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Kalle Pihelgas
Infrastructure Engineer at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees
Real User
Top 20
Oct 30, 2024
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Automated management boosts IT efficiency despite CPU limitations

What is our primary use case?

The primary use case involves running virtualization workloads mostly. Additionally, we have high-performance workloads and have built a dedicated solution for them using PowerEdge Servers.

How has it helped my organization?

The PowerEdge Servers have helped reduce unplanned production downtime by approximately ten percent. The use of the app OpenManage Console has made tasks easier, allowing IT staff to focus on other responsibilities, thus positively impacting overall flexibility and business operations.

What is most valuable?

The ease of management and automation possibilities are the most valuable features offered by Dell PowerEdge Servers.

What needs improvement?

One issue is the limited CPU options on the servers compared to the vendor, Intel. Dell offers fewer CPU options than available, which is a bit limiting and could be improved.

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For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Dell rack servers for four years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Overall, the servers are reliable, although we have experienced some issues. However, they have been mostly reliable, and we have not considered switching.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It was quite easy to scale our Dell infrastructure as our needs grew, improving our operations positively.

How are customer service and support?

I haven't had much contact with Dell customer support, but I would rate their professional support probably an eight.

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

Previously, we evaluated HP servers. We chose Dell PowerEdge Servers due to their ease of management.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup was very good. We have automated almost everything, right from installation to management.

What about the implementation team?

We did not use Dell Deployment Services for deployment and did it in-house.

What was our ROI?

The biggest return on investment comes from the ease of management and automation possibilities.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

Before choosing Dell PowerEdge Servers, we evaluated HP servers.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
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Gerard Gerritsen
Owner at WijZijnDe.IT
Real User
Feb 19, 2024
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Good pricing, reliable, and makes it easy to replace parts
Pros and Cons
  • "The reliability combined with management is what we like. The price is good too."
  • "It could be an option to remove discs and just have a virtual option. If you remove the room you need for discs, you could make it smaller. It would take up less room that way."

What is our primary use case?

Currently, it's mostly used for VMware-based virtual machines. That's the main use case. 90% of this product is used for VMware. 

What is most valuable?

The servers just work. They don't let us down. We like the reliability combined with management. The price is good too.

If you have to replace parts, Dell was one of the first companies to make a system where you could click out one thing and just plug in another one. HP and IBM did not allow for that. You always needed to use a screwdriver. And I wasn't allowed to have one. With Dell, on the servers, you always had the option to swap out boards very easily, and that was great. Now, other companies do that, too. However, Dell was one of the first to offer that option. 

In terms of energy consumption, it depends. If there are a lot of calculations, then you use a lot of power. If you need less, then you use less power. When we deliver it to customers, the power used is based on their power consumption. I'm not selecting servers based on power consumption. I base the choice on procedures and quality. 

It's able to handle the evolving needs of high-performance workloads. We don't have any issues with it. If you make a good design and select the right sizing, you don't have any issues. 

What needs improvement?

You select the server based on the product. It could be an option to remove discs and just have a virtual option. If you remove the room you need for discs, you could make it smaller. It would take up less room that way.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been using the solution since 1999. It's been about 24 years. 

How are customer service and support?

Dell's support is very good. They are changing some things within the organization. I have my doubts that where they are going is the way to go. However, the Dell Server side in terms of customer support, is still very good. 

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

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

We only use Dell PowerEdge. We've seen some HP servers in the field. However, we have only used Dell for 20 years. It's always working, and it's always good service. The price is good too. 

How was the initial setup?

The deployment is easy. A basic installation might take 15 to 20 minutes. 

What other advice do I have?

I'd rate the solution nine out of ten. 

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
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SH
Stefan Hermes
Director/technischner it- leiter at Wagner it-consulting
Real User
Feb 4, 2024
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Offers good performance, expansive connectivity, and seamless integration
Pros and Cons
  • "The core strength of Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers lies in their expansive connectivity and seamless integration with other offerings within the Dell product ecosystem."
  • "In older models, for instance, Melanox adapters remain a necessity, and they have sporadically caused complications."

