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Since 2007, when Michael Dell returned as CEO from his chairman of the board position, Dell has been buying companies to bring new software and services into its domain in order to become a full-service IT hardware and software company.
Now it is in full swing fine-tuning those products and how they relate to each other within the company.
Dell on Aug. 20 revealed new cloud client computing offerings with a group of improved zero-client and thin-client computers, EqualLogic-based storage arrays and reference architectures validated by VMware in order to update its desktop virtualization product line.
The new reference architectures will give developers at enterprises a menu of instructions on how to connect their any of their company’s devices (servers, desktops, laptops, thin clients, mobile devices) to a central Dell Wyse-VMware system that brings BYOD (bring your own device) into a secure and corporately useful reality.
The bottom line on Aug. 20 was that Dell is now connecting the dots between its current storage and cloud computing products and those of newly acquired (in April 2012) Wyse Technology, which has been making thin clients and virtual desktops for a generation.
With Wyse in house, Dell has now greatly expanded its desktop virtualization portfolio and cloud-based client capabilities. In addition, Wyse also enables Dell to offer greater integration of cloud client and desktop virtualization capabilities into the company’s larger data center server, storage and networking solutions.
What Dell is starting to do is lay out a picture of an end-to-end solution, Bob O’Donnell, storage analyst with IDC, told eWEEK.
“We’re been talking about this for a long time: Every year it’s ‘next year’ for desktop virtualization and thin clients,” O’Donnell said. “Everybody’s been saying that for 10 years. We’re starting to see what the combination of Dell and Wyse can bring.
“Dell had a piece of the story but they never had the whole piece, until now,” O’Donnell said.
Dell Wyse P Class Zero Clients
These are designed specifically for VMware and include the dual-display capable Dell Wyse P25 and quad-display capable Dell Wyse P45. These are designed specifically for VMware View implementations, providing application delivery and resolving the challenges of provisioning, managing, maintaining and securing enterprise desktops through:
- graphics performance for applications such as CAD, 3D solids modeling, video editing and advanced productivity applications based on Teradici’s new Tera2 PCoIP processor;
- client-side caching to reduce bandwidth consumption;
- easy set up and configuration, with centralized management for rapid time-to-value;
- enhanced security with zero client architecture and firmware without exposed API’s or application ports;
- broad extensibility supporting a wide range of peripherals;
- compact form factor and energy efficient for low power usage.
Dell Storage Arrays with VMware Integration for VDI
The new Dell EqualLogic PS6510ES (10GbE) and PS6500ES (1GbE) hybrid storage arrays (solid-state and hard disk drives) bolster the company’s end-to-end capabilities for VDI. They enable Dell to offer a first-time combination of high performance SSD and high capacity (NL-SAS) drive types in one dense Dell EqualLogic 48-drive array.
They can hold up to 85 terabytes per array and up to 2PB per Dell EqualLogic group. Dell said they excel in uses with large data sets serving multiple applications, including VDI implementations, data warehousing and online transactional databases.
This automated tiering is a natural fit for VDI deployments by helping to prevent performance drains during potential “boot storms” when several hundreds of users simultaneously log-on to virtual desktops, Dell said.
Dell Reference Architectures Optimized for VMware View
Dell has three new desktop virtualization reference architectures, validated in conjunction with VMware in addition to Dell’s Desktop Virtualization Solutions for Government (DVS-Gov). These include:
vStart for VDI Reference Architecture for VMware View: Running as a workload on top of the Dell vStart stack, this reference architecture offers the security, scalability and management capabilities of Dell’s DVS Enterprise solution plus one more level of simplification in deployment.
Dell Mobile Clinical Computing for VMware AlwaysOn Point of Care Reference Architecture: Dell and VMware jointly validated reference architecture with VMware View enables data integrity as well as minimal disruption in computing service to the caregiver, including: constant monitoring, secure rapid access, single sign on and constant data replication across sites.
New Dell DVS Enterprise for VMware Mobile Secure Desktop Reference Architecture: new reference architecture promotes more flexible and BYOD working styles by delivering session persistence and mobility across any qualified device to access personal desktops.
All of the new Dell Wyse and Dell EqualLogic products are available now, Dell said.