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Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers vs HPE ProLiant DL Servers vs HPE Synergy comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive Summary

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Mindshare comparison

Rack Servers Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers5.6%
Dell PowerEdge R-Series25.4%
HPE ProLiant DL Servers20.2%
Other48.8%
Rack Servers
Rack Servers Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
HPE ProLiant DL Servers20.2%
Dell PowerEdge R-Series25.4%
Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers12.2%
Other42.2%
Rack Servers
Blade Servers Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
HPE Synergy11.9%
Dell PowerEdge MX- Series11.3%
HPE BladeSystem9.8%
Other67.0%
Blade Servers
 

Featured Reviews

reviewer1441011 - PeerSpot reviewer
Sr, Manager- Network Solution Architect at a energy/utilities company with 10,001+ employees
Comprehensive support and integration ensure smooth cloud infrastructure operations
I may not be the right person to comment on advanced improvements because we are just using basic functionalities. We are getting all the functionalities which we used to get in other OEM rack servers. Potential areas for improvement may include a more flexible pricing model, better technical support, or tutorials from the vendor for users.
ArifSheikh - PeerSpot reviewer
Director / Chief Business Artchitect at SMARIF
High availability servers have boosted hosted payment services but still need better local support
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.
MR
Presales engineer and consultant at Hybrid Tech
Redundant components and single console management improve efficiency while high costs warrant attention
Regarding HPE Synergy, the most valuable feature is that the whole solution and the whole system operate in passive mode, and there are very few chances of downtime as all the components in HPE Synergy are redundant, including VC Flex modules and interconnect modules, as well as power supply and fan modules. Other networking and storage connectivity modules are also redundant, and we can mount the entire Synergy frame in a single rack. If we fully populate a Synergy frame with 12 servers, 12 physical machines could be mounted in one Synergy frame, mostly with redundant power supplies and networking ports along with SAN connectivity on a single console.

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"The most valuable features of Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers are integration and customization."
"In terms of the features that I have found most valuable, that is basically the hardware, which is more dynamic."
"The most valuable feature of Cisco UCS C-Series Rack is the use of databases, such as MySQL."
"The most valuable features of Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers are agileness, ease of operation, and manageability."
"The most valuable feature of the solution is performance."
"It has centralized our server management and allows us to treat servers like a pool of resources instead of discrete devices."
"I would recommend this solution to others because it saves a lot of space and it's very scalable."
"The most valuable feature of Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers is server management."
"ProLiant is highly stable. We've had very few problems with the servers. We only once had an issue with the hard disk in an HPE server."
"You would be foolish not to be looking into HPE."
"Technical support is very cooperative and helpful."
"They're incredibly reliable and we have no issues running them."
"Most valuable for us are ease of use, the ability to quickly view the system for health and how to get into the consols."
"​It is very stable. I can rate it as a 99.99% stable server from HPE.​ There is zero downtime, especially in the ProLiant 380 series.​"
"HPE service in Taiwan is quick and professional, and ProLiant is cost-effective compared to Dell. Dell is good for one or two servers, but HPE is cheaper than Dell for a large deployment. Cost is the most important thing in the market."
"HPE ProLiant DL Servers are a great product. We don't have many complaints."
"We've found the scalability to be reasonable if you are ready to invest in it."
"The solution is very stable; there are no bugs or glitches, it does not crash or freeze, and the performance is great."
"Where it used to take one week to re-image or upgrade our hosts, it can now take one day."
"It's more composable, you can use storage as well as compute blades. So maybe it's more versatile compared to the traditional blade systems."
"We chose HPE because Synergy is innovate in the way that it delivers its services and I think that is very interesting."
"The most valuable features are the converged network adapters."
"The solution has reduced our IT infrastructure costs by at least 30 percent, mainly because of the density compared to our former infrastructure."
"It makes life easier for us when we are deploying new technology, as we have the building blocks already in place."
 

