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IBM XIV Reviews

Vendor: IBM
3.8 out of 5
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What is IBM XIV?

IBM XIV is a high-end, grid-scale storage system that excels in tuning-free consistent performance, ease of use and exceptional data economics, including inline, and IBM Real-time Compression. IBM XIV is ideal for hybrid cloud, offering predictable service levels for dynamic workloads, simplified scale management, including in multi-tenant environments, flexible consumption models — and robust cloud automation and orchestration through OpenStack, RESTful API and VMware. It offers security and data protection through hot encryption, advanced mirroring and self-healing and investment protection with perpetual licensing.

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IBM XIV is the #10 ranked solution in top Modular SAN (Storage Area Network) solutions. PeerSpot users give IBM XIV an average rating of 7.6 out of 10. IBM XIV is most commonly compared to IBM FlashSystem: IBM XIV vs IBM FlashSystem.
Buyer's Guide
Modular SAN (Storage Area Network)
August 2025
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IBM XIV mindshare

As of August 2025, the mindshare of IBM XIV in the Modular SAN (Storage Area Network) category stands at 1.2%, up from 1.0% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Modular SAN (Storage Area Network) Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
IBM XIV1.2%
HPE MSA20.0%
IBM FlashSystem18.5%
Other60.3%
Modular SAN (Storage Area Network)
 
 
Key learnings from peers

Valuable Features

IBM XIV offers set-it-and-forget-it storage, featuring predictable latency, excellent capacity, and high reliability. Users appreciate its ease of operation and no-license-required policy. The system efficiently uses RAM, flash assist, and disk drives. Storage management is facilitated by SAN volume controllers. IBM XIV is valued for its NVME features, supporting de-duplication, compression, and responsiveness. Implementing remote mirroring and local snaps is straightforward, and ensuring data availability utilizes all backend spindles effectively.
  • "IBM XIV's most valuable features are NVME, especially when it comes to de-duplication, compression, and responsiveness."
  • "The performance and robustness of the systems are very good."
  • "Hands down, this is the easiest storage platform on the market to manage."

Room for Improvement

IBMXIV could improve in terms of cost-effectiveness, despite offering valuable features such as snapshots. Speed and latency need enhancement to compete with faster systems like A9000R. Management accessibility is hindered by a Java-based client, preferring a direct web GUI and SSH-accessible CLI. Disk replacement delays affect pool resizing. It struggles with latency-sensitive applications, and lacks an SSD tier. Issues exist with power supplies, expansion, and sync-to-async mirroring reconfiguration.
  • "IBM XIV's scalability is adequate for our requirements, but because it's modular, you can't scale to larger requirements."
  • "Until the drive is replaced, the pool_resizing is locked."
  • "I would rather have a web GUI served directly from the unit, and a CLI accessible directly through SSH."

Pricing

IBM XIV users report substantial discounts, especially for predominantly IBM environments, with reduced unit pricing when using SVC without advanced copy services. They find licensing straightforward and appreciate the ability to negotiate pricing effectively. Users typically follow a five-year total cost of ownership model, involving an initial payment followed by annual maintenance fees. Pricing and setup costs are seen as flexible and competitive for enterprise buyers evaluating IBM XIV.
  • "We have a five-year total cost of ownership where we pay an initial amount and then annually for maintenance."
  • "No-license-required policy, unlike others where you need a license for everything. Just pay once and forget about licenses."
  • "If you are going to use the product behind an SVC, IBM will price the units lower, since you are likely not to use any of the advanced copy services."

Service and Support

IBM XIV customer service and support receive generally positive feedback. Users mention effective disk drive and firmware handling by IBM's support center. Multiple users describe the support as really good or very good, praising the technical assistance and established contacts. Some note challenges in obtaining support despite the presence of an IBM support system, characterizing it as average. Overall sentiment suggests satisfaction with IBM XIV's technical support, highlighting the firm's competence in firmware upgrades and issue resolution.

Deployment

Users found IBM XIV's initial setup to be straightforward and easy, with some describing it as amazingly simple. With existing power and networking connections, configurations can be completed in just a couple of hours. They effectively utilize six ports per fabric, seamlessly handling cabling, zoning, and recommended procedures. Setup is managed efficiently, ensuring quick data reception upon placement in the datacenter, and those using XIV are accustomed to setting up arrays effortlessly.

Scalability

IBM XIV offers scalability with its modular approach, providing ample usable storage per rack. Users highlight its integration with SVC for seamless expansion. Active port availability is based on capacity ordered, with some limitations noted in large-scale deployments. Scalability is deemed suitable for typical needs, although it may not meet very large requirements.

Stability

IBM XIV is often described as stable with many users noting no outages or failed drives. Some highlight a singular FC port issue among several units, which is considered minor. Other users have faced stability issues during disk rebuild and power supply malfunctions due to circuit problems. Occasionally, "internal" Snap sessions hang, consuming pool capacity. Despite these instances, users generally regard IBM XIV as stable.
These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.
Download our Modular SAN (Storage Area Network) Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

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Learn more about IBM XIV

IBM XIV was previously known as XIV.

IBM XIV customers

Celero, NaviSite, Technische Universit_t Mªnchen, Netflix Inc., Muhr und Bender KG, Pelephone Communications

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IBM XIV Reviews Summary
Author infoRatingReview Summary
IT Operation Engineer at HNB3.5No summary available
Sr. System Administrator at a tech services company with 11-50 employees4.0No summary available
Systems Engineer II at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees2.5No summary available
Senior Storage Engineer with 10,001+ employees4.0No summary available
Systems Engineer V, Enterprise Storage Systems at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees4.0No summary available
Sr. Systems Programmer at Sharp5.0No summary available