Dell continues leadership with expansion of OpenManage systems management capabilities

Dell has introduced two new powerful database servers, systems management software and data centre assessment services that bring unprecedented performance, value and manageability to customers` data centre environments.

The Dell PowerEdge 6800 and PowerEdge 6850 feature the new 64-bit Intel Xeon MP Processors and are the ideal platform for database environments, server consolidation and virtualisation and migration from costly RISC-based systems.

Like other Dell eighth generation servers, the PowerEdge 6800 and PowerEdge 6850 offer the latest core technologies, including DDR2-400 ECC memory and PCI Express I/O, delivering performance that is 32% higher than previous four processor offerings.

The servers can be configured with the appropriate amount of level-two cache memory and processor speed to address the performance needs of mission-critical applications. For database environments, customers can configure their PowerEdge servers with up to 8MB of level-two cache memory to efficiently handle large data packets typical in those environments. For customers needing raw processor performance for other applications, the servers are available with just 1MB of level-two cache memory but processor speeds of 3.30GHz and 3.66GHz.

The end result is a PowerEdge server that offers both the highest levels of performance but with a new, lower cost of acquisition. In fact, the PowerEdge 6800 and 6850 are the lowest priced four-processor servers ever offered by Dell.

"With the launch of the PowerEdge 6800 and PowerEdge 6850, we have effectively lowered the barrier to entry for customers looking to deploy a high-performance four-processor server for database environments," said Ben McDonald, Enterprise Product Manager, Dell South Africa. "With this new release, the cost delta between a 2-way server and a 4-way server has been significantly narrowed. We`re now providing our data centre customers affordable access to the most powerful technology, enabling them to dramatically improve server utilisation while providing headroom for application growth and scalability."

As a leader in the dual-processor database market, Dell plans to take a leadership position in the quad-processor server space with a broad offering for large database applications. The PowerEdge 6800 and PowerEdge 6850 are certified and validated for 32-bit configurations of Oracle Database 10g with Real Application Clusters (RAC) and Microsoft SQL Server.

Leveraging the 64-bit capability of these systems, customers are ensured of hardware investment protection as they migrate to 64-bit offerings of Oracle Database 10g and 9i RAC, and Microsoft SQL Server 2005 using Microsoft Windows Server 2003 64-bit Edition and Red Hat Enterprise Linux Version 4. Dell will offer these 64-bit operating systems and database applications on the PowerEdge 6800 and PowerEdge 6850 later this year.

Dell has expanded the systems management features for what are already the most manageable PowerEdge servers ever. Dell`s new OpenManage 4.3 release offers numerous ease-of-use, security and change management enhancements, simplified monitoring capabilities and streamlined deployment tools to install new servers quickly.

The new tools in OpenManage 4.3 are easy to use with Web-based interfaces to allow anywhere access to IT assets.

Dell OpenManage now offers a full portfolio of tools for single server update (Server Update Utility), centralised hardware monitoring and updates (IT Assistant 7.0) and integrated hardware and software patch management with industry leading solutions such as Microsoft Systems Management Server 2003.

Dell is the only server provider that offers customers the ability to patch operating systems, applications and server software using one tool. Dell OpenManage 4.3 systems management tools are available for no additional charge with all Dell PowerEdge servers.

Dell also today announced a new Data Centre Environmental Assessment service to assist customers by evaluating thermal and power requirements, analysing current airflow design and helping customers plan for future growth. Dell also helps maximise capacity and utilisation on the Dell PowerEdge 6800 and PowerEdge 6850 servers through comprehensive consolidation services designed to simplify management of those data centres and make them more efficient.

The PowerEdge 6800 and PowerEdge 6850 are immediately available in SA with a starting price point of R32 570 and R35 350 including VAT and delivery respectively. Additional information is available at www.dell.com/servers.