Dell Offers Microsoft Integration SuiteDell Offers Microsoft Integration Suite

Dell has introduced a portfolio of free software tools that may be used to integrate Dell hardware with Microsoft System Center.

Dell's OpenManage Integration Suite, introduced Tuesday, provides the tools needed to leverage Microsoft's core data center management system to streamline the most time consuming administrative tasks, such as bare-metal deployments, server provisioning, and BIOS driver and firmware updates. In addition, the combination provides more flexibility in scheduling IT maintenance tasks.

Open Manage is targeted at enterprises, public organizations and mid-size companies. "With Dell's OpenManage Integration Suite for Microsoft System Center, we're offering a comprehensive solution that assists organizations with the management of their Microsoft-based IT environments, all at no charge to our customers," Sally Stevens, VP of platform marketing at Dell, said in a statement.

Dell's integration tools cover a variety of hardware devices including the computer maker's PowerEdge blade, rack and tower servers; the MD-series and EqualLogic storage products, Precision workstations, Latitude laptops, OptiPlex desktops, and network printers.

To better accommodate Microsoft Exchange Server 2010, Dell has increased the maximum storage of its PowerEdge R510 server to 24 terabytes. The added capacity makes it possible to take advantage of new features in the Microsoft product, such as support for 10 GB mailboxes. For additional capacity, Dell offers the PowerVault MD1200 and MD1220 for direct-attached storage. Both products support 6 gigabit per second SAS hard drives.

Dell also offers support and services for adopting Microsoft System Center. The latter software includes four components, a configuration manager, operations manager, data protection manager and virtual machine manager.

In December, Microsoft acquired Opalis Software, which offers a centralized management tool for connecting to leading monitoring and management systems, including Hewlett-Packard OpenView Operations, IBM Tivoli, BMC Patrol and CA AutoSys. Microsoft is expected to announce how Opalis products will fit in with System Center in the first half of this year.