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reviewer2380614 - PeerSpot reviewer
SRE at a government with 51-200 employees
Real User
Ensures unparalleled reliability, energy efficiency and ease of deployment
Pros and Cons
  • "Primarily, what we value most is the stability of Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers."
  • "There might be room for improvement, especially in the software aspect, such as firmware updates."

What is our primary use case?

We've never had any issues with using Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers for everything we need. Essentially, they're our go-to brand for servers.

How has it helped my organization?

From what I've gathered, it seems that they're heading in the right direction by implementing silicon-based hardware updates, enhancing user access security, and optimizing the supply chain. These developments are sensible, especially for environments like data centers and research facilities, as they prioritize both security and efficiency.

I'm highly impressed by the energy efficiency of Dell PowerEdge Servers. Having worked with servers for a long time, I remember their high power consumption. However, the new Dell products have drastically reduced energy usage, which is not only remarkable but also makes them much quieter.

What is most valuable?

Primarily, what we value most is the stability of Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers. We appreciate the confidence of deploying them in production, knowing they'll perform reliably without any issues.

What needs improvement?

There might be room for improvement, especially in the software aspect, such as firmware updates. While it's relatively straightforward now, it would be beneficial to have a solution that allows updating the server firmware without taking it offline.

Buyer's Guide
Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers
August 2025
Learn what your peers think about Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: August 2025.
865,384 professionals have used our research since 2012.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been working with it for approximately fifteen years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It provides excellent stability capabilities.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Scalability isn't particularly relevant to our use case.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

Before switching to Dell, we used to rely on HPE servers. Unfortunately, we experienced increasing instability with their hardware over time, particularly noticeable in critical components like storage controllers, which are crucial in my line of work. 

We also encountered numerous issues with the mainboards. As a result, we had to explore alternatives from different vendors. Although we also tried Supermicro servers, which showcased some innovative features at the time, we found Dell to offer better stability overall. While Supermicro was aiming for rapid innovation, they struggled with stability issues in their servers.

What about the implementation team?

We managed the deployment in-house, and it was remarkably straightforward. Setting up the racks and mounting the hardware, including the components inside the servers, was hassle-free. Overall, it was a seamless process.

What was our ROI?

I believe the return on investment with Dell servers is positive. While I may not have a precise answer, a strong indication for me is the ongoing satisfaction in receiving the necessary components and support from Dell.

What other advice do I have?

Overall, I would rate it ten out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
reviewer2328177 - PeerSpot reviewer
Teamleiter IT at a retailer with 11-50 employees
Real User
Top 10
The Resilient Architecture approach to security, including silicon-based firmware, signed firmware updates, user access, and supply chain security is good
Pros and Cons
  • "The DRA cards for server management is the most valuable feature. They provide a clear overview of server settings and issues. We also like that the notifications are well-organized."
  • "The price could possibly use improvement. Dell servers are not the most affordable, and pricing is always a consideration. Otherwise, I don't see any specific areas for improvement."

What is our primary use case?

Our primary use case is for Hyper-V server virtualization.

The reason we adopted Dell PowerEdge is because we wanted to simplify and streamline our IT infrastructure as much as possible. That is the challenge we were facing.

How has it helped my organization?

Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers have made my organization much more organized. Before, we didn't have DRA cards or a centralized overview of servers, so managing them required local access. Now, I can centrally monitor and control server issues across all locations.

PowerEdge Server's Cyber Resilient Architecture approach to security, including silicon-based firmware, signed firmware updates, user access, and supply chain security and integrity is good. It's especially good with regular updates that instill confidence. 

I can't provide details on the processor architecture, as I'm not deeply familiar with it.

PowerEdge Rack Servers' handling of evolving high-performance workload requirements when equipped with the appropriate server is sufficient and very good. Although it's crucial for a customer to plan for future resource needs.

The servers have had an excellent impact on our organization's sustainability goals. The longer lifespan of Dell servers aligns well with the typical server lifespan calculation of five to seven years.

