FlexPod XCS vs HPE ConvergedSystem comparison

NetApp and Hewlett Packard Enterprise are both solutions in the Converged Infrastructure category. NetApp is ranked #5 with an average rating of 8.4, while Hewlett Packard Enterprise is ranked #2 with an average rating of 8.4. NetApp holds a 9.2% mindshare in CI, compared to Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s 17.2% mindshare. Additionally, 96% of NetApp users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 96% of Hewlett Packard Enterprise users who would recommend it.

FlexPod XCS

Read 295 FlexPod XCS reviews

583 Views
201 Comparison Views

96% willing to recommend

HPE ConvergedSystem

Read 21 HPE ConvergedSystem reviews

644 Views
378 Comparison Views

96% willing to recommend

FlexPod XCS

HPE ConvergedSystem

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Feb 2, 2025

FlexPod XCS and HPE ConvergedSystem compete in the Converged Infrastructure category. FlexPod XCS seems to have an upper hand due to its tighter integration with Cisco and NetApp, which offers significant advantages.

Features: FlexPod XCS offers comprehensive integration, validated designs, and a unified support model, enhancing deployment and support. It is highly scalable and guarantees compatibility. HPE ConvergedSystem, valued for its simplicity, reduces the IT footprint with its turnkey approach and provides excellent hardware support.

Room for Improvement: FlexPod XCS could improve its unified management interface and vendor coordination, and accelerate adoption of new technologies. HPE ConvergedSystem should enhance the speed of supporting the latest versions and improve its integration with newer infrastructure components.

Ease Of Deployment and Customer Service: FlexPod XCS excels in deployment through validated design and enjoys a strong vendor collaboration for support. HPE ConvergedSystem benefits from simplicity in setup and hardware support but may lag in version support. Its customer service is proactive and responsive.

Pricing and ROI: FlexPod XCS is seen as expensive but offers high ROI through reduced operational costs and efficient resource management. Its pricing is justified by stable and unified architecture. HPE ConvergedSystem offers competitive pricing with ROI linked to lower data center costs and simplified management. Both systems stress the necessity of a thorough cost-benefit analysis based on organizational requirements.

To learn more, read our detailed FlexPod XCS vs. HPE ConvergedSystem Report (Updated: June 2025).

Buyer's Guide

FlexPod XCS vs. HPE ConvergedSystem

June 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

FlexPod XCS

Ranking in Converged Infrastructure

5th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.1

Number of Reviews

295

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

HPE ConvergedSystem

Ranking in Converged Infrastructure

2nd

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

7.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Converged Infrastructure for SAP HANA (1st)

Mindshare comparison

As of July 2025, in the Converged Infrastructure category, the mindshare of FlexPod XCS is 9.2%, down from 9.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of HPE ConvergedSystem is 17.2%, up from 17.0% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Converged Infrastructure

Featured Reviews

John Kevin

Deputy IT Manager at MBBank

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.

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Fatai Akinwande

Specialist Datacenter and Server at IHS Towers

Has the ability to easily scale resources and redistribute workloads across multiple hosts

HPE ConvergedSystem could be enhanced by improving the built-in backup solution, as the current one fell short of our needs and led us to opt for third-party tools like Veeam. Additionally, addressing challenges related to remote copy functionality, especially in low-bandwidth conditions, would significantly improve the overall usability and effectiveness of HPE solutions in our setup.

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

"Gives us a single point of contact for support."

"The flexibility, operational efficiency, and scalability of FlexPod has been a huge factor for us because our customers have workloads that need to run on classical HTTPs, flash storage, or possibly in the cloud. This flexibility and enhanced ability of the solution is very important for this. We trust in it."

"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."

"We have also seen an improvement in our application performance. Our VM and database environments are able to go as fast as we need them to now."

"You can just take out blades and replace them, and you're back up and running in no time."

"For anyone who needs the flexibility of moving around profiles from physical device to physical device, it really adds an additional layer of virtualization."

