HPE ProLiant DL Servers Reviews

With HPE ProLiant, you can run a Windows operating system or a Linux OS based on Intel architecture. We also use several applications like iLO to manage the servers within the architecture of our serverless AMD processors. 

Alternatively, you can use another monitoring solution like HP OneView to manage ProLiant Servers. It's a product for monitoring and managing the servers. In addition to monitoring software, ProLiant can be managed with a cloud-based solution. For example, HP's cloud-based InfoSight solution lets you monitor your server and storage, including ProLiant and Intel. 

ProLiant can be mounted in different types of server racks, like a CD or tower. The tower solution of ProLiant is for a small site or office. With this type of tower server, you can add a kit as well. ProLiant has several servers: 150, 350, 380. And there is another ProLiant architecture that you can install in a Synergy and BladeSystem enclosure. 

HPE's iLO server management software is a handy tool to install and deploy. OneView is also suitable for management, but you need a license for it. You can use OneView's monitoring features for free, but you need to pay for management capabilities. In the latest generation, Gen10, you have to add a license for iLO. In addition, generation 10 requires an ISO license to use iLO for management. And if you're working with Synergy, there is another new product like SimpliVity. SimpliVity has a helpful product that is based on ProLiant and another type of architecture similar to Apollo.

It would be great if HP could use a ProLiant Server to run HP-UX, the Unix build from HPE. Right now, HP-UX cannot run on the ProLiant architecture. So if HP made HP-UX compatible with ProLiant Servers, it would be pretty helpful. On the other hand, Linux is also replacing HP-UX, so maybe HP doesn't need to integrate this architecture into ProLiant. 

If you look at ProLiant's trajectory, I think the next generation will be focused on adding memory. Currently, there is a gap in the memory technology, so I'm predicting that the internal disk for the next generation of ProLiant will be RAM only. I believe this high-speed disk will be available in the next generation. I think the disk will be integrated into the RAM architecture. 

With the improved RAM architecture, the disk will be faster than the first-class disk because there are other protocols between memory and disk. If you have your disk, you look at the disk in terms of the motherboard. If you add to the processor, it would be faster. All disks in this architecture will be in the solution's memory.

I've been working with ProLiant for almost 10 years. And two or three months ago, I implemented several ProLiant Servers running Windows. It was a very short project — a  small solution for a small customer. The majority of my experience has been with HPE servers like ProLiant and Integrity. I've been working with HPE products for about 18 years, including HPE infrastructure, storage, and servers products. So I've been working with HPE since my first job after I graduated.

ProLiant Servers are stable because they have redundant elements built in.

I would say ProLiant Servers are scalable, but it also depends on the architecture. You can scale up with Synergy. For example, you can add two servers into one node. So if it's part of the cluster, it also depends on the operating system that's running. 

When our customers deploy a ProLiant server, we're usually the ones providing support. We have a three-year contract for hardware and software support. The procedure for escalating to HP is pretty straightforward. You contact an HP call center then they verify your system handle or serial. If the server has an active contract, the response from the engineer depends on the conditions of the contract. Some contracts are six hours. That means they're going to solve your problem in six hours.

Installing ProLiant is straightforward. There are different ways you can deploy. You can deploy it locally using the graphical user interface, or you also have the option to set it up using a shell. You only need some basic knowledge to install ProLiant. The procedure is pretty similar to setting up a PC or a laptop. ProLiant has an array of tools, so you can easily install the servers without any experience. The installer has a simple Windows-based GUI, so you just click through the wizard and provide some information to the servers. 

You don't need a deep understanding of the architecture. If you have a fundamental knowledge of operating systems like Windows, you can handle this with no problem. Also, HP has a lot of information available online, including video tutorials on installing your ProLiant Servers. HP has several channels to provide information for customers and engineers.

