I integrate PowerEdge for customers who buy the servers and storage, doing the integration between them. I have helped integrate 20 to 30 customers.
Professional Services Architect at Matrix
Our customers can run the systems in their organization 24/7 without any downtime
Pros and Cons
- "The Xeon CPU makes the system work very well and fast. I like this type of CPU. It has helped to improve the performance of targeted workloads by 70%."
- "Intel's Xeon CPU makes the system work very well and fast; it has helped to improve the performance of targeted workloads by 70%."
- "I would like to change the physical rails to be more like how HPE rails are formatted and organized."
- "I would like to change the physical rails to be more like how HPE rails are formatted and organized."
What is our primary use case?
How has it helped my organization?
Dell PowerEdge powered by Intel helps improve organizations that we work with a lot.
What is most valuable?
I like the integration between iDRAC and the system. It is very easy to update the framework and install the operating systems.
Intel's Xeon CPU makes the system work very well and fast. I like this type of CPU. It has helped to improve the performance of targeted workloads by 70%.
What needs improvement?
Some customers took the machine to the extreme, which makes it a bit slower and delays the system. Since the customer can put a lot of VMs with a lot of data, it can use up the CPU memory to 20% to 25%, which slows down the system. However, if we reduce the CPU memory or split it to another, then it works very well.
I would like to change the physical rails to be more like how HPE rails are formatted and organized.
Buyer's Guide
Dell PowerEdge R-Series
May 2026
Learn what your peers think about Dell PowerEdge R-Series. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: May 2026.
895,891 professionals have used our research since 2012.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using PowerEdge Rack Servers powered by Intel for almost three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
PowerEdge Rack Servers have helped to reduce unplanned production downtime. The organization will not have downtime at all if you can migrate VMs between servers, but you need at least two. With two or three clusters, you can convert the machines.
The stability is very good, if you have at least two servers. Then, you have full redundancy of all the VMs and the system. If one server has downtime, then all the data in the VMs on the server convert automatically to the other. Therefore, you need at least two or three servers to have full redundancy.
Our customers can run the systems in their organization 24/7 without any downtime.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
PowerEdge offers a lot of types, which is very good for customer scalability, from small businesses to large businesses.
How are customer service and support?
I have not used their technical support.
How was the initial setup?
It is very quick to deploy. It takes something like 30 minutes to an hour for us to deploy.
I recommend reading the documentation before you deploy the product.
What was our ROI?
It makes the integration with a lot of storage systems cheaper.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The pricing is very good because there are a lot of types of PowerEdge Rack Servers. You have the R540, R640, and R740. The prices are very scalable through the specific server, e.g., small businesses can take the R640 while large businesses can take the R740 or R840. Thus, Dell technologies touch on every organization.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
I like Dell Technologies' products, such as PowerEdge and PowerStore, more than their competitors. It is very easy to work with Dell because of all their documentation for deployments. It is much easier than their competitors.
What other advice do I have?
There are no issues with security in my experience.
I am hoping that some customers will use Dell’s OpenManage console in the future.
I would rate the product as nine out of 10.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Reseller
Lab Manager at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees
Architecture enables quick replacement of parts, but server health info should be displayed on the front
Pros and Cons
- "For us, the most valuable feature is the iDRAC. It helps us to solve problems when a server is stuck or hung or we don't have any network access."
- "The Dell platform works very well, we are very happy with it, and if price isn't a concern, I would recommend Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers."
- "I would like to see more information about server health and the server's state, on the front. HP has a little screen that shows server utilization, how many disks there are inside, and the power consumption. HP also shows an alert if there is a malfunction of any device inside."
- "PowerEdge has a high price tag. The price is a critical factor in our company."
What is our primary use case?
We have a 1U and a 2U PowerEdge Server. We're using them to scale storage devices. They provide a platform for our software that involves managing multiple, high-speed disks. We're using them to connect Mellanox and Intel NICs, which are very fast network interfaces.
What is most valuable?
For us, the most valuable feature is the iDRAC. It helps us to solve problems when a server is stuck or hung or we don't have any network access.
