HPE ProLiant DL Servers Reviews

We are primarily working with German solutions, which include a European solution called Worldline and a combination of OpenWay. We work with Worldline and OpenWay solutions, where OpenWay is based out of Belgium but has a strong presence in Central Asian countries; hence, we have a combination of those solutions.

Web technology is what we use, as we have various combinations and since we are in the hosting business, we select vendors or merchants or payment providers such as banks, leading to a multi-combination solution that we host.

We have hardware solutions such as IBM Power servers and HPE ProLiant DL Servers, as well as some small assorted servers and HSMs from Thales, while on the software side, we have a variety of combinations that include some open-source solutions, Oracle database, and products such as Hypervisor, VMware, and Linux, along with many other products.

We have various ProLiant servers dedicated to different functions, but the bulk of our usage is from the DL 380 series and 580 series, which are the servers that we are using.

We have an on-site, on-premises solution and are using it as a solution provider; it is not exactly a SaaS model, but we host various solutions on those platforms.

The primary features of the 380 and 580 we find valuable are high availability and performance, as well as better response from the storage combination that we are using; they are fully fault-resilient—not exactly like our IBM Power series, but some combinations work well.

The primary features of the 380 and 580 we find valuable are high availability and performance, as well as better response from the storage combination that we are using; they are fully fault-resilient—not exactly like our IBM Power series, but some combinations work well. The price-performance ratio is better than IBM counterparts, which is why we have opted for these solutions.

We are not using PowerVM because of certain limitations; it is on a back-end engine. However, we are using other components such as vSphere for some small interfaces, and those are the main components we are utilizing.

Since these servers are fully dedicated to various high-end solutions, they have some embedded features that their kernel and applications are using, which are bound to that functionality. We may not provide an exact assessment on its usage, but we are considering those products for some AI solutions; however, we are currently in the review stage and have not concluded our evaluation on how those are utilized yet.

We are aware of the pricing of HPE ProLiant DL servers, but not off the cuff. We have obviously acquired those solutions ex-Pakistan, so they are on the rise, and while we do not remember those prices offhand, they are generally better than the IBM series, although they are becoming slightly pricey in Pakistan due to processor shortages and demand.

Improvements could be made in database engine hosting services because, as it stands, the pricing of Oracle is too high from both the service and software solution perspectives. If pricing can be reduced, especially for DB servers, that could have a direct positive impact on the overall solution.

Regarding reliability, it has been satisfactory so far, but since the distributors are not physically present in Pakistan, that creates a risk for long-term large customers. They provide import-based services, necessitating us to over-invest in backup stock and offline servers. If there was a market presence from those players in Pakistan, it could benefit both clients and distributors by reducing the need for investment in backup inventory.

We have primarily been working with HPE ProLiant DL servers since 2018 and 2019; the 580s were added later, but the 380s were added earlier on, along with the 160 and other ProLiant servers added at various stages.

Regarding reliability, it has been satisfactory so far, but since the distributors are not physically present in Pakistan, that creates a risk for long-term large customers.

Since these servers are fully dedicated to various high-end solutions, they have some embedded features that their kernel and applications are using, which are bound to that functionality.

From our usage point of view, we rely less on onboard storage, depending instead on SANs and NAS, and the fiber connections and throughput are satisfactory. As for the AI solution we are considering, that needs to be assessed separately since it is uncharted territory, but if successful, it will definitely be advantageous for us.

We do not communicate directly with HPE's technical support because our local support company is primarily responsible; we only ensured initial support from the Singapore office, which is the primary supplier.

HPE ProLiant DL servers were our first installation at this particular entity; we have used them for other companies, but that is not relevant here.

The initial setup and deployment were very simple and easy, likely due to our partners and third-party vendors providing excellent service; their experienced personnel in Pakistan ensured there were no issues. It felt more like a plug-and-play solution.

We participated in the initial setup and deployment of HPE ProLiant DL servers, though not in a very hands-on capacity, as our technical team worked on it; however, we were involved in the acquisition decision and the overall process.

We have not thoroughly explored the return on investment or cost savings from energy-efficient components because energy pricing has been skyrocketing in Pakistan, which has impacted us.

We have hardware solutions such as IBM Power servers and HPE ProLiant DL Servers, as well as some small assorted servers and HSMs from Thales, while on the software side, we have a variety of combinations that include some open-source solutions.

We are still working with HPE ProLiant DL Servers.

