Overall Satisfaction with Scale Computing HC3
HC3 is running almost the entirety of our server workload. The IT department (2 employees) are really the only direct users.
- Spooling up a new virtual machine is crazy easy. Our setup for our 4-server infrastructure was done (OS install and configuration included) inside of 2 hours! Granularity, speed, and ease of use make for a very potent combination.
- Monitoring and managing from the HC3 console is excellent. The intuitive interface has just the right amount of detail. Changes - from changing a backup/replication schedule to adding a new drive to a VM - are done in a snap.
- Rolling updates are awesome.
- The snapshot scheduling interface could use a bit of work to become as intuitive as the rest of HC3. The granularity is beautiful, as is the ability to make live changes, but it took a bit of time to understand how to create a nightly *and* hourly schedule for the same machine.
Our file server resides on one of the VMs managed by HC3. Soon after firing up the primary file server, we implemented its twin (with real-time replication) as a second file server VM at our disaster recovery site. No issues. Seriously, none.
On the next VM over, we find our company's primary DNS server. Very important. No issues. No interruptions, lack of compute power, nothing.
I would gladly recommend using Scale for business-critical functions.
On the next VM over, we find our company's primary DNS server. Very important. No issues. No interruptions, lack of compute power, nothing.
I would gladly recommend using Scale for business-critical functions.
- With our hyperconverged, node-based solution, we don't see a need to examine hardware or hypervisors at any time in the foreseeable future. Nor do we find ourselves worrying about imminent hardware deterioration. These are massive weights off the server administrator's mind.
- Our Senior Sys Analyst has the objective of "leaving this place in such good shape that you could run it all by yourself." HC3 has been a measurable and significant step toward that end.
- VMware ESXi and Hyper-V
Scale took their goal of targeting small-to-medium businesses and made an awesome product out of it. The big dogs certainly have quality solutions for virtual server administration; however, they lack the single-minded focus on that issue. Enter Scale's HC3. Not an OS manufacturer, not an early VM implementation, a purpose-built, scale-able, easy-to-work-with solution.