Try our new research platform with insights from 80,000+ expert users
FlexPod XCS Logo

FlexPod XCS pros and cons

Vendor: NetApp
4.3 out of 5
2,314 followers
Post review
 

FlexPod XCS Pros review quotes

Chris Haight - PeerSpot reviewer
Jul 11, 2022
It definitely streamlined operations. TCO-wise, it reduced cabling in the architecture. So, there has definitely been some savings. There have been a lot of reductions in the IT admin's time: reduced time to troubleshoot, reduced time to inventory the infrastructure, and reduced time to set up a host with templates and storage. The solution is saving easily 10 hours a week in time.
Business938f - PeerSpot reviewer
Jun 17, 2019
It reduces the time required to dynamically provide applications to our end users and developers.
Bob Greenwald - PeerSpot reviewer
Oct 18, 2022
The most significant benefit is storage flexibility. FlexPod is a reference design to build on and add the appropriate resources you need for your workloads. That's what differentiates it from something like HCI, where you have to buy certain size pieces when you want to expand.
Learn what your peers think about FlexPod XCS. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: November 2024.
817,457 professionals have used our research since 2012.
reviewer1223427 - PeerSpot reviewer
Nov 5, 2019
The guides that we use to install FlexPods are always up-to-date. This is really helpful, especially if there is a new product with NetApp moving so far forward and Cisco as well. For them to join together and update a centralized document for the install process, it is really good. It helps us understand if there are features from the first version that we installed while upgrading that we need to implement. Those are in the document. So, we find that document useful and helpful when moving forward.
Adriano-Simao - PeerSpot reviewer
May 12, 2022
It reduced the total cost of ownership.
CK
Nov 5, 2019
A valuable feature of the FlexPod solution is that it is all one architecture and I can call one number and get support for Cisco and NetApp without having to jump through open TAC (Technical Assistance Center) cases and do multiple things to get issues addressed.
AH
Jun 12, 2018
It has never fallen out from under us when we were trying to do a critical push.
reviewer1223463 - PeerSpot reviewer
Nov 5, 2019
The solution has decreased the unplanned downtime incidents in our organization by 25 to 30 percent.
JM
May 15, 2022
The solution's granular scalability and broad application support helps us to meet the needs of diverse workloads.
John Kevin - PeerSpot reviewer
Jan 4, 2024
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.
 

FlexPod XCS Cons review quotes

Chris Haight - PeerSpot reviewer
Jul 11, 2022
With the UCS X-Series, I would like to see the fabric interconnects in the chassis. Instead of hanging out so the chassis is 7U, you are increasing your footprint to 9U with the fabric enhancer, where some of the competing solutions are 7U and have collapsed that network fabric into the chassis. This is another thing that I would like to see from Cisco, though not really on the NetApp side since that is pretty solid.
Business938f - PeerSpot reviewer
Jun 17, 2019
It takes a very sophisticated group of people to run and maintain NetApp and Cisco products.
Bob Greenwald - PeerSpot reviewer
Oct 18, 2022
Support could be more integrated. For example, you might call NetApp, and they'll determine that VMware is the issue. It would be helpful if they could automatically engage VMware and bring them onto the same call to transfer ticket information and work together.
Learn what your peers think about FlexPod XCS. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: November 2024.
817,457 professionals have used our research since 2012.
reviewer1223427 - PeerSpot reviewer
Nov 5, 2019
It would be nice to have something like an automated, upgrade solution The tasks needed to upgrade the hardware within FlexPod are still quite behind compared to some of its other aspects. That's more on the Cisco side.
Adriano-Simao - PeerSpot reviewer
May 12, 2022
They need to improve the user interface to make it easier to work in this environment. The older version is poor.
CK
Nov 5, 2019
The upgrade process needs to be improved and it would be nice to manage everything from a single pane of glass.
AH
Jun 12, 2018
The FAS in it, with all its flexibility and scalability, it is much more complex and could be simplified.
reviewer1223463 - PeerSpot reviewer
Nov 5, 2019
I had one problem at the site where I had an aggregate that would not shrink after I had deleted some stuff. It took a few tries to get the right guy on the call. We do have a NetApp SAM with our company, and it really took getting to him to get the solution fixed.
JM
May 15, 2022
Since 2018 or 2019, maybe due to COVID and the chipsets, my DIMMs are dying left and right.
John Kevin - PeerSpot reviewer
Jan 4, 2024
FlexPod should focus more on automation. Integrating an automation tool with FlexPod would enable customers to leverage automation capabilities.