Half price SANs to boost storage for workgroups

Dell is offering full storage area network (SAN) solutions for what it claims is less than half the price of existing solutions from other storage hardware vendors. The firm says its systems have been specifically designed for small organisations and workgroups, and those wanting to consolidate storage, through its partnership with EMC and will bring all the advantages of advanced SAN availability and performance. The system is available in a direct-attached (SAN-ready) configuration for £3,4991, or a complete, scalable SAN configuration for £5,899. Both versions include features such as software for snapshots, provisioning, and array management as found in higher-cost, enterprise-class systems. Dell makes the point that small companies, as well as large firms with many remote sites, have hitherto been deterred by complexity and high cost. The new system, they say, is affordable and specifically does not require specialised storage skills for installation and use. The system has been made simple to set up and manage, thus significantly easing the technical hurdles that often deter organisations with limited on-site IT staff from implementing SAN technologies. For example, once connected to the server, Dell’s set-up wizard helps customers configure the AX100 in four steps. Also, the system includes all the software a user needs to manage the deployment, automate failover and provide backup.