Dell Computer Corp has launched its first products supporting the high performance clustering interconnect from Giganet Inc, the first components of a new high-end strategy it is calling the Dell Scalable Enterprise Computing architecture. Giganet’s cLAN GNN1000 Host Adapter, a network interface card, and the cLAN GNN5000 Cluster Switch will be managed by Dell OpenManager Cluster Assistant, based on ClusterX software Dell takes from NuView Inc. Dell has provided reference configuration details detailing what its PowerEdge servers require to use the new clustering products, including NT 4.0 Enterprise Edition and Microsoft Server Cluster (currently supporting two nodes), and one PowerVault fibre channel RAID storage system for each cluster.
Prices for Giganet’s CLAN host adapters start at $695 and the cluster switch at $4,350. The cluster kit, including ClusterX software, starts at $3,275. Dell says it will sell direct, but offer service and support for the systems through its existing partnerships with NCR Corp, Unisys Corp and Wang Global.
Dell’s Scalable Enterprise Computing architecture aims to use Dell’s standard PowerEdge servers and PowerVault systems as basic building blocks for larger installations aimed at data center customers. It says it will support both Microsoft Windows 2000 and Unix operating systems in future SEC products, which will include eight-way PowerEdge servers and products based on Intel Corp’s IA-64 chips. Current servers supported within the SEC architecture are the PowerEdge 4300, 4350, 6300 and 6350 models.
