Dell PowerEdge SC1435 review

For management software, you get the Server Assistant, which is supplied on a bootable CD-ROM and helps with running diagnostics and OS installation. The System Tools section allows you to prepare your hard disks and create a separate partition for storing the system utilities. Server Setup takes you through loading either Red Hat Linux or Windows Server 2003 variants. For the latter, it will offer to set up a system partition, after which it gets on with checking the system, loading the required drivers and running a largely unattended installation. As the RAID card has LSI Logic at its heart, you also get the latter's Windows management utility. However, there isn't much to do here other than monitor the status of physical and logical drives, and view an event log.

Despite all the hype, Dell enters the AMD server marketplace with a whimper and not a bang. The SC1435 undoubtedly offers a firm platform for the intended market and it does look good value overall. But storage is more limited than its Xeon-equipped stablemates, remote-management options are basic and there's little room for future expansion.

Author: Dave Mitchell