The solution is reliable and easy to use.
Head of IT Infrastructure at AMK Microfinance
A reliable and easy to use solution that is also easy to set up
Pros and Cons
- "The solution is reliable and easy to use."
- "The solution needs more capacity and more scalability."
What is most valuable?
What needs improvement?
The capacity is quite small, so I need the CPU performance to be a bit higher. The memory is also limited, and we cannot upgrade more. The solution needs more capacity and more scalability.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with this product for three years.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The product is scalable. Currently, we have six people working with it in our company.
Buyer's Guide
Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers
February 2025
Learn what your peers think about Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: February 2025.
832,138 professionals have used our research since 2012.
How are customer service and support?
The technical support from Cisco is fair.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have used HP and Dell servers before. The products are pretty similar, but we use them for different purposes.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was easy. It was not complex. It took around two hours, including the installation of the operating system.
What about the implementation team?
We handled the implementation with help from the local vendor.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The price for Cisco is a bit higher than its competitors. We paid 40k for one server. We paid 50% at the time of the purchase order and 50% after the product was delivered.
What other advice do I have?
I would rate this solution as a nine out of ten.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Director at Datasoft Comnet
Easy to set up and the support is good
Pros and Cons
- "The initial setup is straightforward and easy to do."
- "The warranty and support periods should be extended."
What is our primary use case?
We are a system integrator and this is one of the products that we implement for our clients.
They are for general, mixed usage that includes use cases such as virtualization and hosting VMware.
What needs improvement?
The warranty and support periods should be extended. One of the things that we like about Dell and HPE is the longer duration of support.
What we would really like to see is more years of extended support. If somebody wants to extend it to five years or seven years, this should be possible because some of our customers really want it.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been working with this product for between five and six years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
This is a stable product and we plan to continue working with it in the future.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
This product is scalable and is typically installed on-premises for customers who are small to medium-sized businesses. We have dozens of clients who use it.
How are customer service and technical support?
Technical support is good and we don't have a problem with it, although they have a shorter support cycle for their products.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We work with several vendors including Dell and HPE. When it comes to Dell, the warranty period is generally longer compared to Cisco.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is straightforward and easy to do. It is not complex at all.
It does not take much time to deploy.
What about the implementation team?
Our in-house team deploys this solution to our customers. Not many people are required for deployment. Two people might be used for racking and stacking, and one person for the configuration.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
This product is slightly more expensive when compared to others.
What other advice do I have?
We do not deal with the latest version because we find that for rack servers, the previous version is a little better. Manageability is not a big option for this type of server.
I would rate this solution an eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Integrator
Buyer's Guide
Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers
February 2025
Learn what your peers think about Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: February 2025.
832,138 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Presales Engineer at Telefónica
Useful for databases, excellent support, and easy setup
Pros and Cons
- "The most valuable feature of Cisco UCS C-Series Rack is the use of databases, such as MySQL."
- "Cisco UCS C-Series Rack could improve by selling storage. Cisco doesn't sell storage, which is a problem because some customers ask for storage. There are several brands in the market, such as HPE, and Dell EMC. However, Cisco doesn't have any storage. This is where the tension comes from buying this solution."
What is our primary use case?
Cisco UCS C-Series Rack can be used as an entry-level server for small database servers, and active directory servers, which are to be visualized with VMware.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable feature of Cisco UCS C-Series Rack is the use of databases, such as MySQL.
What needs improvement?
Cisco UCS C-Series Rack could improve by selling storage. Cisco doesn't sell storage, which is a problem because some customers ask for storage. There are several brands in the market, such as HPE, and Dell EMC. However, Cisco doesn't have any storage. This is where the tension comes from buying this solution.
If you buy a Dell server, you want Dell storage, if you want HPE, you want HPE storage. Other suppliers sell compatible Cisco storage but not one made by Cisco.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using UCS C-Series Rack Servers for approximately 10 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Cisco UCS C-Series Rack is stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability of the Cisco UCS C-Series Rack is good.
How are customer service and support?
The support from Cisco UCS C-Series Rack has been very good.
I rate the support from Cisco UCS C-Series Rack a five out of five.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup of the Cisco UCS C-Series Rack is easy.
What about the implementation team?
To deploy one server, we only need one engineer. For larger deployment, the number of people we need depends on many factors.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The price of the Cisco UCS C-Series Rack could improve. It's a little more expensive in comparison with Dell or HPE solutions.
What other advice do I have?
My advice to others wanting to purchase this solution is only to purchase what you need because it is an expensive solution. However, they are very good servers.
I rate Cisco UCS C-Series Rack an eight out of ten.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer:
Assistant Manager Presales at Meridian Infotech Ltd.
Scales well, agile, and simple installation and commissioning
Pros and Cons
- "The most valuable features of Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers are agileness, ease of operation, and manageability."
- "Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers could improve integration with third-party solutions."
What is our primary use case?
We use Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers for Cisco CallManager, and business application hosting.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable features of Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers are agileness, ease of operation, and manageability.
What needs improvement?
Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers could improve integration with third-party solutions.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers for approximately 10 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers are stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability of Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers is good.
How was the initial setup?
Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers' basic installation and commissioning are easy.
What about the implementation team?
We have a team that does the implementation of Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The prices of Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers are higher compared to the competition. When we try and sell against the competition, then it becomes quite difficult to sell
What other advice do I have?
Our clients have enjoyed the solutions.