What is our primary use case?

We build cloud stacks on our Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers.

In order to achieve a greater degree of autonomy and self-sufficiency in our IT infrastructure, we opted to embark on the implementation of private cloud solutions. This strategic decision led us to adopt Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers as the foundation of our private cloud environment, thereby mitigating our previous over-reliance on publicly accessible cloud services.

How has it helped my organization?

Our procurement of Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers was conducted through Dell itself, acting in its capacity as a service provider. This decision was influenced, to a certain extent, by the inherent proclivity towards recommending Dell products within the Dell ecosystem. Ultimately, the design we adopted adhered to the standardized guidelines established by Dell, ensuring seamless integration and compatibility within our existing infrastructure.

Given our tendency towards aggregated configurations, we are fortunate to be largely immune to periods of inactivity. However, it's important to note that this high uptime is not solely attributable to the physical infrastructure. From a hardware perspective, I can confidently report an absence of recurring malfunctions across all functional domains. This testifies to the remarkable stability exhibited by the PowerEdge Rack Servers.

The OpenManage console is an inescapably necessary tool for large-scale environments. It provides all the capabilities it's intended to, like seamlessly applying firmware updates through OME and handling other tasks with ease. It consistently functions exceptionally well, and I sincerely hope it continues to do so in the future. Frankly, the thought of meandering through the data center and manually adjusting everything is enough to make anyone shudder. Thankfully, OpenManage has been a true game-changer in that regard. It's quantifiably increased the productivity of our IT staff by eliminating the need for tedious manual processes.

What is most valuable?

The core strength of Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers lies in their expansive connectivity and seamless integration with other offerings within the Dell product ecosystem. This synergistic relationship is exemplified by the successful interoperability between PowerEdge servers and backup solutions like Data Domain or PowerScale, further enhanced by the native integration of S3 functionality within the German market. This well-orchestrated interplay of components fosters an exceptionally efficient and cohesive IT environment.

What needs improvement?

I would advocate for Dell to incorporate by default a greater number of network interface cards that boast enhanced network connectivity within their PowerEdge Rack Servers. In older models, for instance, Melanox adapters remain a necessity, and they have sporadically caused complications. It would be fantastic if Dell could incorporate them by default, precluding the requirement for supplementary adapters.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers for five years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I have no complaints about the stability of our Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers. They perform well, are powerful, and experience few failures.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Dell PowerEdge rack servers offer easy scalability, as evidenced by our continued expansion.

How are customer service and support?

I've been consistently struck by the profound depth of knowledge exhibited by both the general representatives and the specialized cohorts within Dell's technical support team. Their remarkable facility for resolving any issue I presented with impressive celerity truly showcased their exceptional level of operational effectiveness.

Of course, unforeseen predicaments occasionally arise, but the team always responds with remarkable adaptability and graciousness. While some processes may necessitate a protracted timeframe for completion, I believe this stems more from the underlying organizational structure than any individual shortcomings. The on-site personnel were consistently exceedingly capable and demonstrably swift in their actions.

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

In a previous engagement, I had the opportunity to collaborate with a client whose IT infrastructure was predominantly comprised of Fujitsu servers. However, our current clients have already established a longstanding partnership with Dell for their hardware requirements.

How was the initial setup?

We meticulously constructed the comprehensive foundation for a cloud service, laying each digital brick-and-mortar. Although the initial deployment presented a labyrinthine challenge, we were able to navigate its intricacies with measured steps. As anyone who has embarked on such an endeavor knows, erecting a full-fledged infrastructure, be it geographically dispersed for enhanced resilience or traditionally redundant for local fault tolerance, is no simple feat. It demands constant vigilance and adept stewardship to ensure its smooth operation.

