Casino operator Tsogo Sun Holdings (TSH) is the first major SA user of Dell NetPCs after its purchase of more than 150 of the machines as well as Dell OptiPlex desktops and PowerEdge servers. The equipment is being used to establish an information technology infrastructure for new casinos in Nelspruit, Witbank and Gauteng at a total cost to date of over R6.9-million.
Some 93 of the NetPCs purchased from Dell Computer in South Africa are initially to be put to use at an interim casino venue at The Dome in Northriding, north of Johannesburg. Once it is complete, the equipment will be transferred to TSH`s new casino at Fourways. The NetPCs are to be used in conjunction with a high performance Dell PowerEdge server to run the casino's various administrative applications.
The balance of NetPCs and a PowerEdge server acquired from Dell, the leading direct computer company with annual revenues world-wide of over R60-billion, are for the newly opened Champions casino at Witbank.
Previously Dell had supplied some 60 OptiPlex desktops to TSH, a joint-venture between hospitality and leisure conglomerate Southern Sun and black empowerment grouping Tsogo Investments, for the Emnotweni casino at Nelspruit.
"Dell demonstrated that its 'cut-out-the-middleman' direct business model provides substantially reduced total cost of ownership (TCO) combined with the latest relevant technology, technical support and consistent service delivery," says John Gouws, IS manager at TSH.
"As a result, built-to-order Dell servers, desktops and, now, NetPCs form part of the backbone of our IT infrastructure."
Since Dell systems were first installed for TSH they have delivered excellent performance and reliability, qualities which have been essential in ensuring the efficient running of TSH's business as well as meeting the stringent requirements of South African gaming law, which specifies minimum requirements in terms of system availability.
"Our business partnership with Dell includes a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week maintenance contract that assures that the Dell servers will remain fully operational after hours when the vast bulk of our business is done," Gouws continues.
Gareth Martin, managing director of Dell Computer in South Africa, comments: "The Dell NetPC is an architectural extension to the existing Dell PC range. It is optimised to support specific categories of network users.
"Providing integrated support for the Zero Administration Initiative for Windows NT, the NetPC reduces TCO while delivering integrated network support, advanced remote manageability and simplified network security.
"The NetPC's internal hard disk drive for caching provides improved performance and reduced network bandwidth requirements. Furthermore, the system's lockable case without removable media helps prevent unauthorised access and thereby further enhances security and confidentiality of TSH's critical gaming systems and data.
"All in all, the NetPC is the ideal solution for this particular application."
Share
Editorial contacts