I have been using PowerEdge servers primarily for file storage.
Take up less space and are easier to handle
Pros and Cons
- "Using PowerEdge rack servers has allowed us to use less space. Previously, we used the regular servers, but PowerEdge rack servers take up less space and are easier to handle."
- "The management of the security architecture could be improved. It takes some time and can be challenging."
What is our primary use case?
How has it helped my organization?
Using PowerEdge rack servers has allowed us to use less space. Previously, we used the regular servers, but PowerEdge rack servers take up less space and are easier to handle.
What is most valuable?
The OpenManage Console improves our IT staff productivity by simplifying platform management. We can keep track of all those servers and do more jobs. The server effectively handles the evolving needs of high-performance workloads.
What needs improvement?
The management of the security architecture could be improved. It takes some time and can be challenging.
Buyer's Guide
Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers
November 2024
Learn what your peers think about Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: November 2024.
816,406 professionals have used our research since 2012.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using PowerEdge servers for over 20 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The overall stability is okay. We had some disk issues with an older version, but newer versions have worked fine.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
PowerEdge infrastructure is scalable, but we don't have much need to scale it.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We used HP servers before. The main differences between HP and Dell are price and management. Dell is better priced.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was straightforward. We deployed PowerEdge in-house using OpenManage.
What was our ROI?
The biggest return on investment for me is the stability of the product.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Dell is priced better than alternative solutions.
What other advice do I have?
I rate Dell PowerEdge eight out of 10. PowerEdge servers have improved the overall flexibility of our operations and business a little by simplifying operations and rationalizing placement.
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.
Last updated: Oct 30, 2024
Flag as inappropriateTeamleiter IT at a retailer with 11-50 employees
The Resilient Architecture approach to security, including silicon-based firmware, signed firmware updates, user access, and supply chain security is good
Pros and Cons
- "The DRA cards for server management is the most valuable feature. They provide a clear overview of server settings and issues. We also like that the notifications are well-organized."
- "The price could possibly use improvement. Dell servers are not the most affordable, and pricing is always a consideration. Otherwise, I don't see any specific areas for improvement."
What is our primary use case?
Our primary use case is for Hyper-V server virtualization.
The reason we adopted Dell PowerEdge is because we wanted to simplify and streamline our IT infrastructure as much as possible. That is the challenge we were facing.
How has it helped my organization?
Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers have made my organization much more organized. Before, we didn't have DRA cards or a centralized overview of servers, so managing them required local access. Now, I can centrally monitor and control server issues across all locations.
PowerEdge Server's Cyber Resilient Architecture approach to security, including silicon-based firmware, signed firmware updates, user access, and supply chain security and integrity is good. It's especially good with regular updates that instill confidence.
I can't provide details on the processor architecture, as I'm not deeply familiar with it.
PowerEdge Rack Servers' handling of evolving high-performance workload requirements when equipped with the appropriate server is sufficient and very good. Although it's crucial for a customer to plan for future resource needs.
The servers have had an excellent impact on our organization's sustainability goals. The longer lifespan of Dell servers aligns well with the typical server lifespan calculation of five to seven years.
The OpenManage Console has affected the productivity of our IT personnel. It has become much more manageable. It's easier to administer servers, even for colleagues who are less technically inclined.
What is most valuable?
The DRA cards for server management is the most valuable feature. They provide a clear overview of server settings and issues. We also like that the notifications are well-organized.
What needs improvement?
The price could possibly use improvement. Dell servers are not the most affordable, and pricing is always a consideration. Otherwise, I don't see any specific areas for improvement.
In a future release, having a ten-gigabit LAN onboard from the start would be a significant advantage. It would eliminate the need for aftermarket upgrades.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers for two years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The servers have good stability. Servers need to run smoothly, and Dell servers do that reliably.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Scalability depends on how you plan and allocate resources. With proper planning, it's scalable.
How are customer service and support?
I would rate their support a nine out of ten. It would be even better if ProSupport for servers were integrated and didn't require additional fees or licenses.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We were previously using HPE ProLiant and Microtech servers. They were not as user-friendly or easy to manage.
How was the initial setup?
We did the setup. We installed a Windows server and configured the hard drives.
