Dell server - to buy or not to buy

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carmen0k

Free Member
Dec 31, 2008
24
0
  • #1
    Hi,

    I was recently advised that my business needed a server and so on my hunt I managed to find quite good servers but a friend that works in IT said that I should look for a Dell server and get their 3yr onsite support service which is and additional £200 more on the server I was looking to get.

    THe basic requirements I needed meant the server price soon shot up to £1000+ from £239 which I really don't want to spend especially as we haven't started trading, but I know that we will grow rapidly so its an investment. However shortly after coming to terms with the cost I started looking fot upgrade components from somewhere else rather than through Dell. This didn't reduce the cost much but increased the ram 3x and the hard drive by 5x its capacity and a upgrade to the Windows SBS 2008 Premium from the standard version. All just by buying the RAM and HDD and server software elsewhere I've increased the value for my money.

    However the support side costs as much of the server. Is Dell on site support any good?

    My friend swears by them but i'm not sure if their support is any good. He says that if you have any problem with the server they will come out to fix it but i have ben unable to confirm this with dell as i am always held on hold.

    I haven't read anything good about Dell's support especially for small businesses. If the support is no good then I may aswell get the server elsewhere as all the prices quoted are ex vat.

    Please can someone who's had encounters with Dell help please. Is the onsite support service worth it?

    Many thanks,
     
    E

    extremedistro

  • #2
    Hi,
    Definitly recommend getting the 3YR Support package... Used them lots as we are DELL partners and its second to none. Example:

    9am server hardware failed .... 11am new part arrived by courier .... an hour after that a DELL engineer came to fit... Cannot fault

    If you dont have the DELL support package and you call them for support it will be painful. Something like £200 call out / You have to pay for parts / £150 per hour for onsite engineer...

    Well worth paying the extra for the 3yr coverage....

    From a different angle... if the server isnt business critical (ie can be down for 1 -2 days) you could look at not getting the support package and just us a local it company.

    I would go DELL though....
     
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    P

    Pete Crane

  • #6
    The alternative is to find a local reseller offering onsite server support. The support will likely be more flexible and tailored to what you need as opposed to it being a set package. I'd also suggest reading carefully just what the terms actually are, in particular the response and fix leadtimes.

    Dell are very good at banging out attractive headline prices, but as you've discovered what you end up paying can be a very different story. I'd shop around and bear them in mind but not necessarily opt for that badge. I wouldn't be focusing purely on price either - that's the worst way to buy IT kit.
     
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    A

    a1isp

  • #7
    It's also worth pointing out Dell may get funny if you have radically altered the spec of the server by buying elsewhere, and subsequently you call an engineer out to fix an unrelated problem. It may create an additional hassle level you do not want.

    £1k will not get you a top spec server to start with. Who has told you you need a server? You may be able to get away with a rented (dedicated) server or VPS, with better spec, for a shorter period while your business gets going.
     
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    CrispyUK

    Free Member
    Jul 3, 2008
    150
    33
  • #10
    Just to add to the mix, a client of mine had a CPU failure on a Dell Vostro laptop within the standard 1yr business warranty they were selling at the time - diagnosed by phone on Friday afternoon and two engineers were out and fixed it on-site Monday morning :)
     
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    L

    lai

    Free Member
    Jun 5, 2007
    18
    0
    SE London
  • #13
    Dell's onsite support is good and professional from experience but please double check whether they'll fix any thing else other than hardware failure. If you have a Microsoft Exchange Server and it develop problems, will Dell fix it if it's not hardware related? If you do have the time, it may be a good idea to find a backup IT support company/freelancer.
     
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    Chris Ashdown

    Free Member
    • Dec 7, 2003
    13,388
    3,006
    Norfolk
  • #16
    I have just leased a HP server package from a company called Hardsoft and their support looks first class, they monitor the server 24/7 for any problems and should be out to fix anything the next day, we also have same day service from HP on the server if it should go tit's up.

    being offline would cause far more problems that the cost of support we hopefully will never use, but the SBS support I think is the biggest requirement along with good backup
     
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