IBM Power Systems Reviews

Users report a significant return on investment with IBM Power Systems, especially after upgrading to POWER8. Performance enhancements, virtualization capabilities, and cost reductions, particularly in software licensing and hardware consolidation, are frequently highlighted. Improved utilization rates and increased performance per dollar spent are common benefits. Users also appreciate the system's reliability, leading to cost savings and operational efficiency, enabling them to handle more workloads with fewer resources and providing confidence in the system's scalability and robustness.

IBM Power Systems pricing varies significantly, often seen as expensive compared to other solutions like Huawei, HPE, or Dell EMC. However, many users highlight its high performance, reliability, and ROI as justifications for the cost. Licensing offers flexibility based on user needs, but setup complexity and high initial costs are concerns. While some mid-range systems provide a suitable price point for scalability, pricing depends on configurations, favoring large enterprises with substantial budgets.

• "When there is an error in the SAS drive of 10,000 RPM, my company buys support for 1,500 USD."
• "The solution's pricing is very, very high compared to other platforms."
• "It's more about the value you get for the price. Considering its stability and performance, the pricing is good."

Primary use cases of IBM Power Systems include database hosting, especially Oracle databases, core banking applications, and ERP systems. Organizations utilize it for its stability, reliability, and high availability in various industries such as banking, government, and telecommunications. Users appreciate its virtualization capabilities, performance, and capacity to handle critical applications, while entities integrate it with technologies like SAP HANA and Red Hat, facilitating diverse operational requirements across data centers and cloud environments.

Customers find IBM Power Systems' support team responsive and knowledgeable, though some report delayed resolutions when escalations are needed. Certain individuals find local support more effective. Numerous users appreciate field service representatives' expertise and promptness, especially in hardware matters. However, some face challenges due to time zone differences or outsourced first-level assistance, affecting communication. Generally, those proficient in navigating support levels experience efficient problem-solving, but feedback suggests room for enhanced initial contact and responsiveness.

Users found IBM Power Systems' initial setup generally straightforward but sometimes complex. While experienced teams manage easily, newcomers may face challenges, especially with migration tasks. IBM's involvement and professional services often simplify implementation, involving careful planning and coordination. Installation time varies, ranging from a few hours to several weeks, depending on complexity and user requirements. Familiarity with IBM's terminology and tools aids in easing the process.

Users find IBM Power Systems' scalability impressive, offering easy scaling from small to large environments with flexibility via LPARs and virtualization. Many highlight seamless upgrades from POWER8 to POWER9, adapting capacity dynamically without downtime. Organizations appreciate capacity on demand and mention that proper planning enhances scalability. Users see it as suitable for various business sizes and industries, successfully handling thousands of users while supporting needed resources, thus making it ideal for enterprise needs.

IBM Power Systems shows remarkable stability, with nearly unanimous praise from users. Many rate its performance as flawless, highlighting its ability to remain operational without outages caused by hardware or software issues. Most outages reported are due to human error or external factors like network failures. Users appreciate its reliability, describing it as superior to other platforms, and highlighting that it earns high marks for resilience, with many stating stability at a ten out of ten.