It's also easy to deploy new firmware or a new update to the servers remotely.
We're also able to manage multiple servers in one place.
Also, the way the hardware is architected, you can replace parts in no time. It's very quick and easy to replace a fan, disk, CPU, or insert a new card into the server.
What needs improvement?
I would like to see more information about server health and the server's state, on the front. HP has a little screen that shows server utilization, how many disks there are inside, and the power consumption. HP also shows an alert if there is a malfunction of any device inside. Those kinds of features would be useful for Dell customers.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers powered by Intel for about seven years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers powered by Intel are very stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability is a bit of a downside because of our technology. In our environment, the scalability comes from the network and not from adding another server. We are adding a lot of NVMe devices and when we reach capacity we need to add another server. This is what determines the scalability.
How are customer service and support?
Dell provides very good support. It's very fast and they answer in a professional manner. That's what I need.
I would rate their support at nine out of 10. It's not a 10 because they have to improve by answering even faster. They also need to give local distributors more permission or to provide hardware parts faster. If you have a malfunction with the device, you usually have to send it abroad, and they investigate it and then bring it back. That takes a long time.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We are currently using Lenovo, AIC, Tyan, and Quanta servers in addition to the Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers powered by Intel, because we need some OEM equipment to reduce the cost. PowerEdge has a high price tag. The price is a critical factor in our company. We don't have a lot of budget for acquiring servers and that is why we look at other vendors.
But the flexibility of the PowerEdge servers and the approach to resolving problems really quickly make it more convenient to work with. I like working with PowerEdge. Solving a problem on a PowerEdge will take, say, a few minutes, while with the other vendors it will take 10 to 20 minutes to investigate and debug the problem.
What other advice do I have?
We are using both Intel and AMD technology with our Dell servers. We are comparing the performance of both. While there are some issues and challenges on the Intel side in some areas, the overall impression of the Intel technology is that it is working well. I expect we are going to use it for the next few years.
The Dell platform works very well. We are very happy with it. If price isn't a concern, I would recommend Dell PowerEdge Rack 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.
Buyer's Guide
Dell PowerEdge R-Series
May 2026
Learn what your peers think about Dell PowerEdge R-Series. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: May 2026.
895,891 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Integration Engineer at a computer software company with 10,001+ employees
Good when it comes to handling high-performance workloads, and security features work great
Pros and Cons
- "I love the updates from the iDRAC, they are very nice. The installation is easy. Replacement, if something fails, is so easy and so good."
- "All the customers that I have implemented PowerEdge for are very happy and like the performance."
- "There are issues, of course, but not major issues. On a scale of one to 10, the stability is a nine."
- "There are issues, of course, but not major issues."
What is our primary use case?
We install a lot of VMware and vSAN on the Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers powered by Intel.
How has it helped my organization?
All the customers that I have implemented PowerEdge for are very happy and like the performance. I think PowerEdge has improved the entire system where I have implemented it.
Intel's Xeon scalable processors used in PowerEdge Rack Servers have helped to improve the performance of the targeted workloads by about 20 percent, according to feedback from our customers.
What is most valuable?
- I love the updates from the iDRAC, they are very nice.
- The installation is easy.
- Replacement, if something fails, is so easy and so good.
PowerEdge Rack Servers powered by Intel are also good at handling high-performance workloads. It depends on the CPU, of course, and the type of server, but the performance is great.
In addition, all the security features work great. That is a very important part.
Dell's OpenManage console is user-friendly. You can connect to everything from Dell. It's simple. In the companies where I have implemented it, I have shown the IT staff how to use it and they are happy with it. I don't know if they use it every day, but during the implementation, it seems like it's good for them.
What needs improvement?
I don't really know where PowerEdge could be improved. I really like these servers. Even VxRail works great with them. Maybe they could change the logo to something more beautiful.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers for about five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
PowerEdge is very stable.
There are issues, of course, but not major issues. On a scale of one to 10, the stability is a nine.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability of all brands is great, and that includes Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers powered by Intel.
How are customer service and support?
