Dell, OnApp team to create 'cloud in a box' options

If you want to get cloud infrastructure up and running quickly, you might be interested in a new relationship between Dell and OnApp — a developer of cloud infrastructure software — that has created three pre-tested virtualized cloud infrastructure options for businesses or service providers.

Each of the offerings combines racks, servers, networking gear, power infrastructure, and cabling from Dell with OnApp's various cloud operating environment options, along with 24/7 support services. The differences lie in the type of storage that is used.

OnApp's three flagship products are OnApp Cloud, its core cloud infrastructure software; OnApp CDN, for supporting federated cloud services; and OnApp Storage, a high-performance distributed SAN for cloud environments.

With that in mind, there are three initial configurations emerging from the Dell-OnApp partnership, depending on the approach your organization decides to take with the storage. The options center on:

• The OnApp distributed SAN

• Dell EqualLogic iSCSI storage

• (OR) Dell Compellent Fibre Channel storage.

Notes Peter Duggal, managing director for cloud provider Nativespace, in a press release prepared by the two companies:

This is the combination we've been waiting for. Pre-tested hardware makes so much sense when you're planning and building a cloud service. The new Dell and OnApp packages make deployment much faster, and offer predictable stability and performance, with full support — which helps us guarantee SLAs for our cloud customers.

Dell and OnApp have declined to disclose pricing details at this time. They are referring people to this web page for more details.