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Dell PowerEdge VRTX [EOL] vs FlexPod XCS comparison

Dell Technologies and NetApp are both solutions in the Converged Infrastructure category. Dell Technologies is ranked #1 with an average rating of 8.2, while NetApp is ranked #6 with an average rating of 8.3. Dell Technologies holds a 19.4% mindshare in CI, compared to NetApp’s 9.2% mindshare. Additionally, 90% of Dell Technologies users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 96% of NetApp users who would recommend it.
Dell PowerEdge VRTX [EOL]
Read 20 Dell PowerEdge VRTX [EOL] reviews
  • 1,367 Views
  • 1,271 Comparison Views
90% willing to recommend
FlexPod XCS
Read 295 FlexPod XCS reviews
  • 1,703 Views
  • 630 Comparison Views
96% willing to recommend
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Aug 26, 2025

FlexPod XCS and Dell PowerEdge VRTX [EOL] are part of the converged infrastructure market, offering solutions for data centers. FlexPod XCS has an advantage due to its extensive vendor collaboration, integration capabilities, and support system.

Features: FlexPod XCS delivers integration with NetApp, Cisco, and VMware, providing seamless support and compatibility across these technologies. It simplifies support issues with a single point of contact. Additionally, its architecture supports ease of deployment and scalability, well-suited for large environments. Dell PowerEdge VRTX [EOL] is noted for its compact design, integrating compute, storage, and networking in a single unit, which simplifies deployment for small to mid-sized setups. However, reliance on a single vendor limits support and flexibility.

Room for Improvement: FlexPod XCS users seek enhancements in unified management and automation to streamline operations. Cost reduction and consistency in support are also desired. Dell PowerEdge VRTX [EOL] could benefit from extended support, enhanced scalability, and improved storage options. Simplified licensing and additional compact unit offerings are also suggested for better alignment with business needs.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: FlexPod XCS is praised for efficient deployment with multi-vendor support from NetApp, Cisco, and VMware, eliminating separate vendor interventions. Its customer service stands out as proficient and cohesive, especially in mixed technology environments. Dell PowerEdge VRTX [EOL] simplifies deployment with its all-in-one design but lacks integrated cross-vendor support, resulting in slower service responses post-end-of-life.

Pricing and ROI: FlexPod XCS's higher initial cost is balanced by long-term ROI, operational efficiencies, and reduced downtime, appealing to enterprises. Meanwhile, Dell PowerEdge VRTX [EOL] offers budget-friendly solutions for small setups with straightforward pricing, but it may fall short in long-term savings and flexibility in larger deployments.

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Converged Infrastructure
August 2025
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Review summaries and opinions

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

Categories and Ranking

Dell PowerEdge VRTX [EOL]
Ranking in Converged Infrastructure
1st
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.4
Number of Reviews
20
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
FlexPod XCS
Ranking in Converged Infrastructure
6th
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.1
Number of Reviews
295
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2025, in the Converged Infrastructure category, the mindshare of Dell PowerEdge VRTX [EOL] is 19.4%, down from 22.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of FlexPod XCS is 9.2%, down from 10.0% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Converged Infrastructure Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
Dell PowerEdge VRTX19.4%
FlexPod XCS9.2%
Other71.4%
Converged Infrastructure
 

Featured Reviews

Sheikh Sakil Ahmed - PeerSpot reviewer
Has delivered reliable and dynamic server performance
This process is very good, with a processor that has 32 cores, which is sufficient to meet my qualifications and needs. It's quite a good server, and I've been using it for the last three years. I also use different types of dynamic solutions for network design like AutoCAD and SolarWind.
Read full review
John Kevin - PeerSpot reviewer
Enforces standardized setup procedures following Certified Validated Design (CVD) guidelines and offers greater flexibility and control over the system compared to traditional systems
The GUI setup follows the right setup, meaning we have to follow the CVDi.e. Certified Validated Design. Everything is clear, because you can build CI yourself, but without rules, it can be messy. With FlexPod, there are rules to follow, making it more standardized. This helps with troubleshooting and compatibility assessments, simplifying troubleshooting significantly. We also use FlexPod pre-validated architectures to validate the design. It is very, very important to us because we had a bad case in 2015 where separate items integrated poorly due to no version or firmware compatibility certification. Troubleshooting became a nightmare. So, standards are crucial for us, and everything entering production should be verified or at least documented for certification.
Read full review