The OpenManage Console has affected the productivity of our IT personnel. It has become much more manageable. It's easier to administer servers, even for colleagues who are less technically inclined.

What is most valuable?

The DRA cards for server management is the most valuable feature. They provide a clear overview of server settings and issues. We also like that the notifications are well-organized.

What needs improvement?

The price could possibly use improvement. Dell servers are not the most affordable, and pricing is always a consideration. Otherwise, I don't see any specific areas for improvement.

In a future release, having a ten-gigabit LAN onboard from the start would be a significant advantage. It would eliminate the need for aftermarket upgrades.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers for two years. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The servers have good stability. Servers need to run smoothly, and Dell servers do that reliably.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Scalability depends on how you plan and allocate resources. With proper planning, it's scalable.

How are customer service and support?

I would rate their support a nine out of ten. It would be even better if ProSupport for servers were integrated and didn't require additional fees or licenses.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We were previously using HPE ProLiant and Microtech servers. They were not as user-friendly or easy to manage.

How was the initial setup?

We did the setup. We installed a Windows server and configured the hard drives.

The complexity of the setup is as complex as setting up any server. It's not as simple as a laptop but not excessively complex if you've done it a few times.

Our strategy was to set up the servers and then we migrated VMs from the old servers once the new ones were ready.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

Microsoft licensing for Hyper-V servers is a challenge, but Dell's hardware may be slightly more expensive. Overall, it's manageable.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

We looked at HP again but decided on Dell due to our positive experience with Dell laptops.

Also, Dell's Pro Support is something I find valuable, and I believe it's not available to the same extent as other providers.

What other advice do I have?

PowerEdge Rack Servers' energy consumption depends on how the server is utilized. I can't provide specific details, but every server requires power.

The use of PowerEdge Rack Servers hasn't had a significant impact on the overall flexibility of our operation. If anything, it has ensured everything runs smoothly.

I would rate Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers a nine out of ten. There's not much that needs improvement. Your success with it largely depends on how well you plan.

Foreign Language:(German)

Gute Sicherheitsarchitektur, einschließlich siliziumbasierter Firmware, signierter Firmware-Updates, Benutzerzugang und Sicherheit der Lieferkette

Was ist unser Hauptanwendungsfall?

Unser Hauptanwendungsfall ist die Hyper-V-Servervirtualisierung.

Wir haben uns für Dell PowerEdge entschieden, weil wir unsere IT-Infrastruktur so weit wie möglich vereinfachen und rationalisieren wollten. Das ist die Herausforderung, vor der wir standen.

Wie hat es meiner Organisation geholfen?

Mit den Dell PowerEdge Rack-Servern ist meine Organisation jetzt viel besser organisiert. Vorher hatten wir keine DRA-Karten oder eine zentrale Übersicht über die Server, so dass für die Verwaltung der Server ein lokaler Zugriff erforderlich war. Jetzt kann ich Serverprobleme an allen Standorten zentral überwachen und steuern.

Der Sicherheitsansatz der Cyber Resilient Architecture von PowerEdge Server, einschließlich der siliziumbasierten Firmware, der signierten Firmware-Updates, des Benutzerzugriffs und der Sicherheit und Integrität der Lieferkette, ist gut. Besonders gut ist er bei regelmäßigen Updates, die Vertrauen erwecken.

Ich kann keine Details zur Prozessorarchitektur nennen, da ich mich damit nicht auskenne.

Die PowerEdge Rack Server können mit dem entsprechenden Server die sich entwickelnden Anforderungen an Hochleistungs-Workloads ausreichend und sehr gut erfüllen. Allerdings ist es für einen Kunden entscheidend, den zukünftigen Ressourcenbedarf zu planen.

