This is a big year for the Microsoft community with two of the most ubiquitous platforms – Microsoft Windows Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008 going End of Support. That’s sure to be a hot topic at Ignite 2019 next week (November 4-8) in Orlando, Florida.
If you’ve visited Dell Technologies at a trade show, attended a roadshow, or even listened to one of our webinars throughout the year, you’ve seen our Real Transformation booth. There’s never been a clearer “this just got REAL” moment like facing an End of Support event. So we’re taking that theme to the “House of the Mouse” and looking forward to some engaging discussions.
Dell and Microsoft have been partners for more than three decades, and today we’re doing more exciting work together than ever before. That’s in part due to the fact that the challenges for our customers have never been greater. And that gives us a chance to bring more than just world-class infrastructure to the market by offering solutions combining the best in hardware, software, services and management tools to address those complex challenges.
Dell’s partnership with Microsoft goes back more than thirty years during which time we’ve co-developed innovative hardware and software solutions with the goal of simplifying IT for our customers. Never has this been more important than today where hybrid cloud, AI and hyper-converged infrastructure are making it even more challenging for organizations to keep pace with change. Looking ahead to the release of Microsoft SQL Server 2019, we have been testing early versions of the software and the results are amazing. On the latest generation of Dell PowerEdge Servers, we’ve seen upwards of 2.7x transaction processing speed. 1 This is an early indication of the power of our platforms and the strength of our partnership with Microsoft. We are looking forward to a very engaging Ignite and hope you will come speak with us at the event! – Chad Fenner, Senior Director, PowerEdge Product Management
From a PowerEdge perspective, we have plenty of cool things up our sleeve that we’re excited to share with you. I don’t want to spoil the fun, but here’s a preview of what’s happening with PowerEdge at Ignite:
Dell Technologies Booth # 1547
If you’re in Orlando, come see us in the Dell Technologies booth! We’ll have experts ready to answer all of your End of Support questions, in-booth theater presentations, and some cool giveaways. We’ll have some of our new hardware including the PowerEdge MX that you can open, explore, and even swap some components. We’ll be running a demo of our OpenManage integration with Windows Admin Center and some live diagnostics on the PowerEdge R740xd. Yes, we know this is a cloud and software show, but we like to throw in a subtle reminder that all this modern software needs the best2 in modern hardware.
There are some fun interactive ways to learn more about our joint PowerEdge and Microsoft solutions. Highlights include:
OpenManage Monster Hunter, sponsored by KIOXIA – Halloween may be the week before but that doesn’t mean the fun has to end. In this game you’ll fight zombies and bats to modernize your datacenter. You’ll work your way through our OpenManage Integration with Windows Admin Center on AzureStack HCI, integration with Microsoft System Center, and OpenManage Enterprise on the PowerEdge MX. There will be a leaderboard, and some excellent prizes, so challenge your friends.
Tech Trivia – This Jeopardy! style game will help you learn more about the entirety of the Dell Technologies portfolio – from servers to storage to services. Of course, that also includes our full line of laptops and gaming hardware. Play Tech Trivia and you’ll be entered into a raffle to win a Ring Doorbell.
Dell Technologies Scavenger Hunt – Engage, learn and become more social with our Dell Technologies booth, solutions and activities. Dust off your hashtags and earn stamps, make sure you redeem your card in the booth for fantastic daily prizes including a GoPro HERO7 and a grand prize drawing on Thursday for a set of BOSE noise-cancelling headphones.
RHEL Button Contest – Grab a button, pin it on, snap a creative pic somewhere at the event and post to Instagram with the hashtag #SQLonRHELonDell. First place DAILY winners will receive a 2-in-1 Dell Inspiron laptop.
Breakout Sessions
PowerEdge will be represented in the following breakout sessions:
It’s all about the data: Abstraction beyond virtualization
Speaker: Stephen McMaster, Engineering Technologist, Dell
Wednesday, November 06, 10:55 AM in Theatre 7
In the data driven age, information is as valuable as currency. Only when you can harness data from multiple sources and formats can you accelerate business innovation. Containerization enables agility at hyperscale and is a critical step towards achieving true data abstraction beyond just virtualization. Join us to learn how Dell delivers foundational solutions to support Microsoft SQL Server 2019, including big data clusters, enabling businesses to take advantage of next-generation analytics, and go behind their data to draw valuable insights.
There is a new era in data management – Dell Technologies makes data innovation a reality
Speaker: Stephen McMaster, Engineering Technologist, Dell
Thursday November 07, 10:15 AM in OCCC West
There are many paths towards modernizing the Microsoft Data Estate. Designing the right solution that meets today’s needs while laying the foundation for where your business will need to be tomorrow is a critical step in becoming an innovation leader. Join us as we outline the modernization strategies organizations need to consider in this new era of data abstraction and how Dell Technologies can guide you on this journey.
Evening Events
The fun doesn’t stop when the show floor closes. We have a great line-up of invitation-only events for our customers and those who want to learn more about Dell Technologies solutions.
Customer Appreciation Celebration at the Andretti Racing Center
We love our customers and the chance to celebrate with them! So rev up your engines for this fast-paced racing experience on November 6 at 6:30pm at Andretti Indoor Karting and Games. This event is by invite-only and will likely reach capacity so please reach out to your account team for more information to register.
Dell Technologies Hospitality Suite – Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday
Relax in the Dell Tech Hospitality suite – complete with food, beverages, and a place to unwind. Open Monday – Wednesday, this suite will give you the opportunity to learn from Dell Technologies, Red Hat, and Intel experts while recharging yourself (and your phone if it needs some charging too). Registration is required.
SQL Server 2019 Conversations and Cocktails – Tuesday November 5 4:00-6:30
Connect with your peers at this informal gathering of like-minded SQL Server connoisseurs to share the technical pitfalls, gotchas and successes learned. Share a beverage, enjoy hors d’oeuvres and meet the experts from Dell Technologies, Intel and Red Hat who are ready to answer your questions and better arm you to take your business further, faster. This exclusive celebration will take place at the Oceanaire Seafood Room and is available by registration only, until full, here:
If you’re running an End of Support platform or one that will be soon, come talk to us. We make modernizing easy and can get you back on a supported platform and can even help you transform the way you look at IT.
We look forward to seeing you next week at Ignite!
To learn more about PowerEdge, visit dellemc.com/servers, or join the conversation on Twitter @Dellservers.
[1] IDC WW Quarterly x86 Server Tracker, 2018Q4, Mar. 6, 2019 – Units & Vendor Revenue
[2] Persistent Memory Performance in vSphere 6.7 with Intel Optane DC Persistent Memory – VMware, April 2019
