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Dell PowerScale (Isilon) Reviews

Vendor: Dell Technologies
4.5 out of 5
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What is Dell PowerScale (Isilon)?

Dell PowerScale leads in unstructured data management with unified file and object storage, massive scalability, security, and cloud adaptability, enhancing AI, analytics, and enterprise applications with exceptional performance and resilience.

Get the Dell PowerScale (Isilon) Buyer's Guide and find out what your peers are saying about Dell PowerScale (Isilon), Dell PowerStore, Red Hat Ceph Storage and more!
Dell PowerScale (Isilon) is the #2 ranked solution in top NAS solutions and top File and Object Storage solutions. PeerSpot users give Dell PowerScale (Isilon) an average rating of 9.0 out of 10. Dell PowerScale (Isilon) is most commonly compared to Dell PowerStore: Dell PowerScale (Isilon) vs Dell PowerStore. Dell PowerScale (Isilon) is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 63% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a computer software company, accounting for 13% of all views.
Buyer's Guide
Dell PowerScale (Isilon)
August 2025
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Dell PowerScale (Isilon) mindshare

Product category:
NAS
As of August 2025, the mindshare of Dell PowerScale (Isilon) in the NAS category stands at 17.5%, up from 17.5% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
NAS Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
Dell PowerScale (Isilon)17.5%
IBM FlashSystem12.5%
Dell PowerStore12.2%
Other57.8%
NAS

PeerResearch reports based on Dell PowerScale (Isilon) reviews

TypeTitleDate
CategoryNASAug 29, 2025Download
ProductReviews, tips, and advice from real usersAug 29, 2025Download
ComparisonDell PowerScale (Isilon) vs Dell PowerStoreAug 29, 2025Download
ComparisonDell PowerScale (Isilon) vs NetApp FAS SeriesAug 29, 2025Download
ComparisonDell PowerScale (Isilon) vs Hitachi Virtual Storage PlatformAug 29, 2025Download
Suggested products
TitleRatingMindshareRecommending
Dell PowerStore4.312.2%96%120 interviewsAdd to research
Red Hat Ceph Storage4.2N/A82%27 interviewsAdd to research
 
 
Key learnings from peers

Valuable Features

Dell PowerScale (Isilon) excels in ease of management and scalability. Users highlight its impressive performance, strong data protection, and seamless integration with various protocols like NFS and SMB. Its features, such as CloudIQ and OneFS, facilitate robust data management with policy-based tiering, data compression, and deduplication. PowerScale simplifies administration while providing high availability, resilience, and security against ransomware and cyber threats, proving invaluable for medium to large enterprises managing data at scale.
  • "Dell PowerScale (Isilon) definitely deserves ten out of ten for scalability."
  • "Dell PowerScale (Isilon) definitely deserves ten out of ten for scalability."
  • "My experience with Dell as a vendor is pretty good; they are probably one of the best in the industry."

Room for Improvement

Dell PowerScale (Isilon) could improve pricing, cloud integration, and support for small environments. Users seek enhancements in redundancy, object storage, and data protection features. A streamlined update process and better support services are desired, along with a simplified configuration. Reporting, analytics, and metadata access need advancement, while load distribution and multi-tenant management require refinement. Technical support and customer service response times could also be better, especially with hardware replacement and troubleshooting.
  • "Perhaps if there was a local chatbot built within the system or on the dashboard where we could directly ask for anything on the OneFS, it could help us."
  • "Perhaps if there was a local chatbot built within the system or on the dashboard where we could directly ask for anything on the OneFS, it could help us."
  • "They should add some new services that should be for on-premises, and more analytics should be there for the data, allowing for a deep dive from that analytics, which is currently missing."

ROI

Dell PowerScale (Isilon) users cited cost efficiency and scalability, praising its ability to reduce management complexity and free up resources. Performance improvements, especially with high-performance computing, were significant, offering increased speed and reliability. Centralized management allowed redeployment of staff to value-driven tasks. Many experienced savings in energy consumption and storage space, with some planning long-term returns on investment. Various users noted better data handling and security, attributing peace of mind to PowerScale's reliability.