We constructed the comprehensive network infrastructure, weaving the intricate cabling throughout the designated pathways. With resolute focus, we configured and installed the potent server hardware, ensuring its seamless integration. And most notably, we adeptly orchestrated the deployment of the robust cloud stack, paving the way for unparalleled scalability and agility.

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

The cost structure associated with Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers aligns closely with the prevailing norms established within the information technology hardware sector. In other words, the prices for these servers are neither exceptionally expensive nor significantly cheaper than comparable offerings from other major manufacturers.

What other advice do I have?

I would rate Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers a nine out of ten.

Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers demonstrably excel in fulfilling their designated function, even when configured in various arrangements. While it is certainly prudent to maintain vigilance regarding forthcoming advancements in the technological landscape, it is undeniable that these servers are already eminently well-matched to their intended applications.

The flexibility that customers experience comes primarily from the cloud stack we deploy on the servers.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
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Wilfried Hotot
Administrateur system at Ministère
Real User
Jan 31, 2024
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Fast support, easy to use, and no heating or breakdown issues
Pros and Cons
  • "We used to have HPE. Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers are much easier to use and manage."
  • "There can be more visibility on the equipment remotely."

What is our primary use case?

We use Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers for data systems and databases for the Ministry of Home Affairs.

By implementing Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers, we essentially wanted speed. We wanted fairly fast response times.

How has it helped my organization?

We already had some rack servers, and we changed to Dell because of the market. With regard to the ministries in France, we are forced to follow the markets that are offered to us, but in this case, we did have a choice. We carried on and bought a dozen rack servers that we would be receiving soon. We have also ordered about 50 more on top of that.

Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers have the PowerEdge Cyber Resilient Architecture approach to security, but we have our own system for protection from cyberattacks. We do not handle that kind of thing. The Ministry of Home Affairs does that, and they have their own defense system for that.

Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers do not heat up too much. We have had some big heatwaves this summer, and they came out perfect considering the heat. We have not had any problems. As far as their energy consumption is concerned, they are not very noisy, which means that they are ventilating well enough. We hardly hear them. They are very quiet. In this regard, there are no issues at all.

We are planning to keep them for an average of five or six years, but we know that we can keep them much longer because the new equipment is very tough. There are no breakdowns.

Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers never break down. As a result, we double save on everything such as the hard drives, power supplies, etc. Our services never stop because they work 24 hours a day. We never have any downtime. The servers are constantly running.

The OpenManage console has not affected our IT staff’s productivity.

What is most valuable?

We can set up the systems where we have disks as RAID, and then on other systems, we set up SSD M.2, which is only set up for the OS. This is great. It separates two systems very well, which is a very good thing.

We used to have HPE. Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers are much easier to use and manage.

What needs improvement?

There can be more visibility on the equipment remotely. It will help us to provide a better response in case of a breakdown because we are not always monitoring them. It will enable us to be more reactive when there is a breakdown at the level of the ventilation disk or the temperature. We are currently using another software that connects us to the server. It is called Grafana. It allows us to be connected to the servers and gather information, but it is not always that straightforward to get these two connected.

It would be great to have one general console to manage all of the servers. I do not know if Dell has one, but there should be one general console to obtain the temperature or detect if a disk is malfunctioning. We should be able to get information about disks, extractor fans, and other things related to the equipment because we do not enter the bays all the time. A centralized system would mean greater visibility into the equipment and maybe the capability to manage several servers, just like a console.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers for approximately one year.

How are customer service and support?

I would rate their support a ten out of ten. We used to be with Dell before, and the maintenance response for any breakdown was very fast. It was within 24 hours. We often used to receive the part the next day. If we had a breakdown one day, we had a new part to replace it the next day.

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

We were using HPE. We moved to Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers because of the speed. Apart from the operating speed, we get safeguarding on disks or magnetic tapes. Thanks to the Dell servers, we have gained 24 hours of backups.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

As compared to two years ago, the prices have increased at least by 2,500 euros per server.

