Lenovo Flex System Reviews

Name: Lenovo Flex System
Brand: Lenovo
Rating: 4.2 (10 reviews)

4.2 out of 5

10 reviews
100% willing to recommend

What is Lenovo Flex System?

Flex System is Lenovo’s proven, 2nd generation blade, that efficiently runs your infrastructure applications with up to 80% better density than standard rack server deployments.

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Lenovo Flex System is the #11 ranked solution in top Blade Servers. PeerSpot users give Lenovo Flex System an average rating of 8.4 out of 10. Lenovo Flex System is most commonly compared to HPE Synergy: Lenovo Flex System vs HPE Synergy. Lenovo Flex System is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 67% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a financial services firm, accounting for 20% of all views.

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Blade Servers

February 2025

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Featured reviews

Syed Ibrahim

Assistant Manager Systems - IT Infrastructure at a transportation company with 10,001+ employees

The solution should come with cloud native applications to prepare for cloud based solutions. Forced restarts due to free upgrades is an issue that needs to be resolved. We can manage this as we have high availability and redundancy, but without that it could be a real problem. The level of customer support needs to be improved. There is currently an issue with Lenovo switching out SAN switches from the chassis, which will cause problems for people who already have a set up with the SAN switch connected to the central storage. This could require an entirely different network, adding an additional cost for the user.

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Kevin Honde

Data Solution Architect at Econet Wireless Zimbabwe

We are using Lenovo Flex System for our internal platform where we store our operating systems, Windows, Linux, and VMware. VMware vCenter is where we store it and then virtualize our machines One of the most valuable features of this solution is its ease of use. The solution could improve by…

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Farhan-Ahmad

Senior System Administrator at Khushhali Microfinance Bank

We use the solution for multiple purposes, such as in the virtualization cluster and the standalone applications We use the solution as a compute model to run the compute load on servers. The solution's firmware and driver upgrades are a bit difficult. I have been using Lenovo Flex System for…

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Lenovo Flex System mindshare

As of February 2025, the mindshare of Lenovo Flex System in the Blade Servers category stands at 3.0%, down from 3.2% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

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Key learnings from peers

Last updated Feb 4, 2025

Valuable Features

Lenovo Flex System is praised for ease of use, stability, and performance. Users highlight its reliable functionality and minimal support needs. It provides an efficient processor and robust storage system. The user-friendly design and extensive enterprise resources, including a 14 blade server, allow significant resource consumption before upscaling. Its network and bandwidth capabilities are commendable. Users report straightforward setup and competitive pricing without any operational issues over years of usage.

"The functionality is reliable and requires minimal support."
"We use the solution as a compute model to run the compute load on servers."
"It comes at a good price. We didn't face any problems with this product."

Room for Improvement

Lenovo Flex System's user interface and management software require enhancement, as users find it difficult to manage various components efficiently. Module flexibility is limited compared to IBM Blade, with fewer options available. Improved integration with other platforms, including XClarity Management System, is needed. Updates and customer support pose challenges, with issues like forced restarts and complicated setups. Pricing and native cloud applications need consideration, alongside addressing SAN switch changes and firmware difficulties.

"Continuing the production of this product is necessary. It is currently out of support, and we are seeking support from other sources besides Lenovo."
"The solution's firmware and driver upgrades are a bit difficult."
"I had some difficulties with the initial setup."

Pricing

Enterprise users found Lenovo Flex System offers competitive pricing and reasonable operational costs, with a one-time equipment purchase and annual support costs. Licensing includes a three-year VMware license, with potential additional licenses. Users appreciate the 14 blade server's capacity for growth, delaying the need for a new chassis. Although some desire more flexible pricing for extra features, the system is generally viewed as offering good value for its quality.

"We are just paying the operational cost, which is not much."
"The 14 blade server allows significant room for upscaling before having to invest in another chassis. You would have to purchase another chassis much sooner in the case of an eight or nine blade server."
"The is an annual license cost to use the Lenovo Flex System. If the price was less expensive and flexible overall and for additional features, our customers would be happier."

Popular Use Cases

Lenovo Flex System is utilized for creating virtual machines on VMware for frontend and backend applications, including Linux and Windows. It is primarily used for private cloud services, virtualization, and storage of operating systems with VMware vCenter. Various entities deploy it for internal platforms, databases, application servers, and hybrid cloud solutions, enabling virtualization, automation, and efficient management of servers and daily operations. A small bank uses it similarly for storage needs.

Service and Support

Customer service and support of Lenovo Flex System are praised for quick and reliable responses. Technical support is generally rated between fair and very good, with some users noting it could be improved. Many users appreciate the global support. In critical situations, they find support helpful in preventing production delays. Users rate technical support quality highly, often giving scores of seven to eight and a half out of ten. Some have not directly interacted with support, offering no assessment.

Deployment

Users found Lenovo Flex System's initial setup mostly straightforward and completed it in a short time, often within three days. Some experienced challenges and required support from Lenovo. XClarity integration simplified management and upgrades. Installation complexity often stemmed from network rather than hardware issues. Virtual assistance from Lenovo proved helpful for configuration challenges. While some did not find it easy, most described the process as simple and uncomplicated, finishing setup within a couple of days.

Scalability

Lenovo Flex System offers substantial scalability, accommodating significant growth in resources and node additions. Companies have successfully expanded their storage and memory, managing thousands of virtual machines efficiently. Flex System supports multiple user roles, from top management to team leaders, across distributed locations. Its framework allows up to 14 nodes per chassis, and while initially out of support, it is suitable for both medium and large enterprises due to its extensive scalability options.

Stability

Lenovo Flex System is praised for its stability. Users mention past hardware issues were resolved with power module adjustments, resulting in no downtime for months. It is noted for high performance, absence of bugs or glitches, and reliability. A stable system running for six to seven years shows no stability issues. Occasional issues arise during automatic freeware upgrades affecting workflow. The stability rating is cited as an eight out of ten.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

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