Dell raises storage aims

Re-badges other vendors' kit in attempt to make big noise in high end storage market

Dell is inching its way into the high end storage market with the launch of three new products next week. The great Satan of direct vendors is increasing its storage portfolio on Monday by unveiling the PowerVault 200S JBOD, the PowerEdge Expandable RAID Controller 2 and the PowerVault 130T tape library. As with previous storage products, Dell is buying in its devices from other vendors. The 200S is from Eurologik but with a Dell design tweak, the RAID Controller comes from Adaptec and the 130T from Storagetek. When asked how it planned to break into this established market, Dell’s European storage business manager, Steve Lewis, said he was confident there was room for everyone. He added that Dell would use the same tactics as were employed in its launch into the server market - by offering consultancy services. Dell will be working with Unisys and Wang in this area. Astley Gayle, EMC business development manager, expressed no surprise at Dell's attempt to break into the storage arena. He said: "It's going to be a huge market that will be irresistible to the big players." However, he didn't view Dell as a major threat. "Dell's playground is desktop computers, laptops and work group servers. EMC is playing on a level above that - the high end."®