HPE Hyper Converged vs SteelFusion comparison

Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Riverbed are both solutions in the HCI category. Hewlett Packard Enterprise is ranked #13 with an average rating of 8.3, while Riverbed is ranked #29. Hewlett Packard Enterprise holds a 2.4% mindshare in HCI, compared to Riverbed’s 1.3% mindshare. Additionally, 97% of Hewlett Packard Enterprise users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Riverbed users who would recommend it.

HPE Hyper Converged

Read 37 HPE Hyper Converged reviews

3,833 Views
3,680 Comparison Views

97% willing to recommend

SteelFusion

Read 2 SteelFusion reviews

1,087 Views
1,000 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

HPE Hyper Converged

SteelFusion

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 31, 2024

SteelFusion and HPE Hyper Converged are competing in the hyper-convergence and data center space, with HPE Hyper Converged perceived as superior due to its robust features, suggesting a justifiable cost.

Features: SteelFusion is known for edge data center consolidation, advanced data security, and efficient IT infrastructure enhancement. HPE Hyper Converged offers advanced virtualization capabilities, seamless integration with existing systems, and extensive scalability, making it attractive for organizations prioritizing comprehensive feature sets.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: HPE Hyper Converged features a streamlined deployment model and excellent customer service, facilitating easier integration and support. SteelFusion provides a straightforward setup, requiring more effort for complex configurations.

Pricing and ROI: SteelFusion has lower setup costs, presenting a strong value proposition for budget-conscious organizations aiming for quick ROI. HPE Hyper Converged requires a higher initial investment, delivering substantial long-term ROI through its advanced features and scalability.

To learn more, read our detailed HCI Report (Updated: July 2026).

Buyer's Guide

HCI

July 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

HPE Hyper Converged

Ranking in HCI

13th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.1

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

SteelFusion

Ranking in HCI

29th

Average Rating

9.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2026, in the HCI category, the mindshare of HPE Hyper Converged is 2.4%, down from 3.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SteelFusion is 1.3%, up from 0.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

HCI Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
HPE Hyper Converged	2.4%
SteelFusion	1.3%
Other	96.3%

HCI

Featured Reviews

PAOLO DESPERATI

IT Project Manager at Intesa Sanpaolo

Has enabled me to simplify complex infrastructures and support virtualization projects with efficiency

In HP, I have been on board on a project study until 2018 and we studied the server rack model that supports HPE Hyper Converged board and Windows configuration. HPE Hyper Converged is excellent because it can avoid the usage of storage area network. For example, if you have three servers in parallel in a battery, a cluster, you can share the local storage for each server in a hyper-converged virtual storage without the storage area network. The architecture here has a simple physical structure. The logical configuration is complex, but the physical infrastructure is simpler than the old legacy cluster with the storage area network. The possibility of issues is minor. There is a very high level of redundancy and very high level of performance distribution and parallel usage of resources. It functions as a grid configuration. HPE Hyper Converged can be improved by replacing the old infrastructure based on legacy clusters and old servers. It can replace and dispose of legacy storage that is very expensive to maintain and has great dimensions to manage. You can dispose of big storage to have a battery of local servers with local storage in a hyper-converged architecture. This is not the future, it is the new technology. It is probably the best solution for cloud service and also for companies that require several virtualized environments. The foundation for using the hyper-converged solution is virtualization. First, every company must switch from physical setup to virtual configuration. Second, HPE Hyper Converged is a technology upgraded to avoid local big storage, storage area network, and complex fiber cabling from server to storage. You can eliminate everything and just manage the battery of servers in hyper-converged configuration as they share and are able to share the local storage as main big storage area network.

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it_user866178

Chief Technology Officer at MAZZETTI+GBA

Sync to Central and edge protection mitigate my risk in our branch offices

The level of tech support depends on who you get. There are some techs that just read the script and ask you if you’ve rebooted, but once you get past that - or if you have a very technical issue - the support is great. They really know the product and get you up and running again ASAP.