The complexity of the setup is as complex as setting up any server. It's not as simple as a laptop but not excessively complex if you've done it a few times.
Our strategy was to set up the servers and then we migrated VMs from the old servers once the new ones were ready.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Microsoft licensing for Hyper-V servers is a challenge, but Dell's hardware may be slightly more expensive. Overall, it's manageable.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We looked at HP again but decided on Dell due to our positive experience with Dell laptops.
Also, Dell's Pro Support is something I find valuable, and I believe it's not available to the same extent as other providers.
What other advice do I have?
PowerEdge Rack Servers' energy consumption depends on how the server is utilized. I can't provide specific details, but every server requires power.
The use of PowerEdge Rack Servers hasn't had a significant impact on the overall flexibility of our operation. If anything, it has ensured everything runs smoothly.
I would rate Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers a nine out of ten. There's not much that needs improvement. Your success with it largely depends on how well you plan.
Foreign Language:(German)
Gute Sicherheitsarchitektur, einschließlich siliziumbasierter Firmware, signierter Firmware-Updates, Benutzerzugang und Sicherheit der Lieferkette
Was ist unser Hauptanwendungsfall?
Unser Hauptanwendungsfall ist die Hyper-V-Servervirtualisierung.
Wir haben uns für Dell PowerEdge entschieden, weil wir unsere IT-Infrastruktur so weit wie möglich vereinfachen und rationalisieren wollten. Das ist die Herausforderung, vor der wir standen.
Wie hat es meiner Organisation geholfen?
Mit den Dell PowerEdge Rack-Servern ist meine Organisation jetzt viel besser organisiert. Vorher hatten wir keine DRA-Karten oder eine zentrale Übersicht über die Server, so dass für die Verwaltung der Server ein lokaler Zugriff erforderlich war. Jetzt kann ich Serverprobleme an allen Standorten zentral überwachen und steuern.
Der Sicherheitsansatz der Cyber Resilient Architecture von PowerEdge Server, einschließlich der siliziumbasierten Firmware, der signierten Firmware-Updates, des Benutzerzugriffs und der Sicherheit und Integrität der Lieferkette, ist gut. Besonders gut ist er bei regelmäßigen Updates, die Vertrauen erwecken.
Ich kann keine Details zur Prozessorarchitektur nennen, da ich mich damit nicht auskenne.
Die PowerEdge Rack Server können mit dem entsprechenden Server die sich entwickelnden Anforderungen an Hochleistungs-Workloads ausreichend und sehr gut erfüllen. Allerdings ist es für einen Kunden entscheidend, den zukünftigen Ressourcenbedarf zu planen.
Die Server haben sich hervorragend auf die Nachhaltigkeitsziele unserer Organisation ausgewirkt. Die längere Betriebsdauer von Dell-Servern deckt sich gut mit der typischen Berechnung der Betriebsdauer von Servern von fünf bis sieben Jahren.
Die OpenManage-Konsole hat sich auf die Produktivität unseres IT-Personals ausgewirkt. Es ist viel einfacher zu verwalten. Es ist einfacher, Server zu verwalten, auch für Kollegen, die technisch weniger versiert sind.
Was ist am wertvollsten?
Die DRA-Karten für die Serververwaltung sind die wertvollste Eigenschaft. Sie bieten einen klaren Überblick über Servereinstellungen und Probleme. Uns gefällt auch, dass die Benachrichtigungen gut organisiert sind.
Was muss verbessert werden?
Der Preis könnte eventuell verbessert werden. Dell-Server sind nicht die günstigsten, und der Preis ist immer eine Überlegung wert. Ansonsten kann ich keine besonderen Verbesserungsmöglichkeiten nennen.
In einer zukünftigen Version wäre es ein großer Vorteil, von Anfang an ein Zehn-Gigabit-LAN an Bord zu haben. Das würde die Notwendigkeit von Nachrüstungen auf dem Markt überflüssig machen.
Wie lange nutze ich die Lösung schon?
Ich verwende Dell PowerEdge Rack Server seit zwei Jahren.
Was halte ich von der Stabilität der Lösung?
Die Server haben gute Stabilität. Server müssen reibungslos laufen, und Dell-Server tun das zuverlässig.
Was denke ich über die Skalierbarkeit der Lösung?
