Introduction

Dell PowerEdge VRTX is a computer hardware product line from Dell. It is a mini-blade chassis with built-in storage system. It integrates servers, storage, networking and management in a compact shared infrastructure optimized for office environments.

The VRTX comes in two models: a 19" rack version that is 5 rack units high or as a stand-alone tower system.

The key components of the VRTX are as follows:

  • Servers:

    The VRTX chassis has 4 half-height slots available for PowerEdge blade servers system. At launch the PE-M520 and the PE-M620 where the only two supported server blades. The same blades are used in the M1000e but for use in the VRTX they need to run specific configuration. A conversion kit is available from Dell to allow moving a blade from a M1000e to VRTX chassis.

  • Storage:

    The VRTX chassis includes shared storage slots that connect to a single or dual PERC 8 controller(s). This controller which is managed through the CMC allows RAID groups to be configured and then allows for those RAID groups to be subdivided into individual virtual disks that can be presented out to either single or multiple blades. The shared storage slots are either 12 x 3,5" HDD slots or 25 x 2,5" HDD slots depending on the VRTX chassis purchased.

  • Networking:

    The VRTX chassis has a built in IOM for supporting ethernet traffic to the server blades. At present the options for this IOM are an 8 port 1Gb pass-through module or a 24 Port 1Gb switch. The 8 port pass through module offers 2 pass-through connections to each internal blade slot where the 24 port 1Gb switch option provides 16 internal ports (4 per blade slot) and 8 external ports to be used to uplink to the network. The I/O modules used on the VRTX have different size then the I/O modules of the M1000e, so you are not able to use the I/O modules that are available for that chassis system. A 10Gb I/O module is planned for future release.

In addition, the VRTX comes bundled with power and cooling systems, USB connectors, a serial communication port, expansion slots, and even a mini LCD screen, all of which enable administrators of small and medium-sized enterprises to deliver high quality IT services to their users.