Die Server haben sich hervorragend auf die Nachhaltigkeitsziele unserer Organisation ausgewirkt. Die längere Betriebsdauer von Dell-Servern deckt sich gut mit der typischen Berechnung der Betriebsdauer von Servern von fünf bis sieben Jahren.

Die OpenManage-Konsole hat sich auf die Produktivität unseres IT-Personals ausgewirkt. Es ist viel einfacher zu verwalten. Es ist einfacher, Server zu verwalten, auch für Kollegen, die technisch weniger versiert sind.

Was ist am wertvollsten?

Die DRA-Karten für die Serververwaltung sind die wertvollste Eigenschaft. Sie bieten einen klaren Überblick über Servereinstellungen und Probleme. Uns gefällt auch, dass die Benachrichtigungen gut organisiert sind.

Was muss verbessert werden?

Der Preis könnte eventuell verbessert werden. Dell-Server sind nicht die günstigsten, und der Preis ist immer eine Überlegung wert. Ansonsten kann ich keine besonderen Verbesserungsmöglichkeiten nennen.

In einer zukünftigen Version wäre es ein großer Vorteil, von Anfang an ein Zehn-Gigabit-LAN an Bord zu haben. Das würde die Notwendigkeit von Nachrüstungen auf dem Markt überflüssig machen.

Wie lange nutze ich die Lösung schon?

Ich verwende Dell PowerEdge Rack Server seit zwei Jahren.

Was halte ich von der Stabilität der Lösung?

Die Server haben gute Stabilität. Server müssen reibungslos laufen, und Dell-Server tun das zuverlässig.

Was denke ich über die Skalierbarkeit der Lösung?

Die Skalierbarkeit hängt davon ab, wie man die Ressourcen plant und zuweist. Mit der richtigen Planung ist sie skalierbar.

Wie sind Kundenservice und Support?

Ich würde den Support mit neun von zehn Punkten bewerten. Es wäre noch besser, wenn ProSupport für Server integriert wäre und keine zusätzlichen Gebühren oder Lizenzen erfordern würde.

Wie bewerten Sie den Kundenservice und -support?

Positiv

Welche Lösung habe ich vorher verwendet und warum habe ich gewechselt?

Wir haben zuvor HPE ProLiant- und Microtech-Server verwendet. Sie waren nicht so benutzerfreundlich und einfach zu verwalten.

Wie war die Ersteinrichtung?

Wir haben die Einrichtung durchgeführt. Wir haben einen Windows-Server installiert und die Festplatten konfiguriert.

Die Einrichtung ist so komplex wie die Einrichtung eines jeden Servers. Es ist nicht so einfach wie bei einem Laptop, aber auch nicht übermäßig komplex, wenn man es schon ein paar Mal gemacht hat.

Unsere Strategie bestand darin, die Server einzurichten und dann die VMs von den alten Servern zu migrieren, sobald die neuen Server bereit waren.

Welche Erfahrungen habe ich mit den Preisen, den Implementierungskosten und der Lizenzierung gemacht?

Die Microsoft-Lizenzierung für Hyper-V-Server ist eine Herausforderung, aber die Hardware von Dell ist möglicherweise etwas teurer. Insgesamt ist es zu bewältigen.

Welche anderen Lösungen habe ich bewertet?

Wir haben HP noch einmal in Betracht gezogen, aber aufgrund unserer positiven Erfahrungen mit Dell-Laptops haben wir uns für Dell entschieden.

Außerdem finde ich den Pro-Support von Dell sehr wertvoll, und ich glaube, dass er bei anderen Anbietern nicht in gleichem Maße verfügbar ist.

Welche anderen Ratschläge kann ich geben?

Der Energieverbrauch von PowerEdge Rack-Servern hängt davon ab, wie der Server genutzt wird. Ich kann keine genauen Angaben machen, aber jeder Server benötigt Strom.

Der Einsatz von PowerEdge Rack Servern hat sich nicht wesentlich auf die Gesamtflexibilität unseres Betriebs ausgewirkt. Wenn überhaupt, dann hat er dafür gesorgt, dass alles reibungslos läuft.

