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HPE BladeSystem vs Lenovo Flex System comparison

Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Lenovo are both solutions in the Blade Servers category. Hewlett Packard Enterprise is ranked #3 with an average rating of 8.8, while Lenovo is ranked #10 with an average rating of 8.7. Hewlett Packard Enterprise holds a 14.1% mindshare in Blade Servers, compared to Lenovo’s 3.1% mindshare. Additionally, 95% of Hewlett Packard Enterprise users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Lenovo users who would recommend it.
HPE BladeSystem
Read 137 HPE BladeSystem reviews
  • 2,656 Views
  • 1,876 Comparison Views
95% willing to recommend
Lenovo Flex System
Read 10 Lenovo Flex System reviews
  • 450 Views
  • 346 Comparison Views
100% willing to recommend
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive Summary
We performed a comparison between HPE BladeSystem and Lenovo Flex System based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out in this report how the two Blade Servers solutions compare in terms of features, pricing, service and support, easy of deployment, and ROI.

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To learn more, read our detailed HPE BladeSystem vs. Lenovo Flex System Report (Updated: December 2024).
Buyer's Guide
HPE BladeSystem vs. Lenovo Flex System
December 2024
Download the complete report
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Categories and Ranking

HPE BladeSystem
Ranking in Blade Servers
3rd
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.9
Number of Reviews
137
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Lenovo Flex System
Ranking in Blade Servers
10th
Average Rating
8.4
Number of Reviews
10
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of December 2024, in the Blade Servers category, the mindshare of HPE BladeSystem is 14.1%, down from 18.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Lenovo Flex System is 3.1%, up from 3.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Blade Servers
 

Featured Reviews

JuanDuque - PeerSpot reviewer
Very reliable, expands well, and is pretty simple to set up
It is very straightforward to set up. It's not complex. The length of deployment depends on the way that you configure the Blades. For example, if you're going to work with VMware, the time could be at least 25 to 30 minutes. It is not going to depend on the BladeSystem; it is going to depend on the time of the operate system deployed. The number of people you need for maintenance depends on the monitoring system that you have. For example, if you have a good monitoring system for this platform you're going to need less than ten specialists, but if you don't have a monitoring system to check the platform, probably you're going to need more than ten people.
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Syed Ibrahim - PeerSpot reviewer
Provides a high initial ceiling before upscaling is required, user-friendly and rich in resources, but has occasional stability issues
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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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"We are very happy with flexible NIC configuration features which are possible if you combine the BladeServers with HPE flex switches in the enclosures."
"The solution has good performance."
"The virtual connect and network management port is a valuable feature."
"Virtual Fabric and interconnects are easy to configure and maintain."
"The interface and dashboard are excellent and user-friendly."
"The solution has high performance."
"It's very scalable."
"I really appreciate the integrated Onboard Administrator, the iLO (Integrated Lights-Out) modular network, and the SAN Switches."
More HPE BladeSystem pros
"Flex System's best features are its performance and stability."
"The most valuable feature of the Lenovo Flex System is the storage system."
"It comes at a good price. We didn't face any problems with this product."
"The product is very user-friendly and has many resources at the enterprise level."
"One of the most valuable features of this solution is its ease of use."
"The Lenovo Flex System is very stable."
"The initial setup is straightforward."
"The functionality is reliable and requires minimal support."
More Lenovo Flex System pros
 

