Maven Services
Dell Stopped Supporting VNX. We Haven’t.
Every VNX, VNX2, and VNXe model is past Dell’s end of service life. Maven keeps them running with the same Level 3 and Level 4 expertise they had on day one.
The EMC VNX was one of the most successful midrange storage platforms ever built. Introduced in 2011 as the successor to the legendary CLARiiON SAN and Celerra NAS, VNX combined block and file storage into a unified architecture that became the backbone of thousands of enterprise data centers worldwide. The VNX2 series followed in 2013 with improved processors, enhanced Unisphere management, and better flash optimization. And the VNXe brought the same architecture to small and mid-sized environments at a lower price point. But Dell has moved on. Every VNX, VNX2, and VNXe model has reached end of service life, Dell provides zero support, zero parts, and zero software updates. For the many organizations still running VNX in production, whether for primary workloads, secondary storage, DR targets, or legacy applications, Maven IT Solutions provides the expert third-party maintenance that keeps these platforms running reliably. Our W2 Level 3 and Level 4 engineers know FLARE, MCx, and Unisphere inside out, with response times under 15 minutes and savings of up to 70% versus what your last Dell contract cost.
Every VNX Model Is Past EOSL. Here’s What That Actually Means.
When Dell declares a product end of service life, the consequences are immediate and absolute:
No Dell support at any price.
You cannot buy a Dell support contract for any VNX model. If something fails, Dell’s answer is “buy Unity” or “buy PowerStore.”
No OE or firmware updates.
Dell no longer releases FLARE, MCx, or Unisphere updates for VNX. Any bugs, performance issues, or compatibility gaps in your current software version are permanently yours to manage.
No Dell parts availability.
Dell’s spare parts pipeline for VNX is closed. If a storage processor, I/O module, or DAE fails, Dell won’t sell you a replacement.
Audit and compliance risk.
Many organizations’ compliance frameworks (SOC 2, HIPAA, PCI-DSS, etc.) require that production storage systems be covered by a maintenance agreement. Running VNX without a support contract creates a gap that auditors will flag.
Despite all of this, VNX arrays continue to run (reliably) in thousands of environments. The hardware was built to last, and organizations that have invested in VNX don’t need Dell’s permission to keep using it. They need a support partner who can maintain it.
VNX Was Built on CLARiiON and Celerra DNA. Our Engineers Know All Three.
VNX isn’t just a storage array, it’s a unified platform that inherits its block-side architecture from CLARiiON (FLARE OS, later MCx) and its file-side architecture from Celerra (DART OS, later unified into VNX OE). When a VNX issue surfaces, it could be a block-side LUN alignment problem, a file-side data mover failover, a Unisphere management plane issue, or a hardware fault in the DPE or DAE enclosure. Most TPM providers treat VNX as generic break/fix hardware. Maven’s engineers understand the full architectural lineage.
| Capability | Typical TPM Provider | Maven IT Solutions |
|---|---|---|
| First Contact | Level 1 call center | Level 3/4 VNX storage engineer |
| Response Time | 1–4 hour SLA | Under 15 minutes |
| OS Support | Hardware only | FLARE, MCx, DART, Unisphere troubleshooting |
| Block + File Expertise | Basic disk replacement | LUN management, data mover, NAS head troubleshooting |
| Parts Availability | Limited / aging inventory | Deep VNX parts inventory: SPs, I/O modules, DAEs, drives |
| CLARiiON/Celerra Knowledge | None | Full lineage: CLARiiON FLARE through VNX2 MCx |
| Engineers | 1099 contractors | Full-time W2 employees |
| Cost vs. Last OEM Contract | 30–40% savings | Up to 70% savings |
Every VNX Model. Every Generation. Fully Supported.
