Infrastructure · Storage
Dell, HPE, Everpure and IBM storage, chosen against your data
Data center storage is the shared system, usually an all-flash or hybrid array, that holds the data your servers, virtual machines and backups depend on. Storcom sells and supports block, file, object and backup storage from Dell, HPE, Everpure (formerly Pure Storage) and IBM, compares them against your own capacity, performance and recovery data, and recommends one in writing.
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- Built for
- IT teams with an array nearing end of support, slow applications, a capacity crunch, or file data outgrowing its storage.
- What you get
- Dell, HPE, Everpure and IBM storage
- Block, file, object and backup storage
- Sized to your data before any quote
- 24×7×365 support after go-live
- Delivered from
- Geneva, Illinois, for Chicagoland and customers across the U.S.
Architected against your data, not a line card
Storage refreshes usually start the same way. The array is aging, applications feel slow, or the support renewal quote lands. The easy answer is a like-for-like replacement from whichever brand is already in the rack. That can mean paying for performance you don’t use, or carrying a ransomware gap into the next support term.
We start with your data instead: how much you have, how fast it grows, which workloads are sensitive to latency, and how quickly you need to recover. Then we compare platforms from more than one manufacturer and recommend the one that fits, with the reasoning written down. Storcom has done this work from Geneva, Illinois for more than 20 years.
A refresh is also the natural time to add resilience. Current arrays from all four manufacturers take immutable snapshots that an attacker can’t delete, and several also watch I/O for signs of ransomware, including IBM FlashSystem with FlashCore Module 5, Dell PowerStore and PowerMax, and the HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000. Protection arrives with the refresh instead of as a separate project.
When is it time to refresh your storage?
If two or more of these sound familiar, size a replacement before the next renewal makes the decision for you.
- The array is at or near end of support, or the quote to extend support is hard to justify.
- Users and application owners complain about slow virtual machines, reports or databases.
- Backup jobs and batch windows run long because storage can’t keep up.
- You are short on capacity and buying shelves or drives in emergency increments.
- There are no immutable snapshots, so ransomware could encrypt or delete your recovery points.
- Nothing at the storage layer would alert you to ransomware-like I/O activity.
- You run several aging arrays that could be consolidated onto one platform.
- A hypervisor change, such as moving off VMware, is about to change your storage requirements.
Which storage fits which job?
Most organizations need more than one kind of storage. This is where each manufacturer’s current products fit, and every option is sized from your own capacity and performance data.
| Job | Dell | HPE | Everpure | IBM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midrange block and file for virtual machines and databases | PowerStore | Alletra Storage MP B10000 | FlashArray//X and //C | FlashSystem 5600 and 7600 |
| Mission-critical, high-performance block | PowerMax | Alletra Storage MP B10000 | FlashArray//XL and //ST | FlashSystem 9600 |
| Entry SAN for small sites and clusters | PowerVault ME5 | MSA Gen7 and Alletra 5000 | Not carried | FlashSystem 5600 |
| Scale-out file for unstructured data | PowerScale | Alletra Storage MP X10000 | FlashBlade//S and //E | Not carried |
| S3 object storage | ObjectScale | Alletra Storage MP X10000 | FlashBlade//S and //E | Not carried |
| Backup targets and archive | PowerProtect Data Domain | StoreOnce | FlashArray//E and FlashBlade//E | FlashSystem C300 |
| Software-defined and Kubernetes storage | PowerFlex | Not carried | Portworx | Not carried |
“Not carried” means we don’t sell a product from that manufacturer for that job. The current models from each manufacturer follow.
Dell storage: which product fits?
