Dell unveils two new PowerEdge database servers

By Steve Malone

Posted on 24 Mar 2005 at 12:44

Dell has debuted two new database servers aimed at the small and medium sized company.

Sticking resolutely to its Intel-only policy, the two new machines - the Dell PowerEdge 6800 and PowerEdge 6850 - are based around the Intel Xeon MP processors. Up to four Xeons can be fitted per server. The two machines are also fitted with DDR2-400 ECC and PCI Express.

The Xeons are available in two different flavours; large 8MB level-three cache or a smaller level-two cache with a faster processor clock speed. Dell says this will enable customers to configure their set up to best meet the needs of their applications.

Dell is saying that the PowerEdge 6800 and 6850 have been validated across a wide range of corporate platforms including Oracle Database 10g and Oracle Database 9i, Real Application Clusters (RAC) and Microsoft SQL Server. The machines are also guaranteed to support the 64-bit offerings of Oracle Database 10g and 10g, Real Application Clusters, and Microsoft SQL Server 2005 using Microsoft Windows Server 2003 64-bit Edition and Red Hat Enterprise Linux when they appear.

Alongside the new server, Dell has upgraded the server systems management software. It claims the new OpenManage 4.3 release offers security and change management enhancements, simplified monitoring capabilities and deployment tools.

Dell OpenManage also offers single server update (Server Update Utility), a centralised hardware monitoring and updates (IT Assistant 7.0) and integrated hardware and software patch management.
The PowerEdge 6800 and PowerEdge 6850 will be available from Dell over the coming weeks.

No UK prices were available at the time of writing, but US prices start at $3,999 and $4,899, respectively.