The time needed to deploy depends on the scale and your environment. If you want to deploy just one ProLiant server, it takes maybe 30 minutes. If you're going to deploy a Synergy of BladeSystem with different modules inside, you might need to spend an entire workday on it. Maybe it takes a day to install all your servers or maybe less. But installing a single ProLiant rack-based server can be done in 30 minutes, including installing the operating system. Installing the operating system, updating your system, etc., will take maybe 30 or 40 minutes.

10 out of 10. The latest generation is the best, but Generation 6 was very stable. It was a good one. Now Generation 10 is the best. I don't know why they took so long to upgrade this generation. Still, Generation 10 has improved a lot in memory and processing, so you can operate in an environment that supports ProLiant. That's why I think HP-UX will disappear because Linux can run this environment on the ProLiant architecture very well.

For example, the range of velocity and processor speed is four or five times greater than before. You can run every Linux environment, which can replace the Unix environment. You can run this Linux environment inside the ProLiant and get the same service as a Unix environment. That's why Linux and ProLiant run very well.

We are using it for serving the VMware environment and creating all of our virtual servers and desktops.

The GPU units, processor speed, and capabilities are most valuable. Desktop video conferencing is also valuable. It supports desktop video conferencing much better for graphics.

They should work with Microsoft to make licensing costs better. That's because the physical servers have processors with all these cores, and Microsoft now licenses Windows virtual server desktops based on the number of cores and the serving servers. So, if you got to build 10 or 20 servers on that desktop, you got to license them all with Microsoft. They should have a partnership with Microsoft to decrease the virtual licensing of servers in partnerships so that when you purchase the servers, you also get licensing for Microsoft on top of them. That's because it gets very expensive to license virtual operating systems to run on physical servers.

I have been using this solution for 10 years, but these are refreshed. So, they're new. We have hardly used them.

It is solid. We didn't face any issues.

Its scalability is great. We have 150 users, and it is being used heavily. We are taking every bit of life out of it we can. We don't have any plans to increase its usage.

Their technical support is great. It is fantastic.

We have only used HPE.

It is easy. Getting them up and running is a piece of cake, but getting the VMware environment operation on them is very complicated.

It has been a couple of months so far, and we're still working on it.

We are implementing it in-house. We are growing that skill internally. I got a rockstar guy doing all that. I don't do it on my own. 

For its maintenance, we have one network administrator.

They need to work with Microsoft to make the licensing costs better and more efficient.

It is a good product. I would rate it a nine out of 10 because it has good support and good performance.

Our customers are having additional VMware environments which we are converting into one because of the backup advantage. We can do the complete backup of VM within approximately eight to ten seconds.

The speed of the backups and having the system be immune to ransomware are the main advantages. Additionally, It is very user-friendly, repairable, flexible, and anybody can easily learn it.

When it comes to security there can always be room for improvement. If there was an option to build security into the system it would be an advantage.

The solution could improve by providing local support here in Sri Lanka, we do not have a local office.

I have been using this solution for approximately five years.

The solution is scalable.

We have approximately 500 customers using this solution.

The support structure from HPE is excellent. When comparing the support to Dell and Huawei, they cannot match the level of support HPE provides. I have experienced great response times and the engineers are very talented with precise information. When they give a solution to a problem we do not have to question if it will resolve the issue.

HPE frequently checks its competitors' capabilities to ensure they deliver the best service. This is something valuable this is why they are one of the best.

The installation is easy. The hardware installation takes approximately 20 minutes and the Windows installation takes another 20 minutes.

We have support engineers for the maintenance and implementation of the solution.

HPE ProLiant DL Servers are one of the best-selling solutions in this industry. There is not a license required for this solution.

I would recommend this solution to others.

I rate HPE ProLiant DL Servers a nine out of ten.

We are system integrators in a fiber optics company. We use this solution mainly as high computational devices, but also we use it as a storage device.

The deployment is data center-based.

This solution is perfect. From the time of purchase, it was state-of-the-art, and still, after five, 10 years, they still meet our demands extremely well.

