Dell PowerEdge VRTX Shared Infrastructure Announced

Dell is introducing their PowerEdge VRTX which is a Private Cloud in a Box shared solution that comes in a tower form factor and is specifically designed for remote and small offices. The VRTX solution features support for up to four compute nodes, eight addressable PCIe slots, Gigabit Ethernet, support for 12 LFF HDDs or 25 SFF HDDs, and is powered by redundant standard 110V outlets (versus 220-240V with other data center solutions). While many workload and application-centric infrastructures have been designed around the needs of large organizations, Dell is pioneering to meet the needs of growing remote/branch offices (ROBO) by offering robust enterprise-class features and capabilities with the PowerEdge VRTX.

Dell is introducing their PowerEdge VRTX which is a Private Cloud in a Box shared solution that comes in a tower form factor and is specifically designed for remote and small offices. The VRTX solution features support for up to four compute nodes, eight addressable PCIe slots, Gigabit Ethernet, support for 12 LFF HDDs or 25 SFF HDDs, and is powered by redundant standard 110V outlets (versus 220-240V with other data center solutions). While many workload and application-centric infrastructures have been designed around the needs of large organizations, Dell is pioneering to meet the needs of growing remote/branch offices (ROBO) by offering robust enterprise-class features and capabilities with the PowerEdge VRTX.

Dell PowerEdge VRTX Features

• Up to four 2-socket, half-height M520 & M620 server nodes combine superb performance with exceptional flexibility
• M620 – 50% more memory than nearest competitor for greater consolidation and virtualization
• M520 – outstanding platform for mainstream business applications
• Enterprise-class high availability features
• First to market with dual SD cards for redundant hypervisors
• RAID options for specific needs
• Optional hot plug and swappable power supply units, HDD’s and fans in the VRTX chassis
• Comprehensive, intelligent systems management
• 5U Tower Chassis (Rackable)
• Front KVM access / LCD Display / USB / Optional DVD-RW
• Office level acoustics & power (100V – 240V)
• Hot Plug HDDs: 12 x 3.5” or 25 x 2.5”
• 8 Flexible PCIe slots – assignable to compute nodes
• 3 FH/FL with DW card support (225W)
• 5 LP/HL 75W
• Ethernet (1GbE)
• 1GbE internal switch module is standard
• Optional Pass-Thru Module with 8 1GbE ports
• Switch QoS provides priority of traffic
• 1100W AC at RTS
• Optional redundant management controller

As a shared infrastructure, the Dell PowerEdge VRTX has servers, storage, networking and management wrapped up into one neat little desk-side package. That means the VRTX uses up to 86% fewer cables. Couple that with the reduced complexity of management, and the VRTX will save organizations lots of time and money. VRTX adds value with its capability to be enhanced with additional software and services.

Designed to increase productivity, updates to Dell OpenManage Essentials for PowerEdge VRTX include comprehensive, remote, agent-free systems management capabilities. The updates also implement a new geographical view of distributed IT assets to reduce time allocation as well as the potential for error. All PowerEdge VRTX systems also include Dell’s Chassis Management Controller (CMC) embedded console that enables unified control over server, storage and networking components.

For the small office/branch office, the VRTX opens up plenty of new opportunity with its novel design. By cramming so much storage and compute power into a single tower chassis, businesses will worry less about building out a larger, more expensive rack-based solution – for VRTX, just attach to a Gigabit switch and it’s ready to go. The compute nodes inside are duty-proven M520 or M620 Dell blades that can be combined in any combination. Coupled with Windows Server 2012 clustering options, the blades provide an HA solution that’s easily serviceable should something go wrong. Lastly, the storage inside is addressable by all of the blades and the PCIe slots inside are assignable to the blades and can house additional high-speed storage if required. Overall, the VRTX solution is unique in the server space and opens up new options for small offices or remote offices who require an HA solution in an easy-to-manage deployment. 

Availability

Dell PowerEdge VRTX will be available June 26, worldwide.

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Dell PowerEdge VRTX

UPDATE – 08/15/13 – Dell PowerEdge VRTX Review – POSTED