Die Skalierbarkeit hängt davon ab, wie man die Ressourcen plant und zuweist. Mit der richtigen Planung ist sie skalierbar.
Wie sind Kundenservice und Support?
Ich würde den Support mit neun von zehn Punkten bewerten. Es wäre noch besser, wenn ProSupport für Server integriert wäre und keine zusätzlichen Gebühren oder Lizenzen erfordern würde.
Wie bewerten Sie den Kundenservice und -support?
Positiv
Welche Lösung habe ich vorher verwendet und warum habe ich gewechselt?
Wir haben zuvor HPE ProLiant- und Microtech-Server verwendet. Sie waren nicht so benutzerfreundlich und einfach zu verwalten.
Wie war die Ersteinrichtung?
Wir haben die Einrichtung durchgeführt. Wir haben einen Windows-Server installiert und die Festplatten konfiguriert.
Die Einrichtung ist so komplex wie die Einrichtung eines jeden Servers. Es ist nicht so einfach wie bei einem Laptop, aber auch nicht übermäßig komplex, wenn man es schon ein paar Mal gemacht hat.
Unsere Strategie bestand darin, die Server einzurichten und dann die VMs von den alten Servern zu migrieren, sobald die neuen Server bereit waren.
Welche Erfahrungen habe ich mit den Preisen, den Implementierungskosten und der Lizenzierung gemacht?
Die Microsoft-Lizenzierung für Hyper-V-Server ist eine Herausforderung, aber die Hardware von Dell ist möglicherweise etwas teurer. Insgesamt ist es zu bewältigen.
Welche anderen Lösungen habe ich bewertet?
Wir haben HP noch einmal in Betracht gezogen, aber aufgrund unserer positiven Erfahrungen mit Dell-Laptops haben wir uns für Dell entschieden.
Außerdem finde ich den Pro-Support von Dell sehr wertvoll, und ich glaube, dass er bei anderen Anbietern nicht in gleichem Maße verfügbar ist.
Welche anderen Ratschläge kann ich geben?
Der Energieverbrauch von PowerEdge Rack-Servern hängt davon ab, wie der Server genutzt wird. Ich kann keine genauen Angaben machen, aber jeder Server benötigt Strom.
Der Einsatz von PowerEdge Rack Servern hat sich nicht wesentlich auf die Gesamtflexibilität unseres Betriebs ausgewirkt. Wenn überhaupt, dann hat er dafür gesorgt, dass alles reibungslos läuft.
Ich würde Dell PowerEdge Rack Server mit neun von zehn Punkten bewerten. Es gibt nicht viel, was verbessert werden muss. Ihr Erfolg hängt weitgehend davon ab, wie gut man plant.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Last updated: Mar 11, 2024
Flag as inappropriateBuyer's Guide
Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers
November 2024
Learn what your peers think about Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: November 2024.
816,406 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Infrastructure and Operations Manager at a manufacturing company with 201-500 employees
Its reliability has made a big impact on our business, and it is very easy to install and manage
Pros and Cons
- "The ease of installation is valuable. The physical side of installation is quite intuitive and has got better by leaps and bounds. The hardware has always been fantastic, and it has always been reliable."
- "Its pricing could be better."
What is our primary use case?
It's a standard server that we've got. It's a site server, so it'll hold up to a manufacturing server and a normal Active Directory server.
We have Dell PowerEdge servers with pre-installed Microsoft Windows Server OS. For security, we mainly have antivirus. We've got web security monitoring tools. In addition, we've got firewalls. So, we've got a number of technologies that will hopefully protect us from ransomware.
How has it helped my organization?
Reliability is its main benefit. It works. I have not had many servers go down with hardware failure.
Email and ERP systems are critical to our business. We've also got manufacturing applications running on it as well. Those are one of the biggest key areas for our business. For the manufacturing and everything else, it's highly integrated. We need a server that's always on.
It has been good in terms of the impact on our IT infrastructure and the ability to handle the demand. It does what it says on the tin. We haven't had any issues with it. It's a server. It's one of those things that once it's in, it's in. We don't want it to do anything special because it's there for our infrastructure. It looks after our infrastructure, and it has been doing its job, and it has been working. Because we've not had any issues, its reliability has made a big impact on our business.
