FlexPod XCS vs Rackspace OpenStack comparison

NetApp and Rackspace Technology are both solutions in the Converged Infrastructure category. NetApp is ranked #2, while Rackspace Technology is ranked #7 with an average rating of 8.3. NetApp holds a 12.8% mindshare in CI, compared to Rackspace Technology’s 7.0% mindshare. Additionally, 96% of NetApp users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 92% of Rackspace Technology users who would recommend it.

FlexPod XCS

Read 295 FlexPod XCS reviews

8,734 Views
5,590 Comparison Views

96% willing to recommend

Rackspace OpenStack

Read 13 Rackspace OpenStack reviews

1,683 Views
959 Comparison Views

92% willing to recommend

FlexPod XCS

Rackspace OpenStack

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Feb 2, 2025

Rackspace OpenStack and FlexPod XCS are competing in the cloud infrastructure category. Rackspace OpenStack has the upper hand in scalability and flexibility due to its open-source nature, while FlexPod XCS shines in performance and integration through its pre-engineered solutions.

Features: Rackspace OpenStack offers an open-source architecture with a high degree of customization options, making it ideal for those needing extensive control over their cloud environments. It supports scalability and seamless integration with various third-party tools, enhancing cloud deployment flexibility. FlexPod XCS provides integrated infrastructure utilizing Cisco and NetApp technologies, ensuring performance optimization and reliability. Its design enables simplified deployment and excellent scalability, supporting robust performance for high-demand workloads.

Room for Improvement: Rackspace OpenStack could improve by simplifying its deployment process and enhancing user interface usability for less tech-savvy users. Supporting more out-of-the-box integrations with popular enterprise applications could also increase its attractiveness. Additionally, offering better documentation and educational resources might help users maximize the platform's capabilities. FlexPod XCS might benefit from more competitive pricing models to reach a broader audience. Its hardware dependence may limit customization options, suggesting potential enhancements towards software-defined configurations. Furthermore, expanding its integration capabilities with non-Cisco or NetApp solutions could also add value for diverse IT environments.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Rackspace OpenStack requires a more intricate deployment process due to its customization options; however, it excels in offering tailored customer support that helps users address specific needs. FlexPod XCS boasts a simpler deployment process due to its pre-integrated design, reducing the time and complexity involved in setup. Its customer service benefits from industry partnerships, providing a robust support network.

Pricing and ROI: Rackspace OpenStack typically features lower upfront costs owing to its open-source nature, presenting a favorable ROI for businesses capable of managing in-house solutions. On the other hand, FlexPod XCS demands a higher initial investment due to its engineered infrastructure but potentially offers better ROI over time by minimizing operational complexities and maximizing efficiency. Businesses should weigh the cost savings of OpenStack's flexibility against FlexPod's reduced management overhead and enhanced productivity.

To learn more, read our detailed FlexPod XCS vs. Rackspace OpenStack Report (Updated: April 2026).

Buyer's Guide

FlexPod XCS vs. Rackspace OpenStack

April 2026

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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

FlexPod XCS

Ranking in Converged Infrastructure

2nd

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.1

Number of Reviews

295

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Rackspace OpenStack

Ranking in Converged Infrastructure

7th

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

5.2

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2026, in the Converged Infrastructure category, the mindshare of FlexPod XCS is 12.8%, up from 9.3% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Rackspace OpenStack is 7.0%, up from 4.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Converged Infrastructure Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
FlexPod XCS	12.8%
Rackspace OpenStack	7.0%
Other	80.2%

Converged Infrastructure

Featured Reviews

John Kevin

Infrastructure Manager at a financial services firm with 5,001-10,000 employees

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

Hai Dinh Van

Cloud Center Manager at FPT

Open-source nature enables seamless cloud management and customer transition

We deploy layer three managed services, and our customers manage layer two services. We combine the two-layer services and deliver them to our customers The open-source nature of OpenStack provides significant value. It allows for three-word cloud management, maintaining a stable customer…

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Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"When the operations matter, you definitely have to look at FlexPod."

"Performance-wise, it is actually doing quite well. The end users are very happy with it."

"It reduced the total cost of ownership."

"It is easy to deploy, works well, the reps are good, and the support is great."

"I run all the critical applications for the university on my FlexPod solution; it needs to be up 24/7, 365, I don't need "five nines," I need "eight nines" - and it stays up."

"It has been a great product, primarily because of a lot of its deduplication features, and the out-of-the-box thinking on block level storage from NetApp, in particular."

