Dell PowerMax vs. IBM FlashSystem vs. Hitachi VSP One Five-Year Cost Worksheet
Compare what Dell PowerMax, IBM FlashSystem and Hitachi VSP One will cost over five years. Use one workload and put hardware, support and migration costs side by side before you pick a quote.
The lowest hardware quote can get expensive once you add a second site, migration labor and years of support. Start with the same workload for all three quotes. Then use the worksheet to see which offer costs less to run and which one leaves work for your team to cover.
Give All Three Storage Resellers the Same Workload
Write down your current usable capacity and your year-five requirement. Name the host platforms, connections and software releases you need to keep. For a busy database, include the busiest period, the mix of reads and writes, and the longest response time your application can tolerate. If you need a second copy of the data, include the recovery target and test it in the proposed design.
Ask each reseller to list raw capacity, usable capacity before compression and estimated capacity after data reduction. Measure a sample of your own data if the quote relies on compression or deduplication. Put the low-reduction case on the quote too, especially when the data arrives already compressed or encrypted.
What to pin down on each storage proposal
| Platform | Ask for the exact configuration | Check before accepting the capacity claim |
|---|---|---|
Dell PowerMax |
Name the model, node pairs, host connections and replication design. |
Have the reseller size the exact model and show how it will perform during a controller failure or failover. |
IBM FlashSystem |
Name the array, drive type, supported hosts and software features included in the order. |
Ask how the proposed configuration reduces data. Confirm capacity with the quoted media and your workload. |
Hitachi Vantara VSP One Block |
Name the exact VSP One Block model, host connections and second-site configuration. |
Show which savings assumptions apply to the quoted model and what changes if your data reduces less than expected. |
Copy This Five-Year Storage Quote Worksheet
Copy the table into a spreadsheet and replace each blank with the five-year amount from that proposal. Use the same currency and tax basis across all quotes. Enter zero for a line that is included elsewhere, and mark missing prices as pending until the reseller supplies them.
Fill in one column for each storage quote
| Cost over five years | Dell PowerMax | IBM FlashSystem | Hitachi VSP One Block |
|---|---|---|---|
Array, drives and fabric |
____ |
____ |
____ |
Software and replication |
____ |
____ |
____ |
Installation and migration |
____ |
____ |
____ |
Support and renewals |
____ |
____ |
____ |
Capacity growth and upgrades |
____ |
____ |
____ |
Power, rack and operations |
____ |
____ |
____ |
Five-year total |
____ |
____ |
____ |
Array, Drives and Fabric
Enter the price of the quoted array, drives and controllers. Include dedicated switches, optics and host adapters that the project needs. When one quote reuses existing gear, confirm it will stay supported for the full period.
Software and Replication
Add software charges that are outside the base price. Include the licenses you need at the second site and renewals for the full term. Have the reseller spell out replication, snapshots and encryption in the quote even when they are bundled.
Installation and Migration
Include installation, data copying, testing and cutover labor. Ask who pays for the period when both arrays must stay running. Price the rollback window and a test restore if your team needs them.
Support and Renewals
Add support payments through year five, including any quoted increases. Put the response commitment and covered sites next to the amount. If a renewal date or price is open, carry it as pending and ask for a written estimate.
Capacity Growth and Upgrades
Price expansion against the same forecast. Include any extra shelves, controllers or license increases. Ask what you would have to buy if your data reduces less than the quote assumes.
Power, Rack and Operations
Use your own power and rack rates. Include the same categories of internal work on each quote. If you have a required end-of-term removal or data sanitization cost, include it here.
Calculate the Five-Year Total
Add the cost rows once per quote. Show any mandatory charges that fall beyond year five separately. The totals below are made-up examples to show how a lower starting price can turn into a higher five-year cost.
Worked example using fictional quotes
| Cost group | Quote A | Quote B |
|---|---|---|
Array, drives and fabric |
$100,000 |
$125,000 |
Software and replication |
$20,000 |
$10,000 |
Installation and migration |
$25,000 |
$15,000 |
Support and renewals |
$50,000 |
$35,000 |
Capacity growth and upgrades |
$40,000 |
$20,000 |
Power, rack and operations |
$15,000 |
$15,000 |
Five-year total |
$250,000 |
$220,000 |
Send the same requirements and worksheet to each reseller. Ask for a revised quote when the scope differs, so you can see whether the price difference comes from the platform or from missing work. Use the IBM FlashSystem, Dell and HPE storage comparison if your shortlist also includes HPE.