What is most valuable?
The ease of installation is valuable. The physical side of installation is quite intuitive and has got better by leaps and bounds. The hardware has always been fantastic, and it has always been reliable.
The iDRAC is one of my favorite features of this solution. From an IT or management perspective, we are able to easily control the servers with it. It has been the biggest help.
What needs improvement?
Its pricing could be better. In terms of features, I've got nothing to improve.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have about 25 years of experience with the product.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Its stability is very good. Its performance has always gone up in leaps and bounds. They've always been ahead of the curve, and we've always got the best technology from Dell.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Its scalability is very good.
How are customer service and support?
Their support is good. I would rate them a 10 out of 10.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I previously used an HP solution. I switched because of my experience with peer reviews for Dell products. Ever since we made the change to Dell servers, we've not gone back. There is the ease of use of racking and the ease of use of remote management. There is reliability and simplification of the server as well. They've not overcomplicated it. Those are the main selling points for Dell servers in comparison to HP.
How was the initial setup?
Its initial setup was very straightforward. It took a day. We have a certain process that we follow. We've had a server setup from a couple of years ago, and we follow that process. It's just making sure that all the relevant information is in.
What was our ROI?
It's very difficult to measure, but it should be good. We've made an initial investment in the capital costs for the server purchase, and if we get good five years of use out of it, then we've got good returns for it.
We could realize its benefits straightaway after the deployment.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
They seem to have become more expensive. I've not done a comparison with other vendors recently. If the price increases more, we would need to do a comparison next year just to make sure that we are benchmarking our server purchases correctly.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We did consider public cloud servers before choosing PowerEdge Rack Servers, but it wasn't a choice. We are in a hybrid environment. We do have a number of servers internally, but then we have public cloud servers as well. Overall, the public cloud is cheaper because I don't require internal expertise and internal maintenance for the physical environment, which is cost-saving. The only reason for getting PowerEdge internally was to meet the demand for great speed for our manufacturing services. Therefore, we have to have something internal.
What other advice do I have?
I would definitely recommend it. You just have to install it, and that's it. It works.
I would rate it a 10 out of 10.
Disclosure: PeerSpot contacted the reviewer to collect the review and to validate authenticity. The reviewer was referred by the vendor, but the review is not subject to editing or approval by the vendor. The reviewer's company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
Senior Manager of IT at a tech vendor with 5,001-10,000 employees
We utilize them heavily, 24/7, and they never stop; very reliable
Pros and Cons
- "The management portal is essential because it gives you a lot of flexibility. You don't have to be at the location to manage the server. You can power it on and off remotely or start an installation remotely. All you need to do is connect it to the network and you can do things from thousands of miles away."
- "While I wouldn't call it a problem, physically mounting the servers into the rails that come with the servers can be a challenge. They could be engineered to be a little bit easier to use. It's not that significant, we can manage it, but you need at least two people to do it together because they're a bit heavy."
What is our primary use case?
We mostly use them for managing our testing environment. They manage a different brand of blade servers, not Dell, but the Rack Servers powered by Intel are monitoring and managing the queues that run the tests. Developers are submitting tests to the system 24 hours a day, and nodes on the blade servers run the tests. Our PowerEdge servers manage the test queues.
What is most valuable?
The management portal is essential because it gives you a lot of flexibility. You don't have to be at the location to manage the server. You can power it on and off remotely or start an installation remotely. All you need to do is connect it to the network and you can do things from thousands of miles away. That is essential when working with data centers. You don't want to be there but you want to have full control remotely.
Another valuable feature is that it's a Dell and that means it's a reliable product.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers powered by Intel for the last 10 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It has performed the way that we expected it to with no technical problems. I don't recall any problems with the server itself that required us to call support or get replacement parts. It does what we expect it to do.
It's stable. It's working 24/7, 365. We don't ever stop it. We have two offices in Israel, and each has two PowerEdge Rack Servers. They're monitoring our testing environment and that environment is running 24 hours a day, so the servers are very heavily utilized.
We usually keep them for four years or stretch them to five years with a warranty extension. We wreck them and have never had to deal with any problems. The PowerEdge servers we have are the third generation that we purchased for this specific role. I'm assuming the integration team that requested these models specifically is satisfied with the outcome.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We got them in a configuration that hasn't required us to make any changes in terms of scalability.