I like Dell's tech support very much. Not just for PowerEdge Rack servers but for all of Dell's products, if I have issues, the online support answers and gives solutions very quickly.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
How was the initial setup?
It normally takes one day to integrate PowerEdge.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Reseller
Computer Services Manager at Child Parent Centers
Reliable with great support and good analytics
Pros and Cons
- "The most valuable aspects include hot swapping and the elasticity as far as being able to scale."
- "It is a very stable product, something that we use reliably for backups and for our main server for a long time, and we would definitely buy another."
- "It's more from the pandemic, however, the logistics part of it could be better."
- "It's more from the pandemic, however, the logistics part of it could be better."
What is our primary use case?
The setup is hybrid right now. It was formerly strictly on-premise and we used it for our file storage and for our virtual machines.
Originally, it was purchased for strict file storage and access on-prem. However, when COVID hit, we ended up purchasing laptops for every single employee that we had. Having to use our new file storage device, which is no longer on-premises as they're now at home, was easy. That's why we went with a hybrid environment. We put a lot of the data into the cloud and backed it up in the on-premises file storage.
How has it helped my organization?
It allowed us to move some file storage that we had around. It allowed us to really look into what we had and what we were using. Looking at Apex, it is setting us up for when it will need a refresh or when it is at its end of life.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable aspects include hot swapping and the elasticity as far as being able to scale. We had a bunch of stuff on an old, existing EMC. The company was unaware that they had to keep the files that they had for so long. We realized that once we were meeting the seven-year mark and we could start purging some of those files, we had to scale down a little bit.
The initial purchase that we had was a little big, however, as we started adding more users that were working from home and had their own drive, OneDrive, we had to expand it a little bit. Dell was able to ship me bigger hard drives.
When it comes to running the latest high-demand applications, PowerEdge is good. The VMware that we had was almost end-of-life, so we had to upgrade it and Dell helped out with that quite a bit, putting it on our PowerEdge and assisting us with a lot of stuff that VMware didn’t. VMware just said, "Here. Here's your product. Good luck.” Dell was a lot more helpful. They had a lot of engineers that knew about that service that we were trying to tap into a little better.
The BIOS recovery was something we used because we had a huge power outage and a power strike when one of our air conditioners had a bad power surge run through it at our facility. Dell helped us rebuild our actual BIOS system in it, as one of the mirror arrays that we were using just wasn't being seen. We were afraid it was a hardware issue, however, it was really a BIOS issue that we couldn't see right off the jump. We’re glad Dell was there to help.
The solution's analytics helped to decrease production downtime by at least 30%. I'm in Arizona and down in Tucson we don't get that much downtime. We have a lot of battery backups, we have a generator system, and more. However, when it does happen, the analytics of it, as far as the trends on what months the monsoon season hits, it kept all in the logs.
The system management capabilities of PowerEdge helped increase stack productivity. We've had a little bit of turnover in our system admin department, however, having the ability to go back and look through the logs and see how users ended up using their home drive, their shared files, and their encrypted files really helped out my new guys coming on board.
The solution's accelerated GPUs help support demanding workloads in our organization. We had a couple of changing workloads due to the fact that when people shifted from home, they were hitting the server from a different angle. They were coming in off a virtual private network instead of being on-premises and the system didn't blink.
I’m not sure if PowerEdge helped to reduce data processing time in our organization as we don't crunch a lot. We do have a lot of videos coming in and a lot of video editing going on, so in that way, it does help.
The PowerEdge system management frameworks enable us to progress towards full automation. We knew what we were looking for when we refreshed this last model and we purchased a new server just from the analytics we got off the first one.
It helps me forecast better. We don't grow exponentially. Teachers are hard to come by, however, some will leave and some will stay. The business models are the same, yet they expect more. Now they want to do a video. They want to capture and record the videos and the Zoom meetings that they're doing, therefore, it's a little different.
What needs improvement?
It's more from the pandemic, however, the logistics part of it could be better. Getting an actual bare-bones server was a little difficult when we ordered it in beginning. I'm still waiting on the printers that I ordered last year as well. That's the only thing I would really say and I'm sure it has to do with the pandemic.
