Dell To Intro Souped Up Workgroup Server

Dell Computer this week will enhance its line of workgroupofferings with the introduction of a server designed to bring high-availability features and Pentium III 667-MHz technology to the workgroup level.

The PowerEdge 2400 server, scheduled to ship this month, is Dell's first workgroup server to feature hot-swappable redundant power supplies. Dell officials say the 2400's feature set reflects a growing trend of bringing high-level functionality to workgroups and small businesses. "This is the first time these kinds of features have been available to that level at a suitable price point," says Russ Ray, product manager for Dell's departmental workgroup servers unit.

The 2400 also supports up to 180 Gbytes of internal storage and up to 2 Gbytes of SDRAM. The PowerEdge will be priced at about $2,400.

Industry watchers characterize the 2400 as a response to recent systems introduced by Dell's rivals. Says Joe Ferlazzo, an analyst at Technology Business Research: "IBM led the way in terms of bringing high-availability features to the lower end of the market with Netfinity, so the others have to follow suit."