Ich würde Dell PowerEdge Rack Server mit neun von zehn Punkten bewerten. Es gibt nicht viel, was verbessert werden muss. Ihr Erfolg hängt weitgehend davon ab, wie gut man plant.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers
August 2025
Learn what your peers think about Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: August 2025.
865,384 professionals have used our research since 2012.
reviewer2318382 - PeerSpot reviewer
Data Center Manager at a manufacturing company with 501-1,000 employees
Real User
Top 10
Designed to fit our specific requirements, allowing us to build and configure them according to our needs
Pros and Cons
  • "Managing it is straightforward, and the scalability aligns well with the needs of our organization."
  • "One area where PowerEdge could improve is the challenge of keeping technology consistent over the years."

What is our primary use case?

We rely on Dell PowerEdge servers for our data centers, transitioning from VMware to Hyper-V Azure Stack. These servers support various functions, including backup, database management, and handling highly virtualized workloads.  

How has it helped my organization?

A significant benefit we have experienced with Dell PowerEdge is the flexibility it offers in customizing our services. The servers are designed to fit our specific requirements, allowing us to build and configure them according to our needs. 

This flexibility has been valuable, as we have been able to achieve everything we have asked from the PowerEdge line to support our organization's IT infrastructure. 

For our organization, energy efficiency is crucial, and Dell PowerEdge servers align well with our commitment to green IT. Dell works with customers to prioritize power-efficient hardware, and we have noticed savings when renewing parts of our infrastructure. 

The virtualization layer, coupled with Dell's efforts, has contributed significantly to improved energy efficiency, allowing us to achieve more performance for the same energy consumption. Additionally, PowerEdge servers significantly contribute to our sustainability goals by delivering high performance and efficiency.

What is most valuable?

I find the stability of PowerEdge to be its most valuable feature. Managing it is straightforward, and the scalability aligns well with the needs of our organization.

What needs improvement?

One area where PowerEdge could improve, and it might not be unique to Dell, is the challenge of keeping technology consistent over the years. Due to the natural growth of IT, there are differences in processors, memory, and technology advancements each year. When expanding our environment, it becomes a challenge to match the technology of the same line. A more seamless bridge between old and new hardware could simplify administration and enhance the overall user experience.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been working with Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers for almost over ten years.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

PowerEdge handles the evolving needs of high-performance workloads quite well. Its flexibility allows us to attain the required performance and integrate new technologies seamlessly. The scalability within our current environment ensures that we don't hit the limits of the platform easily, eliminating the need to transition to another platform for now.

How are customer service and support?

Dell's tech support has been good overall. While we rarely need assistance, finding the right entry point into their support system can be a bit challenging. However, when required, our account manager and available resources help navigate the process effectively.

What was our ROI?

We have seen a substantial return on investment with Dell PowerEdge. The servers' stability, ease of management, and standardized operations have reduced staffing needs and operational costs. Considering factors like energy efficiency and pricing, it has been a valuable investment for our organization.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

I find the pricing for Dell PowerEdge reasonable for our company. However, licensing, in general, can be challenging to manage effectively. It would be beneficial for companies like Dell to reconsider their approach to licensing certain aspects of their equipment.

What other advice do I have?

Overall, I would rate Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers as a nine out of ten.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Mohamed-Mousa - PeerSpot reviewer
IT manager at CNE
Real User
Top 20
The components last a long time and I have never had to call support
Pros and Cons
  • "I like the iDRAC feature. I have also seen long life from each part and haven't had to call support, as far as I remember. I use competitors like HPE and we need spare parts every year."
  • "The BIOS interface could be improved; it is very poor. PowerEdge is very good overall, but if you compare the BIOS interface with HPE, it is not very good."

What is our primary use case?

I'm using the server for Exchange and it gives me good performance.

What is most valuable?

I like the iDRAC feature.

