Dell server drive vendors

ImNotDeadYet

ImNotDeadYet

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Dell partner direct wants $750 for a server drive that costs $300 from other vendors online like ServerSupply.com but of course Dell won't warranty the product if I buy from ServerSupply. I understand the value of buying directly for warranty and support but it's hard to not feel raked over the coals especially when I need four of these drives. How do places like ServerSupply.com get the items so cheap? They claim to be brand new genuine dell products with the same part number and 'special' dell firmware, are they? I would appreciate some feedback on this. Thanks!
 
I'm confused as to why you would even specify a Dell drive to begin with. Dell just buys them from the same places as everyone else.
 
For many...many years, we have gotten server parts from serversupply.com
Can't begin to count how many drives we've gotten from them. Never had a problem with the drives, many are still sealed in the factory anti static bag.
They're so much cheaper...buy a second one as a hot spare..or a few extras to keep in stock in your shop, for emergency swaps. We keep a few.

Regarding warranty...I'm usually getting drives (and other stuff) from server supply for older servers that are out of warranty. So I don't give the slightest care about the warranty anymore.
 
You want another good server parts supply place, look at Netria.
http://netriacorp.com/
They get newer parts....and we'll often do new server builds based on parts from them....they're usually a bit less expensive than the usual big wholesalers. And brand new factory warrantied parts. Higher end models of HP ProCurve switches. stuff like that.
 
markverhyden said:
I'm confused as to why you would even specify a Dell drive to begin with. Dell just buys them from the same places as everyone else.
Click to expand...

I know, it ticks me off but evidently dell drives have custom firmware. It is my understanding that the RAID controller may not provide proper reporting or may report and error state if you don't use a drive purchased from Dell, even though it will likely function. I require accurate information from the RAID controller in regards to health and status.
 
YeOldeStonecat said:
For many...many years, we have gotten server parts from serversupply.com
Can't begin to count how many drives we've gotten from them. Never had a problem with the drives, many are still sealed in the factory anti static bag.
They're so much cheaper...buy a second one as a hot spare..or a few extras to keep in stock in your shop, for emergency swaps. We keep a few.

Regarding warranty...I'm usually getting drives (and other stuff) from server supply for older servers that are out of warranty. So I don't give the slightest care about the warranty anymore.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the input. My client's server still has 2.5 years left from Dell and I would hate to give them an excuse to not help if we are ever in a pickle. Have you found the serversupply.com drives to be genuine OEM? No funny stuff? I'm currently communicating with Dell Partner Direct about the pricing. Their web price is $750, I emailed them for a quote because it usually comes in cheaper - they quoted over $800/each, what the heck? I hate feeling taken advantage of and I don't like the feeling of having to negotiate with my vendor for a fair price.
 
ImNotDeadYet said:
I know, it ticks me off but evidently dell drives have custom firmware. It is my understanding that the RAID controller may not provide proper reporting or may report and error state if you don't use a drive purchased from Dell, even though it will likely function. I require accurate information from the RAID controller in regards to health and status.
Click to expand...

I would not put too much cachet into their claim. I've worked on tons of Dell servers and have never heard anyone be concerned about the source of drives. I've got a couple of R710's, bought second hand though, and I'm pretty certain that none of the drives are Dell. But the all of the info seems ok in the RAID utility. I'll have to recheck that when I get back.

Now maybe they have some special server utility app that provides more detailed info. That would be a possibility.
 
ImNotDeadYet said:
Thanks for the input. My client's server still has 2.5 years left from Dell and I would hate to give them an excuse to not help if we are ever in a pickle. Have you found the serversupply.com drives to be genuine OEM? No funny stuff? I'm currently communicating with Dell Partner Direct about the pricing. Their web price is $750, I emailed them for a quote because it usually comes in cheaper - they quoted over $800/each, what the heck? I hate feeling taken advantage of and I don't like the feeling of having to negotiate with my vendor for a fair price.
Click to expand...

Under warranty? I'm confused as to why you are buying drives unless they are for adding space. In that case you are getting into a situation that happens a lot. After purchase addons. All OEM's will try to blame the addons, especially if they are not from them. Dealt with that many times over the years.
 
ImNotDeadYet said:
Thanks for the input. My client's server still has 2.5 years left from Dell and I would hate to give them an excuse to not help if we are ever in a pickle. Have you found the serversupply.com drives to be genuine OEM? No funny stuff? I'm currently communicating with Dell Partner Direct about the pricing. Their web price is $750, I emailed them for a quote because it usually comes in cheaper - they quoted over $800/each, what the heck? I hate feeling taken advantage of and I don't like the feeling of having to negotiate with my vendor for a fair price.
Click to expand...

Nearly 20 years of dealing with higher end servers, and warranty..here's my take.
*First, I've had no problems at all with drives from serversupply.com...they've all been authentic, fully functional..else I'd not have bought truckloads worth from them over many years.
*Regarding parts purchased "not from primary vendor"...it's just a hard drive. Or...like memory..it's just a memory stick. If there's a problem with that one particular part...you contact the place you bought it from for warranty, not the main vendor. I've had Crucial memory in a server..had issues, HP support had me run memory tests...they simply had me remove the Crucial memory to test the remaining HP memory. No biggie!
If they someone could trace the serial number of the drives you had...cuz you got them elsewhere..they simply won't warranty the hard drives, but the server itself would still be warrantied fine.
...and I'm 99% positive we've had a properly branded drive we bought from server supply...get replaced under HP warranty...just fine.
 
ImNotDeadYet said:
Dell partner direct wants $750 for a server drive that costs $300 from other vendors online like ServerSupply.com but of course Dell won't warranty the product if I buy from ServerSupply. I understand the value of buying directly for warranty and support but it's hard to not feel raked over the coals especially when I need four of these drives. How do places like ServerSupply.com get the items so cheap? They claim to be brand new genuine dell products with the same part number and 'special' dell firmware, are they? I would appreciate some feedback on this. Thanks!
Click to expand...
They buy surplus. Dell keeps so many spare parts in stock to handle warranty claims. As the liability fades, the unused parts are sold off. Vendors like CDW also buy large amounts that they might not sell and so they also auction it off. ServerSupply is who buys such things.
 
Dell servers def their restore lights with aftermarket drives. Have a clients T310 with all but two aftermarket drives. Only two are able to be monitored in openmanage
 
Is that Dell server current on firmware? They did various annoying things with third-party drives when the H700 series controllers first came out around the time of the Tx10s, but I thought they reverted that after a year or so because it ****** off so many people.
 
Sorry if this is hijacking but its a dell server drive thread and figured others could benefit....

I was searching for SSDs that work with dell and found a forum thread from xbyte that mentioned edge memory. Apparently these are enterprise drives with 5 year warranties that work with dell and have adapters for the 3.5" drive carriers. Has anyone worked with these before?

http://us.edgememory.com/index.php/products/solid-state-drives/server-data-center-ssds
 
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