- The Dell EMC Unity XT 380F all-flash array is officially discontinued as of August 1, 2025.
- Dell recommends migrating to the Dell PowerStore family for future-ready capabilities.
- Unity XT 380F remains a solid performer for SMB workloads with predictable performance and sub-millisecond latency.
- Plan data migration early to avoid support gaps after end-of-service life (EOSL).
- Consider PowerStore or other alternatives for NVMe-ready, scalable architectures.
What’s New or Important Now
As of Dell EMC’s official announcement, the Unity XT 380F is discontinued, with sales ending August 1, 2025. Although still supported under active contracts, Dell advises customers to evaluate PowerStore for modern workloads and NVMe-based performance. This shift aligns with Dell’s roadmap to consolidate storage solutions under flexible, scale-up/scale-out architectures, as noted by IT Pro.
Buyer and Architect Guidance
The Unity XT 380F has been positioned for small-to-midsize businesses seeking high IOPS, low latency, and simplified management. Core use cases include:
- Virtualization and VDI – Handle mixed workloads with consistent performance for VMware and Hyper-V.
- Database applications – Run transactional databases without storage bottlenecks.
- File and block consolidation – Reduce footprint by replacing legacy hybrid systems.
Sizing considerations: The Unity XT 380F scales up to several hundred terabytes of effective capacity, with performance optimized for workloads under ~50K IOPS sustained. Network connectivity is typically FC or iSCSI, but no native NVMe-oF.
Trade-offs: While stable and well-integrated with Dell’s management tools, it lacks NVMe support and next-gen data reduction capabilities found in successors like PowerStore.
Comparison Table: Unity XT 380F vs Alternatives
| Model | Max Raw Capacity | Protocol Support | Performance | Lifecycle Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dell EMC Unity XT 380F | ~500 TB | FC, iSCSI | Low latency, all-flash | Discontinued (Aug 2025) |
| Dell PowerStore 500 | 1.2 PB | FC, iSCSI, NVMe/TCP | NVMe-optimized | Active |
| HPE Alletra 5000 | 800 TB | FC, iSCSI, NVMe/TCP | All-flash | Active |
| NetApp AFF A150 | 700 TB | FC, iSCSI, NVMe/FC | Cloud-integrated | Active |
Mini Implementation Guide
Prerequisites
- Rack space, power, and cooling capacity for 2U footprint.
- Networking ready for FC or iSCSI traffic (10/25GbE recommended).
- Updated Dell EMC Unisphere management software.
Steps
- Unbox and rack the Unity XT 380F, cable data and management ports.
- Power on and connect via management IP.
- Run initial configuration wizard in Unisphere.
- Provision storage pools and LUNs or file systems per workload requirements.
- Connect hosts and validate multipathing.
- Implement replication or snapshots for data protection.
Common Pitfalls
- Underestimating growth – plan headroom or migration strategy.
- Skipping firmware updates – may lead to performance instability.
- Overcommitting thin provisioning – watch pool utilization alerts.
Cost and ROI Considerations
The Unity XT 380F delivered a compelling cost per IOPS for SMBs, particularly when replacing legacy spinning disk arrays. However, investing in a system discontinued in 2025 limits long-term ROI, as post-EOSL support costs can exceed incremental benefits. A migration to a supported NVMe-capable platform may yield better total cost of ownership over a 5-year horizon.
FAQs
Is Dell EMC Unity XT 380F still supported?
Yes, under active support contracts until end-of-service life. New sales ended August 2025.
What is the recommended replacement?
Dell PowerStore is the official recommended upgrade path.
Can I still get firmware updates?
Firmware updates will be available only during the active support phase.
Does Unity XT 380F support NVMe?
No. It uses SAS back-end with SSD drives, not NVMe.
Is migration to PowerStore disruptive?
With proper planning and Dell’s migration tools, disruption can be minimized.
What workloads fit best on Unity XT 380F?
Virtualized environments, medium-size databases, and file/block consolidations are ideal.
Conclusion
The Dell EMC Unity XT 380F remains a proven all-flash storage array for SMBs in 2025, but with its discontinuation and looming EOSL, strategic planning is essential. Assess current workloads, growth projections, and integration goals to decide between maintaining your current Unity environment or moving to platforms like PowerStore that offer modern features and long-term support. For more storage-focused learning and migration guidance, visit learndell.online.