FlexPod XCS vs Rackspace OpenStack comparison

NetApp and Rackspace Technology are both solutions in the Converged Infrastructure category. NetApp is ranked #2, while Rackspace Technology is ranked #7 with an average rating of 8.3. NetApp holds a 12.8% mindshare in CI, compared to Rackspace Technology’s 7.0% mindshare. Additionally, 96% of NetApp users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 92% of Rackspace Technology users who would recommend it.

FlexPod XCS

Read 295 FlexPod XCS reviews

8,734 Views
5,590 Comparison Views

96% willing to recommend

Rackspace OpenStack

Read 13 Rackspace OpenStack reviews

1,683 Views
959 Comparison Views

92% willing to recommend

FlexPod XCS

Rackspace OpenStack

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Feb 2, 2025

Rackspace OpenStack and FlexPod XCS are competing in the cloud infrastructure category. Rackspace OpenStack has the upper hand in scalability and flexibility due to its open-source nature, while FlexPod XCS shines in performance and integration through its pre-engineered solutions.

Features: Rackspace OpenStack offers an open-source architecture with a high degree of customization options, making it ideal for those needing extensive control over their cloud environments. It supports scalability and seamless integration with various third-party tools, enhancing cloud deployment flexibility. FlexPod XCS provides integrated infrastructure utilizing Cisco and NetApp technologies, ensuring performance optimization and reliability. Its design enables simplified deployment and excellent scalability, supporting robust performance for high-demand workloads.

Room for Improvement: Rackspace OpenStack could improve by simplifying its deployment process and enhancing user interface usability for less tech-savvy users. Supporting more out-of-the-box integrations with popular enterprise applications could also increase its attractiveness. Additionally, offering better documentation and educational resources might help users maximize the platform's capabilities. FlexPod XCS might benefit from more competitive pricing models to reach a broader audience. Its hardware dependence may limit customization options, suggesting potential enhancements towards software-defined configurations. Furthermore, expanding its integration capabilities with non-Cisco or NetApp solutions could also add value for diverse IT environments.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Rackspace OpenStack requires a more intricate deployment process due to its customization options; however, it excels in offering tailored customer support that helps users address specific needs. FlexPod XCS boasts a simpler deployment process due to its pre-integrated design, reducing the time and complexity involved in setup. Its customer service benefits from industry partnerships, providing a robust support network.

Pricing and ROI: Rackspace OpenStack typically features lower upfront costs owing to its open-source nature, presenting a favorable ROI for businesses capable of managing in-house solutions. On the other hand, FlexPod XCS demands a higher initial investment due to its engineered infrastructure but potentially offers better ROI over time by minimizing operational complexities and maximizing efficiency. Businesses should weigh the cost savings of OpenStack's flexibility against FlexPod's reduced management overhead and enhanced productivity.

To learn more, read our detailed FlexPod XCS vs. Rackspace OpenStack Report (Updated: April 2026).

Buyer's Guide

FlexPod XCS vs. Rackspace OpenStack

April 2026

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Review summaries and opinions

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

Categories and Ranking

FlexPod XCS

Ranking in Converged Infrastructure

2nd

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.1

Number of Reviews

295

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Rackspace OpenStack

Ranking in Converged Infrastructure

7th

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

5.2

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2026, in the Converged Infrastructure category, the mindshare of FlexPod XCS is 12.8%, up from 9.3% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Rackspace OpenStack is 7.0%, up from 4.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Converged Infrastructure Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
FlexPod XCS	12.8%
Rackspace OpenStack	7.0%
Other	80.2%

Converged Infrastructure

Featured Reviews

John Kevin

Infrastructure Manager at a financial services firm with 5,001-10,000 employees

Enforces standardized setup procedures following Certified Validated Design (CVD) guidelines and offers greater flexibility and control over the system compared to traditional systems

The GUI setup follows the right setup, meaning we have to follow the CVDi.e. Certified Validated Design. Everything is clear, because you can build CI yourself, but without rules, it can be messy. With FlexPod, there are rules to follow, making it more standardized. This helps with troubleshooting and compatibility assessments, simplifying troubleshooting significantly. We also use FlexPod pre-validated architectures to validate the design. It is very, very important to us because we had a bad case in 2015 where separate items integrated poorly due to no version or firmware compatibility certification. Troubleshooting became a nightmare. So, standards are crucial for us, and everything entering production should be verified or at least documented for certification.