| Product | Current models | What it is and where it fits |
|---|---|---|
| PowerScale | All-flash F210, F710 and F910; hybrid H710 and H7100; archive A310 and A3100 | Scale-out file storage (NAS) for unstructured data such as AI data sets, file shares, medical imaging, media and research. |
| PowerStore | PowerStore Elite 1500, 5500 and 9500 (third generation, available since July 2026), plus the T and Q models | Midrange all-flash block, file and vVol storage for virtual machines and databases. Dell guarantees 6:1 data reduction on third-generation systems, subject to its program terms. |
| PowerMax | PowerMax 2500 and 8500 | Mission-critical block storage for open systems and mainframe, scaling from 2 to 16 nodes, with ransomware detection in PowerMaxOS 10.4. |
| ObjectScale | X560, XF960 and X7700 | S3-compatible object storage that grew out of Dell ECS, for backup targets, archives and data lakes. |
| PowerFlex | On Dell servers, or in AWS and Azure | Software-defined block storage that scales by adding nodes, for large consolidations across hypervisors and Kubernetes. |
| PowerVault ME5 | ME5212, ME5224 and ME5284 | Entry block storage for SAN or direct-attached use: small clusters, branch sites and extra capacity for PowerEdge servers. |
| PowerProtect Data Domain | DD3410, DD6410, DD9410, DD9910 and all-flash DD9910F, plus Data Domain Virtual Edition | Purpose-built backup appliances with deduplication, often used as the isolated vault in Dell cyber recovery designs. |
Dell AIOps, formerly CloudIQ, monitors Dell storage from the cloud. Storcom also quotes support renewals and replacements for Unity XT and earlier PowerStore and PowerVault arrays.
HPE storage: which product fits?
| Product | Current models | What it is and where it fits |
|---|---|---|
| HPE Alletra Storage MP X10000 | Scale-out node clusters | Object storage with native file services for AI pipelines, analytics, data lakes and fast backup targets. |
| HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000 | Scales from two to six controller nodes, one node at a time | Unified block and file storage on HPE’s disaggregated architecture, so performance and capacity grow separately. Built-in ransomware detection creates immutable recovery points automatically. |
| HPE Alletra 5000 | 5010H, 5010, 5030 and 5050 | Hybrid flash block storage from the Nimble lineage for cost-conscious mixed workloads, monitored by HPE InfoSight. |
| HPE MSA Gen7 | MSA 2070, MSA 2072 hybrid flash and MSA 2070 flash bundles | Entry SAN storage with Fibre Channel, iSCSI or SAS connections for small sites, remote offices and small clusters. |
| HPE StoreOnce | StoreOnce Gen5 systems | Deduplicating backup appliances with immutable copies, used as a backup target for Veeam and other backup software. |
| HPE Zerto Software | Zerto 10 | Continuous data protection with near-zero recovery points and real-time encryption detection, used in Storcom’s disaster recovery designs. |
HPE GreenLake manages Alletra storage from the cloud, and HPE offers data availability guarantees and non-disruptive controller refreshes on qualifying Alletra Storage MP systems. We confirm which terms apply to your purchase.
Everpure (formerly Pure Storage): which product fits?
Pure Storage changed its company name to Everpure in February 2026. FlashArray, FlashBlade, Portworx and Evergreen keep their names.
| Product | Current models | What it is and where it fits |
|---|---|---|
| FlashBlade//S | S100, S200 R2 and S500 R2 | Scale-out file and object storage for AI data sets, analytics, research and fast backup restores. |
| FlashArray//X | //X R5 | All-flash block and file storage for mission-critical databases and virtualization. |
| FlashArray//XL | //XL R5, including the //XL190 | The largest FlashArray, for big databases, electronic health records and large consolidations. |
| FlashArray//ST | //ST | Extreme-performance block storage for in-memory databases, heavy transaction processing and logging. |
| FlashArray//C | //C R5 | Capacity-optimized all-flash that often replaces hybrid disk arrays for file shares, virtual machines and backup. |
| FlashArray//E and FlashBlade//E | //E | High-capacity flash for archives, snapshot retention, backup copies and large unstructured data repositories. |
| Portworx | Enterprise, Backup, DR and Edge | Storage, backup and disaster recovery for Kubernetes and container workloads. |
Evergreen//Forever adds a controller refresh every three years to arrays you own, and Evergreen//One delivers Everpure storage as a subscription with guaranteed service levels. SafeMode snapshots are on by default, and Pure1 monitors the fleet.
How a storage refresh with Storcom works
Discover
A discovery call, then we collect capacity, growth and performance data from your current arrays and hosts and map your recovery requirements.
Design
We compare two or three platforms, usually from different manufacturers, against your workloads, recovery objectives and budget cycle, sized for growth over the support term you plan to buy.
Implement
We handle procurement, racking, configuration and data migration, planned around your maintenance windows so production keeps running.