Pricing

Dell PowerScale (Isilon) generally presents a high cost, with significant upfront investments, but many users consider it a fair value due to its features and ease of management. Pricing is influenced by specific needs, licensing models allow flexibility, and added features can increase costs. While not the most cost-effective, its total cost of ownership and performance capabilities justify the price for many enterprises. Some users find competitive pricing through negotiation with resellers.
  • "The pricing is excellent."
  • "It's a high-cost offering amounting to three or four million Swedish kronor, or about $400,000 or euros, for approximately 480 terabytes of storage."
  • "Dell PowerScale is expensive on the start-up side but we can recoup those costs quickly by not having to reapply the savings to other equipment."

Popular Use Cases

Dell PowerScale (Isilon) usage includes unstructured file storage, archiving large data sets, video storage, data management, and disaster recovery across various sectors. Organizations utilize it for managing petabytes of data, integrating with high-performance computing, and supporting genomic and scientific research. Its scalable architecture allows easy data sharing, storage replication, and data protection for industries like finance, healthcare, media, and education. Users benefit from centralized data management, enhanced data accessibility, and efficient backup solutions.

Service and Support

Dell PowerScale (Isilon)'s support is generally well-regarded, with users praising responsiveness and knowledge. Some reported mixed experiences, noting variability based on staff and the need for escalations. Common feedback includes fast problem resolution and strong customer service, though some flagged first-line support issues. Recent observations indicate occasional delays, possibly due to external circumstances like COVID-19. Many rely on Dell’s global support infrastructure and partnerships to access robust solutions, consistently rating support highly despite minor setbacks.

Deployment

Dell PowerScale (Isilon) setup experiences vary. Some find it straightforward, citing easy integration with existing systems and Dell's support. Others face complexities due to unfamiliarity or complex environments. Deployment times range from hours to weeks, often depending on infrastructure and prior knowledge. Many benefit from Dell's assistance, which simplifies the process. Maintenance is typically minimal once systems are running. The setup can be challenging without regular interaction, requiring careful planning and configuration.

Scalability

Dell PowerScale (Isilon) demonstrates impressive scalability, with an automatic tiering system and significant data capacity. Organizations appreciate its seamless node addition, capacity expansion ease, and integration capabilities. While some find it complex, many highlight its suitability for extensive enterprise needs, supporting numerous concurrent connections. The ability to mix different node types enhances its flexibility, further allowing for future growth without administrative complexity. Users appreciate its efficient management, performance stability, and adaptability to unpredictable storage demands.

Stability

Dell PowerScale (Isilon) exhibits exceptional stability with minimal issues. Users report almost no downtime or system crashes. Problems mainly occur with external factors or initial configurations, but these are resolved swiftly with support. It handles power irregularities and node failures without data loss, maintaining high uptime. Internally, it's managed efficiently with simple node integration. Despite minor node addition challenges and occasional support concerns, it remains a favored choice due to its robust reliability and seamless performance.
These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.
Download our Dell PowerScale (Isilon) Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business15
Midsize Enterprise16
Large Enterprise30
By reviewers
By visitors reading reviews
Company SizeCount
Small Business524
Midsize Enterprise314
Large Enterprise1447
By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
13%
Manufacturing Company
11%
Financial Services Firm
9%
Healthcare Company
8%
Government
8%
University
6%
Educational Organization
5%
Comms Service Provider
4%
Retailer
3%
Construction Company
3%
Insurance Company
3%
Energy/Utilities Company
3%
Media Company
2%
Non Profit
2%
Hospitality Company
2%
Legal Firm
2%
Real Estate/Law Firm
2%
Aerospace/Defense Firm
2%
Performing Arts
2%
Recreational Facilities/Services Company
1%
Outsourcing Company
1%
Transportation Company
1%
Pharma/Biotech Company
1%
Wholesaler/Distributor
1%
Consumer Goods Company
1%

Compare Dell PowerScale (Isilon) with alternative products

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Learn more about Dell PowerScale (Isilon)

Dell PowerScale Isilon provides a comprehensive platform for unstructured data, excelling in scalability, management, and performance. With features like single-pane management, SyncIQ, and SmartQuotas, it handles large datasets with flexibility and robust security. Its multi-protocol support and seamless expansion improve operational efficiency. While it offers strong data protection, enhancements in cloud integration, cybersecurity, and performance are sought. Users note potential for cost reductions and streamlined configurations and mention desired improvements in object storage handling and NFS support.