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The security is very good on the solution."
"The most valuable feature is the combined management in one box."
"With Dell PowerEdge VRTX, there are fewer points, and it is easier to troubleshoot and find your way around it."
"Dell PowerEdge VRTX is almost perfect in terms of stability, and I would rate it ten out of ten."
"The main advantage, as I observed, was Dell VMware, which was pre-installed on the device."
"This process is very good, with a processor that has 32 cores, which is sufficient to meet my qualifications and needs."
"While I cannot say Dell is better than HP or IBM, Dell has a strong presence here in Qatar. We can recommend Dell because of that strategic factor."
"Dell PowerEdge VRTX's most valuable feature is its reliability. It offers a good experience for my IT teams."
More Dell PowerEdge VRTX [EOL] pros
"We got the product and we have a small environment, but it was able to be scalable to when we started to grow."
"We save days of work when doing new service deployments. With LUN clones we have a template provisioned for the image of our hypervisor on our NetApps, and we can deploy a brand new hypervisor in under an hour. Everything is scripted. We just clone a template LUN and boot from SAN, so there are no single points of failure."
"Our footprint is lower than it used to be."
"The most valuable is the one support. I have a 1-800 number. I call one number rather than figuring out whether it's a network, compute, or storage issue. It is beautiful and works out nicely."
"When our clients choose to call NetApp or Cisco directly, the cooperative support model means they can get passed back and forth between the two organizations freely. It works really well."
"It is absolutely resilient. It has built-in redundancy and multipathing. If there is an issue with one part, it doesn't fail automatically."
"FlexPod's unified support for the entire stack is very important. Before, the customers would log a ticket by Cisco and a ticket by NetApp. It's better when vendors can parter and look for a solution together."
"The system is designed for easy scaling. Because we define everything clearly. So when we plug the system in, we apply the profile, and it scales easily."
More FlexPod XCS pros
 

Cons

"A disadvantage could be the price."
"There are some noises, and this module is quite annoying, with significant heat issues."
"The problem is with our configuration. We know we can use PowerEdge for hyper-convergence if we have PowerEdge and configure vSAN. We will be able to achieve what VxRail is being able to provide, but we need to migrate it to a new infrastructure instead of changing our existing. It will be much more difficult for us."
"The nodes should be synced with the server so that the solution can be used from the cloud when any or all nodes are down."
"I'd like to be able to increase capacity."
"When we first started with this product, we had some difficulty with it."
"It would be better to have a compact version of this solution for customers that have a small office and don't require a proper data center with power or an industrial type HP."
"The scalability is limited with one chassis and the amount of storage it will give you, but it is mainly used for small offices."
More Dell PowerEdge VRTX [EOL] cons
"The ability to manage the templates across sites. We would like to easily take out the configuration of one FlexPod and copy it over, just making minor changes. There is a way to do it, but it's clumsy."
"Perhaps having a unified interface for managing the entire company could lead to improved efficiency and performance."
"We would like to have a single pane of glass available for it. It is something that the management in the business would like to have."
"On the UCS side, sometimes it is difficult to set up."
"Perhaps the automation interface could be improved."
"I would like to see more interoperability within FlexPods. This comes into more of how we grow from multiple domains to a massive domain."
"With the UCS X-Series, I would like to see the fabric interconnects in the chassis. Instead of hanging out so the chassis is 7U, you are increasing your footprint to 9U with the fabric enhancer, where some of the competing solutions are 7U and have collapsed that network fabric into the chassis. This is another thing that I would like to see from Cisco, though not really on the NetApp side since that is pretty solid."
"Areas for improvement would be the support for the engineering team, who seem to have no clue when you open a case, the communication with and recognition of resellers, and the documentation, with could be more detailed."
More FlexPod XCS cons
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Fully configured, it costs about $50,000 or $55,000. I did purchase a used one or refurbished one. I have been very happy with it so far. Even if it is an older unit, it doesn't look like its age, and I would say it has been a great choice so far for me. Obviously, I would have thought twice if I had to pay for a brand new one because it is still an older technology with the risk of being discontinued. I talked to Dell, and they're still selling it, but they're not promoting it. They're promoting another line of products right now for hyper-converged, which are much more expensive."
"On the scale of pricing, where one is cheap and ten is expensive, I would rate it as a three. I am familiar with the overall cost, which involves licenses from Dell and VMware, among others, making it a combination of various license types."
"This product is more reasonably-priced than similar solutions by HPE."
"The solution price of Dell PowerEdge VRTX could be reduced. However, when comparing the price of Dell PowerEdge VRTX to other solutions, such as HP and Lenovo, it was the best price for what they offer."
"We bought a license for seven years."
"The tool's pricing is fine."
"We are renewing the support and we are purchasing the license for the software."
"The solution is less expensive than competitors."
"Anytime that you are buying any storage make sure you understand storage. Do not just buy storage based on what somebody sells you in terms of IO or throughput."
"Licensing can be interesting with the new version because of the Intersight integration. I don't know what that looks like yet. I have seen some of the different licensing models, but with the new purchasing, all customers are going to have to buy some sort of Intersight licensing with the Blades or FlexPod. I am curious to see how that option shakes out. Previous to the UCS X-Series, the licensing was the same."
"Everything is purchased, so we do not do any leasing with this product."
"We would like everything in one piece of hardware. This way we can just sell the product like a silo by putting everything in a stack together."
"The product is kind of expensive even from an entry-level standpoint. I would say FlexPod would be the way to go if you are a larger business or one with large data volume."
"We purchased from CDW•G. They are great partners on the government side."
"The cost is a little high."
"The scalability is very good. I wish it was a more cost-effective, but you get what you pay for."
More FlexPod XCS pricing and cost advice
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Comparison Review