"The ability to converge a lot of different data and platforms into a single common platform, then scale horizontally and vertically."

"It is extremely stable and well-supported because of the leadership and partnerships put in place."

More FlexPod XCS pros

"The user interface, reporting, and management are good, and we are quite happy with the performance."

"We find the deduplication and compression features to be most valuable, as well as that of the backup solution inside."

"The most valuable features of HPE ConvergedSystem are scalability and resilience."

"The most valuable features of the solution are the flexibility and the availability of the machines."

"This solution is very simple to use."

"The storage, BladeSystems, Virtual Connect, and simplicity with hyper-converged solutions are the most valuable features of this solution."

"The solution's technical support was good. I rate the technical support a ten out of ten."

"The flexibility is the most advantageous aspect of the solution. Our system has a very big environment. Due to this, the replication and backup operation is not an easy task. We prefer HPE SimpliVity modules in our environment, even when we have some different cases in operations."

More HPE ConvergedSystem pros

Cons

"I would like to see drag and drop connectivity to Azure and Amazon."

"I'd like them to bring back the GUI for NetApp ONTAP. They changed the interface in version 9.8, and it's not great. In 9.9 they've tried to bring it back a little bit, but it's still not great."

"The graphical interface could be made easier to use and more intuitive."

"The initial setup for FlexPod is complex."

"Not a perfect ten because it could use better integration on the network side between UCS and the switching layer. The fact that LACP is not supported on UCS blades isn't so great. It would be nice if it was."

"I would like them to integrate the NVIDIA GRID into the system, so we could easily deploy certain solutions with the FlexPod."

"I think they are working on it, but I would like to be able to log into a portal and see the end-to-end solution and understand where it stands, from a supportability perspective."

"Sometimes, it can take awhile for support cases to get to the right people, especially if it's not a P1 case."

More FlexPod XCS cons

"It could be enhanced by improving the built-in backup solution."

"The solution has a complicated front-end."

"The interface is not fully integrated with the ESXi, which is something that could be improved."

"The tool has shortcomings in its performance monitoring part."

"Perhaps they can work on providing faster allocation of memory or storage."

"The MTG inside HP could be improved."

"HPE ConvergedSystem needs to improve its management. I would like the tool to add cloud management features so that the system can be accessed anywhere from the cloud."

"HPE ConvergedSystem needs to improve its price."

More HPE ConvergedSystem cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Storage is very expensive. To buy MIC cards and additional storage either on-prem or in the cloud, the IT department does not have money for it, so you need a more niche product or a more flexible way to store your data. That is the benefit that you get from this product."

"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."

"Pricing is always tough. We need to get to a point where the customer's happy. Then, as partners, we are also happy."

"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."

"It has saved us hundreds of man-hours by using this converged infrastructure."

"As a startup, for the amount of budget we have and the amount we spend, we are getting what we expected."

"We have saved time and money for new service deployments. Without FlexPod, it probably takes about ten hours. With FlexPod, within two hours, we are up and running. So, we have seen about an 80 percent time decrease."

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

More FlexPod XCS pricing and cost advice

"My company has a five year contract for HPE ConvergedSystem. The contracts depend on companies and sometimes it can be three years. The solution is worth its price."

"Pricing is good. We have not calculated what hyper-converged infrastructure has brought us but I think there has to be some lower cost for us, compared to the public cloud. Obviously, there would be a lower cost, probably by more than half."

"There are some extra costs in addition to the licensing costs for the yearly maintenance from professional third-party services."

"This is an expensive solution."

"I rate the product price an eight and a half on a scale of one to ten, where one is cheap, and ten is expensive."

"The pricing is competitive. Not a major problem. We have a subscription model."

"The tool's licensing costs are yearly."

"This is an expensive system and not every customer has the kind of budget to support it."

More HPE ConvergedSystem pricing and cost advice

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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

Manufacturing Company

20%

Educational Organization

12%

Financial Services Firm

Computer Software Company

14%

Manufacturing Company

12%

Comms Service Provider

Real Estate/Law Firm

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

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

What do you like most about HPE ConvergedSystem?