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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

"It provides unmatched performance, productivity and reliability, and its HPC technologies and workflow provide downtime and increase the technology."

"One of the good features would be the fast backup solution Hyper Converged offers, which is more efficient compared to other vendors."

"It helped our business continuity, for example, if you have a failed disk or you have some errors, the system keeps running and you have time to fix it."

"Hyper-convergence is the most valuable aspect of the solution. We can avoid downtime when there's maintenance or updates needed. Also, we have homogenous hardware, so we have a lot of trust in the solution's reliability."

"If you're looking for virtualization solutions, this is a very good product."

"HPE Hyper Converged is excellent because it can avoid the usage of storage area network."

"The product enables me to use any software or database."

"Before deploying the product, we did not have any enterprise IT infrastructure, and now with the HC380 deployment we succeeded in building all the required servers, organizing and protecting the data, which has increased our operational efficiency and level, and given us flexibility thanks to HPE HC380 and VMware."

More HPE Hyper Converged pros

"Sync to Central and edge protection mitigate my risk in our branch offices. All services that need to be local to the user exist on local servers. Users run applications and access data locally while the data is constantly being synced to Central, and protected. If an edge device fails, we can recover quickly."

"That is why Riverbed SteelFusion has delivered a masterclass technology that not only abstracted and virtualized the storage vendors’ unique logical storage structures, it has made it logically closer and seamless to the branch applications from a performance and experience perspective."

Cons

"I would like to see price points when there are larger solutions."

"This solution is very costly."

"The solution needs to add a module or plugin of vCenter for clear monitoring and insights."

"The solution's pricing for the hardware and support could be reduced."

"Scalability is an issue because it becomes very expensive. When you need to upgrade memory, you have to upgrade memory across the nodes. Suppose a customer has gone with a three-node HCI solution, then to increase the memory, you have to do it across the three nodes."

"The solution can be improved on the management side. More management features should be added to future releases."

"I would like to see more deduplication."

"The price can be improved."

More HPE Hyper Converged cons

"Setting up disks for use is a multi-step process that could use some refinement. Setting up a core-to-core replication or DR strategy is also cumbersome."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"It could be cheaper, everything could be cheaper."

"If I'm comparing with Dell, HPE Hyper Converged is definitely cheaper in my experience."

"The solutions cost us a lot."

"With this solution, I buy everything together, pre-packaged, pre-installed, and in just 15 minutes, it's installed."

"There are costs in addition to the standard licensing fees."

"Pricing with Dell EMC is double the price which I paid for HPE. However, in the end, Dell EMC is double in performance. This is not an apple to apple comparison though, as I have a four node from Dell EMC and a three node."

"The solution is expensive - not only the hardware costs but server costs too. And the more you scale, the more expensive it gets."

"On a scale from one to ten, where one is cheap and ten is expensive, I rate the solution's pricing a seven out of ten."

More HPE Hyper Converged pricing and cost advice

"Price is an issue – this is expensive stuff. My advice is to beat up Riverbed as much as possible on price. These things are expensive and there is room for negotiation."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Construction Company

10%

Computer Software Company

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

No data available

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	17
Midsize Enterprise	7
Large Enterprise	19

No data available

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for HPE Hyper Converged?

The product is intermediate in price, neither expensive nor cheap. We are talking about an on-premises solution without licensing for years. Currently, licensing is required for VMs and CPU cores. ...

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What needs improvement with HPE Hyper Converged?

The initial setup of HPE Hyper Converged requires study and a comprehensive understanding of virtualization. The second step is to follow instructions step by step, as it can be complex to understa...

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What is your primary use case for HPE Hyper Converged?

I have several years of experience in storage area network and IT infrastructure, working with Pure Secure, Pure Secure Storage, EMC Square, HP, and Lenovo storage and other brands, several other b...