I rate Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers an eight out of ten.
There is always room and scope for improvement.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Reseller
Service manager at CLEVERLAB
A scalable solution with easy deployment
Pros and Cons
- "The solution is scalable."
- "The product's stability and delivery time could be better."
What needs improvement?
The product's stability and delivery time could be better.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using the product for one month.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution is scalable. My company has around 400 users for the product.
How was the initial setup?
The tool's deployment is not complex. It took around two to three days for the installation to complete.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
My company has an agreement with Cisco to get discounted rates. It is one of the reasons why we chose the product.
What other advice do I have?
I would rate the product a ten out of ten.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Senior Information Technology Manager at a construction company with 201-500 employees
Feature rich, high computing power, but better redundancy needed
Pros and Cons
- "We have many people in my organization using Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers in the administration."
- "The hard drive of Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers is not very good. I have already replaced three of them."
What is most valuable?
Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers have plenty of features and computing and memory power.
What needs improvement?
The hard drive of Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers is not very good. I have already replaced three of them.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers for approximately four years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
While using the Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers for a couple of months, one of my hard drive disks was failing and VM had issues. There was no reason for it to fail, the hard drive was full and I had to replace it. All the data on it can not be restored. They should make some improvements to their hard drives.
The solution could have better reliability and redundancy.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We have many people in my organization using Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers in the administration.
If we want to scale the solution we can add new nodes. It is scalable.
We have approximately 200 users using this solution in my organization.
How are customer service and support?
I have used the support from our partner and we have had a good experience. They did not take very long to support me in my needs.
I would rate the support from the partner a four out of five.
What about the implementation team?
We have a partner that does the maintenance and support of the solution.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The price of the solution could be better when compared to other solutions. However, when we purchased the solution we received Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers in a bundle with other hardware, such as IP phones and networking switches.
I would rate the price of Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers to be a two out of five.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
I have had the opportunity to evaluate Lenovo and VxRail.
What other advice do I have?
The solution has a very high-level computer and can be a benefit. I had some issues with hard drive failures but I believe the newer version is better.
I rate Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers a six out of ten.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Post-sales manager at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
A stable solution which is easily scalable, easy to set up and provides good tech support
Pros and Cons
- "The solution is easily scalable."
- "The price of the solution is problematic, not the solution itself. It could be less expensive."
What is our primary use case?
I do not yet use the latest update, instead using the full solution which the client has. I use all versions of the solution.
We make IT use of the solution, employing several types of servers, for management, virtualization or whatever may be the needs of the client. The solution comprises a server. I use a standalone server.
What is most valuable?
There is no one feature that I have found to be most useful. I utilize all the features of the solution which I require.
What needs improvement?
The price of the solution is problematic, not the solution itself. It could be less expensive.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers for around ten years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution is easily scalable.
How are customer service and support?
I feel the technical support to be fine. I cannot think of anything needing improvement in this regard. I rate the support as an eight out of ten.
How was the initial setup?
The solution is easy to set up.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The solution could be more cost-effective.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We had plans to use VMware and then Cisco Prime.
What other advice do I have?
I still use the solution, installing it and providing support for clients.
The solution is not deployed in my organization, but in those of my clients.
I can't think of any features which need to be added to the solution. All of them are good.
I rate Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers as a nine out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
Technical Services Manager at ProComm technologies
Very stable, easy to use, and highly scalable
Pros and Cons
- "It is very stable and easy to use. It integrates easily with Cisco's cloud-based UC solutions. There are tools for management that make the management a bit easier, but we don't use them. We don't use what you would term as power users."
- "On the contact center and video conferencing, I would definitely like to see more AI features. The AI features are key for us. You will find a lot of them in the cloud-based solution, but in the on-premises solution, they're hardly there. I would like to see the same AI features that are there in the cloud-based Cisco UC."
What is our primary use case?
We are using it for our IP telephony. We use it for internal communication in terms of making calls, instant messaging, and one-on-one video calling. We also use it when we're working from home remotely. We also use Cisco Jabber as well as Expressway for Firewall Traversal.
In terms of the software, we're using the latest version. In terms of the hardware, we are two generations behind. We simply did a software upgrade on the old hardware.
What is most valuable?
It is very stable and easy to use. It integrates easily with Cisco's cloud-based UC solutions. There are tools for management that make the management a bit easier, but we don't use them. We don't use what you would term as power users.
What needs improvement?
On the contact center and video conferencing, I would definitely like to see more AI features. The AI features are key for us. You will find a lot of them in the cloud-based solution, but in the on-premises solution, they're hardly there. I would like to see the same AI features that are there in the cloud-based Cisco UC.
For how long have I used the solution?
We've been using it for ten years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It is a very stable product.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It is highly scalable. We have ten people in our office, and we have deployed it for our use. Our biggest customer has about 4,000 users, but you can scale it to 40,000 users.
How are customer service and technical support?
We provide technical support ourselves. There are a few instances where we have to refer to a Cisco technical support person.
How was the initial setup?
The installation is straightforward. Normally, the installation takes four to six hours.
What about the implementation team?
We are an integrator. We implement it for ourselves and for customers. It is easy for us.
What other advice do I have?
I would definitely recommend this solution. We plan to keep using this solution.
I would rate this solution a nine out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Integrator
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros
sharing their opinions.
Updated: February 2025
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Buyer's Guide
Download our free Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros
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