Dell Networking recently got the call on a compelling challenge: deliver a high performance network to show off Dell’s Windows 8 Consumer line up as well as host an Alienware LAN party in a tent at the Austin City Limits music festival. Never one to back down (hey, they double-dog-dared us!), Dell Networking rose to the occasion and delivered. We took our Mobility Starter Kit Reference Configuration and upgraded it to meet the needs of this high traffic high visibility environment.
This new Enhanced Mobility Kit Reference Configuration is suitable for larger Office, Branch and campus wiring closets,’ delivering a fabulous user experience with simplified deployment and operation over a wired and WLAN network, was deployed in the Dell tent. The Enhanced configuration included: PowerConnect 7024P or 7048P line-rate Gigabit Ethernet switches; PowerConnect W-IAP135 802.11n Instant Access Points; and Dell OpenManage Network Manager (OMNM) software to help automate labor-intensive management and monitoring tasks from a single web-based console. We also added the recently announced PowerConnect 8132 10 gigabit Ethernet switch to the configuration for a low-latency Alienware LAN party.
Austin City Limits Music Festival (ACL Fest) and over 215,000 music fans were not disappointed. The #DellLive Lounge and Dell tent showcased new technology and pre-released Dell XPS 12 convertible laptops weeks before their public launch. High-traffic events like ACL Fest often have difficulty maintaining internet connectivity with so many people and serious bandwidth issues can occur, with attendees typically blaming poor connectivity on the devices. The Dell tent was challenged to deploy high-quality, fast connectivity and zero downtime, and the Enhanced Mobility kit filled that need.
Dell PowerConnect 7024P Ethernet switches powered Dell monitors and Dell XPS laptops delivering real-time video streams of musical acts across the festival, and also supplied power and connections to the Dell Lounge wireless network, reducing the installation time.
With the PowerConnect W-IAP 135 wireless instant access points, the Dell team implemented a high-performance Wi-Fi network in different areas of the tent, offering access to attendees test-driving the new Dell products. The W-IAPs were quick to set up, and once one was up and running, additional access points automatically connected and blanketed the tent. Each Dell laptop and Ultrabook was then easily connected to the wireless network and ready for internet usage. This also reduced interference between the Dell wireless network and an already challenged wireless internet network at the festival.
Remote management of the entire Dell networking solution at ACL Fest was a simple process, thanks to OMNM, which simplified multi-product configuration and monitored network health throughout the three days.
With thousands of ACL fans experiencing the Dell tent during the three days, the Dell networking setup performed superbly and delivered flawless connectivity, and the Enhanced Mobility Reference Architecture demonstrates the flexibility and ease of use, deployment and management of a solution which works seamlessly together. Furthermore, with flexible stacking configurations and multiple options, the Enhanced Mobility starter kit can be adapted to meet the needs of your environment as well.
For more information on the Dell and ACL Fest partnership, download the Austin City Limits Festival case study (or click on the image below) We’ll also be posting it on Dell.com/casestudies soon. For
information on additional Mobility Reference Configurations, visit Dell.com/Business/Wireless to learn more.
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