IBM FlashSystem Enterprise Storage Models

IBM FlashSystem is an enterprise storage platform designed to provide high-performance, cyber-resilient, all-flash storage for organizations of every size. Built around NVMe flash technology and powered by IBM Storage Virtualize software, the platform combines exceptional performance, AI-assisted management, advanced data protection, and non-disruptive scalability within a common operating environment. Unlike many storage vendors that require customers to learn different operating systems for different models, every modern IBM FlashSystem shares the same software foundation. This allows organizations to start with an entry-level system and expand to enterprise-class storage without changing management tools, replication methods, or disaster recovery procedures. The IBM FlashSystem family supports traditional enterprise applications, virtualization, databases, containerized workloads, AI infrastructure, backup repositories, hybrid cloud deployments, and cyber recovery environments.

Current IBM FlashSystem Portfolio

IBM FlashSystem 9600 5078-A40
The IBM FlashSystem 9600 5078-A40 is IBM's flagship enterprise NVMe storage array, engineered for the largest and most demanding business-critical workloads. It combines ultra-low latency, high throughput, AI-assisted management, integrated cyber resilience, and extreme scalability in a compact 2U platform. Built on the IBM Storage Virtualize software stack, the FlashSystem 9600 is designed to consolidate large storage environments while simplifying management across on-premises and hybrid cloud infrastructures. The IBM FlashSystem 9600 features an all-NVMe architecture supporting up to 32 EDSFF NVMe drives, with Dual active-active node canisters for continuous availability.

IBM FlashSystem 9600 Performance Specifications
Maximum IOPS: Up to 6.3 million
Maximum Read Bandwidth: 86 GB/s
Memory: 1.5 TB or 3 TB
Processors: Dual AMD EPYC (48 cores each)
Maximum Effective Capacity: 11.8 PB (single enclosure)
FlashSystem Grid Capacity: Up to 377 PB effective

IBM FlashSystem 7600 5075-A30
The IBM FlashSystem 7600 5075-A30 is a high-performance, enterprise-class NVMe storage system that bridges the gap between IBM's compact midrange arrays and its flagship enterprise platforms. Designed for organizations with demanding mixed workloads, large virtualization environments, and business-critical databases, the FlashSystem 7600 delivers exceptional performance, advanced cyber resilience, and enterprise data services in a compact 2U form factor. The IBM FlashSystem 7600 features an all-NVMe storage enclosure, supports up to 32 EDSFF NVMe drives and has a dual active-active controller.

IBM FlashSystem 7600 Performance Specifications
Response Times: sub-50 microsecond
Maximum IOPS: Up to 4.3 million (4K read)
Maximum Read Bandwidth: 55 GB/s
Memory: 768 GB or 1.5 TB
Effective Capacity (Single Enclosure): 7.2 PB
FlashSystem Grid Capacity: Up to 230 PB effective
Maximum I/O Ports: 32

IBM FlashSystem 5600 5127-A20
The IBM FlashSystem 5600 5127-A20 is IBM's entry-level enterprise all-NVMe storage array, supports up to 12 flash drives, has dual active-active controllers and designed for organizations that need enterprise-class performance, cyber resilience, and advanced data services in a compact, cost-effective platform. The IBM FlashSystem 5600 has a 1U rack-mounted enclosure and is ideal for edge deployments, remote offices, departmental workloads, and small to mid-sized data centers while delivering the same IBM Storage Virtualize software found in higher-end FlashSystem models.

