Comments on Dell servers and Switches

[tosca925]

We may be looking into purchasing a Dell server shortly. I was wondering what the feedback is from you lot on the Servers. We have PC's and Laptops and are thinking of going with them for a Server.

Also while i was on their website i notice the switches prices seem to be competitive as well. Does anyone use any of their switches?

while we ae on the Dell subject, what about there NAS boxes?

[plexer]

There was a thread recently on Poweredge servers:

http://www.edugeek.net/index.php?nam...ht=dell+server

Ben

[paul]

We use Dell exclusively for all server and client hardware, Have 2x 2950's and 1 ax150 san, & 2x 2850's plus a few others! all have never missed a tick though 2950's are only 2 months old. Support is second to none - make sure you get talking to a public sector storage specialist your account manager should be able to direct you in the right direction.

[j17sparky]

As much as i hate dell for their worstations, their servers cannot be beaten for price.

Cant comment on their switchs but personally id only go for proper networking brands.

[Ric_]

I would recommend looking at several manufacturers... HP and IBM prices drop suddenly when they hear other brands are in the game.

Also remember that a lot of their 'peripherals' are just rebadged gear. The SANs are EMC, the printers are Lexmark (crippled to only take Dell supplies IIRC), etc. Cannot recall who makes their switches but education price on HP Procurve is very good and they are generally accepted to be one of the best.

[j17sparky]

Yep HP procurve all round at my work. Cant recommend them enough. Lifetime warrenty on them which includes the modules too.

You dont half need some power to run their network management app like lmao

[Ric_]

@j17sparky: Slightly off topic but I recommend you try configuring through the menu of the CLI and then monitoring with Nagios ( www.nagios.org ). ChrisH and I will have to put together a HOWTO on Nagios. This method will use a lot less processing power.

[john]

I don't use Dell kit, but do look at the HP Servers, most HP Distys will drop the pricing as soon as you say you are quoting against Dell, and TBH from looking and feeling Dell Servers, the HP kit feels the better kit at the end of the day. Networking I use Netgear as its good stuff and also now has Lifetime warranty on most of the mid-high range stuff (so thats L2,L3 switches etc, not 8 port desktops etc) but the Lifetime warranty stuff is still coming out so do check before purchasing if yours comes with it.

[Midget]

I had 3 dell poweredge servers die in 2weeks (one after the other as they were replaced - HDDs and PSUs) so I now trust them less than a trust their PoS Desktops, which says alot

Midget

[ITWombat]

Wot thtree! Jusr out of the blue?

[Midget]

Yup, only thing I can think of is shit powersupplies as it was setup before the new Beasty UPSTM arrived.

And the other UPS shows that we get power fluctuations (between 220 and 260v) at times, however the IBM, Fujitsu x2, HP, and 3 NSO servers all survived happily not to mention all the desktops (and have done in the 12months i've been there)

Luckily it was only the new registration system webserver, so nothing important was lost as we were running a parallel system with bromcom

Midget

[andy]

We have a Dell Server - arrived just before me (almost 3 years ago) never heard a peep out of it - runs very well.

I don't know why, but I don't like the thought of everything Dell. I'm sure you could get pretty much every bit of kit you need from Dell - but I wouldn't want to. No rational explaination for it - just wouldn't.

Andy

[Geoff]

monoculture is bad.

[secman]

I have been using Dell kit since they first started selling in this country around 1987!!! (Jus shows you how old I am! )

At the school we have 8 Dell Servers, 2xPE2950, 2xPE1950, 1xPE2850, 1xPE2550 plus a couple of old beasties, a PE3300(?) and a PE2200(?). All running well. We also have some Dell Switches, a 6024F (upto 24 Gb Fibre or Copper ports and 8 copper UTP ports) 2x5324 (24 10/100/1000 ports plus up to 4 Gb fibre ports) a 3324 (24 10/100 ports and up to 4 Gb fibre ports) and a number of 2224s (24 10/100 ports) the rest is ATI and Netgear which I exprect will be replaced with Dell as required.
We also have over 400 Dell desktop PCs all of which have been very good considering the treatment they get!!

.... so it's fair to say we like Dell! Having said that we do look at the alternatives but usually find that Dell offer the best price performace for us. But everyone will have their own favourites.

Alan