We do not take any other licenses offered by Dell. We take what comes in the pack, but for the same configuration servers, we were at 5,500 euros before, and nowadays, it is about 9,000 euros or almost 10,000 euros per item. I know that everything has gotten more expensive, but it still is a very high price increase.

What other advice do I have?

I would rate Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers a ten out of ten. They are very good as far as I am concerned. Personally, I have no negative feedback. They function really well, and they get the job done. We just need one console to be able to manage all of the different aspects of the equipment in case there is a breakdown. Apart from that, we have no issues. We started dealing with Dell again two years ago, and we have had no problems so far.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
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reviewer2339181 - PeerSpot reviewer
reviewer2339181
Head of Backup at a financial services firm with 5,001-10,000 employees
Real User
Jan 31, 2024
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Works perfectly and provides the cyber resilience and security that we need
Pros and Cons
  • "It works perfectly, especially in terms of availability and reliability, without any type of issue, which is why we are very happy with it."
  • "The cost can be improved. For other use cases, we use Hitachi servers, which are a little cheaper but have similar functionality."

What is our primary use case?

Mainly, we started using them when we implemented a cyber recovery solution with Data Domain, in which several Dell PowerEdge Rack servers are also involved.

By implementing this solution, we wanted cyber resilience. We wanted a 1/3 copy cyber recovery solution that would prevent us from losing all the data in the event of a cyber attack.

In terms of deployment, we use them on-prem, directly with Dell as our provider.

How has it helped my organization?

They provide the cyber resilience that we were looking for. They are working perfectly so far, and we are happy with them.

The PowerEdge Cyber Resilient Architecture approach to security is very good. Overall, Dell's approach to security is pretty good. I like using Dell products because they always have security configuration guides.

In terms of energy consumption, Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers can possibly be improved, but this is what I would say regarding any other type of server.

I do not know specifically about Dell's sustainability goals or how PowerEdge can help, but at the level of on-prem servers, it can always be improved by moving towards new virtualization to reduce the impact and perhaps reduce the number of servers.

Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers have helped to reduce unplanned production downtime. In our case, we have planned a maximum downtime of one week in the event of a cyber attack. These are the ratios we use.

The OpenManage console has affected our IT staff’s productivity. It has helped in a positive way because it is a console that centralizes many things that our staff manages every day. In that sense, it is in a centralized console. It helps a lot.

Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers have not impacted the overall flexibility of our operations or business. In our case, it is an isolated additional system, so it is not like adding an additional layer to improve the flexibility per se.

What is most valuable?

There is no specific feature that is more valuable than other servers for us. Because it is part of an overall solution that Dell has offered us, we opted for Dell's PowerEdge servers. Overall, it is a good solution. It works perfectly, especially in terms of availability and reliability, without any type of issue, which is why we are very happy with it.

What needs improvement?

The cost can be improved. For other use cases, we use Hitachi servers, which are a little cheaper but have similar functionality.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers for approximately two years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

So far, we have had no stability problems. They are very stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The scalability is very good. We use them in several locations. The main department in which they are used is ours, which is for data protection backup. They are mainly used for a cyber recovery solution.

How are customer service and support?

I would assess their support very positively. I have been working with them for several years, and I am very happy with their support.

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

We also use Hitachi. We have not switched. We maintain two brands.

What was our ROI?

It has simply covered our use case.

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

They can improve the costs.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

We evaluated Veritas. We evaluated Netapp solutions. There were five or six different vendors. We did not see a critical difference. In general, they were similar, but Dell was more present throughout the process.

What other advice do I have?

I would rate Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers a nine out of ten.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
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LuisDiaz
IT at Seitt r3r5
Real User
Jan 31, 2024
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Competitive price, very reliable, and helpful for business continuity and efficiency
Pros and Cons
  • "The most valuable features are that they are very reliable, and Dell's technical service is also optimal."
  • "The price is the only thing that can be improved."

What is our primary use case?

Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers are the production servers for the company.

By implementing Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers, above all, we wanted to resolve issues of scalability and trust.

