Dell PowerEdge vs HP Proliant - Firmware Updates
Oct 12th, 2008 by dmess0r
When it comes to server maintenance, there is nothing quite as useful as bootable media which contains a bundle of firmware updates. I realize centrally-managed server-maintenance environments are sexy, but there are always times when you need to power down a box and install firmware updates.
So whats the story with Dell vs. HP? Each company has created their own respective bootable, CD/DVD based firmware update utilities. HP with Firmware Maintenance CD and Dell with Dell Systems Build and Update Utility, Proliant and PowerEdge class systems respectively.
When did these manufacturers first come out with this bootable media?
HP, December 2003.
Dell, November 2007.
Why did Dell take so long? They didn’t.
Here’s my take. HP has been in the mainframe and unix world for a very long time. They have been making carrier-grade hardware for as long as I can remember. Dell is “relatively” the new kid on the block with the server-scene. While they do have some catching up to do, they’re making good progress with the new PE 1950 III’s. It is nice to see servers finally using 2.5″ drives that run 10KRPM. Packing 6 drives into a 1U server without compromising speed or function is pretty impressive.
Ultimately the moral of this story is, as of about a year ago Dell is finally making bootable media that assists admins in updating firmware whereas HP has been doing it since 2003. Let’s hope Dell keeps up the pace as I really like the stability of their hardware. RHEL5 and CentOS5 run like a dream on PowerEdge hardware.