Dell introduces family of network-attached storage servers

Dell SA has announced three new PowerVault network-attached storage (NAS) servers designed to help customers quickly and easily add, consolidate and manage storage directly on their network, regardless of operating system.

The Dell PowerVault 755N, 750N and 715N storage servers are based on Microsoft`s Windows 2000 Advanced Server operating system, enabling customers to consolidate storage in a cost-effective way by leveraging existing network security and backup infrastructures. The NAS servers can be set up in as little as 15 minutes with minimal IT expertise and no network downtime.

The PowerVault NAS servers allow file access and sharing between Microsoft Windows, Novell NetWare, Unix, Linux and Apple Macintosh operating systems. The products include Dell`s ActiveArchives technology, which creates and preserves point-in-time snapshots of stored data to help guard against loss from network outages or disruptions. The NAS servers feature LAN-free backup software enabling data backups to occur directly to locally attached Dell PowerVault tape systems. The products can also be configured with third-party software for data backup, disk management or anti-virus protection for more seamless integration with customers` existing file serving applications.

"Dell designed these new PowerVault NAS servers to provide the best balance of service, features and performance that will grow with our customers` business needs," says Sean Wainer, enterprise products manager at Dell SA.

"Whether a business with a remote office selects the compact, pre-configured 715N for instant, centralised storage or a large enterprise chooses the 755N for a highly available storage solution, our new line of PowerVault NAS servers offers the flexibility and scalability to meet a broad range of customer needs at compelling prices."

Targeted at departments and workgroups within large enterprises, the PowerVault 750N and 755N can scale up to over 7TB to meet increasing data demands and support clustering in Windows and Unix environments for greater overall data availability.

The PowerVault 750N and 755N are among the first products to receive Microsoft Windows Hardware Compatibility List certification, which allows customers to use NAS servers to support their SQL Server 2000 databases. Customers can benefit from additional integrated features including a resource management utility designed to more efficiently manage data, a full suite of interoperable anti-virus applications and a certified Fibre Channel tape backup solution for data management within enterprise SAN environments.

The PowerVault 715N is a compact NAS server designed to fit in a standard server rack or on a tabletop. Scalable up to 400GB, the product is targeted at small businesses or remote offices where file sharing and maximum data protection are essential.

In addition to these new products, Dell will also begin offering EMC`s IP4700 enterprise-class NAS as a result of the recently announced strategic agreement between the companies. The product, which will be branded as Dell|EMC IP4700, is a scalable, highly available NAS solution for enterprise applications that is easy to install, configure and maintain. The Dell|EMC IP4700 complements the suite of NAS offerings, enabling Dell to offer customers a complete family of products for any storage environment.