How has it helped my organization?

Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers have improved our company in terms of efficiency and security. In terms of business continuity, they have never failed us, and they have helped us to have a good name in the market.

The PowerEdge Cyber Resilient Architecture approach to security is very good.

Energy consumption is one of the things that I worry about. While looking at and comparing with other platforms, Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers seem to be very good. I realized that it is not a platform that consumes a lot of energy, and that calms us down. Their direct competitor is HPE. We always evaluate its energy consumption, and the comparisons come out very well in favor of PowerEdge.

Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers are good for handling the evolving needs of high-performance workloads. As a matter of fact, we have a virtual environment set up on one of their machines, and it is going very well. It has not disappointed us.

The impact of Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers has been good on our organization’s sustainability goals. We started using them as an initiative to improve our energy system, and it is worth saying that it was exactly what we needed.

Using Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers has helped to reduce unplanned production downtime. In terms of reliability, the servers do not break down, which helps us a lot as service providers. I cannot exactly say how much, but I can say that we have moved on from the previous company, HPE, to these servers, and from having maybe three or four interventions a year, we went to having none.

The OpenManage console has not at all affected our IT staff’s productivity.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable features are that they are very reliable, and Dell's technical service is also optimal.

What needs improvement?

The price is the only thing that can be improved.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers for more than 10 years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The stability is very good. Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers are very stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The scalability of Dell PowerEdge Rack Server is very good.

How are customer service and support?

Their support is very good. The only thing that I would improve is the language, which sometimes can be a problem. They can direct you to different centers depending on the product you are referring to, and the language often seems to be an issue. I remember a case of a breakdown that we had with a PowerEdge server. We had to escalate it. We talked about it with a center in India, and it was complicated and almost impossible, even with an English translator.

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

We used HPE servers. HPE is a direct competitor, and we were very happy, but we have noticed an improvement using Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers.

We decided to switch because of what we read and what other colleagues in the sector recommended to us and also because at that time, the economic offer was better.

How was the initial setup?

The implementation was simple. There was no specific implementation strategy for it.

We implemented Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers in a hybrid cloud model. For the public part, we used ESSENCE IT. We have our servers deployed in several locations.

What about the implementation team?

We used the same company through which we purchased it, and together with their technicians, we implemented it.

What was our ROI?

One of the things we really like is being able to request a warranty extension of up to five years directly with the manufacturer. Not everyone does that, but that is an important ROI because the investment you make initially can be maintained for those five years with confidence.

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

They are very competitive.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

We evaluated HPE. The difference was the price. There was a lot of similarity at the level of functionality and internal components. For example, in terms of INTEL or NVIDIA, at the manufacturer level, you pretty much have to integrate the same thing, but it does have its nuances, such as the issue of energy savings due to power supplies and so on.

What other advice do I have?

I would rate Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers a nine out of ten.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
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Emile Maas
IT Manager at Teledyne Technologies Incorporated
Real User
Jan 1, 2024
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The performance now is exceptional and has surpassed our previous setup
Pros and Cons
  • "The newer servers are more energy-efficient compared to older ones."
  • "There is a suggestion to potentially revisit pricing."

What is our primary use case?

We use Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers across our organization for diverse needs. Some handle essential services like DHCP and DNS, while others support websites and applications. Additionally, we use them for storage and computational power, adapting to the unique requirements of each site efficiently.

How has it helped my organization?

Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers have significantly improved our organization, especially for simulation work. 

The switch to SSDs has made a tremendous difference, reducing simulation times from a day to just an hour. This boost in performance has translated into cost savings, allowing us to accomplish more in less time. 

The impact of Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers on our organization's sustainability goals has been significant. Although we are a large company and often maximize hardware life, investing in newer, more energy-efficient systems has proven worthwhile. 

With energy pricing in leased buildings and considering the collective impact of servers, desktops, and screens, the upgrade has made a substantial positive difference both economically and environmentally.