IBM FlashSystem 5600 Performance Specifications
Maximum IOPS (4K Read): Up to 2.6 million
Maximum Read Bandwidth: 30 GB/s
Memory: 256 GB or 512 GB
Maximum Effective Capacity (Single Enclosure): 2.4 PB
Effective Capacity with FlashSystem Grid: Up to 77 PB
Maximum Host Ports: 16

IBM FlashSystem 9500 4983-AH8, 4666-AH8, 4666-UH8, 4983-AFF, 4666-AFF, 4983-A9F, 4666-A9F
The IBM 9500 FlashSystem is designed for mission-critical environments, it delivers extremely low latency, massive throughput, and petabyte-scale capacity using fourth-generation FlashCore Modules. Typical workloads include:

IBM FlashSystem 9500 Performance Specifications
Maximum IOPS (4K read hit) : Up to 6.3 million IOPS
Maximum IOPS (4K read miss): Up to 2.5 million IOPS
Maximum Read Bandwidth: Up to 100 GB/s
Read Latency: As low as 50 microseconds
Effective Capacity: Up to 6.6 PB per enclosure
Drive Support: Up to 48 all-NVMe FlashCore Modules
Host Connectivity: 32/64 Gb Fibre Channel, NVMe/FC, 25/100 Gb Ethernet with NVMe/TCP and iSCSI

IBM FlashSystem 7300 4657-924, 4657-12G, 4657-24G, 4657-92G
The IBM 7300 FlashSystem targets organizations that require enterprise capabilities without the scale of the 9500. It delivers nearly all of the advanced software functionality found in IBM's flagship systems while offering a more cost-effective platform for mid-sized enterprises.

IBM FlashSystem 7300 Performance Specifications
Maximum IOPS: Up to 2.3 million IOPS (4K random read)
Maximum Read Bandwidth: Up to 35 GB/s
Read Latency: As low as 70 microseconds
Drive Support: Up to 24 NVMe FlashCore Modules
Storage Class Memory (Optional): Supported for even lower latency

IBM FlashSystem 5300 4662-7H2, 4662-12G, 4662-24G, 4662-92G
The IBM 5300 FlashSystem is IBM's compact performance platform. Despite its 1U footprint, it delivers enterprise-class latency and advanced data services while serving as the entry point for FlashCore Module technology.

IBM FlashSysgtem 5300 Performance Specifications
Maximum IOPS: Up to 2.2 million IOPS
Maximum Read Bandwidth: Up to 28.6 GB/s
Read Latency: Under 50 microseconds
Drive Support : Up to 12 NVMe FlashCore Modules
Effective Capacity: Up to 1.8 PB with data reduction
Connectivity: 32 Gb Fibre Channel, NVMe/FC, iSCSI, NVMe/TCP

IBM FlashSystem C200 5202-C25
The IBM C200 FlashSystem is optimized for capacity rather than maximum performance, and uses economical high-capacity QLC FlashCore Modules, it provides economical flash storage for active and historical archives, backups, media libraries, compliance data and large unstructured datasets.

IBM FlashSystem C200 Performance Specifications
Maximum IOPS: Up to 200,000 IOPS
Maximum Read Bandwidth: Up to 23 GB/s
Typical Read Latency: 1–2 milliseconds
Drive Support: 24 IBM FlashCore® Module (QLC) drives
Raw Capacity : Up to 1.1 PB
Effective Capacity: Up to 2.3 PB with compression
Memory: 256 GB cache

IBM FlashSystem 5045 4680-3P2, 4680-3P4
The IBM FlashSystem 5045 is an entry-level system designed for organizations seeking affordable shared storage. Unlike the all-flash FlashSystem models, the 5045 FlashSystem supports hybrid configurations of SSDs and traditional SAS hard drives, making the 4680-3P2 and 3680-3P4 models and ideal SAN for small business and remote offices, file sharing and basic storage virtualization use cases.

IBM 5045 Performance Specifications
Maximum IOPS: Up to 1.2 million IOPS
Maximum Read Bandwidth: Up to 12 GB/s
Minimum Latency: Under 70 microseconds
Maximum Cache: Up to 128 GB
Maximum Effective Capacity: Up to 550 TB per control enclosure
Drive Support : SAS SSDs, SAS HDDs, or hybrid configurations
Connectivity: 16 Gb Fibre Channel, 10 Gb iSCSI, 12 Gb SAS

