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HPE ProLiant DL

Score8.6 out of 10

35 Reviews and Ratings

What is HPE ProLiant DL?

HPE ProLiant DL is a rack server, from Hewlett-Packard Enterprise.

Categories & Use Cases

HPE ProLiant DL 8 rating

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We use HPE ProLiant DL as rack services and in some cases VMWare clusters. We use the H7000 chassis for BL460 and above. I have been using them is various clients and they seem solid as hardware can get. I would recommend them as a preferred OEM partner.

Pros

  • Hardware in small footprint
  • Nice Riser cards
  • solid intel processors

Cons

  • The firmware seems to be lagging and not on a schedule that can be counted on.

Return on Investment

  • We don't have HP in a DR solution

Usability

Other Software Used

Dell Compellent (discontinued), Dell Avamar

HPE ProLiant DL, excellent architecture, great features and can provide fantastic ROI.

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We use HPE Proliant DL servers as the backbone of our VMWare ESXi infrastructure. We utilize them as the ESXi hosts where our critical virtual machines are that are the backbone of the firm's business. From our Active Directory environment to the various apps that support the business. The business problem the product addresses is that with it we have a reliable stable platform that our infrastructure resides. Without it, we would have outages that interrupt the business that would incur losses for the firm.

Pros

  • A stable hardware architecture that is very reliable. I've had systems that have run for over 10 years with no hardware issues.
  • The out-of-band management iLO provides an easy remote setup of systems. All it requires is network connections and DHCP on the VLAN and I can build systems with minimal hands-on assistance.
  • The ability to customize the server build to match the required specs. It can be configured for a variety of uses.
  • The support HPE provides. If issues do occur depending on the support purchased, replacement parts will be at the site within hours or days. The support staff is very efficient in troubleshooting issues.

Cons

  • The HPE support page can be hard to navigate when searching for firmware or software downloads. It can be made more user-friendly.
  • Better documentation if a part needs to be returned back or not. If a part does not need to be returned, it would be good if that is clear in either the ticket or the documentation provided on the part.
  • A clearer designation on the part numbers. There are just too many parts that need to be ordered that you end up providing the wrong one at times.

Most Important Features

  • I like the fact that the hardware specs, particularly the CPU chipset will be the same. Other manufacturers can have different chipsets within the same server model.
  • The out-of-band management capability makes setups easy. With it, you can set up a server remotely with minimal assistance. A network connection is all that is required.
  • The durability of the hardware. I've had a few issues with HPE's hardware, some of our servers have run for over 10 years without issues.
  • HPE's support is excellent. It's easy to get a hold of an engineer and their supply chain is able to provide replacement parts within the support SLA. Be in a four-hour window or the next day.

Return on Investment

  • The reliability of the hardware has allowed us to get an excellent ROI. We have been able to run systems for 10 years.
  • With using iLO, HPE out of band management, we no longer needed to send out engineers for systems build or system repair. This has cut down on travel IT would have to do on setups.
  • With the many options, HPE Proliant DLs provide we can tailor each system ordered to the exact requirement. We are able to set up systems that would give us the most ROI.
  • With the ability of HPE support to troubleshoot issues and provide replacement parts as quickly as the support contract warrants, we are able to get systems up and running quickly. Minimizing the downtime of the system and allowing the firm to continue doing business.

Alternatives Considered

Cisco UCS Series

Other Software Used

HPE MSA, HPE Nimble Storage, Synology DiskStation

ProLiant - The professional choice

Pros

  • Affordable
  • Reliable
  • Scalable

Cons

  • intelligent provisioning can some times be a little buggy. I've had bad experiences with upgrading firmware from intelligent provisioning

Return on Investment

  • Our servers have easily lasted 7+ years. we budget for 5.

Other Software Used

Veeam Backup & Replication, Hyper-V

My HPE ProLiant DL Review

Pros

  • Service support for HPE is good
  • Reliable hardware with handy management tools
  • iLo management interface is best through server vendors
  • Bios is convenient and easy maintained

Cons

  • Overall design of the chassis could be better.
  • Drivers for hardware have room to improve.
  • Manuals and documentation should be more clear for technicians.

Return on Investment

  • It is always a positive ROI.
  • HPE servers closely match our business objectives.
  • Nowadays, we're thinking about the cloud and planning some changes.

Alternatives Considered

Dell PowerEdge R and Lenovo ThinkServer RS Series

Usability

Other Software Used

Lenovo ThinkSystem SR Series, Cisco ASA 5500-X with FirePOWER Services, Cisco Meraki MX

Overall reliable and easy to use

Pros

  • ILO remote management interface works well.
  • Integrated storage arrays are easy to configure.
  • Reliable when used as ESXi hosts.

Cons

  • Firmware updates can be confusing and cumbersome.
  • Better compatibility with browser based remote control in ILO.

Return on Investment

  • Strong ROI.
  • Long lifespan and reliable.
  • HPE product support is helpful and prompt which saves time.

Alternatives Considered

Dell PowerEdge M

Usability

Other Software Used

Dell EMC Unity