Dell-Microsoft Cloud Platform System Offerings Expanded

(Source: Microsoft)

Dell and Microsoft have announced a new addition to their joint Cloud Platform System (CPS) offerings. Shown are the hardware and software components of the CPS Standard system announced in Oct. 2015. Originally introduced in Oct. 2014, CPS is a Microsoft-validated server system based on its experience in operating Azure data centers. It emphasizes integration (with a single source of support: Microsoft), resiliency (with built-in redundancy and backup to Azure), and ease of installation (typical systems can be operational in three hours). CPS will attract customers who want to avoid the challenges of designing, deploying, and configuring integrated hardware and software for Azure-hosted services (in the form of Azure Pack) and instead need a turnkey on-premises solution. The systems are built to run Windows Server 2012 R2, System Center 2012 R2, and Azure Pack software coupled on industry partners’ hardware—in this illustration Dell’s PowerEdge servers, storage, and network hardware.