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HPE BladeSystem

HPE BladeSystem

Overview

What is HPE BladeSystem?

HPE BladeSystem is a brand of blade server, from Hewlett-Packard Enterprise. HPE blades include the ProLiant BL series and the ProLiant WS series.

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Recent Reviews

TrustRadius Insights

User-Friendly Interface: Many users have found the system to be user-friendly and easy to manage, with simple settings and management that …
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Product Details

What is HPE BladeSystem?

HPE BladeSystem Technical Details

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Comparisons

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Reviews and Ratings

(25)

Community Insights

TrustRadius Insights are summaries of user sentiment data from TrustRadius reviews and, when necessary, 3rd-party data sources. Have feedback on this content? Let us know!

User-Friendly Interface: Many users have found the system to be user-friendly and easy to manage, with simple settings and management that simplify tasks. They appreciate the intuitive design and straightforward controls that make it effortless for them to navigate through the system.

Scalability: Several reviewers have praised the scalability of the solution, noting that it allows for the easy expansion of resources and the ability to fit multiple servers into a standard 19-inch rack. This flexibility in scaling up or down provides users with the freedom to adapt their infrastructure according to their evolving needs.

High Degree of Redundancy: The high degree of redundancy provided by the system has been appreciated by users, as it ensures the reliability and availability of hardware resources. With redundant components and failover mechanisms in place, customers can rely on uninterrupted operations even in case of hardware failures.

Buggy Management Console: Some users have experienced bugs in the management console, which can be frustrating and impact their ability to efficiently manage the system. They have reported encountering issues with the functionality and reliability of the console.

Limited Configuration Methods: Users feel that the configuration methods are limited to only web GUI and SSH command line, which restricts their flexibility and may not cater to all user preferences. This limitation hampers their ability to configure the system according to their specific requirements.

Outdated Virtual Connect Web GUI: The virtual connect web GUI still uses flash, which is seen as somewhat dated by users who would prefer a more modern interface. They believe that an updated web GUI using newer technologies would enhance usability and provide a better user experience.