We are not familiar with the Lights-Out feature; an explanation and elaboration would be appreciated, as we may know it by a different name.

We do not communicate directly with HPE's technical support because our local support company is primarily responsible; we only ensured initial support from the Singapore office, which is the primary supplier.

If there was a market presence from those players in Pakistan, it could benefit both clients and distributors by reducing the need for investment in backup inventory.

We would rate HPE ProLiant DL Servers between seven and eight, with seven being acceptable; it is not like the fault-tolerant performance solutions we used in the past, which excelled, but we viewed HPE ProLiant 580 as a better price-performance combination despite it not having all the features present in those previous solutions. Our overall rating for this product is seven out of ten.

Our main use case for HPE ProLiant DL Servers is virtualization, specifically VMware.

The most useful functions in HPE ProLiant DL Servers are its reliability and quick availability. Our management directed us to offer HP, and it remains reliable. Compared to Dell, both brands are reliable, but HP can deliver servers quickly to us. We are located in the South Province of the Philippines, where some brands take three to six months to deliver a server, whereas HP can deliver within two months.

Integrated HP Lights-Out feature is useful for managing the server offline.

HP's support for Intel and AMD processors is helpful for customizing servers. We have installed HP servers with Intel processors, and we tried Epyc once for one customer, which worked well.

I am satisfied with the security protocols in HPE ProLiant DL Servers for data integrity. They support TPM 2 and other security features that are needed nowadays, with no problems regarding access from unauthorized users.

For energy efficiency, there is a monitoring tool in iLO that allows us to see how much energy the server is using. We also monitor the UPS power draw and usage, so the servers are quite efficient and power efficient.

If I had to choose between HP and Dell, I would choose Dell's iDRAC over iLO. iLO is adequate, but Dell is much better, especially when configuring the internal storage of the server.

Mostly when we configure the internal integrated storage of the server, Dell allows configuration in iDRAC, but in iLO, we have to open another application just to configure storage through their MegaRAID.

The fan sound can be an issue for some clients, although for most it is acceptable. Another point for improvement is the configuration of the internal disks. We really need to open another application called Intelligent Provisioning just to configure it, whereas in Dell, we can simply go to storage, click the RAID configuration that we need, and everything is available in iDRAC.

I started coming back to HP two years ago. We were a partner many years ago, then we stopped and came back two years ago.

For stability, I can give HPE ProLiant DL Servers a rating of 10 for stability and reliability.

I cannot give high marks for scalability since servers are designed to be standalone. I would rate it a 7 or an 8.

I feel very confident with HPE ProLiant DL Servers regarding reliability. We do not have a problem with its reliability and HP support. When we ask for support, they are responsive.

Regarding technical support from HP, I can give them a rating of 9 because it should be 10, but there are sometimes difficulties in calling them or contacting them.

The initial setup process for HPE ProLiant DL Servers is somewhat complex, particularly the part about the internal drive which requires some additional steps. Installing Windows, Linux, or VMware Hyper-V is straightforward, and we can make it run without significant issues.

The main competitor for HPE ProLiant DL Servers is Dell, and the key reason Dell is better is because it is easier to configure. Dell also has a nice LCD display in their bezel showing alarms for power failures or temperature inside the server, while HP's bezel is just metal and we have to go to iLO to determine alarms.

Regarding pricing for HPE ProLiant DL Servers, I do not work with sales directly, but from what I heard from the sales team, Dell and HP mostly have the same pricing. Sometimes HP is more expensive, but sometimes they are cheaper depending on product registration for better discounts. Currently, both are very expensive due to RAM constraints, with prices four times higher than last year, so we cannot sell servers today or this year because it is too expensive.

Regarding HP Intelligent System Tuning for workload performance, we have not explored that feature yet.

HPE ProLiant DL Servers are working well, but we have not looked into it deeply. We simply go into iLO, install the operating system through there, then configure its boot, host name and IP address, and that is all. We do not integrate it with HP's monitoring tools and just use iLO for setting up the operating system or the hypervisor.

My final rating for HPE ProLiant DL Servers is 9.

We use it for backup and disaster recovery.

The best feature in the product is that it's expandable, which is why I appreciate this product.

It is not just expansive, but rather scalable.

It is very easy to integrate with infrastructure and other products since we have 90% of HPE in our farm, making it very integrated.

Regarding disadvantages, I don't think the product can be improved as there are no areas for enhancement.

If they were to update HPE ProLiant DL Servers in the future, I would not want to see any new features as we have no necessity for other features. Everything I need is already present.