The most valuable features of the solution are the flexibility and the availability of the machines.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for HPE ConvergedSystem?

I rate the product price an eight and a half on a scale of one to ten, where one is cheap, and ten is expensive.

See all answers

What needs improvement with HPE ConvergedSystem?

Pricing is an area of concern in the solution where improvements are required.

See all answers

Comparisons

Dell PowerFlex vs FlexPod XCS

Compared 37% of the time

Oracle Private Cloud Appliance vs FlexPod XCS

Compared 18% of the time

HPE Hyper Converged vs FlexPod XCS

Compared 17% of the time

Dell PowerEdge VRTX vs FlexPod XCS

Compared 16% of the time

VMware vSAN vs FlexPod XCS

Compared 12% of the time

More FlexPod XCS Competitors

Dell PowerEdge VRTX vs HPE ConvergedSystem

Compared 72% of the time

Oracle Private Cloud Appliance vs HPE ConvergedSystem

Compared 19% of the time

Dell VxBlock System vs HPE ConvergedSystem

Compared 9% of the time

More HPE ConvergedSystem Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

FlexPod XCS

June 2025

Download FlexPod XCS product report

Buyer's Guide

HPE ConvergedSystem

June 2025

Download HPE ConvergedSystem product report

Also Known As

No data available

HPE ConvergedSystem 700, HPE ConvergedSystem for SAP HANA, CS500, HPE ConvergedSystem 900, HPE ConvergedSystem 500, HPE ConvergedSystem 300

Overview

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

HPE ConvergedSystem is designed for on-premises and hybrid deployments, hosting VMware ESXi, supporting cloud containers, and facilitating recovery and backup, making it ideal for large-scale virtual environment replacements.

Consulting firms, government organizations, healthcare, and education departments extensively use HPE ConvergedSystem. It efficiently supports VMware virtualization, enhancing internal customer service by meeting various client requirements. Notable for its scalability, stability, and ease of deployment, HPE ConvergedSystem integrates seamlessly with HP Data Protector and numerous storage devices, ensuring high reliability. However, it requires improved management and better integration with third-party tools and cloud services.

What are the key features of HPE ConvergedSystem?

HPE Synergy: Facilitates deployments and updates.
Backup Capabilities: Ensures data security and recovery.
Reporting and Management: Enhances operational oversight.
High Availability: Offers robust performance.
Flexibility: Adapts to diverse workloads.
Deduplication and Compression: Saves storage space.
Security: Protects sensitive information.
Ease of Configuration: Simplifies setup.
BladeSystems and Virtual Connect: Enhances connectivity.
Scalability: Grows with business needs.
Stability and Resilience: Ensures continuous operations.
Energy Reduction: Promotes efficiency.

What are the benefits or ROI of HPE ConvergedSystem?

Enhanced Service Quality: Improves customer interactions.
Cost Efficiency: Reduces operational expenses.
Operational Flexibility: Adapts to varied business models.
Reliability: Minimizes downtime and data loss.
Scalability: Supports future growth without major investments.
Energy Efficiency: Lowers power consumption.

HPE ConvergedSystem sees extensive use across several industries. Government, healthcare, and education departments benefit from its reliable and scalable infrastructure. Consulting firms implement it for diverse clients, ensuring solutions tailored to specific needs. Chilean customers efficiently use it for servers and DDI with VMware for virtualization, while it also excels in replacing large-scale virtual environments, making it a versatile choice for companies and integrators alike.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Sample Customers

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

FAW-Volkswagen, NICS, NBrIX, Pinpoint, HPE Technology Services, SWS, Ko Sistem, HPE

Buyer's Guide

FlexPod XCS vs. HPE ConvergedSystem

June 2025

Free Report: FlexPod XCS vs. HPE ConvergedSystem

Find out what your peers are saying about FlexPod XCS vs. HPE ConvergedSystem and other solutions. Updated: June 2025.

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