I have also seen long life from each part and haven't had to call support, as far as I remember. I use competitors like HPE and we need spare parts every year. I have been using this server for 10 years and haven't faced any problems with the hardware or performance.

What needs improvement?

The BIOS interface could be improved; it is very poor. PowerEdge is very good overall, but if you compare the BIOS interface with HPE, it is not very good. HPE's is very advanced but Dell's is very simple.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers for about 10 years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The stability is about a seven out of 10.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It is scalable, but we are not planning to get more PowerEdge servers. We are planning to go with hyper-converged. We are looking to extend our environment and deploy a new DR site.

We have multiple locations and about 400 users.

How are customer service and support?

Their support is excellent, but here I'm referring to all our Dell products, because I haven't had to contact them about PowerEdge.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I didn't have a previous solution, but I work with HPE servers at the same time. There is no major difference between them in performance or specifications. I prefer Dell for its warranty, which is very good here in Egypt. I am able to extend my warranty for one or two years.

How was the initial setup?

For me, the setup was easy.

The only maintenance is cleaning it and adding hard disks.

What about the implementation team?

I did it, as a system admin, with my team of three people: technical support and our help desk team.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

Dell is somewhat more expensive than HPE.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

In terms of money, if I compare a cloud system and an on-premises server like PowerEdge, if I rent the same type of product in the cloud for 10 years, it will cost more than if I get a PowerEdge server for five years.

What other advice do I have?

If you invest in your network, it will be advantageous. 

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Programmer Sysadmin at a university with 10,001+ employees
Real User
They are stable and don’t crash
Pros and Cons
  • "The use of OpenManage Console reduces the time it takes to manage PowerEdge Rack Servers in terms of updates and maintenance."
  • "Unfortunately, PowerEdge Rack Servers do not support NVMe storage."

What is our primary use case?

Our main uses for PowerEdge Rack Servers powered by Intel are virtualization, file servers, and Active Directory, which our entire infrastructure sits on.

I have five Dell PowerEdge servers now. About 40,000 users are using these servers. About 70 to 80 people use the file server.

How has it helped my organization?

Support for virtualization is very important to us. It provides redundancy when booting from storage, where the servers are loaded from a separate storage. It provides full server support.

What is most valuable?

The use of OpenManage Console reduces the time it takes to manage PowerEdge Rack Servers in terms of updates and maintenance.

What needs improvement?

Unfortunately, PowerEdge Rack Servers do not support NVMe storage.

OpenManage Console is slightly confusing, especially after upgrade releases. There isn't a manual for what to do with lifecycle management and in what sequence. I have to rely on user forums instead of Dell in these cases.

For how long have I used the solution?

This is my third purchase. I bought my first three PowerEdge Rack Servers powered by Intel two years ago.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The primary reason that we chose PowerEdge - they are stable and don’t crash.

I keep my firmware, BIOS, and drivers up-to-date. Regarding security, we have not had any incidents.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The two Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers that I am using solve my needs completely in terms of redundancy and scalability.

How are customer service and support?

I used Dell support a couple of times, and it was okay.

I would rate Dell’s support as eight out of 10. When resolving an issue, they transferred me to multiple support techs. This is because when you reach global support, your request is processed by the operator. Then, there are a few other steps. Usually, I am asked primitive questions before being transferred to Tier 2 or 3, who take a couple of days to get back to me.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

One of the reasons that we choose to use Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers is because we never had a problem with the previous ones. Whereas, we have had servers and blades from Lenovo with a lot of problems. There were constant motherboard failures.

In addition to Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers, we also have Dell's storage. Since there have been no problems with them, except for routine battery changes, we continue to use Dell’s reliable hardware. 

How was the initial setup?

It was straightforward with the help of the Dell wizard. I just needed to connect it to VMware. Obviously, someone has to study when preparing to deploy and configure PowerEdge Rack Servers. In my case, deployment and configuration of two PowerEdge Rack Servers with VMware, cloud, and integration with our storage took about three days.

