Dell PowerStore continues to evolve with the introduction of PowerStore Elite, bringing new hardware, greater storage density, and increased performance to the PowerStore platform.
Rather than introducing an entirely separate storage family, Dell has positioned PowerStore Elite as the next generation of PowerStore. This means organizations can take advantage of newer technologies while maintaining the familiar PowerStore software and management experience.
But how does PowerStore Elite compare to PowerStore Gen2, and when does it make sense to consider one over the other?
In this guide, we'll break down some of the key differences between PowerStore Gen2 and PowerStore Elite, including storage architecture, compute and memory, connectivity, performance, data reduction, and deployment flexibility.
PowerStore Gen2 vs. PowerStore Elite Models
| PowerStore Generation | Models | Base Enclosure | Drive Support |
|---|---|---|---|
| PowerStore Gen2 |
|
2U | U.2 NVMe |
| PowerStore Elite |
|
3U | Up to 24-40 NVMe Gen5 E3.S drives* |
* PowerStore 1500 supports up to 24 drives; PowerStore 5500 and 9500 support up to 40.
While the underlying hardware has changed significantly, PowerStore Elite remains part of the broader PowerStore family. The new generation moves from a 2U to a 3U base enclosure while introducing NVMe Gen5 E3.S drives and greater drive density on the PowerStore 5500 and 9500.
Increased Storage Density with NVMe Gen5
One of the biggest differences between PowerStore Gen2 and PowerStore Elite is the underlying storage architecture.
PowerStore Gen2 uses a 2U base enclosure and can support up to 25 U.2 NVMe drives, depending on the model and configuration.
PowerStore Elite moves to a 3U base enclosure and introduces NVMe Gen5 E3.S drives. Although the appliance requires an additional rack unit, the newer architecture provides considerably more storage density.
The PowerStore 1500 can support up to 24 E3.S drives, while the PowerStore 5500 and 9500 can support up to 40 drives.
For organizations looking to consolidate more storage into a single appliance, this increased drive density can provide significantly more usable and effective capacity while maintaining an all-flash architecture.
Newer Processors and DDR5 Memory
PowerStore Elite also introduces upgrades to the compute and memory architecture.
PowerStore Gen2 uses DDR4 memory, while PowerStore Elite moves to DDR5. Combined with newer Intel processors and increased memory bandwidth, these improvements provide additional processing power for demanding storage workloads.
Greater compute and memory resources also help PowerStore Elite support improvements in areas such as data reduction and overall system performance.
For organizations running increasingly demanding databases, virtual machines, and business applications, these hardware improvements provide additional headroom as workloads grow.
Expanded Network Connectivity
PowerStore Elite also increases the connectivity options available within the appliance.
PowerStore Gen2 provides support for 16Gb and 32Gb Fibre Channel connectivity, along with up to 100Gb Ethernet on supported models.
PowerStore Elite expands those capabilities with support for up to 64Gb Fibre Channel and significantly more front-end connectivity options. Depending on the configuration, PowerStore Elite can provide up to 40 front-end ports.
These improvements give organizations more flexibility when connecting PowerStore into high-performance storage environments and scaling connectivity as infrastructure requirements change.
Higher Performance with PowerStore Elite
Performance is another major area of improvement.
The move to Gen5 NVMe provides a higher performance ceiling compared to the previous generation of NVMe technology used within PowerStore.
At the appliance level, PowerStore Elite is designed to deliver up to three times greater IOPS and throughput compared to previous PowerStore generations.
That additional performance can provide more room for organizations to consolidate workloads onto the same storage platform, including:
- Virtual machines
- Databases
- Business-critical applications
- High-performance workloads
- Data-intensive environments
Rather than focusing only on raw storage capacity, the increased performance allows organizations to support more workloads while maintaining room for future growth.
Improved Data Reduction
Data reduction has long been an important capability within the PowerStore platform.
PowerStore Gen2 offered a 5:1 data reduction guarantee for qualifying workloads. With PowerStore Elite, Dell has increased that guarantee to 6:1 for qualifying block data.
Actual data reduction can vary depending on the workload, and file data does not qualify for the guarantee. However, the improvement can help organizations increase effective storage capacity without simply adding more physical drives.
Combined with the increased drive density of the PowerStore 5500 and 9500, data reduction can significantly expand the amount of effective capacity available within a single appliance.
TLC vs. QLC Storage Options
PowerStore Elite continues to provide options for organizations that prioritize either maximum performance or greater capacity and cost efficiency.
TLC, or triple-level cell, stores three bits of data per memory cell. It generally provides higher performance, lower latency, and greater endurance.
QLC, or quad-level cell, stores four bits per memory cell. This allows organizations to achieve greater storage capacity at a lower cost per terabyte while still taking advantage of NVMe technology.
For workloads that don't require the highest possible NVMe performance, QLC can provide a balance between capacity, performance, and cost.
The right option ultimately depends on the workload and how heavily an organization prioritizes performance versus storage economics.
A Familiar PowerStore Management Experience
Although PowerStore Elite introduces significant hardware changes, the software experience remains similar.
PowerStore Elite continues to use the PowerStore operating system, allowing administrators familiar with existing PowerStore environments to manage the newer appliances without learning an entirely different storage platform.
Organizations can continue managing unified block and file storage directly through PowerStore while taking advantage of the newer hardware underneath.
For existing PowerStore customers, this can simplify adoption and reduce the operational impact of introducing the next generation into the environment.
Can PowerStore Gen2 and PowerStore Elite Work Together?
Moving to PowerStore Elite doesn't necessarily mean replacing existing PowerStore infrastructure.
PowerStore is designed to provide flexibility across generations. Organizations can deploy PowerStore Elite alongside existing Gen2 appliances and, depending on the environment, use different models and generations within the broader PowerStore architecture.
This gives organizations several options when modernizing their storage.
An existing Gen2 appliance could continue supporting current workloads while PowerStore Elite is introduced for applications requiring greater performance or capacity. Gen2 systems could also potentially be repositioned for secondary environments while newer appliances handle more demanding primary workloads.
The goal doesn't have to be an immediate rip-and-replace strategy.
PowerStore Gen2 or PowerStore Elite: Which Is Right for You?
PowerStore Elite brings substantial improvements in performance, density, connectivity, memory, and data reduction, but that doesn't automatically make PowerStore Gen2 the wrong choice.
For environments with demanding workloads, rapid data growth, or greater performance requirements, PowerStore Elite provides a higher ceiling and access to newer storage technologies.
For organizations whose existing workloads don't require those capabilities, PowerStore Gen2 can still provide a strong combination of NVMe performance, data reduction, and flexible storage.
The right platform depends on factors such as:
- Current storage utilization
- IOPS and throughput requirements
- Capacity growth
- Application and database workloads
- Virtualization requirements
- Network connectivity
- Budget
- Long-term infrastructure plans
Understanding those requirements before selecting a platform can help prevent both overprovisioning and underestimating future storage needs.
Find the Right PowerStore for Your Environment
Choosing between PowerStore Gen2 and PowerStore Elite isn't simply about selecting the newest generation. It's about matching storage performance, capacity, connectivity, and scalability to the requirements of your environment.
xByte Technologies' Solutions Architects can help evaluate your existing infrastructure and determine which PowerStore platform and configuration best fits your workloads.
Using tools such as Live Optics, our team can help assess current performance and capacity requirements and identify a storage solution designed to support both today's workloads and future growth.