There is currently no artificial intelligence in the product. It would actually be helpful to have some features with AI.

We are trying to start a project of AI on-premise, so we want features that can utilize artificial intelligence on-premise.

We have many regulatory requirements here that are different from Italian or other global requirements, so we need artificial intelligence capabilities that I am not able to express fully in English.

I have been using this product for three years because we have three HPE ProLiant DL Servers.

We have no problem with installation as it is straightforward to set up.

The deployment process is good, and we have made the deployment by ourselves.

It takes us two days to deploy the product.

The product is stable.

It is difficult for me to respond on how HPE ProLiant DL Servers handle workload peaks in my environment.

We are very happy with the support. If I were to rate support, I would give it a perfect score.

Positive

I have no complaints as I can integrate solutions however I want.

We do not have a solution on cloud as it is all on-premise here. We are in Vatican City and we are all on-premise.

The deployment process is good, and we have made the deployment by ourselves.

HPE ProLiant DL Servers are saving me some money and I see some ROI.

In terms of percentage, I am saving from 5 to 10%.

I do not think it is an expensive product.

I'm satisfied with the pricing as we have made a comparison with other vendors and found that HP is more economical.

We have compared HPE to other products as we work with some other vendors such as Dell and Lenovo.

When comparing HP to Lenovo and Dell, Lenovo is more aggressive with the price, trying to enter Vatican City with competitive prices, but all three are very similar in hardware for our needs.

From a technological standpoint, they are quite similar.

I am still using this product and I work with some new technologies today.

I have no favorite functionality in the product.

On a scale of one to ten, I rate HPE ProLiant DL Servers a nine out of ten.

My customers' usual use cases for HPE ProLiant DL Servers range from development, web hosting, to mail hosting, and HPC platforms, with many use cases.

Many customers have done virtualization using VMware, Microsoft, or Nutanix platforms with their HPE ProLiant DL Servers.

HPE ProLiant DL Servers can take up to 4 TB memory and can go up to 32 drives when it comes to scalability, plus they can take up to 16 ports of Ethernet or fiber combination.

HPE ProLiant DL Servers facilitate AI-driven projects for my customers, and some of the models are specifically built for AI.

The features and capabilities of HPE ProLiant DL Servers that I have found most valuable include having the latest generation with the latest ASIC 7 chip, which gives an edge over all other competitive servers. It can perform a silicon root of trust to reduce attacks, with sensors in the servers that really matter when there is a heat condition or an AC failure in the data center.

HPE ProLiant DL Servers are meant for data centers only, and they have 100% customer acceptance to be used in data centers.

Customers are still not using the fullest capability of HPE ProLiant DL Servers. Though it has been enhanced, customers are yet to start using their capabilities.

I have been working with HPE ProLiant DL Servers for almost 20 years now.

The scalability of HPE ProLiant DL Servers deserves a rating of 10.

The technical support and customer service for HPE ProLiant DL Servers is pretty good because in India, based on the service agreements that you have, you will get service accordingly. I would rate it as nine.

Positive

My experience with the initial setup of HPE ProLiant DL Servers is very easy, as it has menu-driven OS deployments, and any person who has a good understanding of an OS can do a deployment quickly.

It usually takes one and a half to two hours max to deploy an HPE ProLiant DL server, including OS installation.

The initial setup of HPE ProLiant DL Servers deserves a rating of 10 as it is very easy.

The pricing of HPE ProLiant DL Servers depends purely on the configuration, and it is not affordable. However, if you look at the technical caliber of the server, if a customer invests that additional extra money, we are sure that they are going to gain from it, but the price remains expensive.

The AI engines that HPE ProLiant DL Servers suggest for their customers include NVIDIA graphics and EnvyLink graphics for AI customers.

The AI engines are more than sufficient for the current situation.

HPE ProLiant DL Servers address end-to-end customer needs. It is a perfect combination with the generation 12 now, and there are absolutely no gaps.

Customers usually deploy HPE ProLiant DL Servers on-premises, as on cloud, they do not have the option to specify the server model, and the cloud vendors will not specify which server it is.

My usual deployment process involves checking the power AC requirements, power and cooling requirements, then the rack requirements, and then I proceed to deploy the servers based on the customer requirement.

I rate HPE ProLiant DL Servers 10 out of 10.

