Dell PowerEdge R Series - perfect for virtual environments
March 13, 2019
Dell PowerEdge R Series - perfect for virtual environments
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Overall Satisfaction with Dell PowerEdge R
We currently have two Dell PowerEdge R devices running as EXHost servers for our VMware network. We have our load of virtual servers split between the two host devices, with a NetApp FAS2200 device on the backend housing all of the virtual files. We're running 128GB RAM on each device with 200GB local storage for additional failover and OS management. This has been our backbone for the last 7 years.
- Let me say -- stability, that's the key. Foundation is everything, and these servers are bedrock.
- Uptime -- I reboot twice per year, and I probably don't need to do that.
- Firmware updates -- Dell has done a good job over the years keeping these devices up to date.
- Easy maintenance + easy configuration -- mostly set it and forget it.
- The web interface is definitely lacking. I'm sure in the newer models this has been improved.
- I'd like VMWare to have greater controls over these servers -- that would simplify management.
- Positive impact -- our entire company software infrastructure runs on these servers. They have paid for themselves over and over in the years we have had them.
- Positive ROI -- they are still running and still running VERY WELL.
- Negative ROI -- I'd say it took the full payoff period before we saw any ROI at all. The initial outlay was rather extensive, not only to buy the hardware, but to have the IT people install and configure it.
Our IT consultant firm at the time of purchase recommended these servers as part of a fuller infrastructure upgrade plan that we undertook in preparation for a major ERP & CRM systems upgrade. We did entertain the other similar systems I mentioned, but we trusted the vendor and that worked out well for us. On that note, I can't really compare the Dell version to the others, so I'll leave it at that.