VNX Series (Gen 1): All Past EOSL
| Model | Tier | Launched | EOSL |
|---|---|---|---|
| VNX5100 | Entry midrange | 2011 | Dec 2020 |
| VNX5300 | Midrange | 2011 | Dec 2020 |
| VNX5500 | Upper midrange | 2011 | Dec 2019 |
| VNX5700 | Enterprise midrange | 2011 | Dec 2019 |
| VNX7500 | Enterprise | 2011 | Dec 2019 |
VNX2 Series: All Past EOSL
| Model | Tier | Launched | EOSL |
|---|---|---|---|
| VNX5200 | Entry midrange | 2013 | ~2023 |
| VNX5400 | Midrange | 2013 | ~2023 |
| VNX5600 | Upper midrange | 2013 | ~2023 |
| VNX5800 | Enterprise midrange | 2013 | ~2024 |
| VNX7600 | Enterprise | 2013 | ~2024 |
| VNX8000 | Top-end enterprise | 2013 | ~2024 |
| VNX-F | All-Flash (VNX2-based) | 2014 | ~2024 |
VNXe Series: All Past EOSL
| Model | Tier | Launched | EOSL |
|---|---|---|---|
| VNXe3100 | SMB / ROBO | 2011 | ~2019 |
| VNXe3150 | SMB / ROBO | 2012 | ~2020 |
| VNXe3200 | SMB / midrange | 2014 | ~2023 |
| VNXe3300 | Midrange | 2012 | ~2021 |
What’s Included in Maven VNX Support
Hardware Maintenance
- 24x7x365 break/fix support with under 15-minute initial response
- On-site field service engineers with VNX-specific parts inventory
- Deep parts stocking: storage processors (SPs), I/O modules, disk processor enclosures (DPEs), disk array enclosures (DAEs), power supplies, back-end bus cabling, and all drive types (SAS, NL-SAS, Flash)
- Support for all VNX form factors: 15-slot and 25-slot DPEs, all DAE expansion shelves (DAE-60, DAE-15S, etc.)
- Proactive monitoring for drive predictive failures, SP faults, battery backup unit (BBU) degradation, and environmental alerts
- VNXe appliance support including integrated file and block configurations
Operating Environment & Software Support
- FLARE OS (VNX Gen 1) and MCx OS (VNX2) troubleshooting and optimization
- DART / VNX OE file-side support for NAS heads and data movers
- Unisphere management console support, configuration, monitoring, alerting, and reporting
- Block-side support: LUN creation, storage pool management, RAID group configuration, MetaLUN management, and thin provisioning
- File-side support: CIFS/SMB shares, NFS exports, data mover configuration, NDMP backup, and replication
- FAST VP automated tiering policy configuration and troubleshooting
- FAST Cache SSD read cache configuration and optimization
- MirrorView (synchronous and asynchronous) replication support and failover/failback operations
- RecoverPoint integration assistance for VNX-based continuous data protection
- SnapView and VNX Snapshots configuration and management
- SAN Copy and Storage Migration Wizard for data mobility operations
Service Delivery
- Direct access to Level 3 and Level 4 engineers on first contact
- All engineers are full-time W2 employees with VNX and legacy EMC storage specialization
- Customized SLAs: 24x7x4hr, 9x5xNBD, or tailored to your environment
- US-based TAC, 24x7x365
- Customer portal for ticket tracking and asset management
- Single contract covering VNX alongside other Dell EMC platforms (Unity, VxRail, Data Domain, Isilon, etc.)
VNX Problems Maven Engineers Solve Every Day
VNX’s unified architecture means the troubleshooting surface spans both SAN and NAS functionality, plus the management plane. Maven’s engineers handle the full range of VNX issues:
- Storage processor (SP) failover and recovery, including forced trespass scenarios and SP replacement procedures that require FLARE/MCx rebuild
- Storage pool performance degradation across mixed SSD, SAS, and NL-SAS tiers
- LUN alignment and performance issues, particularly for VMware VMFS datastores and Microsoft Hyper-V CSV workloads
- NFS export configuration issues, access control, and stale mount recovery
- RAID group rebuild management after drive failures, including hot spare activation and proactive copy operations
- BBU (battery backup unit) replacement procedures with proper cache vault protection
- Data mover (NAS head) failover failures, standby data mover promotion, and file system recovery
- FAST VP tiering policy conflicts and data placement optimization issues
- CIFS/SMB authentication failures, Kerberos delegation issues, and Active Directory integration problems on VNX file-side
- MirrorView replication session recovery after link failures, including fractured image resolution and incremental resync
- Unisphere management connectivity failures, certificate issues, and statistics collection problems
- Migration planning assistance for organizations moving workloads from VNX to Unity, PowerStore, or competitor platforms
From CLARiiON to Unity: Maven Supports the Entire Family Tree
VNX didn’t appear in a vacuum. It was built on the CLARiiON block storage architecture (FLARE OS) and the Celerra NAS architecture (DART OS), and it evolved into Unity. Many organizations still run multiple generations of this platform family in production:
- CLARiiON CX and CX4: The block-side predecessor. FLARE OS, Navisphere management. All models well past EOSL.
