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Cisco UCS B-Series pros and cons

Vendor: Cisco
4.3 out of 5

Pros & Cons summary

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Prominent pros & cons

PROS

Cisco UCS B-Series offers impressive scalability with the ability to add more blades as needed and features a dual fabric design for seamless upgrades.
The service profiles in Cisco UCS B-Series provide enhanced flexibility, allowing server replacements by simply applying profiles.
Cisco UCS B-Series is valued for its stability and security, with mechanisms in place for enhanced data center efficiency.
The robust structure and architecture, including fabric interconnect functionality, are key strengths of the Cisco UCS B-Series.
The Cisco UCS B-Series' service and support are highly praised, ensuring responsive and helpful assistance.

CONS

Cisco UCS B-Series has complex configuration requiring high technical expertise.
Cisco UCS B-Series is more expensive compared to competitors like HP, Dell, or IBM.
Cisco UCS B-Series lacks adequate integration with storage and third-party products.
Cisco UCS B-Series setup process can be complicated and lengthy.
Cisco UCS B-Series pricing and overall cost of ownership need improvement.
 

Cisco UCS B-Series Pros review quotes

BW
Technical Sales Architect at a tech services company with 501-1,000 employees
Jun 23, 2017
Since its UCS release in 2009, Cisco has extended the core functionality with Central, a tool for managing multiple domains
it_user683436 - PeerSpot reviewer
Data Center Systems Engineer at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Jun 13, 2017
The Dual Fabric design allows for online/in-service upgrades during production with no impact.
it_user287739 - PeerSpot reviewer
Data Center Practice Manager at The Plow Group
Jun 19, 2017
The hardware is easily swappable and, utilizing the boot from SAN option, you can always keep your server intact due to the service profiles.
Learn what your peers think about Cisco UCS B-Series. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: January 2026.
880,315 professionals have used our research since 2012.
it_user901308 - PeerSpot reviewer
Consultant at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees
Jul 18, 2018
I like that the hardware is separated from the software definition of the components.
Neeraj Mehra - PeerSpot reviewer
Manager of Solutions and Support at Esconet Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
Mar 12, 2019
I can connect Cisco UCS B-Series to multiple chassis and rack servers using a unified platform, then manage them on a single console.
RS
System Administrator at ON Semiconductor Phils. Inc.
Sep 10, 2019
The Dashboard is quite impressive and is, so far, the best based on my experience.
AR
VMware Administrator at a consumer goods company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Sep 10, 2020
The most valuable feature is the service profile.
reviewer1199268 - PeerSpot reviewer
Sr. Network Engineer at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
Mar 14, 2022
Great security and functionality.
reviewer1414053 - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Principal Systems Engineer at a pharma/biotech company with 10,001+ employees
Sep 16, 2020
The ratio in terms of the number of units and the number of servers that we can get each chassis is quite good.
MJ
Sr. Operations Engineer at a manufacturing company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Oct 19, 2020
The stability provided by the product is its most valuable feature for our organization.
 

Cisco UCS B-Series Cons review quotes

BW
Technical Sales Architect at a tech services company with 501-1,000 employees
Jun 23, 2017
Right now, the market is rapidly transitioning to solid-state media and the Cisco options tend to be less varied and more expensive than a broader slate of products from HP, Dell or IBM.
it_user683436 - PeerSpot reviewer
Data Center Systems Engineer at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Jun 13, 2017
HTML5 interface is a much needed improvement over the old Java interface, but still needs a little work.
it_user287739 - PeerSpot reviewer
Data Center Practice Manager at The Plow Group
Jun 19, 2017
The UCS manager interface needs to be cleaned up a bit and can be streamlined, but no major complaints.
Learn what your peers think about Cisco UCS B-Series. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: January 2026.
880,315 professionals have used our research since 2012.
it_user901308 - PeerSpot reviewer
Consultant at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees
Jul 18, 2018
It needs a better UI. Cisco makes a great product, but doesn't know how to make a UI.
Neeraj Mehra - PeerSpot reviewer
Manager of Solutions and Support at Esconet Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
Mar 12, 2019
The configuration is a bit complex, as it requires very high technical expertise to apply it.
RS
System Administrator at ON Semiconductor Phils. Inc.
Sep 10, 2019
There are patches that cannot be implemented without any downtime or reboot required.
AR
VMware Administrator at a consumer goods company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Sep 10, 2020
The configuration is a little bit complicated and could be made simpler.
reviewer1199268 - PeerSpot reviewer
Sr. Network Engineer at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
Mar 14, 2022
Integration with storage could be improved.
reviewer1414053 - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Principal Systems Engineer at a pharma/biotech company with 10,001+ employees
Sep 16, 2020
Cisco could improve the user-friendliness for less experienced users.
MJ
Sr. Operations Engineer at a manufacturing company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Oct 19, 2020
The management interface needs a lot of improvement. As it is right now, it's a pain to use. It's not user-friendly.