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Compared 16% of the time

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Compared 6% of the time

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Compared 14% of the time

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Compared 11% of the time

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Compared 8% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

HPE Hyper Converged

August 2026

Download HPE Hyper Converged product report

Buyer's Guide

HCI

July 2026

Download SteelFusion product report

Also Known As

HPE Hyper Converged 380, HPE Hyper Converged 250, HPE Hyper Converged 250 for Microsoft CPS

No data available

Overview

HPE Hyper Converged is a flexible, scalable, and user-friendly infrastructure solution that reduces server count and energy consumption while providing enhanced reliability and security for data center management.

HPE Hyper Converged is renowned for its seamless integration with infrastructure management tools and supports rapid scaling and efficient backup systems. Its AI-driven capabilities simplify infrastructure administration, making it an ideal choice for data center consolidation and hybrid cloud environments. Users gain from its cost efficiencies and comprehensive toolsets, which facilitate deployment and management. Although beneficial, users identify room for improvement, particularly in cost reduction, enhanced integration with hypervisors, and interface simplicity. The management interface and upgrade processes require more clarity and ease, and better documentation and pricing would appeal to a broader audience.

What are the key features of HPE Hyper Converged?

Flexibility and Scalability: Easily adapts to growing infrastructure needs.
Integrated Storage Management: Simplifies data handling and enhances speed.
Security Features: Offers deduplication and compression for secure data protection.
AI-Driven Capabilities: Enhances efficiency in infrastructure management.
Rapid Deployment: Facilitates quick setup for faster operation.

What benefits or ROI should users look for?

Energy Savings: Reduction in server count lowers energy consumption.
Cost Efficiency: Comprehensive tools offer competitive advantages.
Ease of Use: Simplified updates and management streamline operations.
Improved Reliability: Enhanced architecture boosts performance dependability.
Enhanced Backup System: Ensures data safety and recovery solutions.

HPE Hyper Converged is widely implemented across industries for data center consolidation and infrastructure management. Companies, particularly in banking, employ it for core banking solutions and VDI environments, benefiting from its seamless compatibility with Hyper-V and Windows Server configurations. Its performance and sustainability make it a preferred choice for settings with limited data center space.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise

SteelFusion is a high-performance converged infrastructure solution designed to streamline and secure data management in branch office environments, combining server, storage, and network functionalities in a single platform.

SteelFusion enhances efficiency in remote IT operations by integrating with existing IT systems to deliver seamless data centralization and protection. Its architecture supports diverse applications without compromising on performance, making it essential for enterprises looking to optimize their remote branch office operations. Organizations can reduce data footprint, improve resiliency, and ensure data compliance across dispersed locations.

What are the key features of SteelFusion?

Edge Servers: Deliver high-speed performance with robust compute capabilities.
FusionSync: Offers real-time data replication to maintain data consistency.
Virtual Services Platform: Simplifies branch IT with centralized management.
Branch Recovery: Minimizes downtime with rapid recovery options.
Hybrid Cloud Support: Integrates seamlessly with cloud services for extended scalability.

What benefits can users expect in reviews?

Cost Efficiency: Reduces overall IT costs by consolidating infrastructure.
Data Security: Enhances data protection through centralized monitoring.
Operational Simplicity: Lowers complexity in management and deployment.
Performance Optimization: Ensures consistent application delivery across branches.
Risk Mitigation: Decreases risk with improved disaster recovery processes.

SteelFusion is prominently implemented in industries such as finance, healthcare, and retail, where secure data access and rapid recovery are critical. These environments benefit from its robust data management capabilities, enabling them to maintain continuous operations while reducing operational burdens. Its deployment allows businesses to adapt quickly and remain competitive in fast-paced markets.

Riverbed

Sample Customers

North Lindsey College, FireWhat?, HudsonAlpha

Roxtec, Engen, Bobst, CBP, IUCN, Mahoning County, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet

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