Dell debuted its latest storage solution lineup at this week’s Dell Storage Forum, and The VAR Guy (along with everyone else at the event) was introduced to new EqualLogic, Compellent and PowerVault technologies slated for a 2011 release. Read on for the details …

First, the Dell EqualLogic FS7500 offers a scale-out NAS and unified storage abilities, promising “10 times” more file shares than traditional offerings. Also included is new EqualLogic software, which will support Data Center Bridging over iSCSI and automated load-balancing. This solution scales all the way up to 510TB of raw capacity, since the device itself is designed purely as a high-end super-caching I/O storage appliance.

Accompanying that new product is an EqualLogic firmware version up to 5.1. The update addresses iSCSI networking support through Data Center Bridging along with a new load balancing capability and better awareness for provisioning with VMware vSphere.

Dell Compellent adds 16Gbps Fibre Channel infrastructure interoperability to its technologies, enabling it to work with popular Brocade Fibre Channel switches and adapters. Dell’s focus here is hitting the SAN space and making sure Dell’s new products stay relevant with other mainstream technologies partners are using – a strategy that makes perfect sense to our resident blogger.

Last, Dell’s PowerVault line has been refreshed with the new MD3600f and 3620f storage arrays, providing 8GB Fibre Channel for high-availability. Up to 96 drives are supported using the PowerVault MD1200/1220 enclosure, and customers can mix and match their drive types.

The EqualLogic FS7500 and new firmware are scheduled to be available in Q3 of 2011, while the new PowerVault solutions are planned for a June 14, 2011, release.

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