IBM FlashSystem 5015 4680-2P2, 4680-2P4
The IBM FlashSystem 5015 is an entry-level storage system that offers affordable shared storage. The 4680-2P2 and 4680-2P4 models support hybrid configurations using SSDs and traditional SAS hard drives, making them a suitable SAN  for small business and remote offices, file sharing and basic storage virtualization use cases.:

IBM FlashSystem 5015 Performance Specifications
Maximum IOPS: Up to 400,000 IOPS (all-flash configuration)
Maximum Bandwidth: Up to 8 GB/s
Minimum Latency: Under 70 microseconds (all-flash)
Memory (Cache): 32 GB or 64 GB
Maximum Drive Support: Up to 392 drives with expansion enclosures
Connectivity: 16 Gb Fibre Channel, 10 Gb iSCSI, 12 Gb SAS
Core Technologies Across the FlashSystem Family

Legacy IBM FlashSystem Models
IBM continues to support many earlier FlashSystem platforms through maintenance programs. Midland offers a large array of older IBM FlashSystem models of which include warranty and support. IBM FlashSystems can be purchaded as custom configured storage systems that meet your specific requirements, features may be purchased separately for FlashSystem upgrades, and parts may be purchased to repair an existing FlashSystem. Earlier generation FlashSystem models are listed below:

• FlashSystem 5010 Models: 2072-2H2, 2072-2H4
• FlashSystem 5015 Models: 2072-2N2, 2072-2N4, 2072-W12, 2072-W24, 4662-2N2, 4662-2N4, 4662-W12, 4662-W24, 4680-2P2, 4680-2P4
• FlashSystem 5035 Models: 2072-3N2, 2072-3N4, 2027-12G, 2027-24G, 2027-92G, 4680-92H
• FlashSystem 5100 Models: 2077-4H4, 2078-4H4, 2078-UHB 2078-4H4 2077-424, 2078-424, 2077-AF4, 2078-AF4
• FlashSystem 5200 Models: 2072-6H2, 2072-UH6, 4662-6H2, 4662-UH6, 4662-Y12
• FlashSystem 7200 2076-824, 2076-U7C, 2076-12F, 2076-24F, 2076-92F
• FlashSystem 9200 9846-AG8, 9848-AG8, 4666-AG8, 9846-AFF, 9846-A9F
• FlashSystem 9110-AF7 Models: 9846-AF7, 9848-AF7,
• FlashSystem 9150-AF8 Models: 9846-AF8, 9848-AF8, 9846-AFF, 9848-AFF, 9848-A9F
• FlashSystem 900 Models: 9840-AE1, 9840-AE2, 9840-AE3, 9843-AE3, 9845-AE3
• FlashSystem A9000 Models: 9836-415, 9836-425, 9838-415, 9838-425
• FlashSystem V9000 Models: 9846-AC2, 9848-AC2, 9846-AC3, 9846-AE2, 9848-AE2, 9846-AE3, 9848-AE3, 9846-24F, 9848-12F, 9848-24F

These IBM FlashSystems introduced technologies such as IBM Spectrum Virtualize (now Storage Virtualize), NVMe support, inline compression, and enterprise replication. Many remain in production but generally offer lower performance, reduced scalability, and fewer cyber-resilience features than current models.

Organizations still running these systems should evaluate upgrade paths to the FlashSystem 5300, 7300, or 9500 to take advantage of FlashCore Module Gen4 technology, FlashSystem Grid, AI-driven management, and enhanced ransomware protection.

IBM FlashSystem has evolved from a family of high-performance flash arrays into a unified enterprise storage platform that combines speed, resilience, intelligence, and operational simplicity. Whether deploying an entry-level hybrid array, a compact all-NVMe system, or a flagship enterprise platform, organizations benefit from the same Storage Virtualize software, Storage Insights analytics, and integrated cyber-resilience technologies.

For businesses modernizing storage infrastructure, consolidating legacy arrays, or preparing for AI-driven workloads, IBM FlashSystem provides a scalable path from small departmental deployments to multi-petabyte enterprise environments while maintaining a consistent management experience and investment protection across the entire product family.