Read full review

Hai Dinh Van

Cloud Center Manager at FPT

Open-source nature enables seamless cloud management and customer transition

We deploy layer three managed services, and our customers manage layer two services. We combine the two-layer services and deliver them to our customers The open-source nature of OpenStack provides significant value. It allows for three-word cloud management, maintaining a stable customer…

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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

"I would say that it gives us more flexibility than an entire VM or bare metal solution."

"Without FlexPod, it probably takes about ten hours; with FlexPod, within two hours, we are up and running, so we have seen about an 80 percent time decrease."

"It's all converged into one consolidated platform, which works well together."

"The hardware has been rock solid so far; it has gone up easy, it runs well, and we have not had issues with it."

"It provides ease of automation."

"If you're looking for a solution that you know is going to work and that you're going to get some solid support and backing from the vendor throughout your process from start to finish, it's going to be the NetApp guys."

"Provisioning servers used to take hours, and now it takes up to five minutes."

"This solution has helped to make more things consistent within our organization."

More FlexPod XCS pros

"There are many services that can be directly used which are not available in VMware."

"I like its integration with GitLab and its simplicity. OpenStack has a lot of third-party libraries that it uses."

"Administrators are very comfortable with the functionality and services OpenStack offers."

"The open-source nature of OpenStack provides significant value."

"The most valuable feature is the customization. With the customization you can really give the customers what they want."

"Rackspace OpenStack positively impacts my organization by making processes easier since I do not need to manage all servers manually because it efficiently manages server operations and maintains proper data, which saves time."

"Customer Service: Top. Technical Support: Top"

"The most valuable feature is the customization, and with the customization you can really give the customers what they want."

More Rackspace OpenStack pros

Cons

"The last two calls that I have made to NetApp support have been handled too casually. People are too lax, not quite as professional as I would have liked."

"They just announced that they are going to move it along with Intersight from Cisco. That can be a private or public cloud, which is one of the areas where it can grow more and has a lot of potential."

"Hardware stability needs improvement. We replaced a lot of RAM this past year."

"I would like to see improvements in the documentation. I understanding how things are coming together and a lot of that is from the UCS side."

"I would like to see the following: Support for multiple vendors' hardware; support for SAN with Cisco 9000 switches; automated deployment and configuration with respect to CVD."

"On the NetApp side, there are definitely things to improve in terms of software updates."

"There are too many drivers and software combined all together, and we need to have compatibility between all of them."

"Some of the newer storage vendors have slightly easier-to-use GUI interfaces, but I weigh that compared to the control and other features I have, such as SSHing into my NetApps."

More FlexPod XCS cons

"The deployment process could be easy."

"OpenStack's UI, while user-friendly, could be improved to offer a more intuitive experience."

"It could use more examples in different languages (API use cases)."

"The seamless integration between MySQL services and the rabbitMQ database can be revised during the debugging phase."

"OpenStack is difficult for the novice in terms of beginning to use cloud tools."

"The pricing of Rackspace is quite high in the Vietnam market."

"So for the main stability, there have been a couple of issues that I've experienced."

"As a beginner, I find some difficulties in understanding Rackspace OpenStack, as it can be complex without a foundational grasp of cloud and networking concepts."

More Rackspace OpenStack cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The pricing and licensing are quite expensive. However, compared to other solutions, it is okay."

"We have a lease for approximately $10,000 USD per month."

"We purchased FlexPod though Datalink."

"You get better management and orchestration, but it still costs you money."

"The total cost of ownership with this solution is good."

"It is cheaper than other products. For example, Dell EMC VxBlock is more expensive."

"It is not cheap, but there is a return on investment in time saved and efficiency."

"The scalability is very expensive."

More FlexPod XCS pricing and cost advice

"The pricing is low."

"I use it as an open-source tool."

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Comparison Review

it_user244362

Managing Consultant with 51-200 employees

Aug 30, 2015

Nutanix vs. VMware EVO:RAIL vs. FlexPod

Originally posted at www.storagegaga.com/dont-get-too-drunk-on-hyper-converged/ I hate the fact that I am bursting the big bubble brewing about Hyper Convergence (HC). I urge all to look past the hot air and hype frenzy that are going on, because in the end, the HC platforms have to be aligned…

Read full review

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

20%

Marketing Services Firm

17%

Manufacturing Company

Construction Company

Financial Services Firm

15%

Computer Software Company

15%

Manufacturing Company

11%

Comms Service Provider

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	34
Midsize Enterprise	66
Large Enterprise	182

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	7
Midsize Enterprise	4
Large Enterprise	5

Questions from the Community

Ask a question

Earn 20 points

What needs improvement with Rackspace OpenStack?

As a beginner, I find some difficulties in understanding Rackspace OpenStack, as it can be complex without a foundational grasp of cloud and networking concepts. To improve, I suggest providing pro...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Rackspace OpenStack?