My strategy was to launch these servers as quickly as possible. First, we made sure that there was communication. Then, we installed clients in VMware. After that, we started installing the PowerEdge Rack Servers.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

As an educational institution, we have certain budget restraints. So, we work around our budget and what hardware we can get from it.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

We considered Lenovo and HPE, but chose Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers because of their reliability.

What other advice do I have?

Choose stable servers when considering fast servers, because even though they might work fast, they might not last. We have been happy with Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers.

I would absolutely rate PowerEdge Rack Servers as 10 out of 10.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
reviewer1852587 - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Systems Engineer at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees
Real User
Easy-to-use OpenManage console, versatile, and offers good security
Pros and Cons
  • "Using PowerEdge helped to reduce unplanned production downtime by 20% to 25%."
  • "We'd want the solution to be faster."

What is our primary use case?

We primarily use the solution for virtualization.

What is most valuable?

The versatility has been great. We have several different configurations with different networking capabilities, different capacity, throughput, and configurations. I work on a dark site in a classified environment. I can't really comment too much beyond that.

PowerEdge is great for handling the evolving needs of high-performance workloads like VDI, AI, and SAP on multi-cloud. We're very happy with their performance. We're lucky enough to also have Dell and VMware. We call them a TAM specialist on-site. If we have any problems, they respond to them quickly.

Since we are in a classified environment, we appreciate the security specifications very much. It helps us as we have to do our own assessments and those security features help us to get our paperwork done.

We use Dell's Optane Memory in our PowerEdge environment. I’m not sure if it’s saved money, I’m really not on the financial side. We have a budget and then we go and shop for the best bang for the buck. Since we are using that feature, it does save us money. However, I can’t say how much.

We do use Dell's OpenManage console. It is easy to use this console for lifecycle management or PowerEdge servers. We use it primarily when we have a network issue or if we can't access the servers our usual way. It's very convenient as a secondary way to access it. As far as life cycle management, that's what we use when we need to do our upgrades, firmware, and the like. It's very valuable. It’s increased our IT staff's productivity, however, I can't tell by how much.

Using PowerEdge helped to reduce unplanned production downtime by 20% to 25%.

What needs improvement?

We'd want the solution to be faster, and of course, for them to bring down the price. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I've probably been using PowerEdge Servers since 2010. 

How are customer service and support?

Technical support is very good to excellent. We have a dedicated Dell support team, and they are very knowledgeable. If they don't know the answer and they almost always do, they'll get the answer right away. We're very satisfied with their help.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We are moving to VxRails. We are using it for virtualization, and for some file storage, and then we're going to be moving to VDI solutions as we get more VxRails that have GPU capability.

In the past, we used HP. We used Oracle hardware as well. Oracle has its own hard drives. They buy their servers and then put their logo on them and then resell that. Those are probably the two biggest companies that we've used in the past.

We switched to Dell due to the cost and feature sets. We liked the feature set of the Dell, however, the operating costs and maintenance costs, contracts, were a big selling factor. A lot of the hardware that we used to have was older as well. 

I used HP servers. They have a service like Dell OpenManage called iLO. It does the same thing. You can access the servers through the network to help with firmware upgrades. The HP hardware, at the time, was more expensive for maintenance and to buy new. When we went to VxRails and PowerEdge, it was a better deal, more bang for the buck, that's why we switched.

How was the initial setup?

I was not a part of the initial setup.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

I did not evaluate other servers from other vendors before choosing PowerEdge.

We did consider public cloud servers before choosing PowerEdge. We use both.

We compared latency and costs when looking at PowerEdge versus the public cloud. At the time, the public cloud looked more attractive on paper. When we did testing, the latency and throughput were comparable. However, the Dell PowerEdge Servers that we had on-premises had a little bit better performance, as the cloud was quite a distance from where our data center is. It's comparable, however, when we looked at the overall cost of a public cloud, it was much more expensive to do a public cloud, and it was less expensive to do on-premises. Most of PowerEdge is mostly on-premises.