"One of the most valuable aspects is its integrated convergence infrastructure, particularly the LAN and SAN cloud features that offer a unified fabric."

"Delivery speed and integration speeds have increased. The solution has enabled us to run mission-critical workloads. Our SQL cluster is on there, which is high IOPS. All-in-one solution is great for when you don't have a lot of staff, with multiple disciplines."

More FlexPod XCS pros

"The documentation was plentiful and very helpful."

"Rackspace OpenStack positively impacts my organization by making processes easier since I do not need to manage all servers manually because it efficiently manages server operations and maintains proper data, which saves time."

"The open-source nature of OpenStack provides significant value."

"Apart from the main features, I really appreciate OpenStack's microservices architecture and its flexibility for deployment with different tools."

"Customer Service: Top. Technical Support: Top"

"OpenStack allowed for mass uploading of images to Akamai cloud services."

"The solution is stable."

"There are many services that can be directly used which are not available in VMware."

More Rackspace OpenStack pros

Cons

"One touch upgrades would be nice."

"Make it easier to refresh hardware. We got to the point where we couldn't fix vulnerabilities without refreshing the hardware, then that became a little too expensive for us to do."

"Sometimes, when the newer versions of any of the partners’ firmware or software come out, there's still sometimes a lag of the partners to support all of those new components."

"It would be great to see some form of interoperability between the FAS units and the E-Series, specifically for replication, even if it is just one more replication from a FAS to an E-Series. That would be amazing."

"From its prime competitor, seeing some sort of an architecture around cloud built into the solution would be great, whether that's UCS Director or vRealize Automation, something that's got a validated architecture that's ready to go for that solution would be useful."

"I would like to see improvements in the documentation. I understanding how things are coming together and a lot of that is from the UCS side."

"We did run into some hiccups around some different things."

"There could be room for improvement in terms of offering more flexibility in CBD options."

More FlexPod XCS cons

"The line migration is a problem."

"The deployment process could be easy."

"VMware has a side-to-side replication feature, which is still more mature than Rackspace OpenStack's which can't be used in a production environment."

"OpenStack's UI, while user-friendly, could be improved to offer a more intuitive experience."

"It should have a single dashboard for cloud management and on-premises systems"

"So for the main stability, there have been a couple of issues that I've experienced."

"It could use more examples in different languages (API use cases)."

"OpenStack is difficult for the novice in terms of beginning to use cloud tools."

More Rackspace OpenStack cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"We immediately saw a return on investment due to the fact that replacing our legacy storage arrays with the new AFFs reduced the footprint and maintenance costs. Overall, we saw an almost immediate ROI."

"You get better management and orchestration, but it still costs you money."

"Sometimes you may end up spending a little more to get it in the first place, but you gain it back in terms of infrastructure upgrade costs and troubleshooting costs. The solution also lasts a surprisingly long time."

"The product's pricing is high and I would rate it a nine out of ten."

"If your company really needs to be up 100% of the time, and you need to do a private data center, I don't know if I could realistically actually recommend another blueprint."

"It is not going to save you money, but that is not the point. The opportunity to stay competitive in the marketplace is not a cost."

"Overall, the solution works pretty well. The biggest complaint I have from customers is the cost."

"It is cost-effective."

More FlexPod XCS pricing and cost advice

"I use it as an open-source tool."

"The pricing is low."

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Comparison Review

it_user244362

Managing Consultant with 51-200 employees

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

Financial Services Firm

20%

Marketing Services Firm

17%

Manufacturing Company

Construction Company

Financial Services Firm

15%

Computer Software Company

15%

Manufacturing Company

11%

Comms Service Provider

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	34
Midsize Enterprise	66
Large Enterprise	182

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	7
Midsize Enterprise	4
Large Enterprise	5

Questions from the Community

Ask a question

Earn 20 points

What needs improvement with Rackspace OpenStack?

As a beginner, I find some difficulties in understanding Rackspace OpenStack, as it can be complex without a foundational grasp of cloud and networking concepts. To improve, I suggest providing pro...

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What is your primary use case for Rackspace OpenStack?

My main use case for Rackspace OpenStack involves large data management, as it provides a reliable database service. A quick specific example of a task where Rackspace OpenStack helps me is in hand...

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What advice do you have for others considering Rackspace OpenStack?

I advise others looking into using Rackspace OpenStack to have a solid understanding of cloud concepts, as managing these aspects in Rackspace OpenStack requires a good knowledge foundation. I have...