Attribute Ratings

Reviews

(1-11 of 11)
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Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
As for the structure, layout, and administration console, those are all things I find appealing. The in-cabin Blade system does its job well and is simple to use. We are in complete command of the network and its components. Administrators will appreciate the intuitive interface and the ability to view settings for monitoring server temperature, problems on the platform, and failure detection. Blade servers from HPE are reliable and easy on the eyes of upper management. These are reliable enough to use in your IT system for the next three to five years.
  • It's possible to fit 16 servers onto a standard 19-inch rack.
  • Physical server administration consolidation.
  • It is scalable and reliable. The technical help is also excellent.
  • With the potential for disaster posed by having all your servers in one physical location, it's important to invest in redundancy.
  • I have never encountered a faster response time.
  • Although pricey, it has a rock-solid reliability and HP's service is lightning fast and reliable.
All nodes can be managed centrally through the ILO interface. Users and services alike benefit from the lightning-fast response time. Enable service continuity during VM migration between nodes. The purchase of a blade system is something we endorse as a viable alternative for your business. In order for the convergent system to work, the architecture can be adapted to accommodate new devices, and by applying new modules, both the technology and the system's responsiveness to demands for high availability can be enhanced.
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Organization-wide application and virtualization support is provided by HPE Bladesystem. Workloads could be quickly moved between hosts, and the system could be wired only once thanks to the blade infrastructure. All of our live services run on an HPE BladeSystem as our core server platform. HPE BladeSystem is a good choice for big and medium-sized networks with multiple servers. The HPE BladeSystem was made to centralize the administration of servers and related components like software, networking, and monitoring.
  • Sever profiles allow workload migration between hardware.
  • Uses shared high-bandwidth uplinks to provide highly versatile system wiring.
  • You can fit 16 servers into the same amount of space as 8 servers in a 4U server rack.
  • Shared infrastructure, like interconnects, increases fault domain.
  • A blade server's tiny size prevents expansion cards.
  • Administrators should closely monitor firmware recipes and packages to maintain component compatibility.
HPE BladeSystem is functional for standard Windows and ESXi host usage. Although the design is over a decade old, its parts are up to current with today's processors and networks. BladeSystem is not suitable for applications that necessitate local storage, hyper-converged, or any other type of specialized PCI cards. Some of these use cases are better suited to the HPE Synergy platform, however that design is not without its own limitations.
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
HPE BladeSystem is a highly reliable and available server management platform with the right configuration. We have two data centers with four enclosures each for redundancy. Having the power supply, network (we use Virtual Connect), and ILO all in one convenient package is a huge time-saver for system administrators. Begin with a small number of servers and add more as needed.
  • Power management was integrated.
  • It doesn't necessitate a huge server closet.
  • Network administration is integrated (Virtual Connect).
  • When using virtual connect, you, and not the network team, are in charge of managing the local area network and wide area network.
  • In terms of fan management, when only a portion of the Blade Enclosure is in use, it is imperative that all Blades be located in the same area.
  • It's not easy and is somewhat dated to manage FW.
We run a server and virtual desktop infrastructure on it using VMWare tools. A Blade chassis only makes sense if the company is a specific size or has a certain number of users. Energy and cooling needs are more than for a single-rack server. It's a bit more expensive than your average server. While HPE BladeSystem servers are well suited for high-performance Virtual Desktop architecture because to the availability of expansion Blades with dedicated Graphics cards.
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Virtualization of data stores, servers, networking infrastructure, and application development environments have all been commonplace uses of the HPE BladeSystem solution in the data center. High availability, reduced power consumption, enhanced airflow, and next business day (NBD) service are all things we can count on thanks to the HPE BladeSystem. Easily able to scale up to meet growing demand, scalability is a breeze to implement.
  • It ensures substantial process and system security in terms of infrastructure by keeping things running smoothly all the time.
  • There are few things that are more helpful in day-to-day living than having straightforward controls and configurations.
  • Capacity to keep a highly redundant system operating reliably.
  • The absence of a unified dashboard for monitoring health and progress.
  • Not enough reports to management.
  • Improved methods for installing new firmware are needed.
The HPE BladeSystem has performed admirably in our data center, and its scalability and virtualization-centric design make it an appealing option for enterprises of all sizes. All of the manual labor associated with managing and allocating energy and connectivity resources is eliminated by the proposed approach.
Khairul Islam Tonmoy | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
HPE BladeSystem is expandable and robust. We use it for SQL Server VMware virtualization and put it on our SQL Servers and VMware virtualization systems. In terms of server hardware, we rely heavily on the HPE BladeSystem. It is used for authenticating users of network storage, among other things. Setup may take some time initially, but it will help in the long run. The blade infrastructure created a dense compute platform that moved workloads quickly between hosts. It's configurable for our business needs, and we use BL360s in a c7000 chassis with 10Gbps ports to Ethernet and SAN. It is utilized throughout the business to support applications, virtualization, and other tasks. This base configuration can host many VMs.
  • User-friendly.
  • Implement and manage resources.
  • The tech support is excellent.
  • The scalability of the solution is good.
  • Redundancy is a big part of this system's strength.
  • Simple settings and management simplify tasks.
  • Management console bugs sometimes.
  • Integrations need better management.
  • Virtual connections have room for improvement.
HPE BladeSystem, a reliable appliance with high redundancy and security, helps us create a stable workplace. With the ability to add more RAM, it reduced the complexity and scalability of the application. Compared to single-rack servers, multi-rack servers require more space and power. Expansion blades with dedicated graphics cards are helpful for high-performance VDI. We have had great success with VMware as a server virtualization platform.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
