Dell updates hyperconverged lineup, to resell EMC's VCE systems

Dell has rolled out a revamped hyperconverged infrastructure lineup that previews what the data center approach will be as it mergers with EMC and its VCE unit.

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For Dell, the hyperconverged lineup is a mix of its own gear as well as reselling EMC, VMware and VCE, which it'll own once its big merger closes.

At a high level, the Dell news breaks down like this:

• Dell rolled out new Dell VMware Virtual SAN Ready Nodes, which are based on its PowerEdge servers.
• There's an updated Dell XC Series that runs on Nutanix.
• Dell added support for VMware Virtual SAN for its hybrid cloud platform.
• And Dell will resell EMC's VCE VxRail appliances, VCE VxRack Node and VCE VxRack System 1000 Flex.

Perhaps the biggest takeaway here is that Dell with EMC plans on using sheer girth and one-stop data center shopping to cater to data center buyers.

On the hyperconverged front, every enterprise hardware vendor is rushing to this fast-growing space. Whether it's HPE, Cisco, Dell or Lenovo, which has forged a bevy of partnerships, the theme of 2016 is hyperconverged systems. See: HPE launches midmarket hyperconverged system, bets on UI, integration | Lenovo, Juniper outline strategic partnership, eye hyperconverged systems | Cisco launches HyperFlex hyperconverged systems, new Nexus switches | EMC, VMware unveil hyperconverged VxRail appliance

These hyperconverged systems combine storage, compute and networking into one system. They are generally software defined and the promise is big compute with the ease of an appliance.

What's unclear is how Dell will manage its various brands (VCE, Dell, EMC etc.), but the big theme is that it'll streamline the buying process for enterprises.

Dell said it will begin selling most VCE systems and its VMware SAN Ready Nodes immediately and that its reference architecture for EMC converged infrastructure and VMware support will be available in the second quarter. Dell said it will sell the VCE VxRack System 1000 FLEX directly today and via the channel in the second quarter.