These servers were primarily used for Windows servers. The use cases remained the same throughout. For instance, back in 2010, G5 or G6 would have been deployed for the active directory or as a high-end backup server. During that time, we needed servers with higher performance. However, as we progressed, we gradually adopted Hyper-V and VMware for administrative purposes. This transition allowed us to enhance performance and consolidate our infrastructure by migrating to VMs and shared servers. 

By 2015, these older physical servers were phased out, and it became challenging to find compatible parts. Therefore, we decided to leverage virtualization technologies. The company owned this equipment, but they eventually decommissioned it. So, considering the lifecycle and practical aspects, it was not an issue. Due to the lifecycle, these servers were left out.

The most valuable feature I have found for HPE ProLiant DL Servers HPE was SmartStart. However, it is not available in the newer versions. 

HPE SmartStart was valuable for HPE ProLiant DL Servers. However, I believe it has been discontinued, considering your technical awareness of current developments. There is a feature called SmartStart, which refers to the HPE SmartStart CD provided by HPE. This CD was available until 2008. Now, in the present scenario, people are migrating from Server 2008 to Server 2019. Logically, according to the manufacturer, HPE, it's stated that SmartStart is not compatible with newer operating systems like 2019 or 2016. It doesn't work. However, I have personally performed a workaround. You can start by using the SmartStart CD to install Windows Server 2008 R2 as the base operating system and then proceed with upgrading it to Windows Server 2016. I have successfully implemented this approach on several servers, approximately 20 to 30 servers. I haven't encountered any issues so far. Why doesn't it cause problems? I believe that HPE is aware of this situation. Not every organization has the budget or resources to purchase new servers once the lifecycle ends. Therefore, HPE should provide some form of correction, such as upgrades or updated utilities, that can be used with these servers. By offering backward compatibility, at least until the G7 series, and supporting operating systems like SmartStart for these environments, it would greatly benefit clients. This approach would receive positive feedback for the company's support services.

I have been using HPE ProLiant DL Servers for more than fifteen years. 

I have worked with various generations of HPE ProLiant DL Servers, starting from G3, then G4, G5, G6, and G7. 

However, later on, the procurement of new physical servers was stopped, and the focus shifted more toward virtual environments. Moreover, it was more secure.

I would rate the stability of this solution an eight out of ten. In our organization, there are around 10,000 end-users. 

I would rate the scalability of this solution a seven out of ten.  

The initial setup for HPE ProLiant DL Servers is easy. When it comes to the setup process, it's not about the number of steps involved. It depends on the overall experience. 

Generally, these servers are not overly complicated from the beginning. However, if you encounter features like iDRAC (integrated Dell Remote Access Controller) in Dell servers, there may be a slight learning curve if you're not familiar with it. In such cases, it might require a few days or even a week to get hands-on experience and become comfortable. Similarly, for any new technology, it's advisable to gain some experience before providing a review. I don't think you should attempt it blindly. So, regardless of the number of steps, my opinion is that for personal infrastructure or within a company, the initial setup should be manageable.

I would recommend this solution, but it depends on whether you are using a blade server or a rack mount server. If it's a blade server, it offers easier connectivity and makes it convenient to replace components.

Overall, I would rate this solution a nine out of ten. 

The use cases attached to the solution can be anything on the database, or it can be a part of a cluster, like an HPC cluster, general-purpose servers, or ad servers. The tool's use cases can vary, and it all depends on the customers as to what exactly they want to start with and scale up.

The most valuable feature of the solution is HPE Integrated Lights-Out (iLO). HPE Integrated Lights-Out (iLO) is a remote management platform from which you can remotely manage all the physical servers. HPE Integrated Lights-Out (iLO) allows you to do many things, including power cycling of servers and deployment of applications monitoring of servers. In general, you can power cycle and restart servers with the help of the aforementioned feature.

When you speak of any enhancements in the product, you need to shift to the tool's commercial mode. You get more features in the solution if you pour in more money.

If a customer needs some features in the solution, they will have to buy it since certain features are not loaded by default in the server. With entry-level licenses, servers are shipped to customers free of cost. Customers need to pay if they want more and more features in the solution. Every OEM solution in the market, including HPE ProLiant DL, operates similarly.

The overall cost of the product needs to be lower, as it is one of the areas of concern in the product.

I have experience with HPE ProLiant DL for fifteen years. My company operates as a system integrator. My organization also has a partnership with HPE. My company currently uses HPE ProLiant Gen11 Servers.

Stability-wise, I rate the solution a ten out of ten.