It is easy to use and it also has good performance.

The latest generation has made good improvements in power consumption. G6, and G7, which is approximately 10-year-old technology, have some issues with power consumption.

The installation could be simplified.

I would also like to pay less for the out-of-the-box product, but everything else is okay.

I have been working with HPE ProLiant DL Servers for ten years.

We are using generations six to nine. G6, G7, G8, and G9.

The stability of this product is very good.

We deployed it in our network, and our network is the backbone of the company. Through our backbone, we serve millions of end users, but indirect users are internet service providers that use our services, which is approximately 50.

I have never contacted technical support because everything worked perfectly.

The installation is reasonably complex.

The length of time it takes to deploy depends on the software that we are installing, but it can take a couple of days, approximately.

We have two engineers and one technician to maintain it.

We had the help of a system integrator.

The iLO (integrated lights out) license is very expensive, but the functionality you receive is worth it.

We are fully satisfied with this solution and I recommend it for others who are interested in using it.

On a scale from one to ten, I would rate HPE ProLiant DL Servers a 10 out of 10.

We primarily use the product for normal server purposes, for the running of Windows 2016 or 2019. We also use it for custom network monitoring applications, so we may monitor some of our infrastructure. I would not consider the product to be very specific, as the application is dependent on the HP server. We can post it on any server.

While there is nothing specific that I like about HP server products, they are stable, as much so as Dell EMC.

HPE ProLiant DL Servers lack scalability.

We have been using HPE and Dell EMC service products for two years.

We have had no issues with the stability of the product.

HPE ProLiant DL Servers are not scalable. There will be no dependency between the other servers, should we need to scale. Unlike VxRail, it will be completely isolated, the solutions being capable of being scaled up to 64 nodes. It is a pay-as-you-grow solution, which is the one that we are moving on from now.

We have not had occasion to make direct use of HPE technical support, although we we are in regular contact with the contractor who's providing the software running on the HPE. I do not recall any issue involving the hardware.

While the product was delivered by a single contractor, the installation time was that of any other typical server. This only consisted of configuring the ILO, followed by putting on the operating system. That is all. Up to a certain operating level, the configuration of the product would not be a matter of days.

As the business services we provide are of a confidential nature, both for government and military purposes, we deploy strictly on-premises.

The HPE and Dell EMC service products we are using were delivered by the vendor as part of one specific project and it is not up to us to advise which hardware will be provided. Yet, we always take advantage of any internal projects that we have.

We did not need to pay for a license for the use of HPE DL Servers, just for normal hardcore support. 

In addition to HPE server products, we also evaluated Dell EMC and found the two to be equally stable, although the former does not have a strong presence in Qatar. This said, we evaluated Dell EMC VxRail and Cisco HyperFlex for their virtualization player or hyper-converged player capabilities, but did not consider HP for these features.

Due to Dell EMC's strong presence in Qatar, I would recommend use of this product over that of HPE. This does not owe itself to any technical issues, only that Dell EMC has a stronger presence. Of course, the level of support is an important feature for the end-user.

The kind of servers or HPE products we are using with those of ProLiant DL are DL390, 380, gen 10 and HPDL. We are utilizing gen 10 as our latest version of DL servers.

We utilize a total of six HPE Servers, strictly as a monitoring tool. The NOC membership comprises only 10 people.

As I mentioned, HPE ProLiant DL Servers came as part of a project. We will continue to use it for as long as we continue to renew the contract for the solution that is provided by the contractor.

We use it for all of our needs. We use it for our servers, appliances, and virtualization. We have Gen8 and Gen10 models.

Its management, IOs, and stability are the most valuable features. It works fine. 

It has all the features of a typical server. All that can be done has already been done. 

The scalability of Gen8 models should be improved. They can also improve its price.

I have been using this solution for five or six years.

It is very stable.

