The promise of Microsoft Azure Stack is to make Azure services available on-premises as organizations are increasingly deploying hybrid cloud approaches. Imagine the power of running these same services where “on-premises” extends to being in the field and truly remote locations. Now you can put your imagination to work because Dell just made this scenario a reality.
Today we are excited to announce the Dell Tactical Microsoft Azure Stack, a ruggedized and field-deployable product for Azure Stack which will be available beginning in the United States during the first quarter of this year. It will be sold and supported by Dell and our partners, and availability will be extended to other countries throughout the year.
Tactical Azure Stack is the first and only ruggedized Azure Stack product available for tactical edge deployments. Based on our proven all-flash Dell Cloud for Microsoft Azure Stack, it brings an Azure consistent-cloud to operating environments with:
- Limited or no network connectivity
- Fully mobile, or high portability (“2-person lift”) requirements
- Harsh conditions requiring military specifications solutions
- High security requirements, with optional connectivity to Azure Government and Azure Government Secret
This new offering demonstrates how Dell leveraged our server design expertise and our exclusive partnership with Tracewell Systems to develop a new platform that expands Azure Stack use cases. For customers, it provides a familiar environment and consistent experience for Azure-based services in the field. In addition, Tactical Azure Stack incorporates Dell features including automated patch and update capabilities, PowerEdge hardware management, and integration with Isilon, CloudLink, and Pivotal Cloud Foundry. Customers also benefit with one call to Dell for service and support of the entire hardware stack.
The product’s core components are identical to our currently shipping all-flash Data Center Azure stack offering. For cloud operators, developers and tenants, there are no differences between the Tactical Azure Stack and Data Center Azure Stack. Our industry exclusive firmware update automation and Dell services and support are all consistent whether you’re running in a comfortable data center or in a harsh, mobile, or forward deployed environment.
The management case includes the hardware lifecycle host, 25GbE Top of Rack switches, as well as the baseboard management switch. Additional “core” transit cases, each holding two T-R640 scale unit servers can be added up to the full node limits of Microsoft Azure Stack. At just 41.5” high, and 25.6” operating depth, the Tactical Microsoft Azure Stack unlocks a wide variety of use cases for government, military, energy and mining applications. It can also be ideal in forward deployments and mobile environments in marine, aerospace and other harsh or demanding conditions.
We are thrilled to be leading the way to the Tactical Edge in partnership with Tracewell Systems and Microsoft. For more information about how to join us in this exciting journey, follow Dell Cloud for Microsoft Azure Stack for more information and contact your Dell account representative.
