Whereas HP classes KVM-over-IP remote control as a chargeable option, Gateway includes this as standard along with virtual media support. For power management controls HP is the winner by a mile as its iLO3 has an optional upgrade for power metering plus power regulation and capping.
For system deployment Dell has the edge on everyone as the LifeCycle Controller in its PowerEdge servers has the best features. However, Gateway doesn't leave you high and dry as its bootable Smart Setup disk provides OS installation assistance along with server diagnostics tools.
For general system management you have Gateway's Smart Server Manager (SSM). This provides an auto-discovery routine that hunts down the RMM on the network and provides a tidy web interface for viewing and monitoring multiple systems and setting up a fault alerting system.
SSM takes a similar approach to Fujitsu's ServerView Suite as it focuses purely on server management making it very easy to use. HP's Insight Control software is vastly superior in terms of features but it does want to look after every system on your network and requires a lot more resources on its host system.
The GR380 F1 is good value with the system on review costing around 20 per cent less than a similarly specified DL380 G7. Storage capacity is impressive as well, but HP is still the clear winner if remote server and power management features are a high priority.
Verdict
The GR380 F1 is a solidly built 2U rack server and the equal of the DL380 G7 for storage capacity as it too supports up to sixteen SFF hard disks. It’s very good value too, although HP’s standard RAID features are better as it supports SAS and SATA hard disks and its remote management and power monitoring tools are vastly superior.
SPECIFICATIONS
Chassis: 2U rack
CPU: 2.13GHz Xeon E5506
Memory: 6GB 800MHz DDR3 RDIMM expandable to 192GB
Storage: 2 x 150GB WD Enterprise 10K SFF SATA hard disks in hot-swap carriers
RAID: embedded ICH10R 6-port SATA controller
Array support: RAID 0, 1, 5, 10
Expansion: Flex I/O, 3 x PCI-E
Network: 4 x Gigabit Ethernet
Power: 720W hot-plug power supply
Management: embedded RMM with 10/100 port
Software: Gateway Smart Setup CD and Smart Server Manager
Options: 8-port SAS Flex I/O card; £479 ex VAT
POWER CONSUMPTION
Idle 86W
Active 141W
