Dell, EMC Sign Enterprise Storage Agreement

Dell and EMC today announced a five-year, multi-billion dollar strategic alliance agreement to accelerate the growth of both companies’ storage systems businesses.

Under the agreement, Dell and EMC will co-brand EMC’s CLARiiON line of enterprise storage systems. The alliance will make Dell the leading reseller of the CLARiiON product line, which will become Dell’s standard offering for storage area networks (SAN) and high-end network-attached storage (NAS) installations.

For services that accompany storage products, Dell will augment its existing, Premier Enterprise Services with methodologies, tools, practices and customer training programs from EMC. Representatives from EMC’s global services organization will also support and train Dell service personnel on the technical support and installation of EMC systems.

The companies have also agreed to work together when opportunities in Dell’s enterprise customer base require the features and functions of EMC’s flagship Symmetrix line of enterprise storage systems and software. The companies will collaborate on the definition and explore the joint development of future open, networked storage systems. Additionally, Dell and EMC will look for opportunities to use Dell’s procurement and manufacturing capabilities in the production of EMC CLARiiON products.

“Dell and EMC are both sharply focused companies in the world of information technology,” said Sean Derrington, senior program director at META Group. “This is a highly complementary relationship that will greatly benefit both firms and their customers.”

Dell will continue to offer its PowerVault direct- and network-attached storage systems and EMC will continue to offer its Symmetrix and CLARiiON family of enterprise storage systems and software, directly and through partners, to customers worldwide. Dell plans to begin offering the EMC products, which include the FC4500, FC5300, FC4700 and IP4700, to customers in November.