Gen8 models are not as scalable as Gen10. You can't get parts for Gen8, but you can get parts for Gen10.

We have about 2,000 users, and they all use these servers.

It is fairly decent. It is straightforward most of the time. It takes less than a day for a server.

We installed them ourselves. The number of people required depends on how many servers you are deploying. 

The hardware should be cheaper.

HPE servers are pretty decent. We will definitely keep using them until their end of life. I am quite satisfied with this solution.

I would rate HPE ProLiant DL Servers an eight out of ten.

We primarily use it for our own servers. Basically, we use it for anything we need to have it for, including our servers, our appliances, and virtualization.

The solution has excellent management capabilities. The iLO is very good. It's got excellent stability and provides a solid performance.

The hardware is reliable.

To deploy one server takes less than a day. You don't need too many engineers.

The solution should work to be more scalable.

The pricing of the product needs to be better. Right now, it's quite costly.

I've been using the solution for five or six years at this point. It's been a good amount of time.

The scalability varies. However, you need to buy the size, and then you are stuck up to that level for the most part. Gen8 I wouldn't describe as scalable at all as you can't get Sparx for it. The solution is changing, however. Maybe in a few years, you will be able to. However, in general, the scalability is lacking.

We have 50,000 users and they all, in one way or another, use the servers.

We plan to continue to use the solution until its end-of-life.

The initial setup is not overly complex. It's pretty straightforward.

To install one server, it takes less than a day. Most of the time there aren't any issues.

You don't need too many people to deploy the product, however, it depends on how many servers you are setting up. For a few servers, you need few engineers and no more than that.

We installed the solution ourselves. We did not need a consultant or implementor to assist us. It was handled in-house.

The hardware is expensive. It needs to be cheaper. If they could work on that a bit, it would be very helpful to customers.

We use a mix of versions, mostly Gen8 and Gen10.

We've been quite satisfied with the solution overall. It's good hardware. I'd recommend it to organizations that mostly would be using Dell or HP servers.

I'd rate the solution, on a scale from one to ten, at an eight. We've been quite satisfied with the level of performance we get, and their general stability.

We use it for the 12 VMs we have on it. We are using VMware.

It's very useful.

It's easy to upgrade, and it is very easy to take care of the firmware upgrades.

With a complete bootable CD, we can do the upgrades quite remotely and pretty easily.

A black mark that we felt with HPE is that it failed within four to six months of use, even after it was addressed with HPE. 

The implementation should be simplified, it is not straightforward.

The product should be better tested before they send it to the end-user.

The stability needs improvement.

Support could be improved to be faster in responding.

We just purchased HPE ProLiant DL Servers six months ago.

We are using the latest version.

At this point in time, I would not say that it is a very stable product, because of the bad experience that we had.

It is scalable to a certain extent. Not very much, but at least 20% scalable.

We have 300 users in our organization.

We contacted technical support for the issues that we were facing. 

I found them to be quite slow in their response.

We could put up with the delay because it had just been brought in, and the applications were being transferred.

In fairness, it could have been because of the COVID issue. But I found them to be pretty slow.

Previously we were using Dell, and we switched from Dell to HPE.

We have been very dedicated users of Dell and never had any issues with them. Unfortunately, we had to switch to HPE for a specific reason.

We switched from Dell because of some specific requirements that could not be met with Dell. Also, we switched because of some financial issues. Dell was more expensive and we couldn't afford it at that time.

It wasn't straightforward.

We had some issues with some failures initially. Though it was taken care of by HPE, we still had some failures, which was surprising.

We have a team of ten admins, engineers, managers, and data entry guys to maintain and deploy this solution.

We had the help of the HPE service providers.

We have purchased this solution and it is under warranty. It is more economical than some other products.

We will continue to use this solution, as we have purchased it and can't afford to just throw it away. If we continue to have further issues, we will consider changing it over.

With my current experience, I could not recommend this product to others.

I would rate this solution a six out of ten.