The GUI provides access to OS deployment tools so you no longer need to boot the server with Dell's Server Assistant disk. The UEFI offers a deployment wizard where you enter your details and leave the server to get on with installing your chosen OS. HP and IBM still require you to use their respective SmartStart and ServerGuide discs to boot the server to access the OS deployment tools.
General network systems management is handled by Dell's Management Console, which is based on Symantec's Altiris Notification Server. This provides an automated search process that populates its database with discovered systems and SNMP enabled devices.
The Altiris agent can be pushed to selected systems and this provides enhanced inventory, system monitoring, remote management capabilities and extensive alerting facilities. There's no denying it's a comprehensive management package but it is a real heavyweight. Single server sites will be better off just using the iDRAC6 options for remote management and monitoring.
The T710 scores well for its excellent build quality and internal design. It offers a high storage potential with plenty of room to grow and management facilities are also good with Dell's LifeCycle Controller and UEFI making the PowerEdge servers quite unique.
Verdict
The T710 is well designed and matches IBM’s x3500 M2 for storage capacity and expansion potential. It’s also better value and although its cooling system is a tad too noisy for small offices, it is well suited to a wide range of deployment scenarios. Dell’s management facilities are the measure of HP’s although if you want even more storage capacity then consider the ProLiant ML370 G6 which supports up 24 SFF drives.
Chassis: Pedestal or 5U rack CPU: 2 x 2.53GHz E5540 Xeon Memory: 12GB 1066MHz UDIMM DDR3 Storage: 8 x 146GB Seagate Savvio 10K.3 SFF SAS hard disks in hot-swap carriers RAID: Dell PERC 6/i with 256MB cache and BBU Array support: RAID0, 1, 10, 5, 6 Expansion: 6 x PCI-e 2.0 slots Network: 4 x Gigabit Power: 1 x 1100W hot-plug supply (max 2) Management: iDRAC6 Enterprise with 10/100 and 1GB V-Flash card Software: Dell Management Console Warranty: 3yrs on-site NBD
-
Salesforce says ‘Microsoft’s anticompetitive tying of Teams' harmed business in triumphant response to EU concessions agreementNews Microsoft has agreed to make versions of its Office solutions suite available without Teams – and at a reduced price
-
Healthcare organizations report rampant email security failures – and Microsoft 365 is often the weakest linkNews IT leaders say they're drowning in security alerts and missing real threats, thanks to limited resources, expanding attack surfaces, and weak security strategies
-
Is the honeymoon period over for Microsoft and OpenAI? Strained relations and deals with competitors spell trouble for the partnership that transformed the AI industryAnalysis Microsoft and OpenAI are slowly drifting apart as both forge closer ties with respective rivals and reevaluate their long-running partnership.
