Cisco MSC vs HP or IBM servers

[snootalope]

So I'm up on a renewal and need to move our CUCM 6.1(3) setup and Unity 5 to new hardware.

Just flipping through requirements and comparing prices. Why the heck are the Cisco MCS servers so much more than an equivalent server from HP or IBM? I don't get it. Spec wise they're all almost the same, RAM/Disk/etc.

I can get a IBM x3250 server for nearly $2500 less and it'll do the same thing as it's equivalent MCS box. So, why pay the $2500 extra?

Not bashing cisco here, just trying to understand it..

 

[whykap]

You don't have to buy the cisco MCS to run unity. As long as the specs exactly match you can buy the equivalent HP or IBM server.
If you do not care about having to work with two different vendors to support your product (cisco for the unity sw, HP or IBM for any hardware, BIOS, firmware) then buying direct is the way to go.
All cisoo does is get the same server and have IBM slap the cisco logo to it.

As far as price difference goes, I suppose cisco sees it as the premium you as the customer has to pay to get one stop sw and hw support. And trust me this goes a long way when the fingerpointing starts.

 

[spunkysus]

If you do not purchase the cisco servers,and I may be wrong ,but I beleive you will not be covered under the maintnance agreement.

 

[whykap]

software maintenance is still covered as long as the server is a supported IBM platform.