Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers Reviews

The Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers support our communications manager, deployments for Cisco Unity Connection and presence server, and Contact Center Enterprise, primarily for collaboration.

The best feature is the flexibility to virtualize virtual machines in the product. The UCS is a server where users create virtual machines and deploy servers.

The solution could improve the password reset and recovery procedure.

I have been using Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers as a partner for eight or nine years.

The stability is good. We have never had any issues in ten years of deploying the solution. There may be a VMware bug or machine power outage. The UCS C-Series hardware doesn't have any problem with the equipment.

The scalability is good. The solution includes all technical requirements or software licenses under the main SKU. If you need more space or storage in the hard disk or more RAM. It is easy to order additional parts or additional SKUs to scale the product.

Cisco solves any issue with the hardware or software. I always receive good service and support. The support is important for the customers. Cisco is 24/7, 7 days a week. The support is excellent.

The initial setup is very easy. Cisco documentation, specifically the UCS C-Series, is excellent. They have an installation wizard, so you can follow the step-by-step and finish the initial configuration. It takes around two hours to complete. Two people are required for the physical installation, but I do it myself for the logical configuration.

Cisco is expensive but has many more features, integrations, and support. Other brands are relatively cheap, but post-sales support is very decent.

I advise you to check the documentation. Cisco has very detailed documentation for each solution. You can find an installation guide, solution guide, and end-user guide. The installation or implementation process is very easy after the technical documentation, specifically with UCS servers. Also, check the engineer’s knowledge about Hypervisor for the virtualizations in the server. The UCS server has a Linux operating system, but you must deploy Hypervisor.

Overall, I rate the solution a nine out of ten.

We are using Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers for governments. They have some departments with applications that run on this solution.

The most valuable features of Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers are integration and customization.

Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers can improve by providing customization features to allow us to deploy them on the cloud. For example, we need VMware to allow us to accomplish a cloud deployment.

Other solutions such as HP, Dell, and Samsung, are using VMware at a low cost. However, in Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers we are bound to use the Ninite software.

I have been using Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers for approximately three years.

This is a highly stable solution.

I rate the stability of Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers a ten of ten.

The support from Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers is responsive and overall effective.

I rate the support from Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers a nine out of ten.

Positive

I have used VMware, Dell, and other Hypervisor solutions.

The initial setup of Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers was simple.

I rate the initial setup of Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers a nine out of ten.

The price of Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers is high.

I rate the price of Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers a nine out of ten.

I would recommend this solution to others. However, my management wonders why we choose such a high-priced solution when we need to purchase third-party solutions to have cloud capabilities.

I rate Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers an eight out of ten.

I use the solution for routing. 

The C-series is the most valuable. 

The improvement should be done as per customer requirements. 

I have been using Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers for four years. 

It is a highly stable solution. 

It is a highly scalable solution. Twenty four users are using the solution. I would rate the scalability a ten out of ten.

The initial setup is easy. It's just create a script and then you upload it. The deployment takes two to three hours. 

The solution is moderately priced. 

I would rate the overall solution a nine out of ten. 

The primary use is for virtualization.

They are currently used for VMware management.

On the Cisco side, there is a benefit in terms of server management. Cisco provides UCS Manager, which is a multi-tenant site manager. We can manage multiple sites while maintaining disaster recovery, a feature not available on other platforms.  That's about the added value.

For the Cisco side, improvements could be made in terms of scalability, costing, available capabilities, or support for multiple types of hard drives. 

Cisco currently supports a limited range of hard drives, so if possible, they can maintain further overhead rates and broaden support for various types of hard drives.

Another areas of improvement include pricing and scalability. 

We have worked with Cisco UCS for around six years. Some of the servers are still running.

We are stable right now. We are using 50 users. We use Cisco UCS C240 M5 Rack Server.

There is very little scalability for the cluster. If you need a higher availability, there is a user limitation. So that is the low side.

We have around 5 to 16 customers using this solution. They are mainly in the educational sector. 

Cisco's technical and learning support is better than Dell. Cisco provides a learning platform for technical guidance and free access for deployment engineers within our subscription, unlike Dell, where we have to pay for every enrollment.

The setup process of the UCS is simple. But the one setting it up must know how to use the UCS manager.

The deployment doesn't take a long time. UCS provides two options. One is from the local console. The other one is from the UCS manager.

So, from the UCS manager, we can autopilot to deploy into multiple servers at the same time. It takes around 20 minutes to deploy all the hypervisor solutions again.

The deployment process is very simple. We can get the firmware level and the operating system from the website. So we download it from there. And, using the console or the UCS manager, we can enroll it.