Manage
We monitor the system, handle support cases and renewals, and answer the phone 24×7×365. Pair the new array with immutable backup and DR so snapshots are not your only copy.
Infrastructure services from one team
Storage rarely changes on its own. These services are planned together so the pieces fit.
IBM FlashSystem
The current FlashSystem 5600, 7600 and 9600, with FlashCore Module 5 ransomware detection and Safeguarded Copy snapshots, from an IBM Partner Plus Silver partner.
Backup and disaster recovery
Veeam backup, immutable off-site copies and DRaaS, so array snapshots are never your only copy of the data.
Tailor-made servers
Dell PowerEdge, HPE ProLiant and Lenovo ThinkSystem hosts sized to your workloads and your per-core software licensing.
Data center networking
Switching, routing and wireless on Cisco and Dell, designed alongside the servers and storage they connect.
VMware alternatives
Stay and right-size, move to hosted private cloud, or re-platform. All three paths are priced before you commit.
Technology we deploy for this
IBM Partner Plus Silver partner for IBM FlashSystem storage: we size, deploy, migrate and support all-flash arrays with built-in ransomware threat detection and Safeguarded Copy snapshots.
Dell Technologies
Dell PowerStore, PowerMax, PowerScale, ObjectScale and PowerVault storage, PowerProtect Data Domain, PowerEdge servers and Dell networking, quoted with deal registration and deployed by Storcom engineers.
HPE ProLiant servers, Alletra, MSA and StoreOnce storage, and networking, configured to your workloads by Storcom and kept under support through their lifecycle.
Everpure
Everpure, formerly Pure Storage: FlashArray and FlashBlade all-flash storage with Evergreen subscriptions, sized and deployed by Storcom as one of several storage options.
Sources
- Dell PowerStore Elite announcement (May 19, 2026) Dell Technologies. Accessed .
- Dell storage products Dell Technologies. Accessed .
- HPE named a Leader in 2026 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Storage Platforms (August 21, 2026) HPE. Accessed .
- HPE MSA Gen7 Storage QuickSpecs HPE. Accessed .
- Pure Storage Becomes Everpure (February 23, 2026) Everpure. Accessed .
- Everpure FlashArray family datasheet Everpure. Accessed .
- IBM FlashSystem 5600, 7600 and 9600 announcement (February 10, 2026) IBM Newsroom. Accessed .
Frequently asked questions
Which storage brands does Storcom sell?
Storcom sells and supports storage from Dell, HPE, Everpure (formerly Pure Storage) and IBM, where it is an IBM Partner Plus Silver partner. That covers block, file, object and backup storage, from entry SAN arrays to mission-critical systems. We compare options from more than one manufacturer and explain why we recommend the one we do.
Dell, HPE, Everpure or IBM: which storage is best?
None of them is best for every environment. The right choice depends on your workloads, how well your data compresses, your recovery objectives, the servers and skills you already have, and whether you would rather buy outright or subscribe. Storcom sizes two or three options from your own data and shows the reasoning, so the decision isn’t made on brand alone.
What is the difference between block, file and object storage?
Block storage presents raw volumes to servers and suits virtual machines and databases. File storage shares folders over the network using NFS or SMB and suits user shares, imaging and media. Object storage keeps data as objects reached through an S3 API and suits backups, archives and large unstructured data sets, and most organizations use more than one.
Is Pure Storage now called Everpure?
Yes. Pure Storage changed its company name to Everpure on February 23, 2026. Product names such as FlashArray, FlashBlade, Portworx and Evergreen carry on. Storcom sells and supports Everpure storage alongside Dell, HPE and IBM.
What does modern storage do about ransomware?
Current arrays from Dell, HPE, Everpure and IBM take immutable snapshots that can’t be changed or deleted until they expire, which gives you a clean point to recover from. Several also watch I/O for signs of ransomware; IBM, for example, states that FlashCore Module 5 detects it in under a minute. Storage-level protection works best alongside immutable, off-site backups, not in place of them.
Should we renew support on our current array or replace it?
It depends on the age of the hardware, how well it performs today, and what the renewal costs. Storcom quotes support renewals as well as replacements, including for models a manufacturer no longer sells, so you can compare the cost of extending against the cost of refreshing side by side.
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