The latency of it is what we're running into, as our teachers do a lot of video captures, video teaching, Zoom, and Teams video conferencing, and their latency is getting worse with the public domain.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've used the solution since I've been with the company, probably for the last three years.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability is very good. There were different options that we could have gone to. We could either have gotten smaller hard drives and/or downsized if we needed to. They knew our business model was going to change when the pandemic hit.
We have about 650 end users on this particular solution and 80% of them are teachers. The rest are administrative professionals.
Currently, we are planning to put a new server that we have in the mix online and up and running with the PowerEdge server that we have. Now, with Apex and more coming out, we're looking to possibly pivot.
How are customer service and support?
Technical support is very good. We had to call Dell technical support when our BIOS got corrupted and they were on the spot. They escalated us to tier two within 20 minutes. It was really quick.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We did previously use a different solution, however, I cannot remember what our large area network's device was.
Dell came in with a very competitive offer with the first model of storage that we got, so that's what my predecessor went to, and we kept it around.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was very straightforward. We knew exactly where we wanted to put it in our array and how we wanted to set it up, what the power requirements would be, where it would fit on my battery backup system, and the plan for system recovery in case it had to be gracefully shut down. It was super easy.
When deploying PowerEdge, we didn't get a chance to use the automated server and OS deployment features.
The deployment was scheduled for six hours and it took three.
We actually had to migrate users off of an older version that we had onto the new box that we had. The implementation strategy was all about really getting our users off the box and making sure nobody was trying to access it. After that, it was just migrating users over, setting up the new box, putting it online, and running tests.
For maintenance, normally we use a server admin, myself, and maybe one other developer that helps us with the syslogs on it. There are probably three of us altogether.
What about the implementation team?
We used an integrated reseller for the deployment. They were amazing.
We had an issue with a brownout or a power strike and our BIOS got a bit corrupted, however, it was nothing that couldn't be recovered on the fly.
What was our ROI?
We've seen an ROI. I don't have any details offhand. I know when we first purchased it, we got a pretty good deal on it and we didn't know if it would actually meet end-of-life due to the usage that we had on it. However, it outperformed our metrics.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I'd advise others to use the pro services that come along with it, that are available for purchase with it. It helped us immensely. If you were to extend the service contract and get the pro level, it costs a bit more.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We did evaluate other options. When it's over a certain dollar amount, we have to go out and get at least four bids.
What other advice do I have?
I can't remember the exact version we have. We just purchased a new Dell SAN.
We do not use PowerEdge for artificial intelligence applications yet. We're looking into it. Right now, a lot of the video data capture that we do is with children, school-aged children, and children in a preschool environment. We were thinking the AI might be able to help us where the teacher might not be looking. If they had a camera in the room to capture the relevant stuff that was going on as far as what the lesson plan was about that day, it might be helpful.
I have not had a chance to use the solution's iDRAC telemetry for monitoring PowerEdge system data and providing analytics, however, we're really looking into that right now. We got the new SAN going in and we'd like to monitor a little better.
We do not use the solution's CloudIQ for predictive analytic capabilities yet.
It is a very stable product. It's something that we use reliably for backups. It's something we use reliably for our main server for a long time and we'd definitely buy another.
My biggest takeaway is it's not as easy going straight to the cloud when you were an on-premises provider. If you are an on-premises provider and you have all your services on-premises, going to the cloud takes a couple of steps. It's not just one big jump.
I'd rate the product nine out of ten. If I could get the same amount of storage that I got three years ago now, I'd rate it ten out of ten. I'd order it as quickly as I did when we ordered it the first time.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Hybrid Cloud
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Platform Engineer at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Good performance, intuitive user interface, and helpful support
Pros and Cons
- "The real advantage to Dell when I look at some of the other competitors is the support."
- "My advice for anybody who is considering this solution is that it's the support from Dell that really makes things easier for us."
- "I've had some trouble where the customers are not happy with the Toshiba drives, and it's a challenge when it comes to specific requests for Dell to a non-deviate, and only use Seagate drives."