The product offers excellent scalability. Scalability-wise, I rate the solution a ten out of ten.

My company deals with more than 100 customers who use the product.

My company deals with SMBs, enterprise-sized businesses, and global customers who use the product.

The product's support team has been excellent. I rate the technical support a ten out of ten.

Positive

I rate the product's initial setup phase a ten on a scale of one to ten, where one is a difficult setup phase, and ten is an easy setup process.

The solution is deployed on an on-premises model around 90 percent of the time. Customers prefer to avail of the cloud services offered by AWS, Azure, or the services from some local partners in India.

The solution can be deployed in an hour. For racking and powering up the server, it takes a maximum of an hour.

For the deployment process, you need to fix the rack rail kit to install the server and then go for power on, after which you need to do the initial configuration check before going ahead with VoIP installation.

The product is expensive. I rate the product price an eight on a scale of one to ten, where one is low price and ten is high price. On the needs of the customers, the product offers a lot of support SLAs. Customers can choose a single point of contact for support.

My company's customers use Nutanix or VMware in their data centers for server consolidation and resource optimization.

The solution has been deployed for running virtualization workloads or hosting business-critical applications in our company's customers' organizations, as the product is built for certain purposes. If VMware is deployed on HPE ProLiant Gen11 Servers, users can use hypervisors in Nutanix or hypervisors in VMware.

The product's most beneficial features for improving IT infrastructure efficiency stem from the fact that the tool lasts for a long period for a customer. The life cycle of the servers is pretty good, and it is a proven fact since my company has seen customers using it for seven years, even in the production phase.

HPE Integrated Lights-Out (iLO) improves IT infrastructure efficiency since it is an area where you see the consumption of the servers. You can monitor even 1,000 servers on a single pane of glass.

In terms of operational costs, you don't have to go to physical servers to do anything, as the tool does everything. With the tool, you can do 98 percent of the tasks remotely. People working in multiple branches across the world don't have to go and deploy the servers physically. From one place, users can control the servers from anywhere in the world with the help of HPE ProLiant DL. The tool reduces the operational costs and increases efficiency.

The product doesn't affect its customers' environment in any way. The product offers scalability and availability. That tool is also easy to deploy.

HPE has built the servers to last for decades, owing to which stability is one of the areas that HPE ProLiant DL has focused on when it comes to the solution.

The customers in India are not concerned about energy savings or reduced cooling costs after the implementation of the solution.

Whether the workload demands are met or not depends on what the customers want from the product in the beginning and how much they want to scale up.

Whether the workload demands are met depends on what the customers want from the product in the beginning and how much they want to scale up. My company offers solutions depending on whether the customers want to provision the product for the upcoming three or five years. Customers have to buy more servers if they want to scale up beyond a certain limit.

The product helps in the area of business growth.

I recommend the product to those who plan to use it. Before purchasing the product, people should consider their growth plan for the next three or five years. Until and unless there is a business plan in place, it is very difficult to figure out the requirements of the solution.

I rate the overall tool a ten out of ten.

The solution is used for storage.

The solution is stable. I have not had any problems with it.

The product must provide time travel features. Oracle Flashback Database provides such features. If there’s an error, we can travel back in time and revert it. If someone imports a wrong request, we can ask the system to go back in time so that the system has no problem. Backup and recovery are the most important features.

I have been using the solution for 20 years.

I rate the tool’s stability a nine out of ten. We had a problem three years ago. We fixed it. It’s normal for such issues to occur.

The tool’s scalability is adequate for our company. We have 150 users in our organization. It is not extensively used. We do not have plans to increase the usage. We might migrate to the cloud in the future.

I have used IBM. It was very expensive and was not scalable.

The solution is deployed on-premises. Our organization bought and installed the solution, and we use it.

The return on investment is quite good.

I have little knowledge about hardware. I recommend the solution to others. Overall, I rate the tool a nine out of ten.

We have local storage. We typically use the service for processing. We have a visual solution, and we are connected to the storage directly. In our company, we have around 1,000 virtual machines. We have more than 200 production servers.

We like that the solution is very easy to use. Many companies use it in our market. In Iran, we don't have many options, and HP is one of them. 

It works well overall. 

It can scale.

It's reliable and stable. 

We find the solution easy to set up.

I don't have any information about other servers. I can't compare it to other products. 

I'd like the solution to be a bit more stable. Most of the servers we use are okay. However, sometimes, you need to change the parts. We'd like the solution to be more robust. 