- VNX / VNX2 / VNXe: The unified platform. Combined CLARiiON block and Celerra file into a single architecture with Unisphere management. All models past EOSL.
- Celerra NS and NX: The file-side predecessor. DART OS, dedicated NAS heads. All models well past EOSL
- Unity / Unity XT: The successor. Same architectural DNA, updated hardware and OS. Original Unity models hitting EOSL; Unity XT AFA end of sale announced.
Maven supports every generation of this lineage under a single contract. Whether you’re running a CLARiiON CX4 in a lab, VNX5600s in production, and Unity XT in your primary data center, Maven covers the full estate with one phone number and one invoice. Our engineers have worked across the entire EMC midrange lineage, which means they understand how these platforms relate, and how to troubleshoot issues that span the architectural transition points between generations
Dell Wants You to Rip and Replace. Maven Gives You Options.
Dell’s position on VNX is simple: buy something new. Unity, PowerStore, or a competitive platform, Dell doesn’t care, as long as you stop running VNX. But the reality for most organizations is that a storage platform replacement is a six- to twelve-month project involving procurement, data migration, application re-testing, and change management. That’s time and budget that may not be available right now.
Maven’s VNX maintenance contracts give you breathing room. At 50–70% less than what your last Dell ProSupport contract cost, Maven keeps your VNX arrays running reliably while you plan your next move on your timeline. Many of our customers use the savings from Maven’s support to fund their eventual migration: turning a forced, rushed upgrade into a planned, strategic transition.
Frequently Asked Questions: VNX & VNX2 Maintenance
All VNX models are past EOSL. Can Maven really still support them?
Yes, this is exactly what third-party maintenance exists for. Maven maintains deep parts inventory for all VNX models, employs engineers with extensive VNX expertise, and provides the same SLA-backed support that Dell used to offer. The hardware doesn’t stop working because Dell stopped supporting it; it just needs a partner who will.
What’s the difference between VNX and VNX2?
VNX2 (models with 5200, 5400, 5600, 5800, 7600, 8000 designations) was a hardware refresh launched in 2013. It brought faster Intel processors, PCIe-based I/O modules, improved Unisphere, and the MCx multicore operating environment (replacing FLARE). The block-side architecture is fundamentally different under the hood. Maven supports both generations.
Does Maven support VNX file-side (NAS) or just block?
Both. VNX is a unified platform with separate block (FLARE/MCx) and file (DART/VNX OE) components. Maven supports the full stack: LUN management on the block side, CIFS/SMB and NFS on the file side, data movers, and the Unisphere management plane.
Can Maven help us with parts if a VNX component fails?
Yes. Maven maintains a dedicated VNX parts inventory covering storage processors, I/O modules, DPEs, DAEs, drives (SAS, NL-SAS, Flash), power supplies, BBUs, and back-end bus cables. We can also source and test specific parts on request for customers with unique configurations.
We’re planning to migrate from VNX to Unity or PowerStore. Can Maven support us during the transition?
Yes. Most VNX-to-Unity or VNX-to-PowerStore migrations take 6–12 months. Maven supports your VNX throughout the transition period so you can migrate at a safe pace, not a forced one. We also support Unity under a separate page (link to Unity page).
Can Maven support CLARiiON and Celerra alongside VNX?
Yes. Maven supports the entire EMC midrange lineage: CLARiiON CX/CX4, Celerra NS/NX, VNX/VNX2/VNXe, and Unity/Unity XT. Many of our customers consolidate support for their entire EMC midrange estate under a single Maven contract.
What about VNXe, is that the same thing?
VNXe (models 3100, 3150, 3200, 3300) is a simplified version of the VNX architecture designed for smaller environments. It runs a similar operating environment but with a streamlined management interface. Maven fully supports all VNXe models.
Your VNX Still Works. Make Sure Your Support Does Too.
Get a free, no-obligation quote for your VNX environment. We’ll review your array configuration (including model, installed capacity, and current support status) and show you what Maven coverage looks like compared to what you used to pay Dell.
Call: (877) 245-4087
Email: sales@mavenitsolutions.com
