Dell PowerFlex models include R6625 and R7625 appliances on PowerEdge servers, scaling from 3 to over 2000 nodes for HCI, block, and file storage. WECENT provides these models with NVIDIA GPUs and customized configurations for AI, virtualization, and cloud workloads, delivering high-performance, resilient IT infrastructure with expert setup and global support.
What Is Dell PowerFlex?
Dell PowerFlex is a software-defined storage platform that unifies HCI, compute, and file services while scaling to hundreds of millions of IOPS. It supports AI, virtualization, and cloud workloads on PowerEdge servers such as the R760. WECENT supplies original PowerFlex models, integrating NVIDIA H100 GPUs and offering OEM customization to optimize performance and reduce total cost of ownership.
Which Dell PowerFlex Models Exist?
Key models include the 1RU R6625 with AMD processors, 2RU R7625, and rack-scale configurations on 14th-17th gen PowerEdge servers. R6625 appliances offer 32-256 cores and up to 8TB RAM, while R7625 supports 154TB of storage. WECENT stocks these models along with R670 servers for disaggregated, scale-out deployments.
| PowerFlex Model | Chassis | CPU Cores | Max RAM | Max Storage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R6625 | 1RU | 32-256 | 4096GB | 154TB NVMe |
| R7625 | 2RU | 32-256 | 8192GB | 154TB NVMe |
| Rack-Scale | Varies | Up to 256 | 3072GB | Diskless GPU |
All models are available via WECENT for enterprise deployments.
Why Choose Dell PowerFlex Models?
PowerFlex models offer scalability, 99.9999% availability, and AI-ready GPU integration, reducing management complexity. They allow independent compute and storage scaling. WECENT recommends R7625 for VDI environments with NVIDIA L4 GPUs. Over eight years, WECENT deployments have demonstrated rapid ROI for medium and large enterprises, including seamless integration with Nutanix environments.
How Do PowerFlex Models Scale?
PowerFlex scales from 3 nodes to over 2000 nodes, adding compute and storage independently without downtime. WECENT configures stretch clusters across multiple sites and leverages PowerFlex Manager for automation. This supports up to 262,000 volume mappings and enables cloud bursting and AI workload flexibility.
What Are PowerFlex Ready Nodes?
Ready Nodes are pre-validated PowerEdge servers, such as R660xs and R760, designed for plug-and-play PowerFlex deployment. VxFlex Ready Nodes include pre-installed OS on 16th-gen hardware, simplifying HCI setup. WECENT supplies customized Ready Nodes, including HPE ProLiant alternatives, with full VMware/ESXi compatibility for rapid deployment.
| Node Type | Platform | Ideal For | WECENT Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compute-Only | R7625 | AI/ML | NVIDIA B200 Ready |
| Storage Node | R660xs | HCI | NVMe-Optimized |
| GPU Node | XE9680 | VDI | RTX A6000 |
How Does PowerFlex Integrate with Servers?
PowerFlex runs on 17th-gen PowerEdge servers like the R770, unifying block and file storage through SDT protocol. It installs natively or on hypervisors and supports NVMe/RDMA fabrics. WECENT integrates with Cisco networking to maintain low-latency connections and manage up to 65,000 host connections effectively.
Can WECENT Customize PowerFlex Models?
WECENT provides customization of PowerFlex models with GPUs, SSDs, and OEM branding tailored to specific workloads such as AI or cloud computing. Services include hardware installation, integration, and global warranty support. WECENT configures R6715 servers with NVIDIA H200 GPUs or PowerScale storage for optimal performance.
WECENT Expert Views
“Dell PowerFlex models such as R7625 and rack-scale on 17th-gen PowerEdge servers redefine HCI scalability, delivering up to 240M IOPS for AI-driven enterprises. At WECENT, we integrate these systems with NVIDIA B300 GPUs to achieve sixfold throughput gains. Our OEM customizations and 8+ years of deployment experience reduce setup time by 50%, while CloudIQ monitoring ensures 99.9999% uptime for critical workloads.”
— Enterprise Solutions Lead, WECENT
What Alternatives to PowerFlex Does WECENT Offer?
WECENT offers HPE SimpliVity and Huawei storage as HCI alternatives with comparable scalability. ProLiant DL380 Gen11 servers provide flexible deployment options, and Nutanix solutions are available via Dell partnerships. WECENT provides consultation to identify the best fit for each enterprise environment.
Key Takeaways and Actionable Advice
Dell PowerFlex models deliver scalable, high-performance infrastructure. Acquire original models from WECENT to ensure reliability, expert customization, and OEM support. Evaluate workloads, request an R6625 quote, and deploy a pilot cluster. Integrate GPUs early for AI and cloud readiness. WECENT provides end-to-end support to future-proof IT deployments.
FAQs
Which PowerFlex model is best for AI?
R7625 with NVIDIA H100 GPUs from WECENT is optimized for machine learning and AI workloads.
How many nodes can PowerFlex scale to?
PowerFlex scales from 3 to over 2000 nodes, with WECENT offering tailored configurations.
Does WECENT provide warranties for PowerFlex?
Yes, all models come with full Dell manufacturer warranties, plus WECENT’s extended maintenance coverage.
Can PowerFlex run VMware environments?
Yes, PowerFlex supports native ESXi 8.0 installations and up to 32 nodes per host.
Which GPUs are compatible with PowerFlex?
NVIDIA H200 and B200 GPUs are supported, deployed via WECENT on XE7745 and R7625 servers.
What are Dell PowerFlex models?
Dell PowerFlex models are software-defined storage solutions built on PowerEdge servers. They are available as pre-configured appliances, flexible rack systems, or software-only deployments, designed for hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI), virtualized workloads, and databases with high performance using all-flash or NVMe storage.
Which servers are used for PowerFlex appliances?
Current PowerFlex appliances use PowerEdge servers such as R660, R760, and R860 with 5th Gen Intel Xeon CPUs. Previous models included R650, R750, R6525, R7525, R640, and R740xd. These pre-configured systems simplify deployment while delivering validated performance for enterprise workloads.
What deployment options does PowerFlex offer?
PowerFlex supports three main deployment types: appliances (pre-built systems), rack-scale solutions (integrated, large-scale deployments), and software-only mode (using customer-owned compatible PowerEdge servers). This flexibility allows organizations to scale capacity and performance according to their infrastructure needs.
How does PowerFlex deliver storage?
PowerFlex creates a virtual SAN from server local drives, enabling shared block and file storage. It supports hyperconverged infrastructure, virtualized environments, and database workloads while offering all-flash and NVMe-over-TCP options for low latency and high throughput.
What management tools are available for PowerFlex?
PowerFlex Manager provides orchestration, automation, and lifecycle management for appliances. It enables monitoring, configuration, and updates across nodes, ensuring predictable outcomes and simplified management for large-scale deployments.
How scalable is PowerFlex?
PowerFlex scales from small deployments of a few nodes to over 2,000 nodes. Scale-up options expand storage within a node, while scale-out clustering increases total capacity and performance across multiple appliances, supporting enterprise-grade workloads.
Can PowerFlex support GPUs?
Yes. Certain PowerFlex models and custom nodes can include NVIDIA GPUs for accelerated computing. These configurations are suitable for AI, machine learning, or GPU-accelerated workloads within a hyperconverged or rack-scale deployment.
What are the benefits of using PowerFlex?
PowerFlex provides high performance, flexibility, and scalability for enterprises. Its software-defined architecture allows efficient resource utilization, low-latency storage, and integration with virtualized environments, while supporting both block and file workloads with simplified management and future-proof expansion.