In the past, we've had to buy some RAM and hard drives, and sometimes we find they are refurbished and not actually new, and this is a problem for us in our market. 

I've used the solution for a long time. I've used it for about ten years. 

The solution is stable for us. It is reliable. There are no bugs or glitches.

I'd rate the stability seven or eight out of ten. The stability, of course, could be a bit better. 

We have 500 people using the solution. Most of them are developers, and they're using it in testing, production, and development environments. We do have plans to increase usage. It's ongoing usage, and sometimes we have to add servers. 

It is scalable. I'd rate the ability to expand eight out of ten. 

We've never dealt with support as we have sanctions against us. We don't have access to support. 

I used to work with Synergy, and we had issues with the blade. 

The solution is easy to set up if you have enough information and experience with it. 

The deployment does not take a lot of time. We prepare all of the virtual software, and we simply add a server to the cluster. We just install it and join it to other servers. We always deploy using direct internet and the local network. It's on-premises. 

There are eight of us that can handle deployment or maintenance. However, we only really ever need two people for the tasks. 

I don't deal with licensing. I can't speak to the exact cost. 

I'm not sure if we are using the latest version of the solution. I am familiar with the 300 and 500 series.

I'd rate the solution eight out of ten.

I'd recommend the solution to others. 

We run all of our on-prem operations on HPE ProLiant DL Servers. This includes both VMware and Hyper-V virtualization. We also have a business-to-business portal with them, allowing each of our markets to order directly.

ProLiant DL Servers helped our business critical process to run without hiccups.

The most valuable features are the stability and the scalability.

The technical support has room for improvement. HPE's interactions with other vendors tend to not be very productive. For example, we use VMware and whenever we have an ELA with HPE for VMware, we get support from them. Whenever there is an issue with their peers, they just talk about each other. When it gets worse, support can become really complicated.

I have been using the solution for eight months.

I give the stability an eight out of ten.

I give the scalability a nine out of ten.

We sometimes have issues with the technical support team.

Neutral

The initial setup was straightforward. We did have to do a lot of customization before the deployment due to wanting to standardize which markets could get a rate comparison, as well as the size of the company.

We see a return on investment with HPE ProLiant DL Servers.

I give the pricing a six out of ten.

I give the solution an eight out of ten.

We have been having issues with HPE's road maps, which tend to be very aggressive. For example, if we have a server and then HPE announces and releases the NexGen, the previous server only has one more gear before the end of use. This can be problematic for clusters that are configured to only have the same model, as after a year we would have to do diagnostics or buy a new cluster. This is something we do not like about HPE, although other vendors may also be aggressive, HPE is really bad. It is important for new users to keep this in mind.

We primarily use the solution as a server. We use it for hosting Oracle databases. 

The management console is very good. It allows for a wide variety of management capabilities. It's very easy to use. I can get analytics as well. I can see the performance and look up bottlenecks.

The availability is very good. 

It offers the best performance for my workloads. It offers very nice flash arrays. 

The configuration is pretty good. 

It is stable. 

I do not have any notes for improvement. I don't have a lot of visibility on every aspect at the moment. 

The setup could be a bit easier. 

The initial configuration process could be simpler.

I've used the solution for about six months. 

The solution is stable, and we are happy with it. I'd rate the solution nine out of ten in terms of reliability.

We haven't looked into scalability. We don't have a growing workload. In terms of increasing capacity, such as CPU, it's fine. Scaling out, for example, adding multiple nodes, I haven't tested as that wasn't in the scope of our use case. 

Technical support is hard to gauge. I haven't dealt with them just yet.

I've worked with IBM servers in the past as well. These servers are easier to deal with and set up. In this current organization, this is the first solution we are using.

The initial setup is not easy yet not over difficult either. It's easier than, for example, IBM servers. It's more out of the box. There isn't so much configuration needed. 

I'd rate the ease of the process seven out of ten. 

The deployment took around six months for us to deploy everything. It took a while to get the hardware. 

We had a team involved in the implementation. 

We had some assistance from HP with the configuration. 

We're investing in the hardware, and we're not really seeing any ROI at this time. The nodes aren't doing much. We're only using it for a couple of databases. We're not using it to full capacity just yet.

The pricing is not something I deal with. I don't have an idea of the exact cost.

We are end-users.

I would definitely recommend the solution to others based on how well it has worked for me in the past. I'd happy with its capabilities.

I'd rate the solution eight out of ten.