How are customer service and support?
Dell's support works. Here in Israel, Dell works with a third party that handles the contact with the customer. I don't recall if that third party handles servers, but in general, a lot of improvement is required there.
We are a corporate environment. When I call Dell support and give them my credentials or customer number, I expect the guy on the other side to understand who he is talking with. He should immediately see that I have at least 500 laptops, desktops, and more than 1,000 Dell monitors. I'm not just a private customer calling from home. I expect the service to work accordingly.
Don't ask me, "Did you reboot the machine?" or "Did you update?" We only call Dell support when we cannot solve the problems ourselves. By the time we call, we have done all the testing and all the updating. We have done everything on our side and that's when we need professional, technical support. But when we call them here in Israel, we get what seems like very consumer-oriented customer support. There is a lot of room for improvement in this area.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Neutral
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We had HP ProLiant in the past, but we haven't used them for quite a while. Our entire organization is using Dell for end-user machines, laptops, workstations, and desktops. The PowerEdge Rack Servers powered by Intel deliver what we need. It's easier to work with the same vendor and have a unified environment.
How was the initial setup?
While I wouldn't call it a problem, physically mounting the servers into the rails that come with the servers can be a challenge. They could be engineered to be a little bit easier to use. It's not that significant, we can manage it, but you need at least two people to do it together because they're a bit heavy. You have to slide them exactly into the rails. It's a little bit challenging, but not serious.
From unboxing it to preparing the rack and sliding the server into it, connecting everything, and powering it up, it takes about 30 minutes or so.
Integrating it into a particular environment is very simple. We set up an IP, connect it, and install a server operating system. It's a very rapid process. Within about an hour, it is up and running in the environment.
What was our ROI?
In terms of handling the evolving needs of high-performance workloads, you get your money's worth. When you buy something, you need it to perform and deliver and these servers do that. It's a very good product.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
PowerEdge pricing is equivalent to that of all the others in the market. We always try to get a better price, but I don't see any problem with the pricing and licensing of Dell's servers. It's not the case, when I compare them to other vendors, that they are extremely more expensive or that the licensing is much more complex.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We looked at HP and Supermicro. We went with Dell, in part, because we are a Dell shop, but price was one of the most critical aspects. We also looked at what we needed to gain from the server. When we connected all these factors, we decided that Dell was the best solution for us.
What other advice do I have?
Before you approach procurement, you should know exactly what you are looking to get out of the product. If you're looking for a reliable vendor and performance, have all your information ready first. Then check the pricing and make sure that you have the budget. It's not like buying a PC for your home. It's a professional server and it costs. You'd better have all the information beforehand, and then you can evaluate whether the purchase of a PowerEdge is suitable for your requirements.
We don't use Dell's OpenManage console. When we need to make changes that don't directly apply to the operating system but to the server itself, we only go into the iDRAC management interface and do it from there on.
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.
Sr. Principal Product Manager at a tech services company with 5,001-10,000 employees
Has integrated management and can handle compute- and network-intensive workloads
Pros and Cons
- "The PowerEdge systems management frameworks have enabled us to progress towards full automation when it comes to managing PowerEdge."
- "There needs to be more flexibility for business options."
What is our primary use case?
We use this solution for data protection and for securing customer data using a solution from Veritas Technology and Dell's hardware.
How has it helped my organization?
The PowerEdge systems management frameworks have enabled us to progress towards full automation when it comes to managing PowerEdge. Especially on the security front, we extensively rely on the APIs provided by Dell management systems, and we do integrate it with our software.
In terms of operations, this gives a lot of flexibility. Also different customers have different choices and options, and we can enable different security modes and options for our customers using these features.
What is most valuable?
The features I've found to be most valuable are integrated management, hardware flexibility, and the latest technology that Dell brings to the table.
We deploy PowerEdge servers in a hyperconverged environment, and often, the workloads are compute- and network-intensive workloads. The PowerEdge servers are capable of taking on more workloads and offering more benefits to the customers.
