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Technical Services Manager at ProComm technologies
Real User
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.

Buyer's Guide
Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers
November 2024
Learn what your peers think about Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: November 2024.
814,763 professionals have used our research since 2012.

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 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
PeerSpot user
PeerSpot user
Director of Technology at a educational organization with 501-1,000 employees
Real User
Excellent server solution with incredible network throughput
Pros and Cons
  • "Excellent server solution with incredible network throughput."
  • "It has centralized our server management and allows us to treat servers like a pool of resources instead of discrete devices."
  • "In the version we need to use, the manager is still reliant on a full Java install on a Windows OS. This is inconvenient and problematic if you have multiple management tools on different versions of Java or if you move to a machine without the appropriate Java environment."

What is our primary use case?

Excellent server solution with incredible network throughput. 

How has it helped my organization?

It has centralized our server management and allows us to treat servers like a pool of resources instead of discrete devices.

What is most valuable?

Boot from SAN allows us to standardize all of our servers to boot up drives to the storage area network.

What needs improvement?

Not sure about the newest UCS Manager.

In the version we need to use, the manager is still reliant on a full Java install on a Windows OS. This is inconvenient and problematic if you have multiple management tools on different versions of Java or if you move to a machine without the appropriate Java environment.

For how long have I used the solution?

More than five years.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

Best to buy all the blades configured for the same purposes of load balancing and failover or load shifting.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers
November 2024
Learn what your peers think about Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: November 2024.
814,763 professionals have used our research since 2012.
it_user576072 - PeerSpot reviewer
Network and Infrastructure Operations Manager at a individual & family service with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
The solution has improved the new infrastructure development giving us the ability to create a compute-storage in-a-box solution.
Pros and Cons
  • "It is very nice and stable with an easy administration GUI."
  • "Definitely the support area needs improving. Especially the time response in case of hardware failure."

How has it helped my organization?

The Cisco solution has improved the new infrastructure development giving us the ability to create a compute-storage in-a-box solution.

What is most valuable?

It is very nice and stable with an easy administration GUI. It has reliable and compliant hardware components which are not "Cisco rebranded."

What needs improvement?

Definitely the support area needs improving. Especially the time response in case of hardware failure.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

We only had hardware issues from two disk failures.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Absolutely we had scalability issues. We tried several times to upgrade, scale up, expand our infrastructure, but Cisco insists to demand excessive amounts of money. Much more than buying a new infrastructure. This behavior forced us to choose another vendor later and we downgraded of course the role of our Cisco infrastructure.

How are customer service and technical support?

Ι would say the technical support is average. Nothing special.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

It was a difficult decision but we switched for two reasons - better value-for-money approach and more compatible hardware.

How was the initial setup?

It was very easy and straightforward and it was done without previous experience.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

I would advise to be very careful regarding the pricing especially if they don't buy complete or all included bundles. If they plan to expand their infrastructure in periods, then simply Cisco is not a good choice.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

We evaluated HPE DL380 and Dell R730

What other advice do I have?

Update the system with the latest firmware set. There are plenty of fixes.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Hilman Gunawan - PeerSpot reviewer
System Engineer at PT Nusantara Compnet Integrator
Real User
Easy to set up, good hardware abstraction, but it is expensive
Pros and Cons
  • "What I really like about the Cisco USC Server is its service profile."

    What is our primary use case?

    We are a solution provider and this is one of the products that we provide to our clients.

    What is most valuable?

    What I really like about the Cisco USC Server is its service profile. They're using software abstraction, which means that the hardware is abstracted as a layer of software and managed by the UCS manager.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    We have been selling Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers for approximately two years.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    The product is quite stable.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    The USC C-Series is a scalable solution.

    How was the initial setup?

    I find the initial setup straightforward and easy. I don't know if I'm biased because I am quite familiar with Cisco products. It takes between two and three hours to deploy.

    What about the implementation team?

    Two people are enough for deployment and maintenance.

    What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

    This product is quite expensive and it would be better if it were cheaper.

    What other advice do I have?

    This is a good product and I recommend it.

    I would rate this solution a seven 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: Reseller
    PeerSpot user
    Implementation and Support Engineer at PRACSO S.R.L.
    Real User
    Highly scalable and fully customizable
    Pros and Cons
    • "The hardware customization capabilities are great."
    • "I would like to see a little more integration with VMware."

    What is our primary use case?

    Virtual machines

    What is most valuable?

    The hardware customization capabilities are great. 

    What needs improvement?

    I would like to see a little more integration with VMware. They used to have a plugin, but it was recently removed.  

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I have been using this solution for three years. 

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    This solution is both very stable and scalable. 

    How are customer service and technical support?

    Their technical support is quite good. 

    How was the initial setup?

    The initial setup was straightforward. It was very simple. 

    What was our ROI?

    Yes, we have seen a return on investment with this solution.

    What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

    This solution is a little expensive. 

    What other advice do I have?

    I would recommend this solution to others because it saves a lot of space and it's very scalable.

    Overall, on a scale from one to ten, I would give this solution a rating of nine. 

    Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

    On-premises
    Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
    PeerSpot user
    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: November 2024
    Buyer's Guide
    Download our free Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.