My main use case for Rackspace OpenStack involves large data management, as it provides a reliable database service. A quick specific example of a task where Rackspace OpenStack helps me is in hand...

See all answers

What advice do you have for others considering Rackspace OpenStack?

I advise others looking into using Rackspace OpenStack to have a solid understanding of cloud concepts, as managing these aspects in Rackspace OpenStack requires a good knowledge foundation. I have...

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Comparisons

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Compared 9% of the time

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AMAX CloudMax OpenStack vs FlexPod XCS

Compared 8% of the time

Dell VxBlock System vs FlexPod XCS

Compared 8% of the time

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Compared 14% of the time

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Compared 14% of the time

HPE ConvergedSystem vs Rackspace OpenStack

Compared 12% of the time

VMware vSAN vs Rackspace OpenStack

Compared 12% of the time

Nutanix Cloud Infrastructure (NCI) vs Rackspace OpenStack

Compared 11% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

FlexPod XCS

May 2026

Download FlexPod XCS product report

Buyer's Guide

Rackspace OpenStack

April 2026

Download Rackspace OpenStack product report

Also Known As

No data available

OpenStack

Overview

FlexPod XCS offers a seamless integration with existing IT systems, enhancing both scalability and usability. It simplifies complex IT environments with unified support and a pre-validated design, making it invaluable for mission-critical applications.

FlexPod XCS effectively manages diverse IT infrastructures by providing a comprehensive end-to-end solution. Its integration capabilities allow for efficient storage and compute operations, while users value its flexibility and high reliability. The platform ensures significant time savings and operational efficiency by reducing troubleshooting and facilitating seamless expansion. Known for supporting varied environments and workloads, FlexPod XCS optimizes resource management and is compatible with prominent cloud systems like AWS and Azure, thus supporting cloud, private, and multi-cloud strategies.

What are the key features of FlexPod XCS?

Integration: Connects efficiently with existing systems for smoother operations.
Scalability: Allows seamless expansion to accommodate growing demands.
End-to-End Solution: Reduces complexity via unified support and pre-validated designs.
Flexibility: Manages both storage and compute effectively.
Cloud Compatibility: Integrates with AWS, Azure, and other cloud environments.

What benefits should users look for when evaluating FlexPod XCS?

Reliability: High dependability ensures uninterrupted operations.
Operational Efficiency: Streamlined processes lead to time savings.
Resource Optimization: Better management across IT infrastructures.
Seamless Expansion: Easily scales without excessive reconfiguration.

FlexPod XCS is widely used in industries like finance, healthcare, and education for data center virtualization and telecom operations. It enhances IT consolidation, optimizes resource utilization, and supports efficient disaster recovery solutions in diverse environments, making it a favored choice for hosting data storage and hybrid cloud infrastructure.

NetApp

Rackspace OpenStack offers potent infrastructure concepts, customization options, and scalability with commodity servers, supporting microservices, virtualization, and numerous integrations, all beneficial for advanced IT deployments.

Known for its robust infrastructure and flexible deployments, Rackspace OpenStack caters to enterprises with complex IT management needs. It excels in virtualization and data analytics while enhancing server management with microservices architecture. Companies leverage it for effective infrastructure as code management, integrating tools like GitLab and Jenkins, offering a sought-after platform for deploying private clouds and managing diverse workloads efficiently.

What are the standout features of Rackspace OpenStack?

Infrastructure Flexibility: Easily configurable infrastructure with commodity servers.
Customization Options: Adaptable for unique enterprise needs.
Scalability: Supports increasing workloads effectively.
Integrations: Seamless integration with tools like GitLab and Jenkins.
Virtualization Capabilities: Lowers operational expenses and simplifies hardware changes.

What benefits should users look for in reviews?

Cost Efficiency: Lower operational costs through virtualization.
Enhanced Flexibility: Microservices architecture offers advanced adaptability.
Data Management: Effective for big data services and data analytics.
Migration Support: Facilitates on-premises migration from the cloud.

Enterprises utilize Rackspace OpenStack across industries for tasks like large data management and private cloud deployment. It supports streamlined infrastructure management and eCommerce integration with Akamai. Often chosen for website development and deploying managed services, it meets diverse deployment needs efficiently.

Rackspace Technology

Sample Customers

University of Sao Paulo, WD-40, The Commonwell Mutual Insurance Group

X.commerce

Buyer's Guide

FlexPod XCS vs. Rackspace OpenStack

April 2026

Free Report: FlexPod XCS vs. Rackspace OpenStack

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