- "I've had some trouble where the customers are not happy with the Toshiba drives, and it's a challenge when it comes to specific requests for Dell to a non-deviate, and only use Seagate drives."
What is our primary use case?
We are a solution provider and this is one of the products that we implement for our customers. Their use cases can be everything from storage to simple computing to network traffic analysis. We have a lot of customers that just do everything with these servers, and it's difficult to keep track of.
We will architect and help the customer identify the best solution for their software, and then essentially modify whatever they need. This might include adding cards, deploying their software onto the server, and then managing their inventory.
How has it helped my organization?
PowerEdge is good when it comes to dealing with the evolving needs of high-performance workloads that our customers have. Whatever software they're developing seems to be able to take advantage of it.
The system's management frameworks have enabled at least one of our customers to progress toward full automation. Their internal scripting works with automation, which means that they can leverage the tools that Dell has created and merge them with their own software. This is something that's benefited them.
What is most valuable?
iDRAC is one of the most valuable features, as well as having BMC.
The real advantage to Dell when I look at some of the other competitors is the support. The support is better than Lenovo and HP. For example, it's much easier to get replacement components, and we can get service out to customers as quickly as possible. There aren't as many hoops to jump through. It's just not as challenging. This is one of the big reasons we stick with Dell.
The iDRAC telemetry for monitoring PowerEdge system data and providing analytics is a good feature. We have a lot of the sensor data that we capture, and it's very useful to our customers. Being able to pull that out and tell them the consistency of their product is a good value-add to sell.
What needs improvement?
The big problem that we have at the moment is with the supply chain. If it were more realistic then we'd probably be able to expand some of these systems a little bit more. This might be more CPU options, different memory, or overall consistency.
Certain customers have requirements that they prefer. I've had some trouble where the customers are not happy with the Toshiba drives, and it's a challenge when it comes to specific requests for Dell to a non-deviate, and only use Seagate drives.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers for approximately 14 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
This product seems stable to me. Compared to products from other vendors, I don't have as many problems with them.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
From a scalability standpoint, getting more systems or expanding capacity has never really been an issue.
How are customer service and support?
I would rate Dell's technical support a nine out of ten.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
Compared to other solutions, Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers are very good.
In general, the user interface on Dell's products, including iDRAC, is a little bit easier and more intuitive than those of competing solutions from vendors such as Lenovo and Supermicro.
What was our ROI?
Our customers have seen a return on their investment with this solution.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The pricing for PowerEdge servers is reasonable. Our customers continue to purchase them from us. When it comes to pricing, often our customers are doing the work for us. They compare pricing and costs against other hardware vendors to see who is going to come out on top. More often than not, they choose Dell.
What other advice do I have?
We do a little bit of support for our customers, depending on the contract that we have with them. When there is a problem with a sever, some people just want to replace it immediately. They don't really care about trying to replace single components. They just want to get their server up and running, so they swap it out. It's very much done on a case-by-case basis.
My advice for anybody who is considering this solution is that it's the support from Dell that really makes things easier for us. There is always a little bit of movement when it comes to the costs and getting the numbers where they need to be. But, at the end of the day, dealing with Dell means it's easier to support a customer, especially with critical response times. This is something that's been really beneficial for us.
Overall, this is a good product, and judging by the feedback from my customers, there are very few additional features that they want or need. Dell seems to have done a pretty good job with what is currently released.
I would rate this solution a nine out of ten.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
Senior Network System Engineer at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
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.
Teamleitung Technical Sales at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Efficient and adaptable server solution that offers robust performance, scalability and reliability
Pros and Cons
- "The standout feature is the remote control accessibility, which allows our team to access and manage the servers locally or remotely."
- "There might be room for improvement in terms of efficiency, particularly with PowerEdge servers."
What is our primary use case?
We continuously expand our data center infrastructure with Dell PowerEdge Servers, deploying virtualization platforms across multiple data centers. As our computing needs grow, we consistently require additional compute resources, leading to ongoing expansion efforts. Each month sees the addition of new PowerEdge Servers to accommodate our evolving requirements.
