Dell launches Equallogic PS6000 storage arrays

To help enterprises and organisations preserve and extend their existing investments, the EqualLogic PS6000 series integrates seamlessly into existing EqualLogic storage area networks (SANs) to form a virtualised pool of storage.

The new Dell EqualLogic hardware and software, which are a part of Dell's broad storage portfolio that includes the PowerVault and Dell|EMC product lines, help enterprises easily enhance existing installations.

In addition to product advancements such as solid state drives (SSDs) and an expanded, all-inclusive EqualLogic software suite, Dell also unveiled new Dell ProConsulting services to help customers plan and deploy EqualLogic SANs.

Dell announced five new EqualLogic PS6000 series of storage arrays - PS6000E, PS6500E, PS6000X, PS6000XV and PS6000S. The new products combine a virtualised storage architecture and sophisticated management software with new high-performance hardware components designed to help customers lower costs, reduce complexity and free up resources.

The Dell EqualLogic PS6000 series:

Performs up to 91 percent faster for sequential write workloads and up to 29 percent faster for sequential read workloads when compared with previous generations.

Is the first EqualLogic generation to include a Solid State Drive array. The PS6000S delivers SSD technology at an affordable price so more enterprises can practically apply its performance benefits for their critical applications. PS6000S arrays each have dedicated controllers for the SSD drives and can be combined together to scale performance linearly.

Dell is significantly enhancing its all-inclusive suite of EqualLogic storage software. New support for Microsoft Hyper-V Smart Copysnapshots builds upon the PS Series' existing integration with Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft SQL, VMware and Citrix XenCenter and enables rapid recovery of Hyper-V virtual machines in as little as seconds. Additionally, the Dell EqualLogic PS6000 series of arrays are VMware vStorage-ready, a technology which aims to make more efficient use of storage, networking and hypervisor resources by virtual machines.

Dell is also making available SAN Headquarters, a centralised dashboard that monitors performance and events for dozens of PS Series groups. SAN HeadQuarters is available to all Dell EqualLogic customers under a valid warranty or service agreement at no additional cost.

Dell ProConsulting Services and expanded Dell ProSupport customer service offerings are now available in all Dell direct countries in EMEA to help customers and partners plan, deploy and protect storage investments. In addition to existing storage assessment and migration services Dell is bringing to market four new Dell ProConsulting design and implementation services that help customers get the most of their EqualLogic investments.

The PS6000 series and associated services are available worldwide from Dell and its global PartnerDirect channel partners.

As previously announced, the addition of the Dell NX4 to the company's broad portfolio of EqualLogic, PowerVault and Dell|EMC storage solutions expands the range of products Dell can offer its customers and demonstrates the two companies continued commitment to their long-standing partnership. The product offers no-compromise availability and advanced file management for Windows, Linux, and UNIX environments, as well as the flexibility to consolidate file and application storage via iSCSI or Fibre Channel.

"With the new EqualLogic PS6000 series, Dell has delivered platform and information management advancements that allow our customers to meet growing storage needs in a simple and cost-effective way,"

said Robin Kuepers, Head of Storage Marketing, Dell EMEA.

"Features such as solid state discs, all-inclusive monitoring tools like SAN Headquarters, and seamless integration with prior SAN generations, are differentiating Dell from the other storage vendors and delivering on our promise of simple, capable, affordable storage."

"While storage remains one of the few bright spots across the IT landscape, it is clearly not immune to the realities of the day," said Steve Duplessie, Founder of ESG.

"Cutting operating costs is paramount and gaining efficiency everywhere you can is all that matters. This is exactly why we are seeing accelerated interest in technologies such as iSCSI, and for Dell specifically, as they just keep on adding more and more value to their Equallogic line while effectively lowering the real cost of owning and operating their systems. This is nothing but good for Dell."