support quality has decreased since Dell's acquisition of EMC. Despite these concerns, the ROI is generally good.
Manager Systems and Data Center at Central Depository Company of Pakistan4.5I use Dell PowerPath primarily for backup due to its reliability, as it consistently performs well during restorations. However, it needs better reporting on backup issues and compatibility with Linux VMs. We also use solutions from HPE and IBM.
Enterprise IT Architect at ESTI Consulting Services4.5No summary available
Data Center Solution Manager at a computer software company with 51-200 employees5.0No summary available
Manager, Storage and Virtualization Infrastructure at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees3.5No summary available
Vice President - Digital Technology at MSPL Limited3.5No summary available
Head - Solution Design & Architect at a tech services company with 201-500 employees4.5I find Dell PowerPath beneficial for its OS-aware multipathing, which our clients use for storage solutions. However, it's primarily adopted by those using Unix or Linux, limiting its popularity. There aren't significant ROI details or alternative solutions noted in the review.