How has it helped my organization?
The most significant benefit we've experienced is the simplicity of working with a single vendor. This streamlined approach has greatly improved our service level experience. Whenever there's an issue, we can quickly reach out to them and receive prompt replacements or support. With ProSupport, the reliability and responsiveness of Dell's support services are truly impressive. We have peace of mind knowing that our technical needs will be addressed swiftly, often with next-day solutions.
Efficiency and power consumption have seen improvements in the last generation of servers. However, it's important to note that these aspects are largely comparable across vendors when utilizing the same hardware components.
The cyber-resilient architecture is a crucial feature, particularly for security purposes. Its inclusion provides reassurance for us as hosts, allowing us to confidently communicate to our customers that we employ this advanced technology in our data centers. This enhances our credibility and serves as a point of trust when engaging with our clients.
PowerEdge Servers have significantly reduced unplanned production data shutdowns, particularly compared to our previous experience with Dell, when we encountered frequent shutdowns due to hardware malfunctions, but with PowerEdge, downtime has been consistently minimal for the past five years. This improvement has greatly benefited both us and our customers, as it allows us to provide services with much better SLAs.
The adoption of the OpenManage Console has impacted our productivity positively as we are currently in the process of rolling it out for our servers.
What is most valuable?
The standout feature is the remote control accessibility, which allows our team to access and manage the servers locally or remotely. We primarily utilize these servers for virtualization, running VMware to consolidate them into a large data center. This setup perfectly aligns with our specific requirements, and our technical team thoroughly enjoys working with it. We've experienced fewer issues compared to previous hardware solutions from other providers. With PowerEdge servers, our stability has significantly improved.
What needs improvement?
There might be room for improvement in terms of efficiency, particularly with PowerEdge servers. However, it's worth noting that this issue isn't unique to Dell but rather a general concern across the industry.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using it for almost twenty years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Stability is paramount, and it's the feedback we consistently receive from our technicians. When we seek their advice on hardware selection for various solutions, they consistently recommend Dell without hesitation.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Scalability is a strong suit, particularly for our high-demand usage scenarios. We leverage storage virtualization with VMware installation, initially setting up nodes with lower capacity. As our needs grow, we can easily expand storage by adding more nodes or increasing capacity. This scalability extends to our infrastructure, allowing for flexible expansion and adaptation as required.
How are customer service and support?
In general, it's common to encounter issues, especially during late hours when support might not be readily available. However, we haven't faced significant problems with our PowerEdge servers. Any challenges we've encountered are more often related to client devices, such as laptops from Dell. When it comes to server support, our experience has been excellent, almost rating it a perfect ten out of ten.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
When comparing Dell PowerEdge servers and services to other options on the market, it's challenging for us to provide a comprehensive evaluation because the majority of our servers in the data center are Dell. Therefore, our main frame of reference is Dell versus alternative solutions. According to feedback from our technicians, Dell is typically preferred over other brands like Dell due to its perceived stability. This comparison is primarily focused on hardware solutions rather than support services.
How was the initial setup?
Deploying Dell PowerEdge servers is straightforward and efficient. It saves us a significant amount of time since it's mostly plug-and-play, with minimal setup required. Our technicians have become accustomed to the process, with approximately fifty percent of the time previously spent on setup now being saved. As we continue to set up numerous Dell servers, we find the process consistently easy and reliable, with no major changes in the setup procedure.
What about the implementation team?
Our primary deployment model for PowerEdge servers revolves around virtualization. While we do have some servers deployed on-premises, the majority are situated in the data center, serving as the backbone for our virtualization solution.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We have a strong agreement in place with our parent company, that typically ensures favorable pricing terms for us, although occasionally we may need to negotiate with Dell representatives for further discounts to provide competitive pricing to our customers.
What other advice do I have?
