Pre-Sales Engineer at Raya Integration
Real User
Top 20
A fully contained, virtual server platform with a valuable Cisco Intersight feature
Pros and Cons
  • "I like Cisco Intersight."
  • "The price could be better. I think it's more expensive than VxRail. In the next release, I would like to see a better level of protection and availability with six clients."

What is our primary use case?

We are consultants, and we set up this product for our customers.

What is most valuable?

I like Cisco Intersight.

What needs improvement?

The price could be better. I think it's more expensive than VxRail. In the next release, I would like to see a better level of protection and availability with six clients.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been working with Cisco HyperFlex HX-Series for about two months.

Buyer's Guide
Cisco HyperFlex HX-Series
April 2024
Learn what your peers think about Cisco HyperFlex HX-Series. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: April 2024.
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What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Cisco HyperFlex HX-Series is a stable solution.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Cisco HyperFlex HX-Series is a scalable solution. We have five or six people working on this solution.

How are customer service and support?

Technical support is good.

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

I used to work with traditional solutions such as the UCS-C220 product.

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

Cisco HyperFlex HX-Series is expensive. It's a standard license, and we pay for it yearly. I think we pay about 700.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

VxRail is cheaper, more flexible than HyperFlex, and easy to back up. Most customers see that VxRail is more affordable, so why should I go with HyperFlex?

What other advice do I have?

I will tell potential users that I think it's a good product. 

On a scale from one to ten, I would give Cisco HyperFlex HX-Series an eight.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
PeerSpot user
Systems Admin at a university with 10,001+ employees
Real User
Good stability, scalability and has good technical support
Pros and Cons
  • "The most valuable feature of Cisco HyperFlex HX is that it is self-contained."
  • "The initial setup of the Cisco HyperFlex HX platform was medium-level difficult. It's a little bit different from traditional servers. It takes getting used to the learning curve."

What is our primary use case?

Our primary use of the Cisco HyperFlex HX solution is to run virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI).

What is most valuable?

The most valuable feature of Cisco HyperFlex HX is that it is self-contained. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Cisco HyperFlex HX is fairly stable. We don't have any problems with it. I would give stability an eight out of ten.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

For the scalability of the solution, I would give it an 8 out of10.

How are customer service and technical support?

The solution's technical support is good. We have had a lot of experiences with them in the past. It's fine. We just had some questions. We didn't know how to do everything. 

We've had a few problems. It's new. Often, we don't know how to solve the issue we're having. The response times are okay.

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

We were looking for hyperconverged solutions. We already purchased Cisco products for our data center. This was a next-generation device.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup of the Cisco HyperFlex HX platform was medium-level difficult. It's a little bit different from traditional servers. It takes getting used to the learning curve.

What about the implementation team?

We used a reseller, SMP, for the deployment.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

The other vendors on our shortlist were VMware and Datrium.

What other advice do I have?

On a scale from one to ten, I would grade Cisco HyperFlex HX an eight. If the cost was improved, I would give it a ten.

Make sure to look at a long list of competitors in the hyperconverged sector for cross-reference before purchasing. Look at all the main players.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Cisco HyperFlex HX-Series
April 2024
Learn what your peers think about Cisco HyperFlex HX-Series. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: April 2024.
768,246 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Sr Systems Engineer at a healthcare company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
Enables our organization to work seamlessly by providing storage and compute resources to staff in remote offices
Pros and Cons
  • "Easily facilitates remote work opportunities with storage and compute resources."
  • "The documentation could be substantially better, but the product itself does everything it needs to do."

What is our primary use case?

Our primary use for this solution is remote office environments.

How has it helped my organization?

The product has helped our organization work seamlessly with staff in remote offices by providing storage and compute resources. These two things have made a big difference in how we are able to work effectively as an organization with diverse environments.

What is most valuable?

The best part about this solution is feature simplicity from the user end, besides providing storage and compute resources.

What needs improvement?