it_user244362 - PeerSpot reviewer
Aug 30, 2015
Nutanix vs. VMware EVO:RAIL vs. FlexPod
Originally posted at www.storagegaga.com/dont-get-too-drunk-on-hyper-converged/ I hate the fact that I am bursting the big bubble brewing about Hyper Convergence (HC). I urge all to look past the hot air and hype frenzy that are going on, because in the end, the HC platforms have to be aligned…
Read full review
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Manufacturing Company
19%
Computer Software Company
12%
Government
7%
Comms Service Provider
7%
Manufacturing Company
20%
Educational Organization
15%
Performing Arts
8%
Government
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business13
Midsize Enterprise5
Large Enterprise3
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business34
Midsize Enterprise66
Large Enterprise182
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Dell PowerEdge VRTX?
The system is very intuitive.
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Dell PowerEdge VRTX?
The cost of Dell PowerEdge VRTX is high, making it difficult for small and medium businesses to bear. I would rate the pricing as seven out of ten.
See all answers
What needs improvement with Dell PowerEdge VRTX?
It would be much better for customers if Dell could provide firmware updates even after the end of the product's life, enabling them to manage and keep their hardware for a longer time.
See all answers
What do you like most about FlexPod?
The system is designed for easy scaling. Because we define everything clearly. So when we plug the system in, we apply the profile, and it scales easily.
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for FlexPod?
The pricing is not cheaper, but stability is more important for us now. We focus on business gains, not static numbers. Following XCS rules ensures a stable environment, which is crucial. For me, C...
See all answers
What needs improvement with FlexPod?
FlexPod should focus more on automation. Integrating an automation tool with FlexPod would enable customers to leverage automation capabilities. More automation would be helpful. Currently, we cont...
See all answers
 

Comparisons

HPE ConvergedSystem vs Dell PowerEdge VRTX [EOL] Logo
HPE ConvergedSystem vs Dell PowerEdge VRTX [EOL]
Compared 71% of the time
IBM PureSystems vs Dell PowerEdge VRTX [EOL] Logo
IBM PureSystems vs Dell PowerEdge VRTX [EOL]
Compared 15% of the time
More Dell PowerEdge VRTX [EOL] Competitors
Dell PowerFlex vs FlexPod XCS Logo
Dell PowerFlex vs FlexPod XCS
Compared 25% of the time
Oracle Private Cloud Appliance vs FlexPod XCS Logo
Oracle Private Cloud Appliance vs FlexPod XCS
Compared 13% of the time
Dell VxBlock System vs FlexPod XCS Logo
Dell VxBlock System vs FlexPod XCS
Compared 10% of the time
HPE Hyper Converged vs FlexPod XCS Logo
HPE Hyper Converged vs FlexPod XCS
Compared 10% of the time
VMware vSAN vs FlexPod XCS Logo
VMware vSAN vs FlexPod XCS
Compared 9% of the time
More FlexPod XCS Competitors
 

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide
Dell PowerEdge VRTX [EOL]
August 2025
Dell PowerEdge VRTX [EOL] reportDownload Dell PowerEdge VRTX [EOL] product report
Buyer's Guide
FlexPod XCS
August 2025
FlexPod XCS reportDownload FlexPod XCS product report
 

Overview

Dell PowerEdge VRTX [EOL] provides compact, integrated management with shared storage and networking, ideal for small companies seeking easy scaling. Users value its robust security, stability, and processing power within an all-in-one configuration.

PowerEdge VRTX combines servers, storage, and networking into a single unit, optimizing performance and reducing the need for separate components. It offers excellent technical support and a resourceful design with multiple blades. Despite its current web-based storage and networking management being slow, there is a demand for a Windows-based application, increased storage capacity, auto-tiering features, and improved hyper-convergence capabilities. The integration with other storage solutions could be better, and a more compact version is suggested. Continued support and firmware updates past its lifecycle, better pricing, and noise reduction are requested by users.

What are the main features of Dell PowerEdge VRTX?
  • Integrated Management: Combines servers, storage, and networking in a single platform.
  • Scalability: Supports flexible scaling for small business needs.
  • Blades and Processing Power: Offers multiple blades with strong processing capabilities.
  • User-Friendly UI: Simplifies IT management with intuitive interface and hardware compatibility.
  • Security: Known for robust security features ensuring stable operations.
What benefits should users consider in reviews?
  • Ease of Installation: Designed for straightforward deployment without extensive setup.
  • Cost-Effectiveness: Provides good value by reducing the need for multiple components.
  • Technical Support: Recognized for effective customer service and assistance.
  • Space Optimization: Ideal for environments where space is limited yet essential.

In branch offices and industries requiring reduced space and IT needs, PowerEdge VRTX supports virtualization, client-server applications, and financial services. It aids infrastructure in providing internet and security services, highlighting its ease of installation and effective customer support.

Dell Technologies

FlexPod XCS is the secure platform your applications need from edge to cloud. Easily manage your suite of cloud-native, edge, and enterprise apps. Integrate advanced cloud services without compromising performance, security, reliability, or scale.

NetApp
 

Sample Customers

University of Dundee, GE Healthcare Japan
University of Sao Paulo, WD-40, The Commonwell Mutual Insurance Group
Buyer's Guide
Converged Infrastructure
August 2025
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