IBM's mid-range virtualized SAN storage system, discontinued in 2020 and succeeded by IBM FlashSystem. Support status and the replacement path for AS400/IBM i shops still running one.
- Status
- Discontinued February 12, 2020; not orderable as new
- Successor
- IBM FlashSystem (a V7000 environment typically maps to FlashSystem 7600 or 9600, capacity dependent)
- Positioning
- Mid-range virtualized SAN storage; ran IBM's Spectrum Virtualize / Storage Virtualize software stack
- Support Note
- Existing installations can still receive support based on hardware/software version; check current firmware against IBM's Storage Virtualize support statement before planning any expansion
The Storwize V7000 was IBM's mid-range virtualized SAN storage system for years, running the same Spectrum Virtualize (now Storage Virtualize) software stack found across IBM's storage line. IBM discontinued the Storwize brand on February 12, 2020, with FlashSystem as the direct successor across the range, which means a V7000 is not orderable new today even though a meaningful number of AS400/IBM i shops still have one in production attached to Power Systems hardware.
For a V7000 environment planning ahead, the honest framing is: the hardware is not necessarily an emergency if it is stable and still under support based on its current firmware level, but the replacement product line is FlashSystem, not a newer Storwize model, so a like-for-like refresh conversation should start there. A typical V7000 workload maps to a FlashSystem 7600 or 9600 depending on capacity and performance requirements; a smaller V3700 environment usually fits a smaller FlashSystem tier. Deeper FlashSystem model comparisons and sizing guidance live on FlashSystem.AS400System.com, which covers the full current FlashSystem line in more depth than a Storwize-focused page can.
Before budgeting a replacement, it is worth confirming current firmware level against IBM's published Storage Virtualize support statement, since some V7000 hardware generations have longer support runways than others depending on when they were purchased.