We have a Cisco-certified team responsible for managing the Cisco side.

Our customers don't pay for licenses. As a service provider, we cover the costs. They only pay for the services they use.

The subscription fee is on an annual basis. We always use annual. There are no extra costs in addition to the standard licensing fees.

Evaluate the price and look for scalability. Cisco's cost has increased post-COVID, so exploring other options is advisable.

Overall, I would rate the solution a seven out of ten due to its scalability and expansion.

We use the solution for our virtualization.

We run most of our virtualization on Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers and it is always stable, especially when compared to other solutions we have.

The most valuable feature of the solution is performance.

There is room for better integration with other brands. We encountered some issues when integrating with other platforms on Cisco. For example, we had a Dell EMC and it experienced difficulties at times. The connection would often drop speed and other issues. Cisco expects us to purchase all of its products, so anything from an outside source tends to cause problems.

The price has room for improvement.

I have been using the solution for around six years.

I give the stability a nine out of ten.

I give the scalability a seven out of ten.

The initial setup is straightforward.

The solution is expensive and I give the price a four out of ten.

I give the solution an eight out of ten.

We did not see a return on our investment, so afterward we questioned whether it would have been wiser to go with Dell or HPE, as they had offered cheaper options. To my knowledge, HPE has had performance issues in the past. We did consider this before making our decision.

For organizations that are already utilizing Cisco racks, the solution will work great, otherwise, I recommend exploring other options.

This solution is for our customers. 

The clients care about the basic services on the UCS Server. They just want the server to transfer onto it their virtual machine.

They are looking for data configuration and no point of failure. They want multiple network cards for fiber. They usually ask for 10 gigs or 25 gigs fiber force or even ethernet. That's what they ask for most of the time.

The Cisco UCS Servers are very dependable, and they're very reliable. The clients are very happy with the product.

The solution is stable. 

Technical support is excellent.

The product is losing ground to the competition, such as Nutanix.

It's not a scalable product.

The pricing is too high and higher discounts should be available for our country.

We'd like the solution to have integration with HCI software. As per my knowledge, Cisco doesn't have any HCI software.

As a company, we've been dealing with the product for around five years.

The solution is stable and reliable. There are no bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze. We've had no complaints about stability in over five years. 

The solution does not scale. 

The solution is better suited for SMEs. An enterprise, when they have 20 or 30 servers, prefers something like HCI.

I'd rate the solution nine out of ten. It is very reliable yet very expensive.

Technical support is very good. It's one of the best support services. 

We've only used Cisco up until this point. 

There is a plan to go with HCI.

Many clients are moving based on Nutanix's reputation, basically. One client went with Nutanix, and they're very happy with it. Therefore, other companies are following suit. They usually read Gartner reports and base their product decisions on finding there. 

The pricing in Yemen should be lower. It's high for the region. 

For Yemen, generally, some manufacturers can't apply the same discounts they give to other countries due to the war and the economic situation. Yet we need more discounts. 

We are partners with Dell and Cisco. 

I'm responsible for presales in general and management.

We use these rack servers for terminal operating systems.

The initial setup could be easier.

I have been working with Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers for five years.

This is a stable product.

For our use case, this product is scalable up to 16 blades, including two sites. I don't know how well it would scale beyond that because we don't have a big site.

We have between 400 and 500 users, without plans to increase that number at this time.

The technical support from Cisco is fine.

I would rate the support for this product a four out of five.

I have used several different types of rack servers in the past, including others from Cisco such as the B-Series, Dell, and HPE.

I currently use the Cisco HyperFlex HX-Series. It provides additional features, such as automatic deployment.

This initial setup is more complex than the Cisco HyperFlex, although ultimately, it is okay. It took us approximately one day to deploy.

I would rate the initial setup a four out of five.

We completed the deployment in-house. We have a combined team that is used for the deployment, troubleshooting, and maintenance of our products. We don't have a team that is dedicated to this product.

The maintenance for this product is good.

We have to pay for the VMware and Cisco licenses.

In summary, this is a good product and it's sustainable. We have had no issues with these servers.

I would rate this solution an eight out of ten.

Most customers use the C-Series server to install VMware solutions. It's deployed in a data center to handle the computing. Some customers use bare metal. Others are virtual. I am certified in VMware, so I've done a lot of VMware solutions, like integration between physical and virtual networks.

The VIC card is the most important feature.

I started using C-Series Rack Servers in 2013. It was the M3 edition when I started. Today, it's M6.

The C-Series is a hundred percent stable because it uses an Intel processor with Samsung or Hynix RAM. Computing depends on RAM, CPU, and hard disk. The latest release has an AMD option, but I've never worked with it. 