Additionally, switching to Dell VSAN SSD storage has significantly boosted our server performance, especially for high-performance workloads. The transition from external storage with a different supplier to Dell storage took some time to adapt, but the results have been impressive. The performance now is exceptional and has surpassed our previous setup.

What is most valuable?

What I find valuable about Dell is that the newer servers are more energy-efficient compared to older ones, aligning with the need to consider power consumption.

What needs improvement?

We are generally very satisfied with Dell, but there is a suggestion to potentially revisit pricing, although this is a common consideration with most products.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been working with Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers since 2012.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers have been incredibly reliable, minimizing unplanned production downtime. Over the past 11 years, I have experienced very few issues, such as only one failed hard drive. The servers have been stable, even during moves and power cycles, consistently performing well.

How are customer service and support?

Tech support for Dell PowerEdge has been excellent. I have had the same account manager for about two and a half to three years, and she has been awesome. Whenever there is a project or need for assistance, they provide valuable support, creating a collaborative and effective environment for problem-solving.

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

I find Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers valuable for our company's needs. While we have used HP systems before, we switched back to Dell due to their better service and more familiar hardware. The way Dell products work aligns well with our preferences, making them a more pleasant choice for our business.

How was the initial setup?

The deployment time for Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers depends on the project. For longer planning phases, it can take up to three years, while in more straightforward cases, it is a matter of weeks. The actual installation is easy and tool-free, involving simply clicking on the hardware, connecting it to the network, and using remote access for configuration.

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

Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers have fair prices for our basic needs, and when we need more power, the cost matches the value we get. It feels like we get a good deal for what we pay.

What other advice do I have?

Overall, I would rate Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers as a nine out of ten.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
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Danno Johnson
Senior Network System Engineer at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
Real User
May 12, 2022
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Good performance, small footprint, flexible, and has a quick support team
Pros and Cons
  • "The MX7000 gives us the most concentrated amount of compute in the smallest area possible."
  • "Overall, I've seen an improvement in the network bandwidth, as well as an improvement in the speed of the blades and the processors."
  • "On the MX7000 platform, they should continue to release better and faster blades."
  • "On the MX7000 platform, they should continue to release better and faster blades."

What is our primary use case?

We use PowerEdge for the virtualization of servers, and it gives us the ability to move server images on and off of the platform very quickly.

How has it helped my organization?

The PowerEdge Rack Servers are a go-to for handling high-performance workloads. I've had positive experiences with the amount of computing that it can provide per blade. Currently, the blade that I'm familiar with is the MX740c, which has dual processors and a total of 24 core processors. There are eight of these blades in the MX7000.

It also provides the ability for networking on the backside, which connects to the mezzanine. I currently use the MX5108, which provides four 25 gigabits-per-second connections to each blade. Each 5108 can provide you with a 100 gig uplink to your core. I currently have the MX5108 connected in two fabrics, A fabric, and B fabric. Both A fabric and B fabric are peered using a VLTI.

Then, I have the VLTI from the two blades connecting and uplinking to our distribution core. The distribution core is using a leaf spine. With that, it gives me 400 gigabits of uplink and downlink onto the chassis.

You can't have computed performance without using more power. That said, when I consider the power consumption and performance of the MX740c, depending on how much memory I install on each blade, I get the best bang for my buck. I'm not going to say that it's inexpensive or that it's sufficient. It depends on how hard I am processing, what I am running, how much memory I use, and again, what blades I purchase with the chassis. Overall, it's very flexible, and it depends on what I want to make of it.

With respect to its performance when it comes to running the latest high-demand applications, depending on my selection of hardware, it should be able to run nearly anything I would want. If I want to run Oracle servers on the PowerEdge blades, for example, then I can do that. They'll run it.

Recently, I've seen my use case migrate from the M1000 chassis to the MX7000 chassis. The improvement that I saw was increasing the uplink bandwidth from the M1000, which I was able to get a maximum of 160 gigabits a second, and now my maximum is 400 gigabits a second. I could have selected different switches, but the MX5108 is adequate to provide the uplink bandwidth that I need from the chassis.