What other advice do I have?

The first one I ever used, was an R710 PowerEdge server. We're using 740s now. We also use VxRail. I know those aren't specifically PowerEdge, however, we're moving from PowerEdge servers to VxRail.

I don't really do much on the data center side of things, so I can't really comment on the power consumption. That's not my focus.

We do not use Intel Xeon Scalable processors in our PowerEdge servers.

I would rate this solution an eight out of ten.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Sekou Knox - PeerSpot reviewer
System Engineer at a comms service provider with 10,001+ employees
Real User
Storage solution used to host databases and support a company with more than 10,000 users
Pros and Cons
  • "The solutions accelerated GPUs helped to support demanding workloads and to reduce data processing time in our organization."
  • "The iDRAC Telemetry that monitors PowerEdge system data and provides analytics could be a little bit more in-depth. Someone wanted more information on the RAM and the hard drives and we couldn't retrieve this information."

What is our primary use case?

We use it as our database solution and for ESXi hosting. We use the R7-30s, 7-40s, 8-40s, and 7-50s. Our whole company uses this solution and we have over 10,000 employees.

How has it helped my organization?

The solutions accelerated GPUs have helped to support demanding workloads and to reduce data processing time in our organization.

The PowerEdge system management frameworks have enabled us to progress towards automation. 

What is most valuable?

The Ormi product is the most valuable for me because it streamlines all the necessary information that can be viewed in one place. 

What needs improvement?

The iDRAC Telemetry that monitors PowerEdge system data and provides analytics could be a little bit more in-depth. Someone wanted more information on the RAM and the hard drives and we couldn't retrieve this information.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using this solution for five years. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

This is a stable solution. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

This is a scalable solution. 

How are customer service and support?

The technical support for this solution is very good and we can contact them at any time. I would rate them a ten out of ten.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup was straightforward. Deployment took a couple of minutes and involved five people who are system engineers. 

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

This is an expensive solution.

What other advice do I have?

I would rate this solution a nine out of ten. 

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Tim Villa - PeerSpot reviewer
IT Manager at Jones-Hamilton Co.
Real User
Are powerful, don't break, and have great security and performance
Pros and Cons
  • "Dell PowerEdge servers are powerful. They don't break, and I love that. In my career of over 30 years now, all the Dell servers we've ever used out of the box have never broken."
  • "Dell needs to focus more on SMBs, helping us get the most out of our products. For example, at events, there should be very specific SMB sessions where there are Dell technicians, engineers, and Dell executives meeting with us and finding out what we need. Dell is big on promoting the fact that they're part of our team and that they want to be our partners, and I would like to see them actually partner with us. Do it less with the big Fortune 500 companies and do a little bit more with us SMBs."

What is our primary use case?

The ones we just bought are going to be hypervisor servers, and we have an on-premises Exchange that is running on a PowerEdge server.

How has it helped my organization?

The hands-off demand of the servers and the fact that they're not constantly a thorn in my side has been a big factor. They're running, and I don't have to worry about them. That is the most valuable part about it.

There is no downtime with these servers, and the system management capabilities of PowerEdge have helped increase staff productivity.

PowerEdge has, without a doubt, helped to reduce data processing time in our company. Every time we get a new PowerEdge server, we definitely notice an impact on the SQL databases that are part of our ERP. I do have users come and tell me that they've noticed that things have sped up and that even simple file searches are faster.

What is most valuable?

Dell PowerEdge servers are powerful. They don't break, and I love that. In my career of over 30 years now, all the Dell servers we've ever used out of the box have never broken.

On top of that, when we had an air conditioning failure and I came in after a weekend, the temperature in the server room was 110 degrees. Inside the cases themselves, it was over 220 degrees. The only thing we lost was a backplane on one of the servers. This alone speaks for the durability of the Dell servers, and we've never gone away from Dell servers ever.

