Dell Expands Networking, Server Solutions

In a series of product announcements, Dell has expanded its enterprise solutions portfolio to help customers use existing IT investments more efficiently. Here's a look at some of the new offerings, which span networking, servers and storage.

PowerConnect Networking

The Dell PowerConnect M8024-k Ethernet blade, inside a PowerEdge M1000e chassis delivers advanced virtualization capabilities and 10GbE flexibility. The PowerConnect M8024-k has up to 24 ports of 10GbE and next-generation 10GbE KR-based networking support for enhanced fabric scalability and virtualization functions to provision multiple vNICs, each with a different service level.

The new PowerConnect W-6000 for the mobile market is for large campus environments and supports up to 2,048 access points and over 30,000 mobile users. Combined with the Dell Powerconnect W-AP175P Access Point, it supports  harsh environments including warehouses, container and transportation facilities.

Enhancing the data center edge Dell announced 3 Powerconnect B-Series switch solutions:

Server enhancements

The Dell PowerEdge M915 is a full height four or two-socket AMD-based blade server targeting mission critical applications in data centers. The server features 512GB of memory, 48 cores of processing power and up to two dual-port, modular networking adapter cards and up to four additional mezzanine-card options in a full height-blade form factor.

As a new addition to the blade portfolio Dell is announcing a switch-independent NIC partitioning technology enabling the ability to partition a 10GbE port free of any fabric vendor lock-in.  This technology enables optimal utilization of physical links by allowing each physical 10GbE port to be divided into multiple NIC partitions (i.e. each 10GbE port can be divided into up to four NICs totaling 10Gb) and can be used in virtualized and non-virtualized environments.

Storage enhancements

Dell announced the DX Object Storage Platform - a comprehensive, integrated solution that helps customers intelligently access, store, protect and distribute fixed digital content. The new DX6000G is a CIFS/NFS protocol gateway for applications that utilize common file-based networking protocols to interact with the DX Object Storage Platform for archiving purposes.

“Dell continues to augment its portfolio of enterprise solutions in ways that deliver a tangible ROI to customers,” states Matthew Eastwood, group vice president of IDC’s Enterprise Platform Group. "They are enabling choice and flexibility across the infrastructure stack which provides customers with a clear evolutionary path for their IT infrastructure. IDC believes the ability to future proof IT investments is a message that is resonating well with IT managers and CIOs alike.”

The PowerConnect M8024-k switch, B-series and W-series are shipping worldwide immediately with pricing starting at $11,259, $4,945 and $4,463 respectively. The PowerEdge M915 blade will be available May 24 and DX Object Storage Platform available immediately in Europe and North America with shipping in Asia beginning in mid-May.