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Comparisons

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Compared 10% of the time

Dell PowerFlex vs FlexPod XCS

Compared 9% of the time

IBM VersaStack vs FlexPod XCS

Compared 9% of the time

AMAX CloudMax OpenStack vs FlexPod XCS

Compared 8% of the time

Dell VxBlock System vs FlexPod XCS

Compared 8% of the time

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Dell PowerEdge R-Series vs Rackspace OpenStack

Compared 14% of the time

Oracle Private Cloud Appliance vs Rackspace OpenStack

Compared 13% of the time

HPE ConvergedSystem vs Rackspace OpenStack

Compared 12% of the time

VMware vSAN vs Rackspace OpenStack

Compared 12% of the time

Nutanix Cloud Infrastructure (NCI) vs Rackspace OpenStack

Compared 11% of the time

More Rackspace OpenStack Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

FlexPod XCS

May 2026

Download FlexPod XCS product report

Buyer's Guide

Rackspace OpenStack

April 2026

Download Rackspace OpenStack product report

Also Known As

No data available

OpenStack

Overview

FlexPod XCS offers a seamless integration with existing IT systems, enhancing both scalability and usability. It simplifies complex IT environments with unified support and a pre-validated design, making it invaluable for mission-critical applications.

FlexPod XCS effectively manages diverse IT infrastructures by providing a comprehensive end-to-end solution. Its integration capabilities allow for efficient storage and compute operations, while users value its flexibility and high reliability. The platform ensures significant time savings and operational efficiency by reducing troubleshooting and facilitating seamless expansion. Known for supporting varied environments and workloads, FlexPod XCS optimizes resource management and is compatible with prominent cloud systems like AWS and Azure, thus supporting cloud, private, and multi-cloud strategies.

What are the key features of FlexPod XCS?

Integration: Connects efficiently with existing systems for smoother operations.
Scalability: Allows seamless expansion to accommodate growing demands.
End-to-End Solution: Reduces complexity via unified support and pre-validated designs.
Flexibility: Manages both storage and compute effectively.
Cloud Compatibility: Integrates with AWS, Azure, and other cloud environments.

What benefits should users look for when evaluating FlexPod XCS?

Reliability: High dependability ensures uninterrupted operations.
Operational Efficiency: Streamlined processes lead to time savings.
Resource Optimization: Better management across IT infrastructures.
Seamless Expansion: Easily scales without excessive reconfiguration.

FlexPod XCS is widely used in industries like finance, healthcare, and education for data center virtualization and telecom operations. It enhances IT consolidation, optimizes resource utilization, and supports efficient disaster recovery solutions in diverse environments, making it a favored choice for hosting data storage and hybrid cloud infrastructure.

NetApp

Rackspace OpenStack offers potent infrastructure concepts, customization options, and scalability with commodity servers, supporting microservices, virtualization, and numerous integrations, all beneficial for advanced IT deployments.

Known for its robust infrastructure and flexible deployments, Rackspace OpenStack caters to enterprises with complex IT management needs. It excels in virtualization and data analytics while enhancing server management with microservices architecture. Companies leverage it for effective infrastructure as code management, integrating tools like GitLab and Jenkins, offering a sought-after platform for deploying private clouds and managing diverse workloads efficiently.

What are the standout features of Rackspace OpenStack?

Infrastructure Flexibility: Easily configurable infrastructure with commodity servers.
Customization Options: Adaptable for unique enterprise needs.
Scalability: Supports increasing workloads effectively.
Integrations: Seamless integration with tools like GitLab and Jenkins.
Virtualization Capabilities: Lowers operational expenses and simplifies hardware changes.

What benefits should users look for in reviews?

Cost Efficiency: Lower operational costs through virtualization.
Enhanced Flexibility: Microservices architecture offers advanced adaptability.
Data Management: Effective for big data services and data analytics.
Migration Support: Facilitates on-premises migration from the cloud.

Enterprises utilize Rackspace OpenStack across industries for tasks like large data management and private cloud deployment. It supports streamlined infrastructure management and eCommerce integration with Akamai. Often chosen for website development and deploying managed services, it meets diverse deployment needs efficiently.

Rackspace Technology

Sample Customers

University of Sao Paulo, WD-40, The Commonwell Mutual Insurance Group

X.commerce

Buyer's Guide

FlexPod XCS vs. Rackspace OpenStack

April 2026

Free Report: FlexPod XCS vs. Rackspace OpenStack

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