HP vs. HPE: Are They the Same Company?
Ever pulled an old server out of a rack, looked at the badge and thought, wait, is this HP or HPE? And does it even matter? You’re not the only one. It’s one of the most common questions we get on quote calls, and honestly, it makes sense. For decades they were the same company with the same logo. Now they’re two completely separate businesses that happen to share a family name.
Here’s the short version, then we’ll get into why it matters when you’re trying to sell your equipment.
Quick answer: HP and HPE are not the same company
HP and HPE used to be one company called Hewlett-Packard. On November 1, 2015, it split in two. HP Inc. kept the stuff people use at a desk, like laptops, desktops, monitors and printers. Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) took the stuff that lives in a data center, like ProLiant servers, storage arrays and networking gear. They have different CEOs, different stock tickers, different support sites and different part numbers.
Think of it like two siblings who moved out of the same house. Same last name, same childhood photos, totally different jobs.
Who makes what today
If it sits on a desk or in a backpack, it’s almost always HP Inc. EliteBooks, ProBooks, ZBooks, EliteDesk towers, HP monitors and HP printers all fall on that side of the family. When you go looking for drivers or a warranty, you end up at support.hp.com.
If it sits in a rack, it’s almost always HPE. That covers ProLiant servers, Synergy and Apollo systems, Nimble and Alletra storage, and the networking side of the house. HPE bought Aruba back in 2015 (technically just before the split), which is why the old ProCurve switch line eventually turned into Aruba. And in July 2025, HPE closed its acquisition of Juniper Networks, so Juniper routers and switches are now part of the HPE family too. HPE support lives at support.hpe.com.
Not so fun fact: LTO tape is where people get tripped up the most. Older cartridges say HP on the label, newer ones say HPE, and they’re the same product line. If you’ve got a closet full of both, don’t worry about it. We buy them either way.
Why your old gear might say HP when it’s really HPE
Anything built before late 2015 shipped with the old Hewlett-Packard branding, even if it was enterprise hardware. That’s why a ProLiant DL380 Gen8 or Gen9 often says HP on the bezel, while a Gen10 or Gen11 says HPE. Same product family, just a different logo depending on when it rolled off the line.
So if you’re doing an inventory and your spreadsheet has a column of HP servers next to a column of HPE servers, there’s a good chance they’re all really HPE products from different years. It’s a no brainer to clean that up before you send a list over for a quote. It’ll save everyone a round of back and forth.
Why it matters when you sell
Buyers price equipment by exact model and part number, not by logo. The problem is HP Inc. and HPE use different numbering systems and different support records. If your list says “HP server, 2 CPUs, 128GB,” a buyer has to guess. If it says “HPE ProLiant DL360 Gen10, 2x Xeon Gold 6148, 128GB, 8 SFF bays,” they can price it in minutes.
When you request a quote from us, here’s what helps the most. Give us the full model name with the generation (Gen9, Gen10, Gen11 and so on), the product or part number from the pull tab or label, CPU and memory configuration, drive bays and whether drives are included, and how many units you have. For laptops, the model family and the processor generation matter more than anything else.
You don’t need to know whether something is technically HP or HPE before you call. Snap a photo of the label and we’ll figure it out. We see thousands of these a year, and we’d rather sort it out with you than have you guess and get a lowball number from somebody else.
What we buy from both sides of the family
On the HPE side, we buy HPE ProLiant servers from older generations right up to current models, storage arrays and drives, Juniper networking gear, Aruba switches, HPE SFP transceivers and LTO tape media. On the HP Inc. side, we buy HP laptops and business desktops in quantity, especially EliteBooks and ZBooks.
If you’re comparing brands before a refresh, we put together a Dell vs. HP comparison for buyers and sellers that walks through how each one holds value on the secondary market.
Don’t forget the data
Whether it says HP or HPE, every server, laptop and storage array you sell still has your data on it until someone properly wipes it. Our sister company DES Technologies handles certified data erasure for the equipment we buy, so drives get wiped and documented before anything gets resold. You get paid and you don’t lose sleep over it.
Got a mix of HP and HPE gear sitting around? Send us a list or a few photos and get a quote. We’ll sort out the branding and tell you what it’s worth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are HP and HPE the same company?
No. Hewlett-Packard split into two separate companies on November 1, 2015. HP Inc. makes laptops, desktops and printers, while Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) makes servers, storage and networking equipment.
Is an HP ProLiant server the same as an HPE ProLiant?
Yes, it’s the same product line. ProLiant servers built before the 2015 split carry HP branding, and newer ones carry HPE branding. Both are HPE products today.
Does HPE own Juniper Networks?
Yes. HPE completed its acquisition of Juniper Networks in July 2025, so Juniper routers and switches are now part of HPE’s networking business.
Do you buy both HP and HPE equipment?
Yes. We buy HPE servers, storage, networking gear and tape media, and we buy HP laptops and business desktops. Send us the model and part numbers or a photo of the label and we’ll give you a quote.