Overall, I've seen an improvement in the network bandwidth, as well as an improvement in the speed of the blades and the processors.

The PowerEdge has also helped to reduce data processing time in the company, which makes things run better because it's faster to move data onto the blades. It is also faster when it comes to the deployment of computed images. It's hard to pinpoint how much time we have saved because it also depends on the network infrastructure that's in place. In my experience over the last couple of years, migrating from the M1000 to the MX7000 has moved the deployment of images from a few minutes to several seconds.

What is most valuable?

The MX7000 gives us the most concentrated amount of computing in the smallest area possible. It also has the ability to provide a large amount of bandwidth to the blades. This is important because it gives the user the ability to move as much data on and off of the blade platforms as quickly as possible.

The iDRAC telemetry is very useful for monitoring the system and providing analytics. You can use commands from the CLI, you can use scripting, you can use the REST interface, or you can use the point-and-click GUI. It's very flexible. I prefer using scripts because I monitor many blades and many chassis. I can script a lot of my monitoring requirements. 

The accelerated GPU feature helps to support demanding workloads that we run. For instance, they provide better performance for remote desktop sessions.

The blades are hot-swappable and in a virtual environment, being able to upgrade your hardware platform easily to better and faster hardware is a benefit.

What needs improvement?

On the MX7000 platform, they should continue to release better and faster blades.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been working with Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers for the past couple of years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Stability-wise, this product is solid. We have very little downtime.

I need to make sure that the images that are running on the blades are reliable, and it provides that. Beyond that, I'm happy with the performance.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Scalability is up to the engineer. It is easily scalable depending on what native architecture you use to connect it all together.

How are customer service and support?

I have been in contact with technical support a lot. Sometimes I run into little anomalies that I need an explanation or workaround or fix for, and by bringing it to their attention, they usually get their developers on it and come back with a solution rather quickly.

I would rate the technical support a ten out of ten. We have really good Dell support.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

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

I have worked with other solutions from other vendors, and I like Dell Power Solutions. I worked with them years ago and then went to a different vendor, on a different job course, and in this particular job I've come back to Dell.

I've got to say that Dell hardware and support are very good, and I'm happy with it.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is straightforward. For somebody with experience with Dell products, to begin with, it's simple. It's no more complicated than deploying the M1000, which was the predecessor chassis to the MX7000.

I can deploy and network an MX7000 chassis and have all the blades loaded with ESXi within a day. I make use of a lot of my own scripts and usually, I employ a script to mount the ISO images that'll be installed on all the blades through a shell script, and then the script also reboots the blades, and the blades mount the ISO image and install VMware. All of that happens quickly.

After that, I simply put in the network parameters for the ESXi hosts, add the host to the V-center, and then they're ready to go. I already have some predetermined configurations that I use for the network blades, the MX5108s. I use those as a template for all four blades on the back of the MX7000, and simply paste them in. I can usually have all four blades configured within 30 minutes to an hour.

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

The pricing is very competitive.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

When you compare against public cloud solutions, having the compute onsite is always going to be faster. However, that really depends on how big of a pipe your institution or your data center has to the cloud. If you have more bandwidth to the cloud and back, perhaps latency will be less but I don't see how it can be faster than having the compute on site.

What other advice do I have?

This product has built-in security features, although that's up to the system engineers and network engineers to properly upgrade their firmware. They need to follow Dell's baseline release for the chassis to ensure that the firmware and software for the baseline of the blades and the network cards meet the baseline requirements. If you can match those requirements then the security will follow. It's easier to manage when you're baseline is all matched.

Overall, this is a good product but there is always room for improvement.

I would rate this solution an eight out of ten.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
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Updated: March 2026
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Buyer's Guide
Download our free Dell PowerEdge R-Series Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
Buyer's Guide
Dell PowerEdge R-Series
March 2026
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