NEC Express5800/120Rg-2

NEC's ESMPRO looks after general server management and kicks off with a useful discovery routine that scans the network and builds up a map of all SNMP devices. Those with ESMPRO agents installed provide detailed hardware inventory and performance graphs plus plenty of alerting options. NEC's remote web connection also comes into play with full access to inventory data, the event viewer and sensor information. Lastly, the MegaRAID controller comes bundled with LSI's Power Console Plus which, although looking a tad dated, does provide reasonable access to RAID settings.

NEC has made significant headway with its server management features, allowing the 120Rg-2 to give HP and Dell a good run for their money in this department. The hardware specification is as good as the PowerEdge 2850, although Dell does offer better value.

Author: Dave Mitchell