Dell EMC Launches First Certified Reference Architecture Program For Dell EMC, VMware Data Center Offerings

Dell EMC unveiled a new program that simplifies how partners bundle, sell and build converged infrastructure stacks based on Dell EMC and VMware data center technologies.

The Dell EMC Ready Stack program will enable partners to build converged stacks around the company's storage, servers, networking and data protection product lines with support for multiple hypervisors, bare metal and containers.

"Basically it's a reference architecture that can be built from any combination of server, storage and networking. There's an architecture guide and a library of validated designs that will be made available," said Joyce Mullen, president of global channels, OEM and IoT solutions at Dell EMC, in an interview with CRN. "We're trying to take the guesswork out of putting together these converged infrastructure solutions."

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The Dell EMC Ready Stack is available immediiately via the Dell EMC Partner Portal.

Mullen said the program provides partners with best practice designs and deployment guides. Partners will receive incentives for selling these solutions with the ability to sell their own services on top, such as deployment services."So the notion here is that partners can build this with really no risk, and deployments are simplified for customers," she said.

The programs gives partners the ability to expand customer conversations for those looking to build infrastructure as an alternative to Dell EMC's turnkey converged and hyper-converged infrastructure solutions. The Ready Stack program is available exclusively to channel partners.

Robert Keblusek, CTO of Sentinel Technologies, a Downers Grove, Ill.-based Dell EMC and VMware partner, said the new program eliminates the risk for customers that prefer a "do it yourself" build your own solution.

"So this helps us to de-risk some of that do-it-yourself by saying, 'We've tested this. We've validated it – it works," said Keblusek. "Yes, you can still pick and choose different components that you want to add in or out, and that gives you the flexibility of the build-it-yourself type of scenario. However, it's de-risked because it's been tested and validated."

From a sales motion standpoint, the program will help Sentinel approach customers with a build it yourself solution Dell EMC and VMware converged data center stack rather than point products from Dell EMC and VMware. "It also helps us as a partner by getting into more lines of business than we would have if we came in with a point product," he said. "It's a good thing for both customers and us."

Mullen said the program does not include other Dell Technologies brands like Virtustream and Pivotal. However, she said, "You can image us expanding this in the future," she said.