HPE Synergy
Data center networking solutions
- Features
- Ease of use
- Ease of management
- Quality of support
- Affordability
- Market presence
Take the quiz to check if HPE Synergy and its alternatives fit your requirements.
$7,254.93 one-time
Free Trial unavailableFree version unavailable
Small
Medium
Large
- Energy and utilities
- Banking and insurance
- Manufacturing
What is HPE Synergy
HPE Synergy is a composable infrastructure platform that combines compute, storage, and fabric networking into a unified, software-defined system for data centers. It targets infrastructure and platform teams that need to provision and reconfigure resources for virtualization and private cloud workloads. The system uses a frame-based hardware architecture with integrated networking modules and centralized management via HPE OneView and related automation tooling. It emphasizes template-driven provisioning and API-based integration to align infrastructure changes with application lifecycle processes.
Composable, template-based provisioning
Synergy supports defining server profiles and templates that standardize BIOS, firmware, network connectivity, and storage settings. This helps teams provision repeatable infrastructure configurations across multiple nodes and enclosures. It also reduces manual steps when repurposing hardware for different workload types. API access enables integration with infrastructure automation pipelines.
Integrated fabric within chassis
The platform includes integrated interconnect modules that provide LAN/SAN connectivity within the Synergy frame architecture. This reduces the need for separate top-of-rack switching for some deployment patterns and simplifies cabling inside the rack. Centralized fabric configuration through management tooling can speed up common network changes tied to server provisioning. It is designed for consistent connectivity across pooled compute resources.
Unified management and lifecycle
HPE OneView provides centralized management for hardware inventory, firmware baselines, and configuration compliance across Synergy resources. This supports coordinated lifecycle operations such as firmware updates and configuration drift control. The approach can improve operational consistency compared with managing discrete servers and networking components independently. It also provides role-based access and auditing features commonly required in enterprise environments.
Hardware ecosystem lock-in
Synergy is tightly coupled to HPE’s frame, compute modules, and interconnect ecosystem. Organizations standardizing on mixed-vendor server and network hardware may find integration and portability limited. Expanding capacity typically requires purchasing within the Synergy architecture rather than using commodity components. This can constrain procurement flexibility over time.
Complexity for smaller deployments
The composable model and enclosure-based architecture add planning and operational overhead compared with simpler rack server and standalone switching designs. Teams may need to invest in learning OneView concepts (profiles, templates, logical interconnects) to operate the environment effectively. For small footprints, the management and hardware stack can be more than is necessary. Benefits are clearer at scale where standardization and pooling matter.
Not a full SDN overlay
Synergy’s networking capabilities focus on integrated fabric and infrastructure provisioning rather than providing a complete network virtualization overlay. Use cases requiring micro-segmentation, distributed firewalling, or advanced overlay networking often rely on additional software layers and separate network architectures. This can increase solution complexity when compared with platforms centered on virtual networking. Network feature depth also depends on the specific interconnect modules and upstream network design.
Plan & Pricing
Pricing model: One-time purchase / configurable (hardware, modules, and services sold per-SKU on the HPE Store; many configurations require a quote) Free tier/trial: Unavailable (no permanently free plan; no time-limited trial shown on official product/store pages) Example costs (official HPE Store listings):
- HPE Synergy Grow Configuration Service (SKU HS0N0E) – $7,254.93 (Buy Now price).
- HPE Synergy Options (various Synergy platform/option SKUs) – Starting at $7,992.49 (Buy Now price; listed as “Starting at” on HPE Store).
- Brocade 32Gb Fibre Channel SAN Switch Module for HPE Synergy (SKU Q2E58AAE) – $7,900.52 (Buy Now price). Notes: Prices shown on HPE Store are per-SKU for specific configurations; many Synergy components are configurable and/or sold by quote. Financing (HPE Financial Services) and reseller pricing/quotations are referenced on the store pages.
Seller details
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company
Spring, Texas, USA
2015
Public
https://www.hpe.com/
https://x.com/HPE
https://www.linkedin.com/company/hewlett-packard-enterprise/
