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Dell Rolls Out Entry-Level Server

Prices start at $1699 for PowerEdge 1300 small-business server.

By Stan Miastkowski, PCWorld   

Dell Computer this week became the latest major PC maker to offer a relatively low-cost, entry-level server with base prices comparable to desktop systems. Available immediately, the PowerEdge 1300 is designed for small-to-medium-size businesses with fewer than 400 users and for special-purpose applications in corporate installations such as workgroups or remote access.

The base price for a PowerEdge 1300 is $1699. That includes a 350-MHz Pentium II processor, a 100-MHz system bus, 64MB of memory, an Intel 10/100 network card, a 14X-32X CD-ROM drive, a mouse, and a keyboard; but does not include a hard drive, monitor, or network operating system. Adding a 4.5GB UltraSCSI II hard drive brings the price to $1821, and a ten-user Windows NT Server license brings the grand total to $2620. (The base price for a PowerEdge 1300 with a 400-MHz Pentium II is $1999; a 450-MHz Pentium II starte at $2299.)

Hardware options for the PowerEdge 1300 include a second processor, high-reliability RAID storage, a 56-kilobits-per-second modem, and a tape drive. For installations in which having the server running full time is essential, Dell offers the $649 Dell Remote Assistant Card-2. This monitors the server for potential failures and allows network managers to diagnose and manage the server over the network or remotely via phone line, even if the server has lost power or is locked up, according to Dell. (The card includes a 56-kbps PC Card modem.)

Dell equipped the PowerEdge 1300 with a suite of standard network management software, including Hewlett-Packard's OpenView Network Node Manager Special Edition and ManageX Special Edition.

Setup Service

Dell this week also announced Dell NetWorks, a comprehensive small business network installation service. According to International Data Corporation, 80 percent of small businesses with fewer than 100 employees aren't yet networked; Dell has designed Dell NetWorks for that business segment. The service includes a site survey, full installation (including wiring), and setup of servers and workstations.

A Dell spokesperson says prices for Dell NetWorks varies widely, depending on the size of the network and the complexity of the wiring job. The initial on-site survey costs $299.