I don't really think it needs to be improved as far as the product itself. I can't think of anything yet that it doesn't already do. It fills our needs. It would be best if it continued to meet the needs of technology as it advances over time.

I think the documentation is a big con for Hyperflex. More substantial, straightforward documentation would help end users make more of their investment. There really isn't a problem with product functionality.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

So far we have had no issues with the stability of the product. It seems very stable and has performed as expected.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

We have not needed to scale yet, but I would say — based on what we know that product can do and our experience with it — that the solution is very scalable.

How are customer service and technical support?

Technical support has been good. I've opened a few cases and I got great responses in a reasonable amount of time. 

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

We had a new situation and a new problem that came up in our environment so we started evaluating other potential solutions. The solution we had couldn't resolve the new issue. We researched and learned that HyperFlex could solve it.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup was very straightforward. No problems at all.

What about the implementation team?

We self-deployed the solution without the need for external assistance.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

Before we made our final decision, we evaluated VMware as a potential solution but felt that the HyperFlex better fit our needs.

What other advice do I have?

I would rate the Hyperflex solution as a nine out of ten. This is not because HyperFlex is not meeting our needs but because nothing is perfect.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
BhaveshParmar - PeerSpot reviewer
IT Head at Intercraft
Real User
Top 10
High performance, scalable, but repeated error not resolved
Pros and Cons
  • "The most valuable feature of Cisco HyperFlex HX-Series is its performance."
  • "I have been receiving a memory overflow message every day when I use the solution."

What is most valuable?

The most valuable feature of Cisco HyperFlex HX-Series is its performance.

What needs improvement?

I have been receiving a memory overflow message every day when I use the solution. 

This memory overflow error is a cosmetic error. Over the last three years, I have been talking with Cisco to remove this error. Cisco and VMware should cross-check and troubleshoot this issue to come to a solution. They should remove it as soon as possible.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Cisco HyperFlex HX-Series for approximately three years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is stable. However, we have had a memory overflow error, that has not to be resolved but it is only a cosmetic error. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The scalability of the Cisco HyperFlex HX-Series has been very good for what we are using it for in the current project.

We have approximately 400 users using this solution.

We do not plan to increase usage at least for the next six months.

How are customer service and support?

We have not had a good experience with the support. They were not very helpful with the cosmetic error we were receiving.

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

I have used other solutions previously, such as Nutanix. I find that Cisco HyperFlex HX-Series is better than Nutanix. Cisco products have better performance overall.

How was the initial setup?

I did not face any problems in the implementation.

What about the implementation team?

We had a partner do the implementation of the solution. I was not happy with the partner because they have not resolved the error message we have been receiving from Cisco after months of conversations.

The partner support could improve.

All of our maintenance is handled by our partner.

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

There is a license required to use this solution.

What other advice do I have?

I rate Cisco HyperFlex HX-Series a seven out of ten.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Senior Consultant at Daimler AG
Real User
The latest models include all the newest cutting edge technology
Pros and Cons
  • "It consumes a smaller footprint when I compare it with other competitors."
  • "Sometimes when there are multiple technologies involved in a support case, this is when there is a bit of a lag."

What is our primary use case?

We have been using Cisco machines when it comes to the HX-Series product line (or category) in our organization. We are quite satisfied with the product because we primarily deal with Cisco when it comes to the compute and network parts.

How has it helped my organization?

The plus point of this particular product is its usability. The management of this particular machine is very good when I compare it with other competitors, like a model from HPE or Lenovo.

What is most valuable?

It consumes a smaller footprint when I compare it with other competitors. 

What needs improvement?

Cisco should improve on having more technical documents available on their website, as well as keep them update-to-date. I would especially like to see more compute documentation.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I would rate the stability as high. The machines are stable and the downtime is minimal

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The scalability is good. I can scale it on the fly. I don't really have to invest a lot of time in scaling up these machines.

How are customer service and technical support?

Whenever I log a TAC case, I receive a good response from the teams, so the technical support is good. 