We extensively rely on PowerEdge servers' security features, and we use APIs offered by Dell systems so that we can enable those security features depending on customer requirements.
iDRAC Telemetry does offer a lot of capabilities, and we expose those capabilities to our customers. We use iDRAC extensively for managing the systems, report generation, understanding firmware deviation and drift, and many other capabilities.
What needs improvement?
There needs to be more flexibility for business options.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using it for the past five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It's a pretty stable solution; no issues have been reported. All of the customers are pretty happy with the Dell PowerEdge Rack servers.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It's scalable. The hyperconverged solution is all about scaling based on customer demand. Our software and the Dell hardware are pretty linearly scalable, which helps our customers have a predictable way of expanding to address increased demands.
We have storage and backup administrators in the data centers and enterprise world who use this product.
We definitely want to increase usage and accelerate and expand more.
How are customer service and support?
Technical support is awesome. Every time we have run into some typical third party firmware issues, which may not be Dell's problem, we have always got great support from Dell. I would give them a ten out of ten.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is pretty straightforward. We haven't run into any complexities when setting up Dell systems for our end-customers.
For the deployment, one person is sufficient to handle it without any hassles.
The maintenance and management are pretty simple, and an administrator can manage hundreds of these systems efficiently.
Deployment typically takes no more than 20 to 25 minutes maximum if the customer is ready with the network and has taken care of any other environments.
We definitely want to leverage the automation capabilities in terms of deployment because the deployment times will be even less. Moving forward, that's the plan.
What about the implementation team?
We implemented it ourselves.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I don't see any issues with respect to licensing. It's power-efficient, so it's beneficial to the customers price-wise. There are no costs in addition to the standard licensing fee.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We looked at well known server vendors. The main reason we went with Dell PowerEdge servers is the stability of the product.
The predictable linear scale and the fact that most of our customers love Dell hardware were the other reasons.
Also, if we integrate and support Dell hardware, then it stands to reason that our solution will also get a wider read option.
What other advice do I have?
The biggest lesson I've learned is that with modern technology the parameters are rapidly changing. So, you have to make sure to look at all the current and future growth requirements and evaluate accordingly.
I recommend Dell PowerEdge Rack servers and rate them at ten on a scale from one to ten. Go with the latest technology, the latest server, and the firmware that's offered by Dell. Leverage all the scalability features, which are built for the next generation, that is, for hyperconverged and cloud type of deployments.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer:
IT Director at a manufacturing company with 201-500 employees
Is stable and includes security features such as firmware, drift protection, and systems management
Pros and Cons
- "PowerEdge is one of the top solutions when it comes to the security features that it provides including firmware, drift protection, and systems management."
- "One of the things that I've noticed is that over time, the system degrades, meaning that little things don't work. For example, the hard drive would need to be replaced or iDRAC would not be functioning properly. We may have to flash the firmware. It is not like some other hardware where it just runs without issues for four or five years. With Dell, generally, there are little hiccups here and there."
What is our primary use case?
We use this solution for our on-premises infrastructure to mainly provide office support and data storage.
How has it helped my organization?
We use it for data storage and it allows for easy access to the data on-premises. It has helped increase staff productivity.
What is most valuable?
PowerEdge is one of the top solutions when it comes to the security features that it provides including firmware, drift protection, and systems management.
It's a pretty nice system. You can log in to iDRAC, you can look at the logs, the temperature, etc. Essentially, all of the metrics of the server are there, so you can get a complete view and immediately know what's going on.
What needs improvement?
One of the things that I've noticed is that over time, the system degrades, meaning that little things don't work. For example, the hard drive would need to be replaced or iDRAC would not be functioning properly. We may have to flash the firmware. It is not like some other hardware where it just runs without issues for four or five years. With Dell, generally, there are little hiccups here and there.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've used PowerEdge Rack Servers on and off for about 20 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It's very stable. I would give it a ten out of ten. The system is pretty redundant, so we never really have any downtime.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We have about 250 users. It's used 90% in the company, in terms of our infrastructure. We do not plan to increase usage because we're moving more things to the cloud. We're trying to reduce our server footprint on-premises.
How are customer service and support?
Dell's technical support is pretty good. I'd give them a ten out of ten.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We've always switched between Dell and HP, depending on the current state and the cost. The reason for switching is primarily the cost involved.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is not intuitive. The first one took a while, but after that, we were done within an hour.
