Item: IBM Storage FlashSystem
Rating: 9
Author: Verified User

Usability

The same storage is optimal to use in on-premises and compatible with the cloud vendors. This will be a win-win for the clients who have plans to move/host the data in the cloud. Due to the extreme IO-intensive storage capabilities, customers are mainly focusing to use in mission-critical applications directly hosted on the storage.

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

It is mainly targeted to cater to the needs of high-end IOs from different applications across the organization. Mainly focused on delivering mission-critical servers with low latency disk access. This helps us to reduce a significant amount of time while running jobs on various applications across different domains. The storage has been deployed to use across different divisions in the company.

Pros and Cons

Performance is the crucial element to be highlighted, as it delivers the best in class industry performance.
Guaranteed compression ratio, one of the leading in [the] industry we got a 2:1 guaranteed and it achieved as per the commitment.
Reliability is one of the main elements which works really well, even being a storewide family product it delivers [the] best reliability features.
[The] footprint is key, as it helped us to reduce our organization's 2 racks storage capacity into a 2U rack space.

Better GUI interface
Currently, [the] performance of FS7200 can't be monitored through TPC/SC, this should be considered to include in [the] future.
IBM primarily lacks in designing its products physical looks, should have designed more intrusive and attractive design. A first impression of the product creates [an] impressive opinion.

Return on Investment

There is a significant improvement for OLTP applications.
Jobs run/execution time reduced by around 70%.
Saving significant amount of cost in cooling and power.
Savings on spending management/administration cost, as the product is straightforward to maintain with in-house engineers.

Performance

One of the best-in-class storage systems in recent times, optimal in delivering state-of-the-art performance for mission-critical business applications and crucial OLTP transactions. In addition, one of the key USP of IBM Flash storage is its guaranteed compression ratio which IBM promises and if it is not achieved it will offer customers free storage. Lastly, flash array works with blazing speed with very low latency (in nano second).

Other Software Used

IBM Spectrum Control, IBM Storage Fusion, IBM Spectrum Virtualize, Extreme VCS Fabrics, IBM Storage Protect Plus, IBM Spectrum Scale

Likelihood to Recommend

Well suited: 1. High-end applications, especially in banking or core oil-related applications where latency is the key in delivering optimal results 2. It addresses the needs of [a] large footprint in the datacenter, even an SME can manage the physical capacity in a limited IT space. Less appropriate: 1. There should be a cost-effective version of Flash in [the] IBM portfolio, which helps SMB to consider/opt within their budget. 2. Marketing, as the product has not been widely marketed by IBM. This is one of the areas which needs improvement.

Users and Roles

5000 - Mainly core applications such as internal employee payroll, [a] crucial oil-related application which is primarily used for exploration, the discovery of oil using seismic data.

Support Headcount Required

2 - Majorly managed/administered by skilled staff who are trained on Storage/SAN technologies and have [been] hands-on for quite some time. But this particular model can be managed by a staff intermediate skill on storage/SAN.

Business Processes Supported

OLTP Applications
Oil discovery
Seismic data analysis
In-house applications

Innovative Uses

Future Planned Uses

Planning to use as staging space to [speed up] the backups as the environment is already equipped with high-speed data transfer from servers to storage.

Likelihood to Renew

As flash technology evolves rapidly, vendors should [adapt] to the changes and onboard them in their products. IBM is a bit slow in adopting advanced technology in [its] portfolio. Even though the current product is good, my decision is purely based on how the transformation of the product [is] being produced and supplied to [the] end-user.

Products Replaced

Yes - We had replaced our current portfolio of Flash Storage 820 with a unified [IBM FlashSystem] 7200, main reason is to consolidate the environment and reduce the footprint. Secondly, to reduce the cost and unify all the storage arrays/small xylos into a single and robust environment. Lastly, maintenance cost is the key in choosing [IBM FlashSystem] 7200 over smalled FS820 arrays.

Key Differentiators

Price
Product Features
Product Usability

Mainly we are focused on product stability/robustness along with price factor and support are the key metrics in opting for [IBM FlashSystem] 7200 over other peers in the market.

Evaluation Lessons Learned

If I get an opportunity to re-evaluate, I consider including the compression feature as the key parameter. I feel IBM products are lacking in offering compression ratio compared to peers in the market.

Implementation Rating

I was amazed by the way IBM Flash storage provides a huge amount of storage within the limited footprint, it helped us to replace big fat storage arrays, which aided in the process of moving towards lower hardware, carbon, and energy consumption footprint. We can comfortably say that Flash helped us to host applications fast with a blazing speed and user transactions are quite quick.

Implementation Details / Implementation Partner

Implemented in-house
Third-party professional services

One of the leading partner of IBM and sole distributor helped us to build our storage flash portfolio

Implementation Phases

Change Management Lessons

Change management was a minor issue with the implementation - There is nothing specific, as its a regular device replacement or addition of new hardware to the storage portfolio

Implementation Issues

No significant issues, its a smooth process

Support Rating

IBM support ecosystem is robust and well organized, due to the advent of Watson based case management system IBM offers a decent support system for the customers and the users of its products.

IBM Storage FlashSystem Customer Support Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Quick Resolution Good followup Knowledgeable team Problems get solved Kept well informed Immediate help available Support understands my problem Support cares about my success	None

Pros	Cons
Like to use Relatively simple Easy to use Technical support not required Well integrated Consistent Quick to learn Convenient Feel confident using	Lots to learn

Easy Tasks

compression is in build due to the usage of FCM modules, this is seamless to the user but a prominent feature to be highlighted
seamless data migration/copy across Flash array

Difficult Tasks

GUI should have better interface

Reliable and cost effective Flash of IBM

Modules Used

Overall Satisfaction with IBM Storage FlashSystem