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Head-to-head · Data Center Automation

Dell OpenManage Enterprise vs Puppet

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 4 checks side by side
Higher score Dell OpenManage Enterprise #3 in Data Center Automation 9.0/10 Free plan · 90-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 3 of 3 features Visit Dell
Puppet #6 in Data Center Automation 8.7/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 3 features Visit Puppet

Dell OpenManage Enterprise leads on 0 checks, Puppet on 0, and 4 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 4 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreDell OpenManage Enterprise · 9.0/10
  • Free planboth
  • Free trialonly Dell OpenManage Enterprise
  • Most featuresDell OpenManage Enterprise · 3 of 3

Dell OpenManage Enterprise scores higher on our rubric for data center automation: 9.0 against 8.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #6.

Dell OpenManage Enterprise is the better fit for teams automating Dell server fleets. Puppet is the better fit for teams enforcing configuration across mixed OS fleets.

  • Dell OpenManage Enterprise fits best

    Teams automating Dell server fleets

  • Puppet fits best

    Teams enforcing configuration across mixed OS fleets

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Side by side

Feature Dell OpenManage Enterprise 9.0/10 Visit ↗ Puppet 8.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.0 8.7
Ranking #3 in Data Center Automation #6 in Data Center Automation
Best for Teams automating Dell server fleets Teams enforcing configuration across mixed OS fleets
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free plan + paid
Starting price Free plan · 90-day trial —
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial 90 days —
Deployment Self-hosted Self-hosted
Platforms Web Web, Windows, macOS, Linux
Support Docs, Community Docs
Integrations 6 integrations 11 integrations
Built for Mid-market, Enterprise Enterprise
Features Dell OpenManage Enterprise 3/3 · Puppet 0/3
Infrastructure as code ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Role-based access ✓ (best) Not checked yet
API access ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Specs
Deployment options On-premises Not checked yet
Automation scope Multi-domain Not checked yet
Supported operating systems Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Discovers devices and monitors hardware health, alerts, and policies
  • Automates firmware, driver, configuration, and compliance workflows
  • Connects through REST APIs, Ansible, Terraform, and enterprise tools
  • Enforces desired state and detects and remediates configuration drift
  • Combines patch workflows with policy-as-code compliance enforcement
  • Supports agent-based and agentless automation across many operating systems
Cons
  • Advanced, Advanced Plus, and Integrated Rack licenses require Dell sales
  • Self-hosted deployment requires running the virtual appliance
  • Primary focus on Dell PowerEdge environments may not suit mixed-vendor fleets
  • Deployment is self-hosted
  • The free Developer plan is limited to fewer than 25 nodes
  • Commercial plans use custom pricing
Our verdict

For teams running Dell PowerEdge infrastructure, OpenManage Enterprise provides a centralized, web-based systems-management console delivered as a virtual appliance. It covers device discovery, hardware inventory, health and alert…

Read the review →

Puppet is an infrastructure configuration management and automation platform for infrastructure and platform teams that need to keep systems aligned with a defined state. It applies configurations as code, detects and remediates drift, and…

Read the review →
  1. Dell OpenManage EnterpriseData Center Automation 9.0Free plan · 90-day trial
  2. PuppetData Center Automation 8.7Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Dell OpenManage Enterprise — where it wins

    • Discovers devices and monitors hardware health, alerts, and policies
    • Automates firmware, driver, configuration, and compliance workflows
    • Connects through REST APIs, Ansible, Terraform, and enterprise tools

    Where it doesn't

    • Advanced, Advanced Plus, and Integrated Rack licenses require Dell sales
    • Self-hosted deployment requires running the virtual appliance
    • Primary focus on Dell PowerEdge environments may not suit mixed-vendor fleets

  • Puppet — where it wins

    • Enforces desired state and detects and remediates configuration drift
    • Combines patch workflows with policy-as-code compliance enforcement
    • Supports agent-based and agentless automation across many operating systems

    Where it doesn't

    • Deployment is self-hosted
    • The free Developer plan is limited to fewer than 25 nodes
    • Commercial plans use custom pricing
  • Dell OpenManage Enterprise9.0/10 · Free plan · 90-day trial

    Centralized automation and lifecycle control for Dell PowerEdge fleets.

    Visit DellFull verdict →
  • Puppet8.7/10 · Free plan

    Desired-state enforcement and drift remediation for mixed operating-system infrastructure.

    Visit PuppetFull verdict →

More comparisons

All data center automation comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update