When deploying the PowerEdge solution, we were able to use the automated server and OS deployment features, but I had to talk to Dell support. They had to walk me through it. However, once you do it once, it becomes very easy.
What about the implementation team?
We implemented it ourselves with help from Dell's technical support.
For deployment and maintenance, we need one person.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
When you compare public cloud solutions to PowerEdge in terms of cost, initially the cost of Dell servers or Dell technology was really high. However, right now it's on par and maybe even cheaper when we use Dell hardware. If we don't swap it out in three years and stretch it to four or five years, then we can get even more of an ROI versus cloud cost.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We've always chosen HP or Dell depending on the year, the product, and any promotions offered by the respective companies. We generally use Dell laptops, so by default we often go with Dell servers as part of the ecosystem.
What other advice do I have?
I highly recommend Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers; they are solid. If you do your due diligence and do your homework or your janitorial work, they'll never break.
I would give this solution a ten on a scale from one to ten.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer:
Senior Manager at Express Systems Limited (ESL)
Easy to set up and the remote management capability is good
Pros and Cons
- "The most valuable features are remote management and iDRAC."
- "The design, in terms of power efficiency, can be improved."
What is our primary use case?
We are a solution provider and this is one of the storage products that we implement for our clients.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable features are remote management and iDRAC. Manageability is definitely one of the good points for Dell servers.
This is a quality product that can be customized for our clients.
What needs improvement?
The design, in terms of power efficiency, can be improved.
Improvements should be made in terms of field expandability. Scalability, in general, has room for improvement.
Support for virtualization support can be better.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with Dell Rack Servers for about 15 years, since 2004.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers are definitely stable. Once we start one, we don't shut them down. The run for three, four, or five years at a time, and the performance does not decrease.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It is easy to scale, although when the server is built, you need to include options for future expandability. In cases where we create room in advance, it is easy. Otherwise, there can be some difficulty.
How are customer service and technical support?
The local support in Dhaka is very good and we are happy with it.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have worked with a variety of Dell PowerEdge models including 1850, 2850, 2900, 2950, 5710, 720, and 740.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is very easy, as is the management. The time required for deployment depends on the environment and requirements. For example, it will differ based on whether it is a cluster deployment versus a VM implementation.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We also work with similar servers from HPE and Cisco. Many of the features and capabilities are the same. The suitability of one product over another depends on the specific requirements.
What other advice do I have?
In summary, this is a good product and I have had a good experience with it.
I would rate this solution a ten 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
IT System Administrator at a aerospace/defense firm with 1,001-5,000 employees
Enables us to be more productive and flexible
Pros and Cons
- "PowerEdge Servers helped to reduce unplanned production downtime because of the configuration of our product, it is active-active. It has 99% high reliability."
- "In terms of energy use, it takes up a lot."
What is our primary use case?
We are in the aerospace industry. We use the servers in a security-type production.
How has it helped my organization?
It improved our management and the product manager's life. The product is a bit complicated but it does the job.
The lightness, automation, and the automatic process that it performs without too many interventions are good. It's just plug-and-play.
What is most valuable?
In terms of PowerEdge's cyber-resilient architecture approach to security, since the product is on-prem, it is very protected.
PowerEdge Servers helped to reduce unplanned production downtime because of the configuration of our product, it is active-active. It has 99% high reliability.
What needs improvement?
So far, we haven't thought of anything that could be improved in the product.
In terms of energy use, it takes up a lot. I wouldn't say it's economical, compared to other products. It's not as economical as HP. NetApp, for example, is 2800 against 800, and Dell is almost three times more massive.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The product is stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Scalability is easy and convenient. The product enables us to be more productive and flexible.
How are customer service and support?
I give the support a 10 out of 10. The people are a 10 but I´ll give the waiting time that it takes to get to the technical support and the people an eight.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
In the past we used other products that were not Dell, they were both very durable. Dell is on another level.
How was the initial setup?
I use Dell's professional services during failures and upgrades mainly. The service is excellent.
I did not deploy the product because the company asked to bring in an external professional service to do the installations. My experience with them was pretty straightforward.
What other advice do I have?
I would rate Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers an eight out of ten.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Last updated: Sep 29, 2024
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