The C-Series is not designed to be as scalable. They are designed to have enough RAM and enough CPU on their own side. If you want scalability, it's better to choose the B-Series— the Blade Servers — because those are much more scalable with Fabric Interconnect.

Most of the time, the C-Series is a standalone server. However, if you're talking about scalability in terms of RAM and CPU, they are excellent because you can install three terabytes of RAM. which is more than enough.

I've never contacted Cisco support because I can solve issues on my own most of the time, but my colleagues say that Cisco support is one hundred percent reliable.  

Obviously, when you have unusual issues, it's not fair to assume that the first line of support can solve your problem. They definitely need to escalate. It's not reasonable to expect that the first person you reach at Cisco can answer all of your questions, but when you are dealing with Cisco, you should be confident that they can help you. 

Deploying a C-Series rack is straightforward. It comes in two flavors. You can deploy it the standard way or do it over Fabric Interconnect, which can handle the B-Series and C-Series together if you have the license. Cisco's CIMC is much easier to deal with than the HPE's iLO. One engineer is more than enough to deploy and maintain the solution.

The server itself isn't costly at all, but the CPU and the RAM can be pretty expensive. You can buy a UCS for $2,000, but the RAM and CPU can cost up to $80,000. The most expensive asset is the intel processor, but it depends on how many cores you want and the technology you want to use on your CPU, like Hyper-V, etc. 

I rate Cisco USC C-Series Rack Servers 10 out 10. If you plan to buy a C-Series, you should be clear about why you want to use it because the uses vary. different. Whether you're using Cisco, HPE, Dell or any other brand, it's essential to define your use case. For example, are you using it for a simulation graphics, calculations, etc.?

Depending on the use case, you might want to go with a small server with more CPU. Sometimes you need a light CPU with a powerful GPU. For example, if we have a C-Series with four CPUs at the same time, or we have a server that's handled two CPUs at the same time—the purpose is crucial.

C-Series is good enough compared to other competitors like HPE and the other ones. The HPE C20 is one unit and has a lot of RAM support, but the C-series is number one, in my opinion.

Cisco rack servers are very easy to integrate with other products from different vendors.

Generally, the solution performs well, but some customers have complained about delivery time. So, the main weakness is the lead time.

We provide Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers to our customers. However, the lead time for these servers, as well as for the switches, has been very long since COVID. So some people are looking at other products because of that.

The solution is very reliable and performs well. The customers never had any problems with them.

Scalability is okay. The solution offers good scalability.

I've heard some complaints because Cisco didn't have a dedicated company to manage the accounts. They used to be very vigilant in customer service, but once they were acquired, the customer experience has not been so good, especially regarding technical support.

Neutral

The solution is very easy to deploy.

For a typical deployment, with the right information, it should take about 2-3 weeks. However, if you need to customize the servers or deploy them in a complex environment, it could take longer.

The pricing is expensive. Compared to its competitors, Cisco servers are more expensive. The price of Cisco servers can vary depending on the configuration, the number of servers being purchased, the amount of RAM, and the storage capacity.

We are working with Cisco, Fortinet, Palo Alto, and all the popular options. We work with everything Cisco offers, like switches, routers, firewalls, and email security.

I would recommend them as long as they have the budget for it, but exploring other options is also worthwhile.

Overall, I would rate the solution a seven out of ten. In terms of the product itself, I don't think they need to add any features. However, they could improve the delivery charge and technical support price.

The most valuable feature of Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers is server management.

Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers could improve by adding a wider portfolio because they only have two main categories, the C-220 and 240. There is no wide range of options as other solutions have, such as Dell. Additionally, if it was more flexible with the configuration it would be good.

I have been using Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers for approximately 10 years

Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers are stable.

The scalability of Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers is okay. However, we do not have many options in this category.

We have enterprise-sized customers using this solution.

The support from Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers has been satisfactory. However, not all of the support agents have the same level of knowledge. We can experience some delays in having a response because the issue we are facing has to be escalated to the next level of agent for support.

We did not have any issues with the initial setup of Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers. The process takes approximately 30 minutes.

I do the implementation of this solution for our customers.

The price of Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers is approximately 20 percent more than other solutions.

When comparing this solution to others, I prefer Dell. Dell is more flexible and technical support is more accessible here in Egypt because they have a technical support office here. Additionally, Dell has a wider array of options that we don't have in Cisco.

The intersite options for management make life easier for the operations and management teams because it's a single point of management for the whole server infrastructure.

I rate Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers an eight out of ten.