Sometimes when there are multiple technologies involved in a support case, this is when there is a bit of a lag. This something which Cisco could improve upon. Otherwise, the technical support is really good.

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

It was more of an upgrade. We recently migrated the data centers in my organization and decided to have the latest models and technologies available in the market.

How was the initial setup?

The setup was somewhere in-between straightforward and complex. The reason being our data centers do not carry a single type of hardware. We have an array of vendors implemented in our data centers. We have to mix and match, ensure the interoperability is tested before implementation. This takes some time.

What about the implementation team?

I think we did hire consultants from Cisco.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

When we did benchmarking on this particular product line, the results were great and quite amazing. This is why zeroed in on this particular product for many of our use cases. For example, we use these machines for SAP systems. We also use this for many of our cloud ready applications. The product is performing quite well.

We do have a large Cisco footprint in our organization.

What other advice do I have?

It is a good product to have in your data centers. Pick a good use case, then do a PoC and perform your own benchmarking. Once you are satisfied, go ahead with the product.

The latest models include all the newest cutting edge technology.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Deputy Manager at PacECloud
Real User
Top 5
A robust solution with a workload that can handle anything, but it constantly needs to be updated
Pros and Cons
  • "The workload can handle anything and has an extended capacity."
  • "The problem is that we always have to keep an eye out for new releases to make sure that the version we're running is up-to-date."

What is our primary use case?

We are one of the biggest cloud providers in Bangladesh, so we use this service and we are relaying the service to the end customer. We have many multinational companies, ODSMs providers, and banks as our customers, so it's pretty good, knowing that we have a kind of highly-loaded workload.

What is most valuable?

It's a very robust solution. There are a lot of products on the market you can access, but this is an end-to-end compact solution for the end customer. It's good, and it's a high-end type of product. The workload can handle anything and has an extended capacity. 

What needs improvement?

The problem is that we always have to keep an eye out for new releases to make sure that the version we're running is up-to-date. The way their infrastructure is updated and evaluated, they are always updating their firmware structure. That is the only challenge we are experiencing, but you have to look for the updates all the time, which is a challenge and everyone's very frustrated at this point.

The cloud world is changing every day. It would be good if they added provisions for activities like micro-services and micro-segmentation. 

For how long have I used the solution?

We have been using this solution for almost two and a half years. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It isn't stable so far because the problem is that you have to update your version, and then also update your firmware to the latest development. If you're using an old version of any of them, it makes trouble. That is a challenge we are facing, but it is okay. The solution handled an enterprise where they switch the workload and run it every day, so it is stable in that way.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution is scalable. We are using so many clusters, including standard clusters, self-encryption device clusters, and accessories. It is definitely a scalable solution. As a service provider, we have over 80 people using the solution.

How are customer service and support?

I have reached out to technical support so many times. The team is definitely excellent. It's clear they want to be the biggest cloud company in the world, so they're very supportive people. They have a lot of knowledge to share, and I'm happy to work with them.

How was the initial setup?

There are a lot of constants and there's a lot to do on the infrastructure and stories part, so there are different segmentations. Integration of the stories part is okay if you have a knowledge of what the stories require. After the stories part, you also need to reach out to the Hyperflex center version for service to the cloud. If you're using EMC or maybe data updates or other things, it's the kind of thing where you need to understand those first.

For the later parts of the integration, you need to understand what you have because it really gets pretty complex. You have to integrate it with the gen network. It gets a little bit complex when there's micro-segmentation, or an application type of thing. You have to share that stuff with a lot of different segments, so I would say the network setup is pretty difficult and complex.

What about the implementation team?

Initially, we had a system integrator. They are from India and they initially helped us and guided us through it. They were here onsite and they worked with us and shared knowledge about how to do stuff and how to get the services. Initially it was definitely a challenge, but after getting the services and workload and testing so we knew what we needed, we moved into application. From that point we were able to do it on our own.