Cons

"The solution can be improved by adjusting the cost."
"The initial setup could be easier."
"Cisco UCS C-Series Rack could improve by selling storage. Cisco doesn't sell storage, which is a problem because some customers ask for storage. There are several brands in the market, such as HPE, and Dell EMC. However, Cisco doesn't have any storage. This is where the tension comes from buying this solution."
"The C-Series is not designed to be as scalable."
"The only thing I would change is to provide more proactive support."
"Technical support could be more responsive."
"The pricing is too high and no discounts are available for our country."
"The solution can be improved by adjusting the cost."
"One of the negative things that we find is that the configuration tools are sometimes not easy to use."
"I would like to see additional work on making the intelligent provisioning work with VMware."
"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."
"The cost of the solution is high and has room for improvement."
"Parts fail, that's part of the IT business, but the ability to be able to get in there quickly and get parts swapped is a very big benefit."
"We'd like to see better processors, better Intel processors. That's the most important for us at this moment."
"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."
"Configurations could be simplified."
"The deployment time of a system through OneView is pretty slow, but apparently that's being addressed in an upcoming update."
"The stability is not good right now. We have had a couple of outages where we have receive very good support from HPE. However, we have not been able to come up with cut and dried reasons for why the outages have occurred. They have not been able to be reproduced, so it has been difficult getting our trust back."
"I would like to see more nodes in a single chassis so we wouldn't have to purchase additional chassis."
"The initial setup was quite complex and it is being done by the HPE support department."
"The expansion was complex, because adding a second frame onto the original frame caused an outage."
"The only issue that we had was our rack was too small. The product is heavy, so it took a lot to get it in there."
"But with other stuff, software stuff especially, say Data Protector - now it's Micro Focus - it was a total nightmare."
"There is certainly a feature or two missing."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"This solution is a little expensive."
"Licensing fees are paid on a yearly basis, which is only $2,000 or $3,000."
"The solution requires an annual licensing fee."
"The prices of Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers are higher compared to the competition. When we try and sell against the competition, then it becomes quite difficult to sell"
"This product is quite expensive and it would be better if it were cheaper."
"The solution is moderately priced."
"The price of the solution could be better when compared to other solutions. However, when we purchased the solution we received Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers in a bundle with other hardware, such as IP phones and networking switches."
"The price of Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers is approximately 20 percent more than other solutions."
"​If you have to include the warranty, enhance the warranty support.​"
"It is just too expensive."
"The solution comes with a one time perpetual license which is included with the server."
"HPE ProLiant DL Servers are one of the best-selling solutions in this industry. There is not a license required for this solution."
"The price is a little too high; it could be reduced."
"They need to work with Microsoft to make the licensing costs better and more efficient."
"The price of the product is a little high."
"We have ILO licenses. We use this feature."
"We are satisfied with its price."
"Synergy has lowered our total cost of ownership significantly. I would say ballpark around 25 percent, maybe more."
"The platform that we run Synergy on is all virtualized. Our primary cost is likely VMware."
"When we made the purchase of the hardware, we added Professional Services to it."
"We don't have to pay for Synergy because it's part of our plan."
"There is a perpetual license given when you purchase HPE Synergy."
"The hardware licensing cost is reasonable."
"We bought everything outright to start with. We don't do much consumption-based stuff."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
10%
Financial Services Firm
10%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Retailer
7%
Manufacturing Company
10%
Computer Software Company
9%
Financial Services Firm
8%
Comms Service Provider
6%
Financial Services Firm
13%
Manufacturing Company
10%
Government
7%
Healthcare Company
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business11
Midsize Enterprise6
Large Enterprise14
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business56
Midsize Enterprise28
Large Enterprise98
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business31
Midsize Enterprise15
Large Enterprise56
 

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers?
I may not be the right person to comment on advanced improvements because we are just using basic functionalities. We...
What is your primary use case for Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers?
We are running AI on Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers, and we can do it sometimes even without any GPU.
What advice do you have for others considering Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers?
I would strongly recommend Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers to others.
How do Lenovo ThinkSystem rack servers compare with HPE ProLiant DL servers?
Lenovo ThinkSystem rack servers offer flexibility and efficiency in order to meet mission-critical demands. I like th...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for HPE ProLiant DL Servers?
The pricing of HPE ProLiant DL Servers depends purely on the configuration, and it is not affordable. However, if you...
What needs improvement with HPE ProLiant DL Servers?
We are not using PowerVM because of certain limitations; it is on a back-end engine. However, we are using other comp...
How would you choose between HPE's Bladesystem and Synergy?
For me, choosing between HPE’s Bladesystem and Synergy came down to which solution was more powerful, reliable, and s...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for HPE Synergy?
As far as the prices are concerned, rack mount solutions are less expensive than HPE Synergy prices; however, HPE Syn...
What needs improvement with HPE Synergy?
In my opinion, for future improvements in HPE Synergy, there should be better management of power consumption complex...
 

Also Known As

Unified Computing System C-Series, Cisco UCS C-Series
HP ProLiant DL series, HP ProLiant DL
No data available
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Advanced Medical Transport, Aegean Motorway, Anilana Hotels and Resorts, Artoni Transporti, BH Telecom, Bowling Green State University, City of Mississauga, Dualtec Cloud Builders, Electricity Authority of Cyprus, Grupo Industrial Saltillo (GIS), Kind en Gezin, Kuwait Petroleum Italia, Nationwide, Quest, Talbots, University of St. Gallen
AmeriPride Services, iSource, Bolagsverket, BlueShore Financial, British Columbia Assessment Authority, National Stock Exchange, Cardlytics
HudsonAlpha, Virgin Media, EMIS, United
Find out what your peers are saying about Dell Technologies, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, IBM and others in Rack Servers. Updated: March 2026.
885,837 professionals have used our research since 2012.