Dell says cost compatibility are key to widespread blade server deployments
Report date Thu, 2 Jan 2003 Dell Computer first announced its PowerEdge 1655MC blade servers back in April 2002, promising shipments in the third quarter of the year. ... The delay, along with the perception that the 1655MC is basically a repackaged Dell 1650 server, has led some to believe that Dell is not yet convinced about the potential for blades. But Dell says thats just not the case – it has just been taking a more careful look at what customers are actually asking for than its competitors, and has shaped its strategy accordingly. Interest in blade architectures is mounting. IBM is also now shipping its BladeCenter blade servers, and Sun is set to launch its first blade systems this quarter. Impact assessment The message Dell, which began shipping its first blade servers at the end of last year, says that customers dont want to pay a premium for blades. ... Competitive landscape Toward the end of last year, IBM and HP both introduced second-generation blade servers more suitable for high-end users. ... Meanwhile, Sun is gearing up for its own blade server launch shortly. The451 assessment Dell is repackaging its existing servers as blades, taking advantage of the use of common sub-components among multiple servers to cut costs and make management easier. Its not the most sophisticated implementation of blades, but it is, perhaps, the approach most likely to appeal to the Dell customer base. Context "Weve not changed our strategy since April," Dell spokesperson Liem Nguyen told the451. The products were built after an analysis of cost of ownership and usability, he said. ... Using blade servers also simplifies management tasks, claims Dell. ... By Dells calculations, the single enclosure lowers hardware expenses by 30% compared with its 1U dual processors because the power supplies, cooling fans, management cards and network switches are shared across all six server blades.