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

We have a yearly license. 

What other advice do I have?

I would recommend this product, depending on the context. It depends on what kind of services you want to run and provide.

My company decided on this solution because of the stability, sustainability, and strength of the product. Also, they have so much support, and their people are knowledgeable. When you're having a problem, they will help you to find a solution. Whatever problem you are facing, you are able to solve.

I would rate this solution as an eight out of ten. 

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner.
PeerSpot user
Senior System Engineer at Intelcom
Real User
An easy, flexible and secure solution, but the pricing can be better
Pros and Cons
  • "Overall, the solution is extremely easy, flexible and secure."
  • "When it comes to customer needs, the licensing price could be better."

What is our primary use case?

We are implementing the solution for Hyper-converged systems.

What is most valuable?

I find the Hyperflex most valuable. It compares well with Nutanix. 

What needs improvement?

The minimum for running involves three nodes, which is the number I use for running the patch. The solution is not very good when it comes to a single node. 64 is the maximum number of nodes. 

As I work with Hypervisor or VMware, the solution usually is easy when it comes to monitoring and backup. I rely on backup and monitoring capabilities. I use Veeam, for example, as a backup solution and SolarWinds for my monitoring needs. 

I am a gold partner of Cisco and am entitled to a discounted price. When it comes to customer needs, the licensing price could be better. By comparison, Nutanix is more affordable. The choice of Cisco varies with the needs of the client. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is extremely stable. I work in Hyperflex. The customer can simply send. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution is extendable and flexible for administrative purposes. I will normally deploy and cluster the containment in six nodes, with another in four, in three and in five. 

Overall, the solution is extremely easy, flexible and secure. 

How are customer service and technical support?

Technical support is okay, although I have never opened a ticket with them. 

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup and deployment of the solution is extremely easy. All that must be done is to prepare the infrastructure and IP, at which point it can be deployed with ease. 

What other advice do I have?

There are five or six customers who make use of the solution. 

Hyperflex developed its first platform in 2015, while Simplivity and Nutanix did so in 2009. 

The solution centralizes everything in a single IP. It is extremely simple, secure and good for deployment. 

I rate Cisco HyperFlex HX-Series as a six out of ten. 

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Private Cloud
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: partner
PeerSpot user
Field Architect at a tech services company with 5,001-10,000 employees
Consultant
Has improved our clients' ramp-up time to actually get their environment going
Pros and Cons
  • "The ease of use and the graphical user interface (GUI) are two of the most valuable features of this solution."
  • "One aspect that really needs to be looked at, is to fix the bugs issue."

What is our primary use case?

We use the Cisco HyperFlex HX-Series primarily for VDI environments.

How has it helped my organization?

As I am the integrator for the Cisco HyperFlex HX-Series I've seen how it has improved my clients' ramp-up time to actually get the environment going.

What is most valuable?

The ease of use and the graphical user interface (GUI) are two of the most valuable features of this solution.

What needs improvement?

One aspect that really needs to be looked at, is to fix the bugs issue.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Stability is 50/50 at the moment, based on the implementation experience.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I am very impressed with the scalability of this solution. It's easy to scale. 

How are customer service and technical support?

I will rate the technical support an eight out of ten.

How was the initial setup?

An initial setup is smooth when it's straightforward. When it has bugs, it's complex. With Cisco, we've experienced bugs with the software when we had to do updates and they were not fully documented.

What about the implementation team?

I am the integrator. 

What was our ROI?

Our clients have definitely seen a return on investment using Cisco. They've even expanded the nodes almost within the first three months.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

The biggest competitor is Nutanix and we considered using that first but when Cisco upped their game, their process became a little bit more streamlined. The hardware clients are more familiar with that.

What other advice do I have?

Because of the bug problem I experienced with this solution, I will rate it eight out of ten.

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Cisco HyperFlex HX-Series Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
Updated: April 2024
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Buyer's Guide
Download our free Cisco HyperFlex HX-Series Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.