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EMC Isilon Scale-Out NAS VS NetApp FAS series

Compare EMC Isilon Scale-Out NAS VS NetApp FAS series and see what are their differences

EMC Isilon Scale-Out NAS logo EMC Isilon Scale-Out NAS

Increase efficiency and agility with the powerful platform that stays simple, no matter how large your data environment.

NetApp FAS series logo NetApp FAS series

Explore NetApp data storage systems—All Flash FAS, SolidFire, FAS Series, E-Series—to discover unmatched business agility and superior application uptime.
  • EMC Isilon Scale-Out NAS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-06-24
  • NetApp FAS series Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-25

EMC Isilon Scale-Out NAS features and specs

  • Scalability
    EMC Isilon's scale-out architecture allows businesses to start small and grow their storage as needed without disrupting existing operations.
  • High Performance
    Isilon offers high throughput and low latency, which is ideal for handling big data and demanding workloads.
  • Ease of Management
    With a single file system and a unified point of management, PowerScale simplifies the management of large data volumes.
  • Data Protection
    Comprehensive data protection features, including snapshots, replication, and backup, help secure critical data.
  • Flexibility
    Supports a variety of protocols (NFS, SMB, HDFS, HTTP) and can integrate with cloud environments, offering flexible deployment options.

Possible disadvantages of EMC Isilon Scale-Out NAS

  • Cost
    The initial investment and ongoing costs can be high, making it less accessible for smaller businesses with limited budgets.
  • Complexity
    While management is simplified, the deployment and configuration can still be complex and may require specialized knowledge.
  • Vendor Lock-in
    Reliance on EMC technology can lead to vendor lock-in, which could be a concern for businesses wanting flexibility to switch providers easily.
  • Hardware Dependency
    Being tied to specific hardware configurations can limit the ability to customize or use alternative hardware solutions.

NetApp FAS series features and specs

  • Scalability
    NetApp FAS series offers a scalable architecture that allows businesses to expand their storage capacity easily as their data needs grow. This scalable solution ensures that users can adapt their storage resources without major overhauls.
  • Data Management
    The NetApp FAS series excels in data management with features like Snapshot, SnapMirror, and SnapVault, which provide robust data protection and recovery options. These capabilities enhance data resilience and availability, which are critical for business continuity.
  • Unified Storage
    Supporting both SAN (Storage Area Network) and NAS (Network Attached Storage), the NetApp FAS series delivers a unified storage solution that can accommodate multiple types of data and access protocols, making it versatile for diverse IT environments.
  • Efficiency
    With deduplication, compression, and thin provisioning, NetApp FAS series improves storage efficiency. These features help reduce the physical disk space required, lowering overall storage costs.
  • Integration Capabilities
    NetApp FAS series integrates well with cloud services through Data Fabric, facilitating seamless data transfer between on-premises and cloud environments. This integration supports hybrid cloud strategies effectively.

Possible disadvantages of NetApp FAS series

  • Complexity
    The advanced features and configurations of the NetApp FAS series can be complex to manage, often requiring specialized knowledge or training for administrators to utilize all functionalities effectively.
  • Cost
    While offering numerous features, the initial investment and licensing fees for NetApp FAS series solutions can be high, which may be a barrier for small to medium enterprises with limited budgets.
  • Upgrade Challenges
    Upgrading the system or firmware in NetApp FAS series can be complex and might require downtime or meticulous planning to ensure no disruptions occur, which can be a concern for organizations demanding high availability.
  • Performance Bottlenecks
    Though generally reliable, in certain high-demand scenarios, users might encounter performance bottlenecks, especially if the system is not optimally configured for their specific workloads.
  • Support Limitations
    While NetApp provides support, some users have reported that finding solutions to specific issues can sometimes be time-consuming, affecting quick resolution of critical storage problems.

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to EMC Isilon Scale-Out NAS and NetApp FAS series)
Cloud Storage
65 65%
35% 35
Cloud Computing
66 66%
34% 34
Object Storage
77 77%
23% 23
Storage
53 53%
47% 47

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing EMC Isilon Scale-Out NAS and NetApp FAS series, you can also consider the following products

Nutanix - Nutanix is a virtualized datacenter platform that provides disruptive datacenter infrastructure solutions for implementing enterprise-class.

HP StorageWorks MSA - Explore modular storage array (MSA) entry-level shared storage from HPE for best-in-class performance with more capacity for your small and midsize business investment.

Red Hat Ceph Storage - Red Hat® Ceph Storage is open, software-defined storage designed for object storage and cloud infrastructures. Learn more.

Hitachi VSP - Hitachi Virtual Storage Platform (VSP) G Series, a flash-powered cloud platform, reduces risks and delivers data three times faster with industry’s best 100% data availability guarantee.

Pure Storage - Pure Storage is an all-flash enterprise storage solution that accelerate random I/O-intensive applications like server virtualization, deskt

Data Domain - Data Center Backup