Choosing between ProLiant DL and ML models

Most of this decision is chassis before generation. The rack-mount DL line and the tower ML line solve different problems, and the generation then sets which processor family and memory the platform accepts.

• DL360 — 1U rack. The densest option. A 1U chassis limits how many drives fit and accepts only low-profile expansion cards, so it suits compute and virtualisation roles where bulk storage lives elsewhere.
• DL380 — 2U rack. The general-purpose choice. The extra rack unit buys more drive bays and full-height, full-length card slots, which is what you need for larger local storage or a GPU.
• ML350 — tower. For sites without a rack. The same server generation in a floor-standing chassis, and usually the right answer for a single server in an office rather than a data centre.

Within a family, the generation determines the processor family and the memory the board accepts, so a Gen9 and a Gen11 DL380 are not interchangeable for CPU or RAM. Work out the chassis first, then choose the generation by the processors and memory capacity you actually need.

TekBoost ProLiant systems are used and refurbished platforms. Configure-to-order builds are inspected, configured to your selected specification and functionally tested before shipment, and all servers sold on TekBoost.com carry a 3 year warranty as standard. If you are weighing HPE against Dell, the same chassis-first logic applies to the refurbished and used Dell PowerEdge range. Configure a DL360 Gen9, DL380 Gen9 or ML350 Gen9 system online, or request a quote for another generation.