In our business, we prioritize scalability over a plethora of features. Having identical servers across our infrastructure simplifies support and enhances technician familiarity. This uniformity streamlines processes, making it easier for our team to understand and manage the systems efficiently. Additionally, in our design and digital systems development, we lean towards utilizing Dell for its robust support and scalability, ensuring our solutions can easily scale as needed. Overall, I would rate it nine out of ten.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
Chief Executive Officer at a cloud solution provider with 1-10 employees
Enables exceptional stability, scalability, and ease of deployment, supported by reliable tech support and energy-efficient design
Pros and Cons
- "The enduring stability and longevity offered by Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers stand out as their most invaluable features."
- "The pricing structure could be improved."
What is our primary use case?
We use it in the media industry.
How has it helped my organization?
Our customers have numerous benefits, including an array of features such as RAM quantity, CPU power, and storage capacity.
Our energy consumption was quite high five years ago when we were a service provider. Today, over the last two generations, our power consumption has decreased significantly. This reduction is highly beneficial for our operations.
The flexibility is commendable. Whenever we need to perform any task on our records or servers, the process is smooth and swift. In the twenty years of using Dell, we haven't encountered any troubles, problems, or issues, which speaks volumes about the reliability of their products.
What is most valuable?
The enduring stability and longevity offered by Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers stand out as their most invaluable feature. These qualities enable organizations to deploy and utilize the same server model for extended periods, bolstered by Dell's steadfast guarantee.
What needs improvement?
The pricing structure could be improved.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using it for over ten years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Stability is excellent overall. We've encountered only one issue, which pertained to a SAN rather than a server. This occurred due to a peak in energy, affecting the controller within the rack. Nonetheless, stability remains consistent for our servers.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Scalability is truly excellent, as we can start with a certain number of memory units, and when a customer requests additional memory or space, we can easily upgrade. This process is fast and straightforward, making it highly beneficial.
How are customer service and support?
We've relied on tech support for at least twenty years, and every time we've reached out, we've received swift and effective solutions. I would rate it nine out of ten.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
The advantage of Dell over other vendors lies in the fact that over the course of twenty years, we've consistently opted for solutions that include mission-critical assistance. However, we've only needed to utilize this assistance twice in two decades. This demonstrates the exceptional quality of Dell's hardware, which has been thoroughly tested and proven reliable—an essential feature and service for us.
What about the implementation team?
Deploying was simple. We were assigned directly to the data center. As consultants, we began by working directly in the rack. We initiated the installation process, starting with the hypervisor, and everything proceeded smoothly.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Twenty years ago, we used to purchase directly from Dell. However, they later decided to sell only through partners in Italy. Consequently, when we transitioned to buying from partners, we also became partners ourselves. At present, the pricing seems a bit high for us. While we manage to procure products through competitive bidding, the list pricing remains challenging for us. This difficulty primarily arises when selling to customers, especially medium-sized ones requiring only two or three servers.
What other advice do I have?
Overall, I would rate it nine out of ten.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Dell PowerEdge R-Series Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros
sharing their opinions.
Updated: May 2026
Popular Comparisons
HPE ProLiant DL Servers
Cisco Catalyst Switches
Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers
Arista Networks Platform
HPE Synergy
IBM Power Systems
Cisco Nexus
HPE BladeSystem
Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers
HPE Apollo Systems
Dell PowerEdge MX- Series
Intel Server System
Cisco UCS B-Series
Juniper QFX Series Switches
Oracle SPARC Servers
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Dell PowerEdge R-Series Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros
sharing their opinions.
Quick Links
Learn More: Questions:
- What is the biggest difference between Dell EMC PowerEdge Rack Servers and HPE ProLiant DL Servers?
- Dell EMC PowerEdge Rack Servers vs IBM Power Systems: which product to choose and why?
- When shopping for a rack server, would you go with Dell EMC Poweredge or Lenovo Thinksystem?
- Does anyone have statistics on how often a fire occurs in a computer room?
- Are there any comparisons of HPE & Cisco servers using Benchmarks?
- When evaluating Rack Servers, what aspect do you think is the most important to look for?
- What's the 2018 Market Outlook for Companies Selling Rack Servers?
- Why is Rack Servers important for companies?