What are the key features of Dell PowerScale Isilon?
  • Single-pane management: Simplifies data control and monitoring through a unified interface.
  • SyncIQ: Ensures efficient data replication for business continuity.
  • SmartQuotas: Provides intelligent quota management for optimized storage allocation.
  • Multi-protocol support: Facilitates cross-platform data access and integration.
  • Seamless storage expansion: Allows effortless scaling to accommodate growing data needs.
What benefits should users consider when reviewing Dell PowerScale Isilon?
  • Operational efficiency: Reduces workload with easy management and automation.
  • Enhanced security: Offers comprehensive data protection and recovery options.
  • Scalability: Supports large-scale data storage with flexible growth capabilities.
  • Performance: Delivers high-speed data processing for demanding applications.
  • Integration flexibility: Adapts to on-prem and hybrid cloud environments for diverse deployment needs.

Organizations across industries utilize Dell PowerScale Isilon for large-scale unstructured storage, supporting applications like video archiving, genomic data storage, and high-resolution imaging. Educational institutions, research centers, and media enterprises rely on its scaled-out storage capabilities, providing centralized, secure storage for diverse applications in hybrid, cloud, and on-prem environments.

Dell PowerScale (Isilon) was previously known as PowerScale, Dell EMC Isilon.

Dell PowerScale (Isilon) customers

OMRF, University of Utah, Translational Genetics Research Institute, Arcis, Geofizyka Torumn, Cyprus E&P Corporation, Colburn School, Columbia Sportswear, Harvard Medical School, University of Michigan, National Library of France,

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Product Categories

Product Categories
NAS
File and Object Storage

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Dell PowerScale (Isilon) Reviews Summary
Author infoRatingReview Summary
Systems Engineer at Unisity LLC5.0We use Dell PowerScale (Isilon) for large data storage and retrieval, benefiting from its flexibility and scalability. Despite deployment challenges, our satisfaction with the product remains high, especially as it integrates well with our existing systems.
Pre-Sale Engineer at Arab Operators5.0I worked closely with the customer to deploy Dell PowerScale (Isilon) for surveillance archiving needs, appreciating its scalability, data protection features, and automation, though a built-in chatbot could enhance the user interface experience.
IT Manager at a government with 10,001+ employees5.0I extensively use Dell PowerScale to host forensic data, finding its multi-protocol support and performance invaluable. While planning AI integration, the anticipated OneFS updates will enhance backups. Its ROI is evident, outperforming alternatives like NetApp and HPE.
Senior Consultant at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees4.5We use Dell PowerScale (Isilon) mainly for archiving and log management. It's easy to manage, and we are satisfied due to good ROI and minimal issues. However, I'd like more on-premises services and analytics for data insights.
Storage & Data Protection Specialist at General Dynamics Land Systems4.5We use Dell PowerScale (Isilon) for SMB and NFS storage, appreciating its UI and scripting capabilities for automation. While behind on AI integration plans, it's faster and more user-friendly than previous solutions, providing a good ROI.
Senior Infrastructure Specialist at a healthcare company with 10,001+ employees4.0Our healthcare storage utilizes Dell PowerScale (Isilon) for storing radiology images since 2018. I find SyncIQ's data resilience particularly valuable. We've expanded as drive sizes increased, consolidating from our previous Windows SMB solution to optimize storage efficiently.
Director, Information & Communication Technology & Digital Transformation at a educational organization with 201-500 employees4.5For our genetics team, we needed about 4 petabytes of storage, and Dell PowerScale's capacity and scalability impressed us immediately. Although we're new to it, we've had a positive experience, despite handling our own implementation compared to using NetApp.
IT Manager at Regional Health Services4.0We use Dell PowerScale mainly for archiving as a large NAS. Its valuable features include snapshots and malware monitoring, though costs and maintenance complexity need improvement. While it provides ROI, we find Pure Storage more cost-effective and are planning a switch by 2026.