The HPE BladeSystem solution has been used in the data center primarily for the purpose of virtualizing databases, servers, networking platforms, and development systems. The HPE BladeSystem guarantees us high availability, power reduction, improved ventilation, and top-notch 24x7 software and hardware technical support with next business day (NBD) service. Scalability is quite simple and can be increased as new demands arise.
  • Reliable system with high availability of hardware resources.
  • Perfect for virtualization service.
  • Ease and perform resource management and implementation.
  • Reliable HPE warranty and technical support.
  • Robust and reliable.
  • Limitation of expansion of add-on cards.
  • Service interruptions in general update procedures.
The HPE BladeSystem has been working very well in our data center and I understand it can be used for small, medium, and large businesses and focused on virtualization. The solution does all the work of managing and allocating energy and connectivity resources automatically. It is one of the best brands on the market and brings reliability to use for many years without having problems.
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We mainly use it to support a virtualized environment, in addition to database services that support part of the corporation's systems. The redundant infrastructure serving both the power and the cooling and communication parts ensures a stable environment as long as the basic installation requirements are followed. The flexibility of the communication environment with FCoE, allowing the subdivision of physical interfaces into logical ones, allows wide and secure connections.
  • Ability to maintain an environment with a high degree of redundancy.
  • Simplicity in settings and management are great facilitators in everyday life.
  • By maintaining an environment with high availability, it guarantees significant security of processes and systems in terms of infrastructure.
  • Firmware update process could be better
  • Lack of management reports
  • Lack of a dashboard centralizing status and performance
The HPE BladeSystem is an extremely reliable appliance, with a very high level of redundancy that allows you to maintain a secure and stable corporate environment, from bare metal application solutions to virtualized environments with hundreds of machines. Versatile, with a wide variety of blades that allow different configurations to flexibly meet the requirements of a wide range of companies.
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
HPE BladeSystem is very stable and with the correct setup, a highly available server management platform. We have four enclosures within two data centers for failover. With integrated power, network (we currently use Virtual Connect) and ILO, it is very easy to manage and makes an admin's live much easier. You can start with a limited number of servers and expand the numbers later easily.
  • Expandable
  • Easy to manage
  • Included power management
  • Included network management (Virtual Connect)
  • FW management is a little tricky and outdated
  • With virtual connect, you are responsible for correct LAN/WAN management, not the network team
We use it for a server and VDI with VMWare products. The company needs a certain size and/or number of users for a Blade chassis to make sense. Space and power requirements are higher that for a single-rack server. The price is a little higher than for normal server. Meanwhile, as you can get expansion Blades with dedicated Graphics cards, HPE BladeSystem servers are very usable for high-performance Virtual Desktop infrastructure.
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
HPE Blade System is used in our VDI and VSI environment with HPE VC as Network Module with more than 10 Blades everything is running with ESXi and virtual Server. The setup is stretched between 2 datacenters. For VDI, we are using Grphaiccards on top. With this, we are able to operate the whole internal IT.
  • Very Flexible
  • With Virtual Connect you have a very powerfull Network Module for Management
  • Easy Maintenance
  • Scale Up is not a problem
  • It doesn't take that much rack space
  • Long Boot Time (Perhaps in most HPE Servers)
  • Fan Management, when you not using the whole Blade Enclosure make sure all Blades are on one site.
  • Limitation in Hardware because of thermik
You can easy add a Blade in your enclosure when you need more power (in an ESXi environment). So you are flexible at any time. If you need a bunch of Servers HPE Blade probably is the product.
Chris Saenz | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
HPE BladeSystem is being used as our primary server platform for all production services in our organization. It has been employed since Gen1 and has been used for its ability to virtualize what used to be very manual cabling, networking, and server management. Blades come in a variety of configurations and capabilities to fit the business need. We're using BL360s in a c7000 chassis with FlexFabric 10Gbps ports for Ethernet and SAN. This is a basic configuration that allows us to run a dense VM environment with minimal external cabling and networking and complete remote management.
  • Variety of server configurations
  • Complete remotely managed server hardware, networking, connectivity, and monitoring.
  • Repeatable configurations
  • Configuration methods: Only Web GUI and SSH command line.
  • Virtual Connect web GUI still uses flash :(
  • Bay-to-server-to-card hardware "mapping" is kind of confusing at first.
HPE BladeSystem works well in mid to large size environments with many servers to manage. The HPE BladeSystem is designed to be the one place to manage all server hardware, configurations, connectivity, and monitoring. It has ties to other HP management software (OneView), but it works well on its own with basic monitoring (SNMP) and alerting (Email) capabilities.
Philip Sellers | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
HPE ProLiant Bladesystem is being used to support applications and virtualization across the entire organization. The blade infrastructure provided a very dense compute platform with flexibility to wire the system once and then move workloads between hosts easily.
  • Increase the density of compute with 16 servers in 10U of rack space.
  • Shares high-bandwidth uplinks to flexibly wire the fabric for the systems.
  • Provides the ability to migrate workloads between physical hardware easily with server profiles.
  • The small form factor of a blade server cannot accommodate expansion cards.
  • Shared infrastructure, like the interconnects, means a larger fault domain.
  • Firmware updates can be disruptive and administrators should pay close attention to firmware recipes and bundles to ensure compatibility between components.
For general purpose Windows and ESXi hosts, the ProLiant BladeSystem works well for those use cases. The architecture is getting a bit dated, at over 10 years old, but the components have kept pace with processor and networking changes. Use cases that require local storage, hyper-converged and other specialty PCI cards are all no-goes for BladeSystem. In some cases, the HPE Synergy platform is a better fit for some of these use cases, although some constraints still exist even in that architecture.
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