They are fantastic in terms of performance as well.

As for PowerEdge's approach to security, I would rate it very high. The tools provided by Dell update the BIOS and everything else, and the software is running on the server at all times. It is proactive and alerts me. It's taken a load off of my shoulders compared to how it was 20 years ago. I would have to go to their site and find out what was new. Now, I can just go to the computer or the server, and right there, it will tell me what needs to be done.

The security is pretty strong. When we use ethical hackers to hack us, the Dell servers are never the issue.

In terms of power consumption, I have no complaints at all about PowerEdge Rack Servers. My server room's APC, which is a battery backup system, is a full-mounted rack. It handles all the power coming from all our PowerEdge servers. We have never once had to scale it up at all in the almost 20 years that I've been working with them. It's moving technology in and out nonstop, and it shows you that these servers are fantastic. They don't really shift that much in power needs.

What needs improvement?

Dell needs to focus more on SMBs, helping us get the most out of our products. For example, at events, there should be very specific SMB sessions where there are Dell technicians, engineers, and Dell executives meeting with us and finding out what we need. Dell is big on promoting the fact that they're part of our team and that they want to be our partners, and I would like to see them actually partner with us. Do it less with the big Fortune 500 companies and do a little bit more with us SMBs.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been working this solution for the last 17 years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

For stability, there's really no other product that I would trust.

How are customer service and support?

Dell's support, throughout the years that we've used it, is typically fantastic, but, again, because the PowerEdge servers are so durable and good, I haven't used them as much. When I've had to contact them for other issues, they've resolved the issues within a week, if not a day or two.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is pretty straightforward. It's out-of-the-box, and I've never found a snag or anything like that in the process.

We deploy everything by hand; everything is manual.

It doesn't take that long, and we can even do it with our laptops and desktops. We do not do any ghosting or imaging, and a server usually takes me a day at the most, while I really take my time with it and get all the updates in.

What about the implementation team?

We do it ourselves, or we have one consultant that we use if it's something that is out of our wheelhouse.

What was our ROI?

Every time I don't have to work on something and my servers are just running without an issue, that is a return on investment for me. The fact that my coworkers and owners are never complaining to me about things being down all the time is the biggest ROI there is.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

I have no issues with the pricing and licensing costs. They are fine.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

I looked at HP, and in a previous job, I've actually worked on HPs. I didn't love the HP servers. Even more so than the hardware, I couldn't stand HP's service and support. They're really bad.

When it comes to servers, Dell would be my first choice, and IBM would be my second choice.

We have one other server that is an IBM i-series server. (It used to be called AS/400.) If I were to compare it to the PowerEdge servers, there really is no comparison. It's a monster of a machine, and we have a lot more problems with that than we do with any of our Dell servers. Plus, it's finicky. The performance on it is questionable. You have to really baby it a lot more than the Dell servers, whereas the Dell servers are those that are the set-it-and-forget-it type. I work far more on issues with my applications that are running on the Dell servers than I ever do with the actual Dell servers themselves.

I would consider Dell and HP in the same area, whereas I look at IBM as being more specific. My only experience with IBM servers has to do with the AS/400 i-series Power9 line. Those are built specifically to house an ERP, whereas the Dell and HP servers are built to handle everything you need.

When it comes to the servers, I trust Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers. They're who I'm going to stick with. I don't consider HP to be a realistic competitor.

What other advice do I have?

If you are comparing Dell against anyone else, just get Dell PowerEdge. It's not even a question. The servers don't break, and they don't give you issues. Your applications are going to cause enough problems for you as it is, and you don't want the hardware they're sitting upon to also be another issue. After all, the servers were 220 degrees during an air conditioning outage and still churning and not causing problems!

If I were to rate Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers on a scale from one to ten, I would give them a nine.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
Updated: August 2025
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.