Cons

"They are not selling BladeSystem anymore. The end of the sale of this platform was this year, 2020."
"Creating an integrated solution could make HPE BladeSystem more appealing."
"The interface in terms of management could be much more intuitive."
"I would prefer to have changes in the compatibility of the blade servers with the new ones designed by HPE, as the top team's version does not have it."
"They could include some embedded software for container technology."
"It would be nice if the solution were cheaper."
"The other similar solutions used different CLI commands than HPE BladeSystem. The HPE BladeSystem CLI commands should be the same as the other companies which would make it easier to manage. It would be better for the system administrators to manage HPE BladeSystem and other systems together. I wanted to configure this service with the CLI but the commands are different than the other solutions making it a bit more difficult."
"Really look at it closely, but really look at the Synergy product as well. That seems to me like that's the next evolution of the BladeSystem."
More HPE BladeSystem cons
"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."
"The product could improve its integration capabilities."
"The most valuable feature of the Lenovo Flex System is the storage system."
"It does not have the same module flexibility that was present in IBM Blade. On the Blade System, I was able to choose between the Cisco module, or BMC module. Since the switch to Lenovo, I have not had the same choice of modules, only the BMC modules."
"The user-interface needs improvement, because they have an application from which we have to manage the whole system and all the infrastructure. This application is not working at our premises, because of some problem with the hardware itself. So although we brought it with our systems, and we used it to manage all the systems: the storage, the switches, and everything, nevertheless we have to support every part alone and enter the interface in one-by-one."
"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."
More Lenovo Flex System cons
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The chassis itself, with no blade server inside, so expensive. The C7000 model costs around $100,000."
"​The price could be cheaper."
"The price of HPE BladeSystem is less expensive than some other solutions, such as Dell. The cost of replacement equipment is expensive."
"The pricing is competitive."
"The price for HPE BladeSystem can vary between $100,000 to $1 million or above. The price can be high."
"I need to pay for the license, and it is expensive. We make yearly payments."
"Add OneView and ILO advanced to the base product. Don’t adjust the price, but just include them."
"When you purchase HPE BladeSystem you have to pay for the support service. The first three years are covered under the warranty, and for any further support, you have to pay annually. When comparing the cost of HPE BladeSystem to other vendors, the fees are less expensive."
More HPE BladeSystem pricing and cost advice
"We have the whole maintenance for the 3 years, starting the deployment. We also have the VMware license for 3 years and I think we have another license to buy. There are no additional costs besides licensing."
"The price is interesting. I am able to quote a client based on their needs and offer them either Lenovo or Dell."
"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."
"We are just paying the operational cost, which is not much."
"There is a one-off payment to buy the equipment and the support is purchased annually."
"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."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
13%
Financial Services Firm
12%
Government
11%
Manufacturing Company
11%
Financial Services Firm
25%
Computer Software Company
17%
Government
12%
Real Estate/Law Firm
5%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

How would you choose between HPE's Bladesystem and Synergy?
For me, choosing between HPE’s Bladesystem and Synergy came down to which solution was more powerful, reliable, and stable. It turns out Bladesystem was the winner. Bladesystem is excellent because...
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What do you like most about HPE BladeSystem?
The solution is scalable, offering flexibility and expansion options to meet changing business needs.
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for HPE BladeSystem?
We paid approximately 60,000 Saudi Riyals per year for support from HPE, equivalent to $15,000 USD. However, some years, we did not utilize their support services.
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Lenovo Flex System?
Compared to its quality, the pricing is very reasonable and represents good value.
See all answers
What needs improvement with Lenovo Flex System?
Continuing the production of this product is necessary. It is currently out of support, and we are seeking support from other sources besides Lenovo.
See all answers
What is your primary use case for Lenovo Flex System?
We are using Lenovo Flex System on the server for our VMware environment, which includes our VMs and all our servers, Linux and Windows. It manages the daily operation efficiently.
See all answers
 

Comparisons

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HPE Synergy vs HPE BladeSystem
Compared 62% of the time
Dell PowerEdge M vs HPE BladeSystem Logo
Dell PowerEdge M vs HPE BladeSystem
Compared 17% of the time
Cisco UCS B-Series vs HPE BladeSystem Logo
Cisco UCS B-Series vs HPE BladeSystem
Compared 12% of the time
HPE Superdome X vs HPE BladeSystem Logo
HPE Superdome X vs HPE BladeSystem
Compared 6% of the time
Super Micro SuperBlade vs HPE BladeSystem Logo
Super Micro SuperBlade vs HPE BladeSystem
Compared 3% of the time
More HPE BladeSystem Competitors
HPE Superdome X vs Lenovo Flex System Logo
HPE Superdome X vs Lenovo Flex System
Compared 56% of the time
HPE Synergy vs Lenovo Flex System Logo
HPE Synergy vs Lenovo Flex System
Compared 44% of the time
More Lenovo Flex System Competitors
 

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide
HPE BladeSystem
December 2024
HPE BladeSystem reportDownload HPE BladeSystem product report
Buyer's Guide
Blade Servers
December 2024
Lenovo Flex System reportDownload Lenovo Flex System product report
 

Also Known As

HP ProLiant BL Series Servers, HP ProLiant BladeSystem, HP BladeSystem
Flex System Blade Servers, Flex System SN Series
 

Learn More

Hewlett Packard Enterprise
Lenovo
 

Overview

HP ProLiant BladeSystem share power, cooling, network, and storage infrastructure via the blade enclosure. Since equipment is not needed for each server, you get a dramatic reduction in power distribution units, power cables, LAN and SAN switches, connectors, adapters, and cables. And you can add the newest-generation technologies by simply changing individual components.

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.

 

Sample Customers

EMIS Health
Information Not Available
Buyer's Guide
HPE BladeSystem vs. Lenovo Flex System
December 2024
Free Report: HPE BladeSystem vs. Lenovo Flex System
Find out what your peers are saying about HPE BladeSystem vs. Lenovo Flex System and other solutions. Updated: December 2024.
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We monitor all Blade Servers reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.