The Dell PowerVault fibre channel range is designed to support high-end Microsoft Windows NT and Novell NetWare server environments with rich storage features typically found only in a higher-end UNIX environment. Customers will use the storage system to meet their data centre storage requirements for applications including Internet/intranet, database, messaging and enterprise storage consolidation.
"Dell`s focus on providing Enterprise class solutions means that large corporate customers can expect to get more value for equivalent or better technology when they buy from Dell" says Gareth Martin, managing director of Dell Computer South Africa. "Our virtual integration strategy and our direct way of doing business means that customers no longer have to pay for the proprietary margins some enterprise computing vendors have been charging them."
The Dell PowerVault enterprise storage product range consists of the latest end-to-end fibre channel technology and marks Dell`s first entry into the estimated $3.2 billion Microsoft Windows NT portion of the fibre channel disk storage subsystem market. The Dell PowerVault 650F is a result of Dell engineering efforts and Data General Corp.`s proven CLARiiON fibre channel RAID technology which will offer customers superior performance and reliability.
The Growing Requirement for Enterprise Class Data Management Solutions
Many analysts have predicted strong growth in the storage market, at the same time the cost of storage is predicted to fall dramatically. Dell plans to aggressively target this growing market with a range of products based on leading edge technology and backed up by a comprehensive service offering driven by customer demands. Dell plans to harness the unique benefits of the Direct Business model to effectively drive the commoditisation of the storage market.
"Dell is launching the PowerVault storage line with the same intensity and customer-focus we gave our server business when we entered the market only 20 months ago," says Martin. "We intend to leverage our direct business model to duplicate this success across the enterprise by providing customers with high-end technology at a superior value."
Enterprise Solutions from Dell
Dell works directly with its enterprise customers, providing them with a single point of accountability for service and support. The company`s strategy of working with best-in-class software, hardware and services vendors - rather than vertically integrating the entire value chain - ensures customers have more choices and access to the information technology (IT) solutions that best answer their enterprise computing needs.
Dell PowerVault products will be offered with storage management software tools for installation, configuration and monitoring, and integrate seamlessly with Dell`s OpenManage systems management strategy. Dell OpenManage is a cross-product-line, standards-based systems management strategy that gives enterprise customers systems management choices. There are ten software modules in the suite of storage management products, including tools that enable a customer to remotely manage worldwide all storage systems from a single console.
Dell offers service and support for its storage products through its strategic alliances with UNISYS Corporation, Wang Global, and Data General`s CLARiiON division. Through these alliances, Dell customers have access to a worldwide force of more than 25,000 highly trained engineers, technicians, analysts and consultants.
Recognising the increased demands for support, from enterprise level customers running mission critical applications and data, Dell will ship all new fibre channel products with a 3 year, 4 hour response (standard business hours) service offering. Dell will also be providing upgrades to this service to include out of hour`s support, up to full 7 x 24hr response service. Dell also offers a comprehensive range of professional services which cover installation, consultancy, training, and performance tuning to ensure that our customers maximise the benefits from their investments in Dell`s fibre channel storage solution.
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